My Favourite Jam. A true, Rare Aussie Delight.

 

Unique, Sweet Story Telling

I like all sorts of jam (conserve, preserve, jelly, spread, confiture). 

I grew up having it on sandwiches for lunch at school, on toast for breakfast and special occasions with scones and cream. But I have discovered a jam that is by far the most pleasing when I get a chance to enjoy it. Perhaps these few thoughts may be inspiration for you to look beyond your usual, safe jam. 

I hope to inspire adventure in your writing enjoyment.

This is my favourite jam.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

•              700 g Fruit (revealed below)

•              700 g sugar

•              1 lemon or orange, juiced

•              ½ vanilla pod, cut in half lengthways

Instructions

1.            Start off by washing your fruit

2.            Put the washed whole fruit into a a non reactive stockpot with the lemon/orange juice and                   water. Bring slowly to a gentle simmer.

3.            Cook the fruit over medium heat for about 30 minutes until they change colour, release their                 juice and become very soft. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

4.            Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

5.            Once cool, squish the fruit with your fingers and remove the seeds from each fruit. Discard the             seeds and keep the fruit, skins and juice, adding them back to the non reactive pot.

                Weigh the fruit and add equal parts sugar.

                500g = 500g sugar etc.

6.            Add lemon juice and vanilla pod and heat the mixture over a moderate heat.

                Stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves.

                Bring to a light rolling boil and allow to simmer for an hour or until the mixture has slightly                     thickened.

 7.            Test the mixture by putting a small amount on a saucer and place in the freezer for a minute to                 see if it sets.

8.            During the last phase of jelly cooking, clean and boil your jars and lids ready for the jelly.                         They need a good rolling 10 minute boil and should be used hot when filling with the jelly.

9.            Once the mixture is ready, pour out into to jars.

                Put the lids on immediately and allow to cool before storing.

 

The Special Ingredient Revealed

•              The fruit : DAVIDSON PLUMS

 

Davidson Plum jam is a rare preserve as the fruit has traditionally only been found growing on native trees endemic to limited rainforest micro-climate environments of Queensland and the  North Eastern part of New South Wales. This beautiful palm shaped tree has graceful fronds with fine hairy stems and on the underside of leaves. It produces clusters of large dark blue to black brilliant coloured fruit that resemble plums 4-5cm in diameter. It is one of the thousands of native edible plants, yet not many people know this. It was enjoyed by Aboriginal people and is now popular with chefs around the country – particularly for jams, sauces, chutneys and even wine. The dark red flesh contains two unusual flat seeds and has a wonderfully acidic plum flavour. The skin is thin but on the tougher, leathery side, and is covered with very fine hairs.  It might resemble the shape of the European plum, but they are not closely related and the native plum is far more sour than the fruit we are used to.

 There are three identified species of Davidson Plums (Davidsonia)  Davidsonia jerseyana, Davidsonia johnsonii and Davidsonia pruriens. All three trees are slender, but D. pruriens, also known as Ooray or Queensland Davidson’s plum, is tallest, growing up to 12 metres high. There are a few small-scale plantations producing the fruit in New South Wales and Queensland.  D. jerseyana, native to lowland subtropical NSW, is considered endangered in the wild, but is widely cultivated. It reaches five metres high. D. johnsonii is a small tree with a spreading canopy and smooth leaves, also considered an endangered species in the wild.

Health Benefits

In 2009 the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) – now AgriFutures Australia released  the a report on the evaluation of health benefits of Australian native foods. This report makes for compelling reading when considering the health benefits of the OORAY fruit (Davidsonia pruriens).The report states:

“Native species evaluated in this study exhibited superior antioxidant capacity as compared to the Blueberry standard, renowned worldwide as the ‘health-promoting fruit.’ In comparison to commonly consumed fruits that comprise predominantly hydrophilic antioxidants, native foods contained antioxidant activity in both hydrophilic and lipophilic fractions. This suggests more comprehensive protection from oxidative stress, and possibly more pronounced health benefits.”

In 2012 RIRDC  released a further report on the evaluation of the The Potential Physiological Activities of Selected Australian Herbs and Fruits. This report contains a substantial amount of information regarding possible health benefits of OORAY. One of the impressive things going for the Davidson’s plum is its nutrients. It has more antioxidants than the blueberry, which is known worldwide for health benefits. It also contains potassium, lutein (a compound important for eye health), vitamin E, folate, zinc, magnesium and calcium. It is best to eat the skin as well as the flesh of the fruit as the skin contains most of the nutrients.

