Progress…at last, she says smiling at her ability to walk up the stairs to her third floor office without total collapse and shortage of breath.
For me, the worst sort of punishment I could ever receive was to take stairs up anywhere. Coming down as you well know, ladies and gentlemen is a breeze, except you attempt to do it down winding, narrow wooden slats in an old Dutch windmill. Anyhow, since I began this ‘healthy lifestyle’, I’ve added ‘taking the stairs as opposed to the lift’ as one of my must-do’s.
On day one of my commitment, I managed to make it up to my office and then realised that I had a series of meetings in another building, on the 4th floor. By the time I got there, I was ready to take the lift, self-promise scraped and ready to redeem myself another time. Unfortunately, fate got there before me by sending the lift out of commission and forcing me to take the long journey. Up. 
By the time I was on the first floor landing, I wanted to sit down and rest. As God would have it, hearing voices in the stairwell was like a kick up the butt and a push…..and so I continued up till I reached the top. I am glad to say that a month on, I’ve stopped panting with exhaustion, stopped cursing stairs and generally enjoy putting one foot in front of the other as I make my way. Imagine how glorious my weekend in Wales with all the hills!
And on the jam front too, even more progress, this time made with softened Galia melons, the day before we headed off to Wales. J, daughter #1 had forced me to buy 2 melons and as soon as I cut into the first one and gave her a slice to taste, she said ‘I don’t like it, this is the wrong one. I want the one that’s white inside’. I didn’t really mind because I was keen to give melon jam a go after a spectacular watermelon disaster last summer, which tasted horrible because of the bitter limequats I used. This time, I planned to combine the melon pieces with my sugar-preserved citrus, fully conscious of the fact that it might have a bitter tang.
I absolutely love the skin of net melons – Galias and Cantaloupes and their fair cousins – they are so pretty and juicy. And to me, unlike watermelons which are sweet and watery at the same time, I find Gaias to have some ‘meat’, yet being full of liquid and packing a heady musky scent.
I was shocked to discover from a Serious Eats article on Cantaloupe melons that net-skinned melons are one of the leading sources of salmonella poisoning.
The bacteria get into the bumpy skin, then form something called a polymer biofilm, making them almost impossible to get back out with regular washing—even bleach doesn’t kill them. In fact, the only way to destroy the bacteria is to heat treat the cantaloupe, which also has the unwelcome side-effect of destroying the cantaloupe.
The article has some great tips for reducing the risks like treat your melons like raw chicken – use a separate board and wash in hot soapy water after use; employ the service of a sharp knife so you avoid tearing the skin and remove the rind before serving it up.
Like the ancho strawberry preserve and the peach & orange jam before it, this marmalade with its chunky bits of citrus held together by slow-cooked, melon pulp, it tastes very good in yogurt. And on bread too. Yes, it has a hint of bitterness like expected but it is not at all overpowering. The marmalade has a fragrant, blossomy smell and has layers of flavour, intertwined just like the netted skin – the cooked melons, the vanilla and the citruses stack themselves in a pattern that is complex but rounded. There are no sharp edges to the flavours, just chunky bits of citrus, held together by a jam of melons. Perfect for the summer. Next stop, this served alongside some chicken breasts!
Galia melon & preserved citrus marmalade, yields 1 – 1 1/2 cups
Ingredients
Notes:
If using fresh citrus fruit, wash and cut fruit into halves and then into thin slices, reserving the seeds. Tie the seeds in a piece of muslin or cheescloth and place in a bowl with the fruit slices and some water (ratio of about 1 lemon/1-2 limes/1 orange to 1 cup of water). Because my fruit was preserved, it had softened and didn’t require being cut into thin slices or soaking overnight.
Because I used a liquid sweetner and I knew the melon would turn to mush, I didn’t add any water to the mixture. Typically, the sugar-fruit ratio when making jam/marmalade is one to one, especially when preserving but I don’t have any canning energy and therefore make my jams and preserves for short storage.
How to
Put all the ingredients in a pan (I dumped all the ingredients at the same time), save for the lime juice and the Cointreau.
Bring mixture to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer covered for about 45 minutes to an hour.
When ready, the marmalade will look transcluscent.
Stir in the lime juice and Cointreau and pot in clean jars.
Use within a week.
[wpurp-searchable-recipe]Galia Melon Marmalade – – – [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]
this looks loverly 🙂 xx
[…] experimenting with colour palettes and taste palates, textures and light. I love to highlight the net skins of cantaloupes and the bum cheeks of peaches, almost as much as I enjoy sushi and (cooking with) wine. I love […]
Delicious recipe and great tips, I wasn’t aware of possibility of salmonella poisoning with melons… thank you for opening my eyes 🙂
What a lovely post! I love the last photo. It looks like you take so much time and effort into each post I can tell they are filled with love.
Good for you on the stair thing! I work on the 6th floor and rashly made the same promise to myself before our ski trips this year. There are 150 steps. I counted. :o) But I certainly was fit and ready for the trip! Have fallen off the wagon somewhat lately, but hae to start doig it again…
Love this marmalade. Melon and ginger jam was so common back home but seemingly unheard of in the UK. I had also heard that about the skin of net melons – people saying you should peel them and rinse before cutting, lest the knife blade drags the bacteria into the soon-to-be-eaten flesh. But in all honesty, I have always just cut and eaten them and in 41 years they have NOT given me salmonella poisoning! (but then, after the London Underground, your immune system is somewhat blostered!!)
