We have an amazing apricot tree in our garden. We also have Fifteen rozelas than live in our garden and the birds have been nibbling the top leaves of the tree. I kept telling myself that i should put up a net but I never quite got around to it and i getting really anxious than all the apricots would be lost. We have lost a lot of apricots but we still have many more than we can consume and we spent new years day making 28 jars of jam!

We moved into this house last year but when the apricot tree was full we were painting and doing the floors and we were camped at my uncles house. I made jam in the in the heat as baby Sol slept.

When we moved in the previous owners left us a large folder, a manual full of information, in this they told us how they had planted the apricot tree 20 years earlier. They left us a forwarding address so I sent them some apricot jam. They sent me back the most delightful letter telling me how they had also made jam from the apricots and how much they appreciated the jam. With the letter was a jar of black currant jam the had made. I will sent them a 2010 batch also.

Westbury Jam

2kg of apricots

2kg sugar

1 vanilla bean

juice of one lemon

sterilised jars with lids

* wash the apricots and then halve and pit them

put them in a large pot

* add the sugar and the lemon juice and vanilla.

* place on the heat and stir and bring to the boil.

* as the fruit boils your will need to skim off the foam that form on the surface.

* cook for around an hour, stirring regularly.

* to test the jam is ready place a spoonful on a saucer and put it in the freezer. Remove from the freezer and push it with your finger, if it forms a skin its ready.

* pour into sterilised jars

jam will keep for up to a year if refrigerated.

We have also been cooking apricot cake. This recipe comes from my grandmother, who also once had an apricot tree.

Omi's Apricot Cake

3 eggs

3 tbs butter

3 tbs castor sugar

6 tbs self raising flour

1 tsp vanilla

fresh apricots

20 x 30 pan

preheat oven to 180

simply mix all the ingredients beat for three minuets

spread the batter in the pan and then arrange the apricots on top

bake for 35-40 mins depending on your oven

let the cake cool in the tin and then dust with icing sugar

watch the cake disappear before your eyes as hungry hordes are drawn by its delicious aroma

I saw that Bill Granger has an upside down caramel apricot cake, might give that one a try next.