Another benefit of Davidson’s plum is its intense colouring which can act as a natural food colour.Meanwhile, research is being done into its preservative properties. When tested on some meats, a product made from Davidson’s plum extended the shelf life of the meat by 21 days in chilled conditions.

Davidson’s Plum is not recommended for eating fresh but is excellent stewed, or preserved or made into jam using recipes for European plums.  Some say you should double the amount of sugar that you would use in such a recipe. The flesh can be used in savoury dishes as well.

A personal friend of mine grows the fruit on his conservation and environmentally sustainable property in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. His produce has been used extensively by a native bushfoods Aboriginal owned business founded from a love of quality Native foods. Their native bushfoods products are grown and handmade in South East Queensland. They are available in restaurants, online, across the shelf and even featured in museums. This company notes that “Davidson Plum Jam is great used as conventional jam, or with crackers and cheese”. Interestingly they add that it is also “perfect to add on a piece of meat”. Their collaboration is making a sour, hard to attain bush food into a sweet, accessible reality for others. 

I hope my writing has similar outcomes. 

 

Unique, Sweet Story Telling

 

There are a few interesting aspects to my favourite Jam that intersect with my writing journey. Maybe these points are an inspiration for you too ?

It is rare. I hope my writing is attractive for others who are after some rare, meaningful and inspirational treats.

It is Unique. I enjoy challenging myself as an author and researching and trying new forms of writing expression and practice. For example narrative structures come in many forms, and unique ones might have more than one main character, a delayed inciting incident, and a nonlinear storyline that challenges readers. I am also trying my hand at a "tragedy" set in an alternate history cybernetic 1980's.

It has potential health benefits. In the back of my mind whenever I am writing is a sense of missional call: I hope my writing makes a positive change in the world.

It is a unique collaborative blend of indigenous wild knowledge and introduced food culture. I enjoy delving into stories that express cultural meaning and humble learnings that have been guided by impartation from valued mentors and cultural elders. I aim to embrace and highlight Australian distinctives in my writing style, characters, settings and themes.

It is a very sour raw fruit that when processed makes for it’s appeal as a notable confiture. Writing sometimes is hard work and even a challenging process but it is made sweet by our persistent testing of our recipes.

It is a pleasant surprise when enjoyed for the first time. Give new things a go

I have enjoyed (on damper) with a strong coffee, making the experience even more delectable. I love writing in inspirational places (with good coffee and good people)

I have not made it yet. I hope I can make a jam that I do justice to and continue to publish as my ‘opus’.

I have tasted and tried those made by others. I know I enjoy this jam because others have made it and I know I can too.

I am looking forward to making my own. 

 

 

I have discovered a jam that is by far the most pleasing when I get a chance to enjoy it. Perhaps these few thoughts may be inspiration for you to look beyond your usual, safe jam. Perhaps these few thoughts have inspired you to be adventurous in your writing enjoyment.

What is the unique, special, “tasty” ingredient in your writing?

Or what ingredient are you keen to explore ?

Why don't you try a new jam!

 

May the fruit of all your labours be sweet :) 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Glowinski L. (2008) The complete book of fruit growing in Australia. Hachette Australia.

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) 2009 Report on The Evaluation of the Health Benefits of Australian Foods

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC)  2012  The Potential Physiological Activities of Selected Australian Herbs and Fruits.

photos various public sources

My Diary of Wrestling through Writing

 

Finding Joy in the Battle

 

Early April 2023:

Writing has many inspirations. It flows from life's interactions with people and experiences mixed with imagination and soul revelations. Often it is piqued by immersion in places where the grace of creation is as tangible as if you had just plunged into the deep dark, chilling pool of a high mountain stream. You are awakened to the world of pleasure and pain, colours and textures, light and shades, tastes and delights, olfactory joys and testing journeys. Your Spirit alive. Made aware. Paraclete's presence. The Shalom of providential nurture. New season's fruits. A brave knowing. Deep calling to deep. Truth's entrusted. Echoes and the Original Voice. Love that calls for the wild. Abandonment to Passion's perspective. The Greatest thing. Giving of Life.

I mentioned in my previous Christian Writers Downunder Blog post (January 2023) about the challenge of having several close family members who had received devastating cancer diagnoses. I used this reality to help punctuate my post about writers having the opportunity to provide the gift of ‘a different narrative’. 

The messages coming from the medical prognosis of our loved ones was that they were sick, very sick, and were facing significant challenges and were emotionally and physically overwhelming.

As I wrestled with all this, I wrote. In fact, I think I wrestled with all these emotions and thoughts by writing. I present here some of my wrestling for you.

