Before Christmas, I decided to try buying a box of clementines via CrowdFarming. i'd looked at it a while ago and had decided to give it a go, but I then forgot about it. This meant I'd left it quite late (even though it was plenty of time before Christmas), so I had a limited number of suppliers to choose from.
Nevertheless, I decided to buy a big box of them, and delivery was planned for around 21st December.
I wondered if they would smell as I remembered the clementines from my childhood smelling. Would I notice the difference, having them picked and packed and sent rather than buying them from an ultra chilled warehouse. Would they keep better?
A little way before Christmas, I had an apologetic email to say there was a slight delay, and my delivery would now be 25th December. There wouldn't be a delivery on Christmas day, obviously, and probably not on the 26th either. So, I added a small box of clementines to my shopping delivery.
Of course the Clementines turned up before Christmas, but after the editing time on my shopping delivery. The box was large, and there were many kilos in there, as they allow some extra in case of spoilage en route.
The packaging box was fab.
I gave a kilo of the direct-from-grower fruits to my brother. I found a recipe for easy candied peel, and I fully intended to shave the peel from the ones I was eating. I failed, miserably.
This morning, I decided I'd make some Clementine Curd in my Instant Pot. I used my lemon fluicer to juice the clementines, and it was so easy! I think my mexican elbows have been made redundant.
In fact, the whole process was easy enough, although I think I should have adjusted the sugar a bit. I'd put in couple of tablespoons of lemon juice (as suggested in a different preserving book in a recipe for Orange Curd), so I left the sugar as the original lemon recipe said.
It's OK, a bit sweet. But it might calm down a bit when it as set and been in the fridge.
I'm thinking about making another batch, in the CookExpert this time, so I can compare.
I'm not sure I'll get beyond the thinking about stage.
I also spotted a recipe for Clementine and Quince Jelly, and i'm tempted to give that a go. But I'm not tempted to give it a go today. Maybe over the weekend.
There were two varieties in my box, and both were delicious. Neither of then really smelt how I remembered Clementines smelling. I might get another box in January, when there is another variety ripening.