Make it Sweet and Simple Like Daisy (or: How To Be A LadyNerd, Downton Abbey Edition, Part 3)

LadyNerds!  It’s time for another edition of How To Be A LadyNerd, Downton Abbey Edition!  In this week’s post, we’re going to making orange marmalade!  I have never made orange marmalade before, but since we’re in a time of war, here in Downton Abbey land, it’s time to man up.  If Lady Sybil can learn how to make a pudding, and Lady Edith can learn to drive, I decided it was high time for me to learn how to make my own marmalade.

Since we’ve already got our tea cups ready, and the ratafia is aging, just follow these simple steps, and you’ll be well on your way to serving a proper tea.

Would you like some marmalade with that?

After researching marmalade recipes on the interwebs, I discovered that there are many variations on the traditional marmalade.  Some would require LadyNerds to own canning equipment (horror!), and some didn’t, but they all followed the same general idea.  And that they were all missing one KEY ingredient: alcohol.

So after more research and some experimentation, I came up with my very own Drunken Orange Marmalade recipe!  I do think Lady Grantham would approve.

Drunken Orange Marmalade

Ingredients:

• 4 oranges
• 4 cups sugar
• 4 cups water
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• whiskey (2 Tbsp, or a few pours)

Cut the oranges in half lengthwise before slicing thinly (a Mandolin works well).  Place sliced oranges in water and bring to a boil, stirring often.  Remove from heat, and add cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.  Stir in sugar until it is dissolved.  Add whiskey.  Cover and let it sit overnight at room temperature.

The following day, return the mixture to a boil, before reducing heat to low and allowing to simmer for 2 hours.  Raise heat to medium and boil gently for 1/2 hour.  Using a candy thermometer, boil, stirring occasionally, until mixture reaches 220 degrees Farenheit.  To test your mixture’s consistency, place a small amount on a plate and set in refrigerator until it cools.  If mixture is too thin, contue to boil.  If it is too thick, add more liquid.  Scoop marmalade into clean, hot sealable glass jars.  Cover and store in your cupboard for up to a year.  (We must be economical, don’t you know!  There’s a war on!)

Or, you can follow along with me!

Perfect to have on toast or scones, with this marmalade you can party like it’s 1916!  And don’t forget to tune in next week for the next installment of LadyNerd: Downton Abbey edition!

Related posts:

1. How to get drunk like Lady Grantham (or: How to be a LadyNerd: Downton Abbey Edition, Part 1)
2. How To Be A Downton Abbey LadyNerd: How To Paint Your Own Teacups!
3. The Downton Abbey Season One Primer