How I slow down at the start of the new year, when it's so tempting to rush ahead. Remember that we are still in winter, it's only the beginning of the year and you still have time to work on all your goals and resolutions. A slow and steady start is better than taking a plunge and burning out two months later. What are your favourite ways to winter?
-------
SEVILLE ORANGE MARMALADE RECIPE:
1.5 kg of whole Seville oranges (bitter oranges)*
1/2 lemon
750g of plain white sugar
1.5 L of water**
🍊 Place whole oranges and a lemon half into a big saucepan. Pour 1.5 L of water and simmer for 1.5-2 hours on a small heat. Cover with a lid to prevent the water from evaporating too fast.
🍊 When the oranges are cooked (a fork or knife will go through the skin easily), remove them from the pan, reserving the remaining water for later. Remove the lemon half too.
🍊 Let the oranges cool down. Cut in half and scoop out the pith and the pips (the inner part of the orange) and set aside. Seville oranges have a lot of seeds inside, and we will need to use them too! They help to produce pectin and thicken the marmalade.
🍊 Slice the orange peel into long strips. You can use as much peel as you like - I used about half of the whole amount, but some people use much less. (The peel gives a slightly bitter flavour) Set aside.
🍊 Place the pith and pips (the inner part of the orange) back into the pan with the reserved water. Let it simmer on a small fire for 15 minutes.
🍊 After 15 minutes, pour everything out into a separate bowl through a fine mesh sieve. Squeeze as much of the liquid as you can using a spoon. Make sure to scoop up any thicker liquid from the bottom of the sieve as this is what contains the most pectin. The liquid should be orange and cloudy.
🍊 Pour everything back into the large saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add sugar and mix until it's dissolved. Once the sugar is dissolved, add orange peel. Simmer for about 30 minutes.
* You can use any oranges or citrus for this recipe. Seville oranges are tart and bitter and contain a lot of essential oils which is perfect for this recipe. They also contain a lot of seeds which help to naturally thicken the marmalade. If using sweeter oranges, then I'd suggest to add about 2 whole lemons in as well.
** I used about 1.5 L of water, but the goal is to cover your oranges. They will float up, so you need to push them down to see if the water covers them. You may also place a plate on top of the oranges to prevent them from floating up when boiling.
*** You can adjust sugar to taste. If using sweet oranges, I'd suggest using less sugar. I initially used 500g of sugar for this recipe, but then added another 250g half way. The jam is quite tart, and if you want it sweeter, you can try increasing the amount of sugar.
**** This is my preferred method of making the marmalade, but a lot of people make it using a muslin cloth. I don't have a muslin cloth, which is why this method works for me.
______
Buy me a coffee:
https://ko-fi.com/dariamundi
Music: Epidemic Sound
Get 7 days free of Epidemic Sound here
https://share.epidemicsound.com/02b8i1
Find me on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/dariashew
Filmed on: Panasonic GH6
Edited with: Premiere Pro CC
____
key words:
wintering, slow living, the art of wintering, slow living in january, winter 2025, living seasonally, cottagecore, dark cottagecore, english countryside, slow living routine, new years resolutions, how to stick to resolutions, english cottage life, rural living, orange marmalade recipe, seasonal cooking #wintering #slowliving #cozyliving
___
Time Stamps:
00:00 - 01:13 Embrace Seasonal Living
01:14 - 04:12 Peaceful Routine & Habits
04:13 - 05:24 Seville Orange Marmalade
05:25 - 08:40 Winter Countryside Walk
08:41 - 14:56 Wintering & Seasonal Cooking