19th April 2023:

Days end is a moment to pause and listen and read the signature messages of omnipresent love. A new day starts. Years are chapters in libraries full of wonder.

 

Early March 2023:

This year’s Shave for a cure was the most personal fundraising and advocacy I have been involved in . I went bald to help raise support for Cancer research. Several of my close family members and friends have experienced their own personal battles with Cancer. This has included my Mum, our daughter and my wife’s sister. It has been a challenging season. That is why I chose to shave my head this year for raising support for a cure for cancer.

 

Sometime this year:

Peace!

Our understanding is simply surpassed by the heaven-sent love actuality that establishes, grounds us, perfects us, empowers us beyond any human potentiality.

 

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Philippians 4

 

 

Earlier in March 2023 :

In 2022 our daughter was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. This is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's germ-fighting immune system. In Hodgkin's lymphoma, white blood cells called lymphocytes grow out of control, causing swollen lymph nodes and growths throughout the body.

…….Our daughter has undergone treatment while pregnant which has been a huge challenge. But she is amazing, responding well to treatments, and our little grand daughter was born in November. There is joy in the battle.

We are so thankful that research, treatment, care and prayer have combined for a good healthy future for our daughter.

However, with no screening programs available and no means of prevention through lifestyle changes, blood cancer continues to be Australia's hidden cancer crisis.

Every day, 53 Aussies are diagnosed with blood cancer, and 16 will lose their life.

BTW our Daughter completed her treatments last Thursday 🙂

 

 

 23rd February 2023 (Our Daughter wrote this):

“Today I had my last dose of chemo. I’ve got my next PET scan next month, which (I hope) will confirm that I’m in complete remission!

Life is full of many battles, and for me this was a big one that I know I’ll never forget.

I’m so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family members who have been praying and caring for me and our little family over the past 7 months. And to all of the health care workers, doctors and nurses who have been going through this journey with me, I thank you for all of your support, care and positivity. You’ve made the situation that much easier to deal with.

Whatever you’re going through, whatever fight you might be fighting, keep fighting it, because coming through the battle field and knowing that you’ve won is a great feeling!”

 

It was a brave, hope-filled, prayer-like, inspiring narrative.

 

Early in February I had written:

One of the powers of Grace is that omnipotence surpasses circumstances. A simple knowing. In the most horrific of battles .....Joy.

The trick is that we simply need to be still enough to see it, hear it, know it and let this knowing spring forth. Like a seed that takes root, grows and flourishes even in what seems to be the most impossible of spaces.

 

In Mid January 2023 our Daughter was losing her hair as a result of her chemo treatment, My Mum had just undergone major and invasive surgery and I was praying, wrestling with all the internal emotions and writing…… :

When the sky displays colours that make you stop in your sandy tracks......

I want to make sure I pause long enough to not just admire the beauty, but breathe in a fresh resolve that my gratitude is constantly superceded by heaven's providential grace. Even when the going is hard, I can exhale praise through sighs, tears, groans and pain. When the frailty of our mortality is challenged, somehow there is always joy. With each sigh there can be a smile, with each smile a laugh, with each laugh a song, with each song a declarative shout that all is well in my soul.

Another breath, another truth, another day, another mercy. There are joys in our battles, we must notice them through the war haze.

Peace beyond reasoning.

 Fix our gaze on heaven's displays of light. In the darkest night we have the glow of our living, the presence of Love, the personification of justice.

Hope clings like a shawl, the warmth of sunset's awe, knowing that the morning brings the sun again to amaze our senses and show a provision beyond our littleness.

 An omniscient eternal potency of Creator's nearness and care.

 

 

In December 2022 

while I was praying for our daughter (and her husband) and their baby and my Mum in the midst of their health challenges I wrote something I would like to share with you. Something that echoes their challenges alongside the beauty of their womanhood and being “Mum":

  My protagonist, Charlotte, is a 45 year old Medical Relief worker (a character I have been developing for several years). She has been taken captive and imprisoned in a stone and tin shed for 9 months. Why? She does not know. But she is desperate to find meaning in her incarceration.

I wrote as I wrestled:

All the disparity of her captivity came upon her like a heavy wave of anxiety. In crescendos it came with a morose dolefulness, a suffocating depression. That sometimes heightened into desperation. On those days she would wake with her pulse already escalated. Her breathing rapid and shallow and sometimes she would be sweating even though the air was often cold, and she would yell and scream, sometimes she would hit the walls. On one occasion she had given in to this angst curled up foetal-like on the floor and then thrashed around like a toddler in torment.

