Deanna,
They kind of look like the wild plums in our yard. Our plums were the size of large cherries, same color. We didn't get to can any this year... Between the deer and raccoons, they didn't leave much at all.

Lynn

Look like plums to me. How do they taste?

I am making and in my slow cooker as I type, Plum-Kissed Pear Jam, but I will make it butter. It is a beautiful dusty pink color and it is very good.

Plum-Kissed Pear Jam

3 cups chopped or coarsely ground peeled pears
1 cup chopped or coarsely ground peeled plums
1 (1.75 ounce) package powdered fruit pectin
5 1/2 cups sugar

In a kettle, combine pears and plums.

Stir in pectin. Bring to full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar; return to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; skim off foam.

I'm not sure if you can can this or not. It says to freeze or refrigerate. Would it be safe to can in BWB?

Michelle

Michelle,
That does sound good! Wish I had some pears!
Yes, you can BWB that one. I'd process 15 minutes for pints. 10 is probably good, but 15 won't hurt it.

My fruit is sweet, but not cherry flavored. Definitely leaning toward plum flavor. That's one of the things that made me suspicious.

Lynn,
Thanks. I am suspecting these may be wild plums too. They are growing in a landscaped yard, along the fence, but that doesn't mean they weren't transplanted there, or the house built near the plums years ago.
Are yours golden yellow inside?

Deanna

Absolutely. Just BWB the standard time for jams, 10 minutes for half-pints, 15 minutes for pints.

I've never peeled a plum in my life. Did you scald them?

Carol

Thanks so much for the BWB info.

No I did not peel and I thought it odd that even peeling a plum was mentioned. I just cut up my plums and then blended with my stick blender. Plum peel has so much flavor and it makes the butter the most beautiful dusty rose color.

Oddly enough, the Plum Kissed Pear Butter taste similar to my Rose Hip Butter. Sure was a lot less work though!

Michelle

Deanna, they are golden yellow inside. if the there were any left, I would take a picture. They were pretty sweet and the skins were kind of tart. We made jam and syrup with them. Pretty good!

Lynn

Lynn, that's exactly how these taste. Tart skins and sweet inside.
I think I'll experiment...
Plum Jam with Almond liquer.
Black Forest Jam with half cherry, half almond liquer.
Cherry brandied plums. Probably just 3-4 hlaf-pints. I'm not sure the plums will stand up as well to the simmering and processing as cherries. Worst case I'll puree it later and pour over ice cream.

Hee hee. I still get similiar stuff to what I was planning.
Luckily, plums aren't strong flavored and I can make them taste like whatever I want.

Sometimes craigslist stuff is a real adventure!!
I'm buying a futon tonight.......hope it's "as advertised" and not a surprise!!
Deanna

Deanna, The cherry brandied plums sound good! So does everything else. The skins will split when boiled, at least ours did. Some of our syrup was pretty thick and we pour it over sponge cake with vanilla ice cream. Same with the blackberry syrup. YUM! Good luck and let me know how it turns out.

Lynn

The brandied plums sound wonderful! How about some plum chutney? After reading some of the chutney recipes, I've got to make at least apple chutney and maybe some pear chutney too!

Michelle

I thought about that, Michelle, but we do really "do" chutney. DH isn't crazy about fruit with his meat! LOL
I barely got away with 1/2 tsp. of Asian Plum Sauce over a pork chop last night....

I'll post after I get stuff made....whatever it ends up being. Just wish I had another day or two to work on it.
Besides working "in town" 40 hours a week, I've got a piece of furniture coming tonight (you know how THAT goes...yakety, yakety), tomorrow I pick up 100 lbs. of tuna that several of us are dividing. Drop off part at one house, meet 2 others at the church to get theirs, then home with mine. Freeze (maybe can some) Friday night and Saturday, then my daughter and SIL will be there for lunch.
Oh! And we're dog-sitting for my MIL until Saturday when they will pick up Devil Dog or we will drop him off (a high bridge would be my preference....), Sunday church and board meeting afterward and by golly, I'm gonna need a nap by then!!

So, to make a long story even longer....... (grin)
I need to keep the cherry thing as simple as possible so I can do most of it tonight!

Deanna