I like lemons in my water, I like lemons on my salmon. I like sour-sweet things just as much as sour-salty things. So this year on my birthday (way back in June) my family got me a nice little lemon tree.
Today I decided to harvest my two lemons. I didn't want them to just dry up and go to waste, so the spontaneous idea to make them into a jam took hold of me and brought a sense of experimental joy as if I were embarking on a sentimentally significant adventure of miniature proportions. It's hard to articulate those - oh, so me - feelings I get sometimes, so if you fail to grasp the energetical calibration of the nuanced feeling I'm trying to express, that's perfectly fine, just file it under - Just Josie Things.
Like, logically, I can't really explain why for me the significance of - These two lemons have been growing here with us the whole summer, so they're special! vs just some random lemons from a store (which I could have gotten MORE of and thus make more than just the tiniest of jam jars.) But there is a HUGE significance in that distinction. For a Josie.
So here goes two lemons made into a jam.
I opted for caramelization of the zest - a controversial artistic decision that was met with mixed reviews by the in-house culinary and art critics. The main criticism being that the jam loses its lemon scent. Filing this criticism under - noted, but keeping my artistic freedoms.
There's really nothing more in here than two lemons, some water, and sugar. Was contemplating maybe adding some cinnamon and nutmeg but evidently chickened out. I only had two lemons to begin with and as much as I love experimenting, I couldn't afford to take ALL the risks, just yet. Maybe next year! This time around I needed to prove to myself I could make a lemon jam in the first place. There will always be more time for additional experiments.
Look at that tiny cute jar! ^^ And the precious, magical Josie-made lemon jam is the perfect thing to put into such a lovely tiny jar. It just all fits together so perfectly. So if you ask me - this was an absolute raging success! This jar of lemon jam, now being recognized for being as priceless as it is, has already been designated for the Christmas dinner table - the highest honor among foods.
Thank you for stopping by and entertaining my musings!
Have a magical day and I'll catch you some other time.
~Josie~