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Foraged Mulberry and Basil Chia Jam with Purple Opal Basil Microgreens

Foraged Mulberry and Basil Chia Jam with Purple Opal Basil Microgreens

Foraged Mulberry and Basil Chia Jam with Purple Opal Basil Microgreens

 

2 cups chopped fruit (mulberries and rhubarb used here)

1 to 2 T. lemon juice, to taste

1-2 T. honey, agave, maple syrup, sugar, or stevia, to taste

Optional: 1 handful of basil microgreens (purple basil microgreens used here, regular basil or other herbs also okay), plus more for garnish

2 T. chia seeds, plus more if needed

 

Prepare fruit as needed (wash, remove stems, pits seeds, etc.), chop large fruit into pieces, berried can be left whole. Mulberries and chopped rhubarb used here. Transfer the fruit to a saucepan and set over medium heat. Cook until the fruit breaks down and becomes syrupy, 5 to 10 minutes. Mash the fruit with the back of a spatula or slotted spoon, leaving it as smooth or as lumpy as you like. Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice and honey, to taste. Stir in microgreen herbs (micro purple opal basil used here) or regular herbs if using (mince regular herbs finely), until wilted. Stir in the chia seeds. Let stand 5 minutes, until thickened. This won’t quite reach the firm consistency of regular jam, but it will noticeably thicken. If you’d like a thicker consistency, especially with very juicy fruits, stir in more chia seeds 1 tsp at a time. Once the jam has cooled to room temperature, transfer it to a jar or other storage container. Store in the fridge for about 2 weeks. The jam will thicken further and become more set once completely chilled. The jam can also be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw in the fridge before using.

Chanterelle-Apricot Jam

Chanterelle-Apricot Jam

Chanterelle-Apricot Jam

 

4 C. chanterelles

2½ C. fresh diced apricots

7 C. sugar

¼ C. fresh lemon juice

1 box SURE-JELL Fruit Pectin

½ tsp. butter or margarine

 

Sterilize (9) 8-ounce jam jars and lids in boiling water.

 

Finely dice the chanterelles. Reduce chanterelles in a deep pan under mediumlow heat for 15 minutes, until moisture has bubbled off and mushroom mixture is thick. Measure out 2½ C..  Combine mushrooms and apricots to measure exactly 5 C.. Add to the saucepan with sugar, lemon juice, pectin, and butter. Bring to a full rolling boil and boil for exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim off any foam. Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within ¼ inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands on tightly. Place jars on an elevated rack in a canner. Lower rack into canner. Water should cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Cover and bring water to a gentle boil. Process for 10 minutes, adding boiling water as needed to keep the jars covered. (Add 12 minutes to the processing time for high elevation.) Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely. After the jars cool, check seals by pressing the middles of lids with your finger. If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary. Store and enjoy. This is not refrigerator jam, but it can be refrigerated to prolong shelf life and the fresh taste.  Note: If you’d like a low-sugar version, follow instructions for low-sugar SURE-JELL, making sure the mushroom-to-fruit ratio is 50/50. Or try Pomona Pectin.

Apricot-Chamomile Jam

Apricot-Chamomile Jam

Apricot-Chamomile Jam

 

1 ½ T. dried chamomile

2 ¼ cups ripe apricots, pitted and thinly sliced

⅓ cup granulated sugar

2 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice

 

In a spice grinder or food processor, grind the chamomile flowers until the blooms resemble small flakes or sprinkles. This happens very quickly, so you only need to pulse a few times. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the chamomile, apricots, 1⁄2 cup filtered water, sugar, and lemon juice. Using a wooden spoon, mix until combined. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes, until the apricots begin to break down and soften. Using a potato masher, mash the apricot slices in the mixture to help break them down further. The mixture should be syrupy. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until it looks glossy and thick, 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Transfer the jam to a large, heatproof container, such as a mason jar, and let cool on the counter for about 1 hour. Seal and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Raisin Jam

