It takes me a good 2-3 hours to get through the small strip of shops on one side of Leura Mall. So that’s probably why I never made it up the stairs to the Nook. The goods on sale were more my family in law’s style but the one display that intrigued me was of course food related. When I asked, they told me that the man that makes the jams (presumably Jack of Faye and Jack) is 84 years old, jam making keeps him young and like a lot of small homemade companies, the price hasn’t changed for a long time.
From the laminated sign, I could see they were big winners in country shows and the Sydney Royal Easter show and having a look at the strawberry jam (my favourite flavour) I could see that they were very chunky and full of fruit, the way I like it (although there was some inconsistency with the level of fruit in some jars). Picking the jar most packed full of fruit, I also selected another judge’s favourite, the passionfruit butter. My husband is not a huge lemon butter fan so I thought that Passionfruit might be more to his taste. Smaller jars like the Passionfruit butter are $4 and large jams are $5. An absolute steal really.
I don’t know what is better to try these with than French Toast. On the first day our of family holiday I made 6 slices of French toast, mainly for Blythe and my husband. Everyone ended up enjoying it so much that poor Blythe only received one piece so the next day I made double that.
The passionfruit butter was the favourite, the sweet and true passionfruit flavour bursting through in every bite. It was easy to see why it was a winner with the judges.
The strawberry jam was luscious and chock full of fat strawberry chunks although it was a little less sweet than regular jams which may be to some tastes.
French toast for a hungry family
- 6 slices fruit bread or chocolate swirl bread
- 6 slices crumpet bread
- 4 large eggs (5 small eggs)
- 1/3 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- butter and oil for frying
1. Beat eggs, milk and sugar in a bowl. Heat frying pan with butter and oil (the oil is to ensure that the butter doesn’t burn, the butter is for taste). Dip the slices of bread into mixture just before frying (don’t do this too ahead of time or the bread, if fresh, will fall apart). Repeat with remaining slices and serve with bacon or jams and preserves.
Variations: add 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon orange rind and 1 tablespoon orange juice to egg and milk mixture
Faye and Jack’s Jams
Available at The Nook Craft Co-operative
133a Leura Mall Leura 2780
Tel: +61 (02) 4784-2917
http://www.thenookleura.com.au
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13 Comments | Add your own
Where’s the banana jam??
They both look rather delicious to me!
Hi Cappucino-Hmmm interesting idea! I don’t think I’ve ever seen Banana jam!
The passionfruit butter looks fantastic! Your latest post has made me yearn to go to Leura for a weekend, meandering in foodie and homeware stores. Have you got any tips on what would be your idea of a perfect way to spend a day there?
I’m enjoying this Leura “focus” of late.
Love that place.
Hi Lori-Sure, I think if you drive up in the morning there’s “The Cupcakery” in Wenthworth falls on the way there that we drove past but my husband didn’t want to stop at.
When you get to Leura The Stockmarket cafe at Leura Mall or the place next to it are good for brunch.
After that the main Mall of Leura can pretty much provide you with things to shop for a whole day (or 2!). We had to go there for 2 days as the shops are packed full of goodies that you just don’t tend to get in Sydney. I especially loved Elisabeth Rosa stationary, Moontree candles (lower levels are excellent for chic homewares), wooden furniture and knick knack shop, Art Deco/Balinese style furniture store, the fabulous Lolly store and the antique/vintage stores. I swear I could furnish my home through the shops there (to much gnashing of my husband’s teeth
).
Eating wise, the pizzas at Terra Firma are quite nice (although service gets bad reviews and one pizza was burnt on the bottom) so I can’t wholeheartedy recommend it.
My favourite place was probably Lilianfels for afternoon tea though. I’ll publish a story on it tomorrow
Do let me know if you go and what you thought! I want to go back to try The Cupcakery desperately
Hi Jobe-Thanks! I’ve got a few more Leura stories to post. If I had to live anywhere in the Blue Mountains it would definitely be Leura
Thanks for those recommendations! I was looking at Leura accommodation today as I don’t think one day there would be enough. I do actually like bushwalks, in addition to cupcakes, homewares, high teas, and other foodie things. I also read about some nice gardens in Leura. Like you, I could spend ages poking around in homewares stores but my husband less so (he gets the ‘Ikea’ face); hence the bushwalking to placate him! We don’t have a car so would be training it up, might not be able to check out the Cupcakery in that case
Yum! I love homemade jams. I came back from NZ with 6 jars of homemade jams and chutneys and I’m regretting I didn’t get more. Passionfruit butter has always been a favourite of mine but it seems to be a dying artform – it’s hard to find. I do have a recipe for it though – just have to get organised and get my hands on a few bags of passionfruit when they’re at peak season!
Hi Lori-I think two days is definitely a good idea especially if you like bushwalking. I don’t think I could get my husband to come along for shopping for too long-I left him and his siblings to go bushwalking while my family went shopping
Hi Helen-I love making butters, they’re so easy but so good in petite tart cases and just swirled through vanilla ice cream. I am guilty of overbuying too and schlepped 4 jars of French jam back from Europe and along with my candles (in glass) my luggage was completely overweight!
Gday Lori. This post may be too late for your needs but if you want to go to the cupcakery by train, get off at Wenty Falls, walk to the highway, turn right and its next to the pizza place. It’ll take no longer than 5 minutes. However get there early as they close when they run out of cupcakes, which if you’ve had them, can sometimes be pretty early.
Just on Fayes and Jacks jams. I deliver the jars he uses and every time I go there he gives me a jar. The orange whiskey marmalade may be the greatest thing i’ve ever put in my mouth. Served on crumpets piping hot is just about the best way to beat the Blue Mountains winter. Faye and Jack themselves are the nicest people you would ever want to meet and he actually put me onto this website.
Hi Matt-Thanks for the directions, we might be going back there for Christmas so will pay them a visit if we do.
Wow, what a small world! I’m glad to hear that they are nice. Somehow nice jams made by nice people seem to taste better!
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