There's something that feels so special (and typically british) about picking fruit from your own garden and boiling and bubbling it up into your own homemade jam.
I've always loved Plum Jam, I used to have it when I was a younger, but hadn't had it in a while. There'd always be a jar at my dads house, but since I've been at university that luxury was not available to me and I was scrapping out the last of whatever was in the cupboard instead...
My dad and step-mum had left a huge bag of delicious, straight from the tree, plums and greengages for me when I drove down the other day. They said I could pick more from the tree if I wanted to make jam, so I took the chance to take photos of the plum trees at golden hour and the challenge of making jam as it was one I was most definitely up for.
This recipe is super simple and doesn't involve any faffing about with a thermometer. You can change the quantities to the amount of jam you'd like to make, just make sure you're using equal parts plums and sugar.
r e c i p e b e l o w 
This recipe is by Waitrose.
Remember these quantities are completely up to you, but adapt the other ingredients depending on how many plums you want to use.
What you'll need ::
2kg English plums - washed, halved & stoned
600ml cold water
2kg Jam sugar (We used preserving sugar, which seemed to work just as well)
1. Prepare your jam jars. Preheat your oven to 160°C, wash your jars in hot soapy water, rinse and dry them thoroughly. Put them on their sides in the oven for 10 minutes and then turn off the oven until the jam is ready to pot.
2. To prepare your plums, cut them in half along the indentation, twist the halves apart and remove the stones.
3. Put the plums and water in a wide, large saucepan. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat, simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon for 45 minutes - the plums should be soft and pulpy and the liquid should be reduced by about half.
4. Add the sugar and stir until it has completely dissolved. The base of the pan should no longer feel gritty when stirred with a wooden spoon. Bring to the boil and boil it rapidly for 4-5 minutes.
6. Remove it from the heat and test the setting point. To do this, spoon a little jam onto a chilled saucer, let it cool for a few seconds, then push the jam with your finger. If it wrinkles on the surface, it has reached setting point and it's ready to put into the jars. If not boil for a further 2 minutes and test again.
7. Skim off the scum from the surface using a slotted spoon, then leave the jam to stand for 15 minutes, then stir it thoroughly. Set your jars out and pour the jam into the warm jars, right to the top. Cover the jam with a waxed disc (not going to lie, I didn't have these...) and then twist on the lid. Tie a sweet ribbon around the jar, write a little label and your jam is good to go!
It's absolutely delicious on warm buttered toast or my current favourite, a big blob of jam on top of a bowl of greek yoghurt for breakfast. Delicious.
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On the hunt for a places to soothe our poor hungover heads with breakfast and coffee, Fran and I stumbled upon Vanilla Pod.
We'd both passed it a few times, but never ventured inside, we're so glad we did. It's decorated very sweetly with fresh flowers on tables, cool jar lights hanging from the ceiling and vintage looking dressers with teapots and teacups on.
After reading the menu, a difficult decision later, we opted for two iced coffee and two full english breakfast.
How good do they sound? Might have to pop back for one of those this week...
They had a delicious looking array of cakes, lots of gluten free and vegan ones too!
We watched as the lovely woman made our iced coffee, which were without a doubt the best ones we've ever tasted. We asked how they made them, it's a combination of a thai recipe and english recipe. In Thailand they use lots of condensed milk and powered milk, due to a lack of fresh milk being available. This being a lot sweeter, and the combination with fresh milk and fresh coffee, makes their ice coffees super sweet and creamy. Served in glass jars with a handle is was a perfectly sweet pick me up!
Two poached eggs, granary toast, cherry vine tomatoes, thick bacon, Lincolnshire sausages, field mushrooms and homemade baked beans. It hit the spot perfeclty and felt very luxurious for an english breakfast, nothing like a greasy full english from a local cafe, it was absolutely delicious. The homemade baked beans tasted incredible with strong flavours of (what I thought to be) barbecue and tomato. I would have taken more photos but I was ravenous and got stuck right in... oops!
It will definitely be a spot I'll keep going back too. Perfect for if I have some guest visiting or the boyfriend and I feel like a treat one morning, lunch time, afternoon or tea time!
You can find Vanilla Pod at 52 Lansdowne Place, Hove, BN3 1FG.
Go over to their Facebook or Twitter and try not to drool looking at all their photos of their cakes!
On a lazy, sunny morning in Brighton I want nothing more than brunch, consisting of a stack of pancakes drowning in syrup.
So that's what I got!
Myself, Hen and Garf took ourselves to Verano Lounge. One of my favourite little places in Brighton to grab a bite too eat.
Mismatching cushions and furniture in a big room with hundreds of paintings on the walls.
I love the uniqueness of this little place. It's not just like any other place, you can tell real effort has been put in.
Great for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Great for sipping on fruity and exciting cocktails, or for getting your foamy cappuccino to wake you up the morning after...
It took me a while to choose, I'm indecisive and it's a menu crammed with goodness. I wanted it all!
Milkshakes for everyone! Vanilla for Henry, Strawberry for Garf and Peanut Butter for myself. I'm one of those people who loves to mix sweet and salty and this milkshake hit the spoooottt. The men weren't such big fans...
The food's arrived!
Sweet, salty, soft and crunchy... so mouthwateringly good.
For some reason, I always remember that I took this photo on St. Patricks Day last year, I don't know why but it really sticks in my head.
The photo just makes me really happy, a perfect Spring Breakfast on a lazy sunday morning!
So I thought I'd share it on here!
What are you up to today?
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