Raisin Jam

Raisin Jam

 

1 pound golden raisins

4 cups water

2 cups sugar

¼ cup Angry Orchard Ice Cider or other dessert wine, like port, sherry or vin santo

¼ cup poppy seeds

½ cup olive oil

 

Place raisins in a high-sided or tall heat-proof jar, like a Mason jar. Combine water and sugar in a small pot and bring to a boil. Pour over the raisins and let sit until cool, about 1 hour. Then strain raisins and reserve the liquid. Transfer raisins to a food processor and begin pulsing. After 5 seconds of blending, add in 1 cup of reserved liquid and continue blending until it has a jam-like consistency. You may need to add a little more liquid. Remove from the food processor and place mixture into a bowl. Add Ice Cider/ dessert wine, poppy seeds and olive oil and stir with a rubber spatula until combined. Return to the large Mason jar or divide between smaller ones and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Small Batch Blueberry Thyme Jam

Small Batch Blueberry Thyme Jam

Small Batch Blueberry Thyme Jam

 

1½ cups fresh blueberries

1 cup sugar (more or less depending on sweetness of berries)

Zest of ½ lemon

Juice of ½ lemon

¾ 1 tsp. fresh thyme (minced)

Pinch of salt

 

Rinse the blueberries clean and pat dried with paper towels. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add blueberries, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, thyme and salt. Bring to a boil and stir. Reduce heat to medium-low, cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. It may still look runny, but it will thicken more as it cools. Transfer to a clean glass jar. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours.

Peach Marmalade

Peach Marmalade

Peach Marmalade

 

4 pounds fresh peaches (about 12 medium peaches)

2 medium oranges (or one large)

2 1/2 cups sugar (or use 3 cups if you like it sweeter)

2 T. lemon juice

 

Run 2-3 jars (depending on size) through the dishwasher or washed in very hot water. You will make about 3 cups of marmalade. For easy peeling, carefully drop peaches into a pot of boiling water. Boil for 60-90 seconds. Drain water and run cold water over peaches in pot. Slip skins off the peaches. Use small paring knife to peel stubborn spots if needed. Cut peaches in half and remove pits. Slice or chop into smaller pieces. Zest an orange and set aside. Peel orange(s) and cut inside flesh into small pieces. Remove large pieces of whitish fibrous layers. You should have about 1 cup. Place peaches, zest, oranges, sugar and lemon juice in a large pot (mixture should only take up about 1/3 of pot). Squish the mixture with a potato masher or your hands. (I use my hands). It’s ok to leave some chunks of peaches. Heat mixture to medium-high heat and bring to a full rolling boil. Lower heat to medium heat (6 on my dial) and boil on a medium rolling boil for 20-30 minutes (depending on how loose or thick you like your marmalade), stirring occasionally to prevent scorching on the bottom. The amount of time will depend on speed of boil and size of pot. (Note 2 – how to tell marmalade is done.) Taste and adjust flavors as needed e.g. add a bit more lemon juice or sugar as you like. Pour marmalade fruit mixture into jars. Cool to room temperature, place lids on jars tightly and store in the fridge.

Brown Turkey Fig Jam with Sherry & Fennel

Brown Turkey Fig Jam with Sherry & Fennel

Brown Turkey Fig Jam with Sherry & Fennel

 

8–9 eight-ounce canning jars and lids

4 . pounds stemmed brown turkey figs

2 pounds 2 ounces white cane sugar

3 scant tsp. fennel seeds

2 ounces cream sherry or Marsala

2 ounces strained freshly squeezed lemon juice

 

