Okay….so I am not one who is big on sweets…or sugar for that matter…but I LOVE me some berries, like a moth to a flame… It’s getting to that point of the summer that berries are nearing their pickin’ time, and I need more room in the freezer for this years’ bounty…along comes this month’s issue of Mother Earth News ( yes, I am a hippie wanna-be, if you have not yet figured out that one!) and lo and behold the perfect solution to make room for the new…FREEZER JAM!.. who knew?..I tried it out yesterday, and it was so unbelievably easy peasy, I have not a clue as to why more folks don’t make their own jam this way?….come on over!…I’ve got my jam, some honey, great bread, iced tea and good talk!
Black and Blue freezer jam
1/2 t cinnamon
1 1/2 cups sugar
1.59 ounce package instant fruit pectin ( NOTE: this recipe ONLY works w/ this kind of PECTIN!)
2 cups crushed black or blueberries ( fresh or defrosted frozen)
2 cups raspberries
Combine cinnamon, sugar , pectin in a large bowl…mix well, add all berries and stir for about 3 minutes. Ladle into clean jars, leaving 1/2 inch ‘headspace’ at the top of the jar. Let stand for 30 min.
You can put jam you are planning to enjoy immediately in the fridge, and the rest can go into the freezer!
( this yields about five 8 oz. jars)
Blushing Peach Variation:
substitute 3 1/2 cups crushed peeled peaches and 1/ 2 cup raspberries for the above recipe and 3 T lemon juice for the cinnamon.
** I can’t wait to experiment w/ other flavors…it works w/ any kind of fresh or frozen fruit..just mash away!
yum-yummy. yumminy yum.
ain’t nothin’ better than berries. so nice to have these delicacies in the midst of winter, eh?
xx
All I can say is this: JAM SWAP will be a’comin’! Also, you are so consistently behind the lens, that whenever I see a little slip of your skin, a hand, a wrist, I feel like I’ve just sighted the elusive unicorn and it thrills me. Lastly, that was a pretty fierce run-on sentence.
MUAH!
OMG, I love berries and I love jams…my heaven will have them both! I am tempted to peak at the recipe if you say it is easy! Incidentally, I eat a jar of jam each week all by myself! xoxo
Marie…you are SO right on!…it’s practically what gets me through February…!
xo
and
Umber, muah, muah, muah back! ( though we cannot mail le freezer jammo…that is the drawback, its gotta stay cold…but I will get my apron ready for this years’ jam swap..sour cherry for you, I know!
and
Mona…this is so crazy simple I will be waiting with bated breath to hear how it goes…get thee to the farmers market woman and make thee some jam! xox
oh and P.S.S.S…..
I cut the sugar content in HALF, and it was plenty!
yum
That peach variation sounds delicious…Have you made it yet?
I have much work to do before jamming will commence. Makes me feel weary…Perhaps another year of farmers market and my Dad’s jam…
Dad makes the most insane jams ever…Good but crazy.
Do you get cloud berries/bakeapples down there Kerin? I shall have to send you a bottle if not. Very interesting and tasty berry we use a lot here…On cheesecake. With cream…
xo
Le jam.
It speaks to my heart.
Way to go, pioneer woman!!!