Delicious!
Wow, I never had melon marmalade…love the shape of the bread 🙂 really cute.
I know this is really ridiculous, but there’s a character on Futurama that always goes, “Oh marmalade!” That’s all I can think about. 🙂
Delightful recipe! Your photos are so nice!
Thanks Kris, Sophie, Mimi (welcome back), Oyster Culture and Conor
What a great achievement! Well done!! I love hearing when people resolve to do something like this and ACTUALLY DO IT 😀
Melon marmalade intrigues me and looks lovely. ‘specially with the little hearts <3
I love to hear that you are feeling better and more healthy. One step at a time is all it takes.
Your melon preserve sounds delicious and I bet it is. Cannot wait to check it out for myself.
Wow a lot has been going on since I’ve been on vacation. Healthy foods, exercise, a tear here and there and wonderful jams.
Mimi
I’m trying my best to take the stairs instead of the lift now too =) melon preserve is new to me!
Lovely shots of this stunning marmelade!
I love these melons!
i also love the last shot the most!! hahahaha,…!!!
Kisses from Brussels!
Beautiful shots, love the “I Love You” concept 🙂
Sawadee from bangkok,
Kris
My goodness I had absolutely NO IDEA about this salmonella risk with galia melons, thank you for alerting me to that.
Well done too on sticking to your new habits, I need to do the same. I’m really inspired by how you are still able to put together such beautiful posts with simple healthy recipes.
Amber, I wish I could get into canning – I will give it a go because you can preserve so much and keep your seasons truly ‘four’ if you can have strawberry compotes at Christmas and winter veggies in Spring.
Aparna, yes, this is a Galia melon – a cross between honeydew and cantaloupe melons. Enjoy the marmalade.
Sarah, I had no idea too about the salmonella link…esp. with fruit. Scary. And thanks for the compliment
This fruit is a Gaia melon? I didn’t know that. It just so happens its something that’s taken over the fruit stalls at the market right now!
Next trip I’m buying some and making your marmalade, that’s a promise!
This looks so good! I’m going to can something (for the first time!) at some point this summer… and this is looking like a good option!
great job, you are doing so wonderful, lovely marmalade I love galia melons, stunning
sweetlife
Shaz, the melon skin news makes me think how little I know about food hygiene. I should take a course.
Thanks Trissa, Norma, Sensiblecooking and Sweetlife
That is so different in great way. I never have tried Galia Melon Marmalade. I am so excited.
Congratulations…I wish I had the will power to stick to a diet. This is beautiful.
Congratulations Oz on your goal to be healthier!
Well done Oz! What pretty jam, and that info about the melon skin is a little scary :O
Love that last shot, with the “I heart jam”, so cute!
Just because cantaloupes have been recalled in the past for salmonella contamination, that doesn’t show they’re a “leading cause” of the infection. I’m not calling you out, I’m calling out Kenji from Serious Eats. Now, one thing I DID learn in college about cantaloupes (And other similar melons) is that they ARE a fairly common source of naturally-present botulism. So if you ever go to cut open a cantaloupe and air hisses out, throw it away and get a new one. Not worth the risk.
Rehardless, Salmonella risk or not, they’re delicious, and I would love to have some of that jam on some toast right now 🙂
Oh Shea, you made me smile hard with the phrase ‘calling out…’ – I ♥ it. It sounds so cool.
We all have our own interpretations of ‘leading causes’ and true we shouldn’t shock people into fear and avoidance of food but I didn’t know anything about fruits being a source of salmonella infection so I was completely bowled over with his revelation, and now with yours about botulism. I love food school.
So creative!! Love the whole concept. beautiful
Thanks lacquer spoon, I’ll try it with some roast duck!
Thanks Penny
Melon in a jam, so good idea! It seems to go well with meat dishes as well 🙂
Beautiful photos as always, Oz! And well done on the exercise – you go, girl! Over here, those melons are known as honeydew melons, I think…
Thanks Krista, Rhonda, Monet, Beth and Celia. Knowing I have people ‘looking out’ for me keeps me accountable and honest 🙂 and it encourages me a lot too.
Celia, the Galia melons are a cross between honeydew and cantaloupes.
Keep it up on the stairs! And my oh my, what a beautiful collection of photographs. I loved the heart shaped pieces of bread…such a creative display. And while I knew that Canterbury was easily contaminated, I had no idea how hard it was to get the skin clean. Thank you for sharing this important health information!
You are obviously up to any challenge, what a marvelous feeling not to be huffing and puffing!
huzzah on the stairs! keep it up, and you’ll be surprised what you can do in no time!
I’m so SO proud of you, Ozoz!!! 🙂 You’re doing an amazing job with your diet and exercise. 🙂 I’ve been walking 5 times a week and it feels so good. 🙂 Cheers to no huffing and puffing!! 🙂