Slice 1. pounds of the figs into sixths or, if the figs are very large, into eighths. Combine the slivered figs with the sugar in a large heatproof mixing bowl and let macerate while you proceed with the recipe. Place the remaining 2. pounds of figs in a stainless-steel kettle wide enough to hold them in a single layer. Add enough cold water to make a .-inch layer in the bottom of the pan. Cover the pan and bring the fruit to a simmer over medium-high heat.  Stir, decrease the heat to medium-low, cover again, and cook for 5 minutes. Then, using a potato masher, crush the figs well to release their juices. Stir, cover once more, and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the figs are mushy and translucent, stirring every 5 minutes or so to prevent sticking. While the figs are cooking, crush the fennel seeds in a mortar or grind them coarsely in a spice grinder. Place the sherry and fennel seeds in a small saucepan and heat them slowly until the sherry just starts to steam. Remove the mixture from the heat, cover, and set aside to steep. When the whole figs are finished cooking, put them through the finest disk of a food mill and add them to the slivered figs and sugar. Scrape any fruit that does not go through the mill back into the rest of the fruit, breaking up the chunks as you go. Stir well to dissolve the sugar, then add the lemon juice. Transfer the mixture to an 11- or 12-quart copper preserving pan or a wide nonreactive kettle. Bring the jam to a boil over high heat, stirring a few times with a heatproof rubber spatula. When the jam boils, decrease the heat to a lively simmer, stirring frequently. After 7 minutes of simmering, mash the fruit a little with a potato masher. Continue cooking, stirring very frequently, and lowering the heat slightly if the jam begins to stick.  After 20 minutes of simmering, or when the jam has thickened, strain the seeds from the sherry and add the sherry to the jam.  Cook a minute or 2 more and when ready, pour into sterilized jars and process according to the manufacturer’s instructions.  Serving suggestion: Try it on turkey sandwiches or with soft cheese and a sprinkling of toasted hazelnuts for dessert.

Three Stone Fruit Honey Butter

Three Stone Fruit Honey Butter

Three Stone Fruit Honey Butter

 

2 1/2 pounds mixed stone fruit, preferably three different kinds, such as peaches, plums, and apricots, from your favorite local farms

2–3 sticks pastured, organic butter

1/2 – 3/4 cup raw local honey

Lemon juice to taste

Pinch of sea salt

 

Pit and slice the fruit and place in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-low heat, cooking until it becomes a concentrated paste. (Add splashes of water as you go if the fruit isn’t super-juicy.) Remove from heat and puree with an immersion blender. Add the butter and stir until melted and incorporated into the fruit. Then transfer the mixture to a bowl and allow to cool to body temperature (about 100ºF). Stir in the honey until fully incorporated. Adjust the sweet and sour flavors with lemon juice or honey. Salt will balance and bring out the sweetness. Pack the butter into small Mason jars and refrigerate. This is a lovely treat to share with friends. If you want to keep it for a long time, it is best to freeze it.

Confiture d’Olives et Citron (Sweet Olive Jam with Lemon)

Confiture d’Olives et Citron (Sweet Olive Jam with Lemon)

Confiture d’Olives et Citron (Sweet Olive Jam with Lemon)

 

Note that while you don’t have to break the bank on olives, they should be of reasonably good quality to make a full-flavored jam (i.e. no canned California olives!). Your best bet is probably going to be a Mediterranean or Middle Eastern shop that sells olives in bulk.

 

2 cups (ca. 300g) drained and pitted Kalamata olives (packed)

1 cup (ca. 150g) drained and pitted high-quality green olives (packed)

1 1/3 cup (270g) sugar

1 1/3 cup (325ml) water

1 medium organic lemon

1 large green apple, peeled, cored and diced

1/3 cup (80ml) mild honey

 

