Canned Memories

Many years ago when I was small wee one. My Dad was stationed at Ft. Hancock, also known as Sandy Hook. It's this little spit of a peninsula, that has the Atlantic on one side and the Navasink River on the other. I don't remember living there but I do remember as my siblings and I got older we went quite often and hung out fishing, swimming, catching crabs, and making new friends. We lived in a summer trailer where we were surrounded by other Army families in summer trailers. We ran all over the peninsula. Explored every nook and cranny, learned the wildlife, and vegetation. There were bonfires at night and organized activities for us Army brats at day. Ft. Hancock was just an awesome place to summer at for the families of the military. I miss being young and care free.


One of the first classes back in the kitchen's at TCC was Orange Marmalade and  Tomato Jam. While creating the Orange Marmalade, my thoughts went back to the time when I was really little and we were stationed at Ft. Hancock. Dad was an active duty Army medic. He just came back from Viet Nam and baby Sister Suzanne might have been a twinkle in their eyes. But Mom called my God Mother up. Marie who was Editor of Family Circle, Great Ideas at the time. Marie what is a beach plum? Can I make jelly out of it because Joe (Dad) came home with a few bushels of them from the beach. So Marie and her awesome culinary talents, gave a recipe over the phone and beach plum jelly was made.

Tomato Jam (L) Orange Marmalade (R)

I don't see beach plum's or jelly around here in these parts of Virginia. Maybe it's a Northern thing? I am not even sure if anyone still makes it. Many years later after a stint in Germany and three bothers later we moved from Matawan to Marlboro, NJ. Dad insisted on a bigger house for the growing family, and some land to have a chicken or two and a garden, which in my memories was really a small farm. Since we had not only the chicken or two, but turkeys, geese, countless cats, a horse, and dogs. The garden had everything in it. From Asparagus to Zucchini. We used it all. We froze peas, canned tomatoes, and brined our own sauerkraut. Applesauce was made from apples on the tree's and peaches were used for home made ice cream. Chef Emi had us in the kitchen to make Orange Marmalade and Tomato Jam. I added some cinnamon and ginger to my marmalade. Dennis my partner for the night worked on the tomato jam. (YUMM) Something I don't remember making growing up, but Mom did when I told her what we did that night in the kitchen. I am looking forward to cracking my "canned" memories open soon and sharing them with my kids.