When she had calmed herself through her tears, she tried to remember times of freedom.

The day she remembered was her birthday. The emotion she experienced was elation. It was relief. She remembered her birthday all those years ago as she sat in an aircraft cockpit beside her pilot directing his concern for where they would land. Their payload were the rescued souls of her tribal friends. Hunted. Now refugees. Seeking safety. A new space to live. Redeemed and about to remake their lives in a valley that had been purged of peoples. It lay quiet, secluded, unknown to the outside world. A space of healing and a new start for them. And she realised this was in her favour to. The flat fields of rice below were wet, very wet, sodden. Streams were full. Overflowing. The large columns of dark clouds above were pregnant with flooding offspring.

Her memory moved to years before as she breathed deeply of the smell of the wet season beginning in earnest. She was remembering walking in one of those villages. The village she would help rebuild and repopulate with new families.

 

Children ran up to her and around her. The dirt track was muddied, pot marked and slippery. The children weaved around her, carefully jumped over puddles, and eagerly called her name. Those who dared or were pushed by their jovial friends touched her fair skin. They pretended to walk like her flicking their dark locks of hair to make fun and show attention to her long blonde hair. The smallest of her new friends was pushed into her by one of the more boisterous older girls. The little girl had begun to sob until Charlotte had smiled at her, taken an ink stamp from her bag and stamped the love heart icon on her own hand. As the little one reached out her hand, she stamped her hand too. They then walked hand in hand through the village to the little girl’s hut. What ensued remained a vivid blessing to her senses.

 

The little girl's mother had met her at their hut entrance. She had reached out her hand in greeting. But to Charlotte’s surprise had bypassed the rudimentary western greeting of a handshake and had moved closer and more intimately to place her hand fully on Charlotte's lower abdomen. In her simple English the mother had spoken to Charlotte's umbilical region through her hand.

“Your womb will be blessed !”

The beautiful young mother had then seemed even more so to Charlotte. Aglow in what seemed a prophetic, mystical glow. She was a small lady. Her sinewy form showed tender nurturing softness despite the years of hard work she had accomplished already in her short life. Charlotte reasoned that she was probably her age but had already born several children herself. The mother looked lovingly into Charlotte's eyes and smiled a well-attended pretty joy that spread from her mouth to her cheeks to the creases at the corners of her eyes, from her temples to her ears, and wrinkled her graceful neck and collarbone.

“You are going to be mother to many children.” She said.

The authority she announced this statement with shook Charlotte to her core. She felt something had happened in her innermost being. It was unsettling. Almost amorous. Like she had just been touched internally.  She reasoned back then that it was a simple hormonal flush. It seemed cold and warm all at the same time. It was as if electricity had flowed into her organs. She had released a sigh back then, all those years ago when she was just a 20 something thinking how she would love a child, but one day. Maybe. 

If only she was able.

In my Christian writers post at the beginning of this year I had written :

As writers we have the opportunity to provide the gift of ‘a different narrative’ that blesses others with sustainable and engaging hope-empowerment: One about changing the world. After all, core to our faith existence is ‘good’ news.

 

 

On Good Friday this year I wrote :

Just as children reflect, grow and flourish in the love and life they receive in the nurture of their family. Just like how little Lilliana (our Grand daughter) is loved by her Mummy and Daddy, an astounding testament of poured out, sacrificial love through the battles for health to bring life. I pause today to be grateful for Saviour's love. May my life and living be an abundant testament of this Love. May my living be a shalom of established, radical, justice-bringing, humble, kindnesses. May I be like this little bundle of blessing: simply bringing joy in our lives.

 

I love telling stories of how our community and others are addressing issues, the ways being attempted to fix things, the change being made, and stories about the people being helped and helping others. The truth is, how we tell a story has the ability to either give or take power away from us, our view of reality and therefore, who we become.

 

 

On March 30th 2023 (Our Daughter shared more of her story):

 

“For those who are curious, I got my results back today from my PET Scan, and they confirm that I’m in remission!”

 

As my wife and I sat in the glow of the closing day our daughter's message washed over us like the waves caressing the rocks at the Mooloolaba Spit. 

Our  sunset walk will forever be memorialised not for the beauty of day's end , and not just the end of the battle, but that a joy-filled new season of life is assured

My response :

 "Simply so thankful. And LOVE YOU. and so thankful for and Love you ALL.