Put all the olives in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil for one minute. Drain completely. Repeat this process two more times – this should take enough salt out of the olives so that they’re only mildly salty. Set the olives aside and rinse out the saucepan. Add the sugar and 1 1/3 cups water to the saucepan and swirl to combine. Cut a couple of strips of zest from the lemon and drop them in the sugar water. Slice the lemon up very thinly (don’t worry about the seeds), and add the slices to the pan as well. Bring this to a simmer over medium heat and let it cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until it’s reduced to about a cup of liquid. Pour this through a strainer into a bowl, pressing on the lemon solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Return the liquid to the pan, adding the diced apple, honey and olives. Bring to a simmer once again and cook, stirring occasionally, just until the apples are soft and everything is very thick – about another 10 to 15 minutes (you can add a bit of water if it seems to be getting too thick). Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. With an immersion blender or a normal blender, process the entire mixture until it is velvety-smooth. It should be quite a jammy consistency already; if it’s runny you can continue to cook it a little bit more, but keep in mind it will thicken as it cools. Transfer to jars and refrigerate. I haven’t tested how long this keeps, but mine is a week and a half old and still going strong. Of course you can also sterilize a couple of small canning jars and can them for shelf storage.

 

And how to use this miraculous substance? I love this jam with cheese, particularly with hard pungent cheeses like Manchego or Pecorino or an aged farmhouse cheddar. In Scotland nice restaurants will often serve a cheese selection with oat biscuits and a homemade chutney – it would be perfect for that. I’ve also fallen in love with it on sandwiches with Italian dry salami and Emmenthal or Gruyere cheese and a bit of peppery arugula.

Peach and Lemongrass Butter

Peach and Lemongrass Butter

Peach and Lemongrass Butter

 

about 2 lbs (1 kg) ripe, fragrant white or yellow peaches

1 cup (200g) sugar, or to taste

4 fat stalks lemongrass, roughly chopped

2 tablespoons lemon juice, or to taste

 

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Blanch the peaches by submerging them (in batches, if necessary) for 1 minute and then transferring them to a bowl of ice water. When cool, peel, pit and slice them. Combine them with the sugar in a large bowl and let macerate at room temperature for a couple of hours, during which time the peaches should give up a lot of juice. Strain the peaches, reserving the juice. Place the juice, the sliced lemongrass and 1 cup water in a heavy-bottomed pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat slightly and let simmer until you have a thick, fragrant syrup, about 30 minutes. Strain the syrup, discarding the lemongrass. Return the syrup to the pot and stir in the peaches. Simmer over medium-low heat until the peaches are completely soft, about 20-25 minutes. Remove from the heat and puree, either in a blender or with an immersion (stick) blender. Return to the pot and stir in the lemon juice. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching, until the puree thickens to the consistency of applesauce, about half an hour. Taste the mixture and add more sugar or lemon juice as desired. Remove from the heat and transfer to a closed container (or, if you’re comfortable with canning, fill into jars and process in your normal way). If not canning, refrigerate immediately and consume within a couple of weeks.

Rosemary Fig Preserves

Rosemary Fig Preserves

Rosemary Fig Preserves

 

1 pound ripe figs, stemmed and quartered or chopped

1-2 sprigs of rosemary about 5 inches long

3/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons honey

1 lime

1-1/2 tablespoons lime or lemon juice

pinch of salt

 

Zest the lime and set the zest aside. Juice the lime and set the juice aside. Take one sprig of rosemary, remove the leaves and chop them finely. Discard the stem. Place all of the ingredients into a small pot. (Figs, rosemary sprig, chopped rosemary, sugar, honey, lime juice, lime zest, and salt) Heat on medium high heat and stir. Lower to a simmer and cook for about 40 minutes. Remove rosemary sprig, and strips of zest Mash figs with a fork or blend if you want a smoother consistency. Place into jars and cool. Store in the refrigerator. Or place in mason jars and process for 5-10 minutes store in a cool dry place.

