The Plum Cordial is Brewing - Our Special Recipie

We completed our special plum cordial recipe just in time - it was the last plums on the tree and in a few more days they would have been past prime.  Each and every year it also amazes me that I can't find the recipe for the few weeks prior to making it.  It's as if that damn recipe eludes me long enough to think I'm becoming more wacky and then it always just shows up. (The recipe is below)

Literally I  had made a copy for a woman down the street and thought I had put the book back but I just couldn't find it.  This year I looked up a new jam recipe (from recipe-zaar - its the one with just plums, sugar and lemon- nothing else) but I couldn't find a good plum cordial one and was feeling pretty bummed because we loved the changes we made to the original recipe we found. 

Heck any time I write down how I made some thing  in the kitchen Tim celebrates - because there are very few things we have more than once. I'm a creator when it comes to the kitchen, I take a bit of this, that and the other thing...and some how people think I'm an amazing cook.  Kind of makes me laugh.  Anyway, I wanted a recipe with the vodka and brandy combo and spent close to the our on the Internet and couldn't find what I wanted.  I figured it was our 4th batch and I'd just wing it when low and behold there was the book just sitting on the counter. I guess that was the universe knocking...um-mm lady please do use this recipe.  At least next year I can just search my blog for the recipe!

This year we're trying a few different versions - some with less sugar.  It will be fun to test in a few  months.

Of course cordial making also means enjoying last years vintage as we are cutting and mixing up the ingredients.  This is one of my favorite parts.  I did make one change that I think makes it super easy - I bought half gallon canning jars. This way each jar can be it's own batch.

Michele's 65th Street Plum Cordial Recipe

1. Fill a 1/2 gallon canning jar with washed plums that have been pitted.  It's about 3 lbs.  I've found the more in tact you leave the plums the less straining you do in the next stage which means more cordial in the end
2. Add:  1 and 1/2  to 2 cups of sugar.  Our plums are pretty sweet so 1.5 seems to work well.  I also use unbleached organic sugar (saving the environment one drink at a time)
3. Add 2 cups vodka - don't use bottom of the barrel, but you also don't need to use top shelf.  Some where in between creates a nice smooth end product
4. Add 3/4 cup Brandy.  Again the same general rule as #3
5. As you can see in the picture it will fill your jar to the top.  You want the plums to be covered in alcohol (prevents rot).  Close and gently turn the jar a couple of times allowing the sugar to dissolve some. Store in a dark cool place - closet, basement.  You'll want to repeat this step of turning the jars a few more weeks in a row until the sugar is dissolved.
6. In 2 months - take out the plums, reserve the liquid.  You can consolidate if you like or leave it in its current jar.  Put back in the closet.
7. Some people throw the plums out, but I find that the are darn tasty. I like to freeze a bunch and use them in a variety of things:  Michele's Plum Martini and on vanilla ice cream.  Our neighbor created a couple of desserts:  a cake with plums on the top layer, the other was a pastry with cream and the plums arranged on top.  Both were great.  You can really use your imagination.
8. This generally leads us to December...we only jar the cordial we are giving as gifts, the rest we leave in the original containers (dated) until a future date. 

We give both the cordial and jams as gifts to many of our neighbors and friends.  Each year we find an awesome bottle that holds about 4 servings.  Every one really loves and looks forward to this some what new tradition - our 4th year.

It got started after we were tired of seeing so much of the fruit in our urban setting go to waste and simply rot.  So we asked a couple of neighbors if we could pick fruit.  It's been a lot of fun getting to know the neighbors better with this fun tradition.  Plus it add some ritual to my own relationship with my husband Tim.

Until next time,

Michele Corey, writing for Knee Deep:  A dose on insight and a little crap from your not always average home based business and Internet mom and Money Wise Women: A Blog for Women that are ready to get their financial house in order

Comments

[Michele]

I've tried a couple varieties and really like using the Italian prune plums.

I'd love to hear what you or others have tried and like.

[Susie G]

Have you experimented with different varieties of Plums, if so which do you recommend works the best for the cordial?

[Michele Corey]

Hey Jim - did you try making the plum cordial?

I've now gotten a few neighbors hooked. And unfortunately this year there were literally no plums - we had to scavenge the farmers markets and have 23 lbs and will go to town!

[Jim Harris]

Ah, that sort of cordial! Very useful. So many plums this year, even more than usual it seems. And the same red carpets of waste under the trees. Only so many you can pick.

But I was looking for interesting new ways to use them - plenty of jam in the cupboard and cobbler eaten.

I might try plum cordial and sloe gin this year then. Who knows, maybe it will become a tradition after 4 years too.

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