Toot & childhood memories in Bahrain

I think most of us in the Middle East remember our childhood when we think of the toot tree. It’s the closest thing I ever came to fruit picking- being from a barren dessert climate! I have picked only two kinds of fruit in Bahrain- lemons, and toot, and o of course Dates too but I kind of take those for granted!

Here is the recipe to turn toot into a jam and make it last longer

I cup freshly picked toot

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1 vanilla pod slit and seeds scraped out and throw into pot

1 lemon

Mix it all together in a ceramic pot (except the lemon save for after turning the fire off). Turn on the fire, let it cook while stirring with a wooden spoon, until all the sugar dissolves and some of the water evaporates. Pour into a bowl and let cool before you refrigerate. If you like it thick add one tablespoon of cornstarch mixed in water into the jam and stir for a minute before you close the fire- In either case the jam will thicken once cooled.

Add the lemon juice last after you close the fire.