It has been a few years since I made these jams. When I went to the local farm nearby they had just picked these strawberries. Well, if you know me, I had to do something special with them and making jam seemed perfect.
I only bought two quarts as they were $6.99 each. I thought that was very expensive but I really miss having the jam.
It was a nice day so I sat on the back porch hulling and slicing the fruit.
Strawberry Jam
With only four ingredients in this jam, the process goes very quickly.
Ingredients
5 cups crushed strawberries
1/4 cup bottled lemon juice
1 package Classic Pectin
7 cups granulated sugar
Combine the berries and lemon juice in a 6- or 8-quart saucepan and stir in the pectin. Once the mixture comes to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, it is time to add the sugar, stirring until it dissolves.
Return the mixture to a full rolling boil for 1 minute more, stirring constantly. Remove it from the heat and skim off any foam if necessary.
Ladle the jam into hot jars leaving a ¼ inch headspace and process them in a water-bath canner for 10 minutes.
Blueberry Jam
Ingredients
2 pints of frozen blueberries
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 (3-ounce) envelope fruit pectin
5 1⁄4cups sugar
Thaw and drain blueberries if frozen, which mine were. Combine the berries and lemon juice in a 6- or 8-quart saucepan. Crush the berries as much as desired and then stir in the pectin.
Once the mixture comes to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, it is time to add the sugar, stirring until it dissolves.
Return the mixture to a full rolling boil for 1 minute more, stirring constantly. Remove it from the heat and skim off any foam if necessary.
Ladle the jam into hot jars leaving a ¼ inch headspace and process them in a water-bath canner for 10 minutes.
I wish you could smell the kitchen while making these jams. It was heavenly and I even made some toast to enjoy it.
After 30 years with my first canner, it was time to treat myself to a new one. This larger canner allows me to do two layers of jars at one time. This will make this year's processing and preserving go so much quicker.
Today, was the first time using it and I could not be happier. I hope you have time to make yourselves some jam when your fruit comes into season.
Until next time, this is Sunscape
Sun. Scape. Ing Your Day
