This Red Currant Conserve in known in French as Bar-Le-Duc. This region in the north east of France has been preserving currants using this method since the fourteenth century.
Head straight on to the Recipe For ♥ Red Currant Conserve ♥
Last Friday night we got together with friends at a local eatery. They serve really good hamburgers and that is why we went there. I knew they were not licensed but I had forgotten our bottle of wine at home. As I had been out for lunch and had wine with my meal, I was not too concerned. Dave and George shared Elize’s bottle with her, and I stuck to water. We ordered four main courses, a few sides, water and espresso. We were done very early which was great considering we were still under curfew conditions. Dave paid the bill and on the way home I asked him how much it was. When he told me R790 including the tip I nearly fell of my chair so to speak. A meal without alcohol should never come close to R200 per head.
Today’s inspirational recipe from Lavender and Lime ♥ Red Currant Conserve ♥ #LavenderAndLime Share on X
As I had paid R225 for lunch including wine I thought it was really excessive. Dave however did not agree. I then took a look at the bill and saw we had been charged R225.00 for something we did not order, or get! The rest of the bill was reasonable – R88 per burger, plus R60 for the sides. Dave’s tacos came to R95 so all-in-all, not expensive. I called them and the manager said we could come back and he would sort it out. Turns out that the loaded chips he rung up were meant to be the tempura vegetables we got. The refund was sorted out and within a few hours the money reflected in our account. I am really glad I double checked as I would have felt ripped off when I reconciled the credit card at the end of the month.
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
Red Currant Conserve
Ingredients
- 300 g frozen red currants
- 30 mls liquid from defrosting
- 150 g fructose
Method
- Set a sieve over a bowl and place the red currants into the sieve and set aside to defrost
- Once defrosted, place the red currants and 30mls of the liquid into a thick bottomed saucepan
- Heat over a low temperature and when just simmering, gently swirl the pan to turn the fruit
- Leave to simmer for 4 minutes then turn off the heat
- Add the fructose 15mls at a time, gently stirring in between each addition - you do not want to blister the skin
- Once all the fructose has been added, cover the top with baking paper
- Set aside to cool for 24 hours
- Remove the baking paper and place the saucepan onto a medium to low temperature
- Leave to summer for 4 minutes, gently swirling the pan every minute
- Place the preserves into a sterilized glass jar and seal straight away
- Tip the jar onto its lid for a minute then turn right side up and leave to cool
- Store for up to a year in your pantry and once opened, refrigerate and use within 6 weeks
Notes
Inspiration published on Lavender and Lime October 2:
-
- 2019 – September 2019 Showcasing In My Kitchen
- 2017 – Smokey Halloumi Salad
- 2016 – Tom Clancy’s Duty And Honour
- 2014 – Quince Compote
- 2013 – I Made It Challenge: Nougat
- 2012 – Roast Beetroot Risotto
- 2011 – Food Quiz Number 64 For A Friday
What do you expect to pay per head for a meal out, with and without alcohol?
My wife loves red currant. I am sure she is going to love this conserve. Is there any substitute for fructose
Yes, you can use sugar 🙂
Good you checked that bill. I used to be terrible about checking my bill prior to paying, but now I always check. It amazing how often it incorrect. I love it when someone leaves off an item and I remind them that they missed it.
Love the conserve recipe. We make one very similar here using black currents. It’s excellent with wild game as I’m sure your red currant conserve is.
I will try mine with some game meat this week 🙂
I’m really bad at checking receipts. Lesson learned here. I’ve never heard of this – the name bar le duc. But I do love red currant jelly. Yours looks really good with the currants in the jam/conserve.
Thank you Mimi 🙂
nice job catching the overcharge – you should be an auditor! and R88 for a burger does seem quite reasonable…
Eating out here is very reasonable imo.
We always check our bill at a restaurant for this very reason, Tandy. Thanks for the recipe.
It is amazing how easily errors like this happen 🙂