All Creation may be groaning, here in you is a JOY and Grace that is Simply an astounding testament of embracing through battles. Standing apart is never alone. Together with each of you as a family. All of us as family. Friendship enlivened to a resurrection hope. A redemption realised. A strength emboldened. Together in a war. We stand together. We would no matter what . The family of dolphins that just rose here in the sunset testify too. Kiss of Heaven. Creator's breath. Healer's touch. Saviour's love. All our love. Thankyou ."

Shalom

 

Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

Hebrews 11:1

Cheese Hunting

I recently read one of those Facebook memory posts. You know the type. Here's something you posted two years ago; why don’t you repost it?

I chose not to repost. Not because it wasn’t relevant. It was very relevant. In fact I could have written it this week. I didn’t post it because a) no one would want to hear it again and b) I found it confronting.

Ever feel like the cliché ‘going around the mountain one more time’ applies to you? Well this was that kind of moment.

In the post I asked for prayer because of health and work frustrations – frustrations almost identical to those that pushed me to tears this week. Now prayer is good. It is one of the most powerful forces on earth and essential to our relationship with our loving God. It is also a way we can help one another. Writing, while lots of fun, can be a lonely business and online communities like CWD can be a place of invaluable support. Life throws a plethora of plot twists at us and many in this group have asked others to stand in the gap while they negotiated a difficult chapter in their life. Asking for prayer is good. What isn’t good is that my situation hadn’t changed at all.

Who wants to read a story where the protagonist makes no progress and continues in the same story loop chapter after chapter?

Now there are some things that we can’t change. Health issues are often beyond our control. I believe our God longs to heal us but I also know that healing is a mystery. I’m still believing and still trying things. Like many others in this community, I’ve known God’s strength and sustaining power – but I haven’t seen the breakthrough. Yet.

But what of career? The day job issue is a biggie for us creative types. We often need it to make ends meet and it can give us a sense of satisfaction and social connection – yet it can work against us too. I still work part time in a physical profession and have experienced niggling injuries and other issues that make it hard to be creative in my downtime. Much of my mountain circling has involved this cycle of frustration.

Now this frustration is understandable but to still be in the same position two years down the track and not having made changes? That’s not as understandable. If you never make changes how do you expect things to change?

There is a popular motivational book called ‘Who Moved My Cheese’. The story features two little human characters, ‘Hem’ and ‘Haw’ and two mice, ‘Sniff’ and ‘Scurry’. The mice and humans pair up and eventually find lots of cheese (a symbol of happiness and success) at Cheese Station C. When the cheese runs out Sniff and Scurry head off to look for other cheese but the two humans stay behind getting grumpy with each other. Haw wants to look for more cheese but Hem finds his old routine comforting and he’s afraid to try anything different. All he wants is for the cheese to come back. Of course it doesn’t. Eventually Haw sees his own fear and writes on the wall, ‘what would you do if you weren’t afraid?’ Haw heads off and finds crumbs of cheese. He takes them back to Hem who (spoiler) refuses them. Eventually Haw finds a new supply of cheese. Then he hears a sound. Could it be Hem looking for cheese?

So… the call to action? Well I’m not brave, but this post is about me joining Haw in writing on the wall, ‘What would I do if I wasn’t afraid?’ I’ve got some thoughts and I’ll keep you posted as to what happens but I’m determined not to be in the same position by the three year anniversary of that original post. If I am then please feel free to hit me over the head with a very large round of Camembert.

But if I’m in this situation now then there must be others who are stuck too. Are you scared because someone has moved your cheese? Or do you see the signs that your cheese is running out and you don’t know what to do? Let me know in the comments below.

Maybe we can go cheese hunting together ☺?


Reference: 
Johnson, spencer, Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal With Change In Your Work and In Your Life. New York : Putman, 1998. Print.

Check out the YouTube video 'Who Moved My Cheese?' https://youtu.be/16hxCB1Dvd4

Sue Jeffrey was born in Scotland but moved to Brisbane, Australia with her family when she was just a wee lass. After a childhood spent reading, drawing and accumulating stray animals, Sue studied veterinary science and later moved to Adelaide where she worked as both a vet and a pastor. After a sojourn of several years in the Australian Capital Territory, Sue returned to Adelaide with two dogs, a very nice husband, and a deep desire to write. Sue has a MA in creative writing and her short stories and poems have appeared in several anthologies including Tales of the Upper Room, Something in the Blood: Vampire Stories With a Christian Bite, Glimpses of Light and A Chicken Can Make a Difference. Sue won the 'Short' category in the inaugural Tabor Adelaide/ Life FM 'Stories of Life' award and her e-book, 'Ruthless The Killer: A Short Story,' is available from Amazon.com. Sue also paints animal portraits

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