Peach-Saffron Preserves

Peach-Saffron Preserves

Peach-Saffron Preserves

 

3 lb. peaches pitted and quartered

3/4 cup sugar or more to taste

4 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp. saffron threads be sure to use good quality saffron

Pinch salt

1/8 tsp. cinnamon

 

Combine peaches, sugar, lemon juice, saffron threads and salt in a large sauce pot. Sliced peaches in a large stockpot. Cook over medium heat until boiling. Reduce heat to medium low and cook for 30 minutes. Taste the mixture; add additional sugar to taste, if desired. Some peaches will be less sweet than others and require more sweetening, however don’t add too much sugar or you’ll overpower the subtle saffron flavor. Sliced peaches cooked down. Remove from heat and process the mixture through a food mill. Be sure to turn the handle in both directions so that you get the most of out your fruit. Processing cooked peaches through a food mill. Return the mixture to the sauce pot and add cinnamon. Bring to a boil and cook for an additional 15 minutes. Milled peaches cooking down into preserves. Allow preserves to cool and transfer to jars or a container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. Adding jars of preserves to hot water bath. If you’d like to process your preserves in jars for a longer shelf life, follow the boiling water method instructions and process for 10 minutes

Lavender Jelly

Lavender Jelly

Lavender Jelly

Use this between layers of cake. Spread on toast, use it in frosting mix for cupcakes. Try a tsp. or two in your afternoon tea.

 

4 T. dried lavender flowers

4 T. powdered pectin

3 C. apple juice

2 T. fresh lemon juice

3 C. brown sugar

 

Tie up lavender flowers in double thickness of cheesecloth, securing with string. Combine pectin and apple juice in a saucepan and stir to dissolve the pectin. Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Add lemon juice and sugar, stir, then add the lavender cheesecloth bag. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove bag of lavender and discard. Strain hot jelly through cheesecloth into sterilized jars and seal (I use 2-piece jelly lids, kept hot in boiling water but some people prefer the old method of sealing with paraffin).

Lemon Verbena Jelly

Lemon Verbena Jelly

Lemon Verbena Jelly

 

3 C. apple juice

1 cup fresh lemon verbena leaves

2 T. fresh lemon juice or white wine vinegar

1 package powdered pectin

4 C. sugar

1/2 tsp. butter

1 fresh herb leaf for each jar

2 – 3 drops green food coloring (optional)

 

In saucepan, make herb infusion with juice and herb by bringing juice to a boil and adding the verbena leaves. Boil for about 10 seconds, then let cool completely. Strain and discard leaves. You’ll need 1 1/2 C. of herb infusion liquid.  Combine the herb infusion with lemon juice (or vinegar), food coloring and pectin. Bring to a rolling boil. Mix in sugar and bring to a full rolling boil again. Boil hard for one minute. Add butter, stir. If any foam remains, skim off and discard. Pour into hot sterilized jars with optional leaf in each jar. Wipe jar edges with damp cloth, then screw on hot jar lids, tightening moderately but don’t over-tighten. Turn jars upside down to seal, for about 30 seconds. Turn upright and let cool on dishtowel. Store in a dark, cool place.

Black Currant Sun Jelly

Black Currant Sun Jelly

Black Currant Sun Jelly

 

9 ounces black currants

9 ounces superfine sugar

 

Puree the currants in a food mill using the finest disc. If the puree has seeds, strain it through a fine mesh sieve to remove them. Stir in the sugar. Divide among 3 4-ounce jars, cover with parchment, and secure the parchment with butcher’s twine. Place the jars outside in the sun all day, or until jelled.  Makes about 1 ½ C.. Keeps for months tightly sealed in the refrigerator.

Mint Jelly

Mint Jelly

Mint Jelly

 

Sage or Rosemary could be done the same way

 

2 pounds granny smith Apples, coarsely chopped

6 cup (1.5l) water

5 1/2 cup (1.2kg) white sugar, approximately

1 cup firmly packed fresh mint leaves

Food coloring, optional

 

Combine apple and water in large saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, about 1 hour or until apple is pulpy. Strain mixture through a fine cloth into large bowl. Stand 3 hours or overnight until liquid stops dripping. Do not squeeze cloth; discard pulp. Measure apple liquid; allow 1 cup sugar for each cup of liquid. Return apple liquid and sugar to same pan. Stir over high heat, without boiling, until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and boil rapidly, uncovered, without stirring, about 30 minutes or until jelly jells when tested. Pour jelly into a large heatproof jug. Stir in a little of the food coloring. Stand until jelly is lukewarm, but not set. Meanwhile, drop mint into small saucepan of boiling water for 2 seconds; drain. Rinse under cold water; drain, pat dry with absorbent paper. Chop mint finely; stir into lukewarm jelly. Pour jelly into hot sterilized jars; seal immediately. Label and date jars when cold.

