With the last of my lemons I made Honey Lemon Marmalade adapted from a recipe I found at Food In Jars. 
It was the most amazing day yesterday. We let the fire go out and I had the windows and doors open. The air wooshed through on the tail of the wind but I did not care. It was FRESH! I just dressed appropriately! But I did not even need a jacket, and my clown suit sulked on its hook all day. As the day warmed up so did the bees and out they came. I took you out to see.
So I had 8 juicy organic lemons left over. Just enough to make the honey lemon marmalade. This is a sensational marmalade. Quite a change from the straight sugar variety.
- 8 lemons (about 4 cups of chopped lemon)
- 1 cup home made honey
- scant 2 cups of sugar
- 1 cup water
Now Marissa added pectin right at the end, but I made a tiny change, don’t tell her, she might get cranky, and I used the seeds to thicken the jam. I do not like it too thick you see. And I am making it to cook with, so it does not need to keep for months.
Cut the lemons into wedges, slice the thin end of the wedge off along with the seeds, flick out and collect any extra seeds. Wrap those slices of pith and the seeds in a small muslin bag to cook with the marmalade.
Put the lemon wedges through a food processor using the slice blade, twice. This was my first attempt at a short cut and it worked very well. Lemon juice and cut fingers do not go well together.
Cook all ingredients plus the muslin bag for about 30 – 45 minutes. Drop tiny bits into a saucer of freezing cold water to test, the marmalade needs to gel into a rolling ball. If it is not thickening to your satisfaction then you could add the pectin. Just a heaped tablespoon, then simmer for about 5 minutes.
Ladle into serilised jars. Lids and rings and into a boiling bath for ten minutes. I omitted the water bath as well because this marmalade is destined for the fridge. But Marissa would encourage you to use the water bath just to be sure.
Stand by though, as this special marmalade is an ingredient in a lovely dinner! I shall cook it for you today. These are the bees in the struggling hive. They were out and about yesterday in the warm as well, and I was much heartened by their vigor. It is not their honey we are using today, they were left with all their honey for winter food.
Today is also destined to be warm. No fire to warm the house today. No-one will be inside anyway!! After doing the barn I shall be hanging the clothes out on the line to dry. Later today we are off to the junk yard to find something we can turn into a harvest table. I shall take the camera in case there are treasures! You can have a wee excursion!
Good Morning!
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
100 responses to “Honey Lemon Marmalade on a lovely late Winter Day”
This marmalade sounds so good, I can’t wait to find out how you are going to use.
It si a lovely dinner, can’t wait to share it.. c
I have been enjoying our warm weather for as long as it lasts. This marmalade recipe looks simple and easy. Is it possible to substitute oranges for the lemons?
Absolutely, as long as you use sour oranges. Of course then it would be honey orange marmalade. I think if you use regular oranges you will probably need the pectin! Sour equals jell. But why not give it a try and let me know! c
One day I shall learn how to cook and then I will make a comment. HF
Put wifey on!! c
Bees in February…..might nice 🙂
amazing isn’t it, but they did need a toilet break!! c
Love the bees!
Morning Debra!! When are you back off to Italy then?.. c
It was worth it to make that clown suit sulk…I would say this post is a breath of fresh air….hahahahahahahahaha..wonderful!
Oh you are quite the smarty pants today.. having fun is good! c
This looks so delightful!! I’ve never thought of making honey-lemon marmalade, but I must try!
Oh do try .. it is a very special taste.. c
i wish i had bees. i am deathly allergic. it was 63 degrees here today and sunny. how unnatural!
I haven’t had homemade marmalade in such a very long time. And I can just see how this would be amazing on some homemade biscuits from scratch. Yes, my mouth is watering right now thinking about it lol.
Hello, I have just come by you lovely blog and am really enjoying reading the wonderful and interesting posts here.
We’ve just been hit by a cold spell in Europe and it’s freezing! Glad it’s warmer where you are, please send us the warmth, we need it here 🙂
The marmalade sounds exquisite and downright like tasty medicine (certainly a heaping spoonful melted in hot water or tea would be a healing elixir for a scratchy throat or respiratory distress) as well as just a delicious jam!
Even sweeter, perhaps, is the sight of some happy, healthy, active bees. Hurray, hurray! What good news and a sight for hopeful eyes indeed.
I have nominated your blog for The Versatile Blogger Award!
Sounds wonderful with tea! Or morning toast. I love honey & lemon flavors, they meld together so effortlessly.
They do .. they were born for each other!! c
Hooray for bees – and lovely marmalade!