quince part three
September 28, 2009
I processed another batch of quince this weekend. I think this was my favorite so far. I think that this is for two reasons. Firstly, the quinces have been ripening in my kitchen. Every time I walk into my house there is a delicate, sweet smell of quince. As they ripen, the color of the fruits turns a deep yellow, and the fur on the skin becomes easier to remove. Secondly, I made quince paste (from one of my favorite preserving books, “The Joy of Jams, Jellies, and other Sweet Preserves” by Linda Ziedrich). Quince paste is like the essence of quince. The tang, the sweetness, and the gritty and firm texture (at least in mine) are what remind me of quince.
The general idea behind quince paste is that the quince fruit is cooked, pureed, added to sugar, and cooked some more. The result is a fruit gel of sorts that I am thoroughly addicted to. All the pectin in quince (particularly in the peels, seeds, and cores) helps to gel the fruit, creating almost a cake. I am trying not to eat it every time I get near the kitchen…which is pretty much all the time that I am in my house.
Witherspoon Quince Family Trivia
After talking with my dad, I learned that my great grandmother had a huge quince tree, and that my dad and a friend used to own 20% of the quince fruit tree crop in California! This turns out to have been 12 trees, and because there was so little demand for the fruits, they ended up giving them away!
living in the woods and making stuff 
September 28, 2009 at 12:59 am
I totally forgot about the quince crop….was it with Phil? oh and can you send me some paste…seriously, i would love to try it! dry ice?
September 28, 2009 at 1:07 am
Yup on the quince crop. And quince paste is made to preserve the fruit…so it can definitely last until I come to visit. I have also saved you a jar of peppers a la Erika. I covered them with oil and put them right in the fridge. Do you think that they will last?
September 28, 2009 at 5:16 pm
hmmm… i hoe so but keep an eye on them and if it seems like they are turning eat them fast!
October 21, 2009 at 4:08 am
Love reading your blog and look forward to trying your recipes. I love quince too, it’s my dad’s favorite fruit and we pay a fortune for it here in Houston at the farmer’s market. They smell divine, my dad calls it nature’s aromatherapy because we let them ripen on the kitchen counter and the scent wafts all over the house. Love to you guys!
October 21, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Isn’t quince the best thing ever? I feel the same way about the perfume of the ripening quince. I had a pot in my kitchen for several weeks and when I walked in the door the quince would waft through the room. Send me your address and I will put a little quince treat in the mail for you and your dad! Hope you are doing well in Texas! xoxo