Pink Grapefruit & Elderflower Marmalade

Pink Grapefruit & Elderflower Marmalade

Pink Grapefruit & Elderflower Marmalade

 

2 pounds, 4 ounces pink grapefruits

1 pound, 2 ounces lemons

6½ cups granulated sugar

6 T. elderflower syrup

 

Cut the grapefruits and lemons and squeeze in half out the juice and seeds. Tie the seeds, and any extra membrane that has come away during squeezing, in a double thickness of cheesecloth. Either by hand or using the shredding attachment of a food processor, thinly slice the grapefruit and lemon peel, with its pith, into shreds. Put the grapefruit and lemon juice and peel, cheesecloth bag and 7½ cups water in a preserving pan and slowly bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently 1½ to 2 hours until the peel is soft and the liquid reduced by about half. Remove the cheesecloth bag from the pan and let cool 5 minutes before squeezing it well and allowing the juices to run back into the pan. Discard the bag. Add the sugar to the pan and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Bring to a boil and boil rapidly about 15 minutes, or until setting point is reached. Test for a set either with a candy thermometer (it should read 221°F) or put a tsp. of the marmalade onto a cold saucer and let cool a few minutes. If it wrinkles when you push it with your finger, then it is ready to use. Meanwhile, sterilize enough jars so that they are ready to use. Remove the pan from the heat and skim with a slotted spoon to remove any scum. Stir in the elderflower cordial. Let cool 15 minutes (this will help to prevent the peel from rising in the jars). Ladle the marmalade into the warmed, sterilized jars and cover immediately with sterilized lids. Label and store in a cool, dry, dark place. Refrigerate after opening.

Rhubarb Marmalade with Figs & Lemon

Rhubarb Marmalade with Figs & Lemon

Rhubarb Marmalade with Figs & Lemon

 

4 C. rhubarb, 1/4-inch dice

10 dried kalamata figs, thinly sliced

1 lemon, julienned

2 C. sugar

 

First, dice the rhubarb into roughly 1/4-inch pieces. Slice the figs. Cut the lemon into thin slices, then julienne each slice. In a large bowl, combine the rhubarb, figs and lemon with the sugar. Mix together and let sit overnight at room temperature. Pour the rhubarb mixture into a medium pot. Bring to a rapid boil, and cook until the temperature reaches 220 degrees F. Place in jars and enjoy!

Meyer Lemon Marmalade

Meyer Lemon Marmalade

Meyer Lemon Marmalade

 

6 Meyer lemons {1 1/2 pounds}

4 cups water

4 cups sugar

 

Cut the lemons crosswise and remove seeds. Place the seeds in a cheesecloth bag, or tea infuser and set aside. Quarter each lemon half and thinly slice the lemons into strips. Place the lemons, 4 cups of water and the bag/infuser of seeds in a nonreactive heavy pot and let mixture stand, covered, at room temperature 24 hours. Once the mixture has sat for 24 hours, bring a boiling-water canner, 3/4 full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling. When you are ready to make the marmalade, {after the lemon mixture has sat for 24 hours}, discard the lemon seeds and bring the lemon mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat, and simmer, uncovered, until your mixture is reduced to about 4 cups {about 45 minutes to an hour}. Stir in sugar and boil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally and skimming off any foam, until a tsp. of mixture dropped on a cold plate gels, about 15 minutes. Carefully ladle hot marmalade immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids and screw bands on. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. {Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.} Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 5 min. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middles of lids with finger. If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary}. Yields {5} 1/2 pints.

