I whipped up my first batch of strawberry jam yesterday!
I used this recipe for freezer jam. After reading several of my friends comments on facebook about jam recipes I thought I'd try the freezer recipe since it uses bit less sugar and, let's face it, it's pretty easy to make!
This is all trial and error for me since I've never canned anything. But I did discover that the pectin burns easily so you have to constantly stir when cooking it. I also bagged up a few bags of strawberries to put in the freezer for slushies, desserts, etc.
I used the freezer jars because they're fairly inexpensive, reusable (including the lids), and durable (as in, if dropped by clumsy child hands they won't break!). Since they'll be in the freezer I just didn't want to put glass jars in there.
The freezer jam can be kept in the freezer up to a year so my goal this summer is to make enough to last us until pickin' season next year.
I'll save the glass jars for the traditional recipes. I also wanted to use the glass jars for gift giving (and decorate them up cute of course!) this year. Maybe a back to school gift for the kids' teachers in September!
Today it's cold and rainy out so I'm hoping to whip up a batch of traditional strawberry jam. I also really want to make up some mixed berry jam so I'll save some strawberries for that & hopefully we can make another trip up to Green Bluff where I'm hoping one of the farms has some blueberries, raspberries, etc in their store. If not I'll have to wait til it's time for picking those & I'll use the frozen strawberries to make jam.
I have to say that this was so gratifying for me. Picking the fruit ourselves, turning it into jams. I've made a very conscious decision over the last few years to make just about everything from scratch. It's a good feeling. And thankfully I have a daughter who loved helping me so we were able to get the strawberries cleaned and hulled much quicker!
And tonight I'll be making some strawberry oatmeal bars using my very own strawberry jam :)
