Grapefruit and Bergamot Jam

I've been known to go pretty citrus crazy this time of year, but due to our move and some other circumstances I scaled down my usual citrus extravaganza to more of a low-key citrus shindig this time around. Despite my late start to the season, I still managed to get my paws on a lone bergamot that I knew would be the perfect addition to Marisa's grapefruit jam that I had bookmarked last year. If you are a marmalade wimp like me, this jam will be right up your alley. The small amount of bergamot zest adds a bitter, floral note to this preserve which I admit sounds odd, but if you like earl grey tea you know what I am talking about.

Next year I am going to order some real-deal Seville oranges like Tim from Lottie and Doof.

Grapefruit and Bergamot Jam
adapted from Food in Jars
yield 2 pints
If you can't find bergamot oranges where you live don't let that turn you away from this recipe. This jam is super tasty even without the extra hit of bitter bergamot flavor.

8 grapefruit (approximately 4 pounds)
1 bergamot orange
2 1/2 cups granulated white sugar

1. Wash and dry the fruit and prepare your canning jars.
2. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the peel from the bergamot being careful to avoid the bitter white pith, then slice the peels into very thin strips. Combine the zest strips with about 2 cups of cold water in a medium sized saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook the zest strips until they are very soft, about 30 minutes then drain and rinse them quickly with cool water. Juice the bergamot and reserve it for later.
3. Supreme the grapefruit by cutting away the tops and bottoms of the fruit, then with a very sharp knife, cut the skin and white pith away from the outside of the fruit and discard it. Over a bowl, carefully cut the wedges of fruit away from the membrane letting the fruit and juices fall into the bowl. Save the membrane and seeds and place them in a cheesecloth bundle. You will use this bundle to add some natural pectin while cooking the marmalade.
4. Add the grapefruit segments, juice, cheesecloth bundle, and prepared bergamot zest and juice into a large, non-reactive pot. Stir in the sugar.
5. Put the pan over high heat and stir until the sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to a rolling boil. Cook the jam, stirring occasionally, until it comes to 220º or passes the wrinkle test. Remove the cheesecloth bundle and ladle the finished jam into prepared jars. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath.

Chocolate and Bergamot Cookie Sandwiches

To be honest, these cookies did not start as the deep dark chocolate sandwiches that they eventually became. I had been hemming and hawing about what to do with my very first bergamot for awhile and when I finally decided that some powdered sugar tea cookies would be the way to go, my plan hit a little snag I like to call, "not really reading the recipe before cooking." Rookie mistake. I had my butter and sugar creaming in the mixer and I opened the pantry to find myself undeniably short on flour. So, I grabbed my trusty Callebaut cocoa powder and a little cornstarch, upped the salt and squeezed in some bergamot juice and turned these cookies into a chocolate and citrus pairing. I am normally not a fan of chocolate and fruit together, so I decided to up the chocolate flavor by sandwiching the cookies with a bit of melted chocolate and it worked perfectly to mellow the acid in the fruit. That said, if you don't feel like taking the time to make cookie sandwiches, don't! The cookies bake up crisp and tasty on their own and they are perfect with a nice hot cup of earl grey.

Chocolate and Bergamot Sandwiches
yield about 15 cookie sandwiches

1c softened butter
3/4c powdered sugar
1t vanilla extract
zest of one bergamot orange
2T bergamot orange juice
1 1/2c flour
1/2c cocoa powder
2T cornstarch
3/4t salt
2T cacao nibs (optional)
6oz chocolate to fill the cookie sandwiches

1. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch and salt. Set aside
2. Combine the butter, sugar, vanilla, and zest in a medium bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon until combined, then stir in the bergamot juice.
3. Add in the flour mixture and the cacao nibs and stir until just combined. Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic and chill for at least 30min before rolling. While the dough is chilling preheat your oven to 350º.
4. Remove half of the dough from the fridge and roll out on a well floured surface or between 2 pieces of lightly floured parchment paper, the dough should be between 1/4''-1/8'' thick. Cut into desired shapes and place on lined baking sheets. If your dough has warmed up a bit, chill the cut cookies on the baking sheet for a few minutes before baking. Repeat with the other half of the dough and make sure to save and re roll the scraps. Bake for 12-15min, rotating the pans half way through the cooking time, until the cookies appear completely dry and are firm to the touch.
5. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 10min, then remove to a rack to cool completely. The cookies should be crisp when done. If you find your cookies are a bit soft and crumbly put them back in the oven for a few minutes until they are baked all of the way through.

To Fill the Cookie Sandwiches

1. Turn half of the cookies over to expose the smooth underside.
2. Chop the chocolate very finely and melt over a double boiler or in the microwave. Let the chocolate cool until it is the consistency of mayonaise, about 15min, then use a spoon or pastry bag to fill each cookie with about 1t of chocolate. Top each chocolate topped cookie with another cookie, smooth side down and press gently. Let the chocolate harden completely before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Notes:

-Bergamot is the floral, citrus flavor used in earl grey tea.
- If you find that the bergamot flavor is too strong, let the cookies sit for a day or so. The flavors mellow and blend really nicely.
- I haven't tried yet, but I think these chocolate cookies would make an excellent homemade oreo base.
- If you can't find bergamots in your area you can substitute an orange zest and juice.