Peach Jam with Ginger & Turmeric

Peach Jam with Ginger & Turmeric

Peach Jam with Ginger & Turmeric

 

6 ripe ripe peaches

1/2 C. sugar

Juice of half a lemon

1 T.  ginger

1 pinch of salt

1T. turmeric powder

 

Cut the peaches into quarters and remove the skin and seeds. Cut the root in half and put in a saucepan with all ingredients except turmeric powder. Cook over medium heat until boiling and then lower the candle to almost a minimum and cook for 30 minutes. Stir at a time with a wooden spoon, so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the casserole. If foaming, remove it carefully using a foamer. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes and pass through the blender or food processor to leave it with a smooth texture. Add the turmeric powder and stir so that it is fully incorporated into the jam. You can try the sugar in case you want to pour more, but remember that only when it’s cold is the jam you know how sweet it has been. You can put a little in the fridge and see how it goes. Meanwhile, allow the jam to cool completely at room temperature before putting it in a glass lid jar and putting it in the refrigerator. If you need to put more sugar in it, add it with a little lemon juice and cook the jam for another 20 minutes. It’s a beautiful color. Keep in mind that it’s hard to stop eating this jam and be generous and share it with your friends when you make it. It’s a good gift.

Butternut Squash, Ginger & Citrus Jam

Butternut Squash, Ginger & Citrus Jam

Butternut Squash, Ginger & Citrus Jam

 

3 pounds, 5 ounces butternut squash, peeled and seeded

3½ ounces (about ¾ cup) ginger root, peeled and finely sliced into small pieces

grated zest and juice of 3 lemons

grated zest and juice of 4 oranges

grated zest and juice of 1 lime

1 tsp. ground ginger

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

4 cups granulated sugar

 

Grate the butternut squash, either by hand or in a food processor. Put all the ingredients, except the sugar, in a preserving pan. Add 4 ¼ cups water and slowly bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer about 20 minutes until the squash is soft. Stir from time to time to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Add the sugar to the pan and stir until completely dissolved. Bring to a boil and boil rapidly about 30 minutes until no excess liquid remains and the mixture is thick. Stir from time to

time. The jam is ready when a wooden spoon drawn across the bottom of the pan reveals the bottom

cleanly. (There is no need to test for a set.) Meanwhile, sterilize enough jars so that they are ready to use. Ladle the jam into the warmed, sterilized jars. Cover immediately with sterilized lids. Label and store

in a cool, dry, dark place. Refrigerate after opening. Makes 6 cups.

Blubarb Jam

Blubarb Jam

Blubarb Jam

7 C. rhubarb, chopped

4 1/4 C. blueberries

4 1/4 C. sugar

1/3 C. lemon juice

 

The night before you want to make the jam or the morning of. Add the rhubarb, blueberries, sugar and lemon juice to a large pot, stir to combine. Let macerate for 30 min. to overnight. Sterilize jars and lids. Place a small plate in the freezer.  When ready to make the jam place the pot with the fruit in it on the stove. Bring to a boil on medium-high heat and boil hard for 15-25 minutes or until you reached the setting point, stirring occasionally. At the setting point, the foam will have subsided and the bubbles will get larger looking like fish eyeballs.  Place a small amount of the jam (1 tsp.) on the freezer plate and place the plate back in the freezer for a few minutes to cool. If the jam seems very close then remove the pot from the heat while the plate is in the freezer. If the jam wrinkles when pushed with your finger the jam is done. If not return to a boil for 5 min. and repeat. Careful as the jam thickens it can start to burn so stir more frequently.  Ladle jam into hot jars to within 1/4″ of the top. Remove air bubbles and wipe the rim with a clean cloth. Place lids on and screw to tighten until finger-tip tight only. Place in a water bath canner and process for 10 min. or according to altitude.  When the jam has cooked for its allotted time removed the jars to a towel-lined counter to cool. You should hear the popping of the lids as they seal. That is a very satisfying sound. If any jars don’t seal refrigerate and eat right away.

 

Pectin Version

 

4 ½ C. rhubarb, chopped

2 1/2 C. fresh blueberries

3/4 C. water

1 T. lemon juice

4 1/2 C. of sugar

1 box of low-sugar or no-sugar pectin

8 jam jars for canning (8 oz size)

8 canning lids

 

Sterilize your canning jars, and canning lids. Drain on clean dishtowels and set aside. Fill canning pot with water and bring to a gentle boil— keep over heat throughout prep so it is ready when needed. Wash berries. Measure out blueberries in a bowl. Mush them so they get quite juicy but there are still chunks remaining (mushing releases the pectin needed to make jam). In a separate bowl, mix 1 box of pectin with U C. of the sugar. Measure out remaining sugar in another bowl. Boil rhubarb and water over high heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes over medium heat. Add the mushed blueberries, lemon juice, and pectin and mix together. Bring to a boil then add sugar. Stir and bring back to a vigorous boil again, while stirring continuously. Boil hard while continuing to stir for 1 minute (and 1 minute only—if you want jam that will set, this is serious, people). Remove from heat, stir and ladle hot jam into sterilized jars, securing lids tightly. Place jam jars in your canning pot with gently boiling water and boil for 5 minutes (again, keep your time on this—too long may make your jam runny). Remove jam and allow to cool. Check lid seals once cooled—any tops that pop back when pressed should be refrigerated. Makes 7-8 8oz (1 C.) jars of jam

Peach and Rhubarb Jam

Peach and Rhubarb Jam

Peach and Rhubarb Jam

 

5 C. peeled, pitted, and chopped peaches (about 8 medium peaches)

4 C. trimmed and diced rhubarb, in 1/3-inch (9 mm) dice

5 C. granulated sugar, or a little less to taste

24 lemon seeds, tied in cheesecloth or placed in a tea strainer (from 3 lemons)

 

In a large bowl, combine the peaches, rhubarb, and sugar and stir well. Cover and let stand at room temperature for 12 hours, stirring occasionally, to draw out the peach juice and dissolve the sugar. Transfer the mixture to a heavy 8-quart (8-l) pot over medium heat. Add the lemon seeds and bring to a boil, stirring often and skimming any surface foam. Adjust the heat to maintain a steady but gentle boil and cook, stirring occasionally to prevent the fruit from sticking to the bottom of the pot, until the mixture thickens to a jam consistency and registers 220°F (105°C) on an instant-read thermometer, 45 to 60 minutes. While the jam is cooking, fill a large pot or canner, fitted with a rack, with enough water to cover the jars. Over high heat, bring the water to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and place the clean, empty canning jars in the water for 10 minutes to sterilize them. When the jam is ready, use canning tongs to carefully remove the jars and drain any water inside. Alternatively, you can heat your jars in the dishwasher, however, you will still need the hot water bath ready for canning the jam. Remove the cheesecloth or tea strainer with the lemon seeds from the jam. Spoon the hot jam into the jars, filling to within 1/2 inch (12 mm) of the top. Wipe the rim clean with a towel dipped in hot water. Top the jars with the lids and twist on the screw bands. Set the jars, not touching one another, in the boiling water on the rack in the pot or canner. Make sure the water covers the jars by at least 1 inch (25 mm). Boil for 20 minutes, then turn off the heat and use tongs to transfer the jars to a rack to cool completely. When the jars are completely cool, press on the center of each lid. If the lid remains concave, the seal is good. Store the jars in a cool pantry for up to 1 year. If a lid failed the seal test, that simply means you get immediate gratification and should store the jar in the refrigerator and consume the jam within 3 weeks.

Rootbeer Jelly

Rootbeer Jelly

Rootbeer Jelly

4 1/4 C. rootbeer soda

4 1/2 C. sugar

1 pkg. or 6 T. powdered pectin

2 T. bottled lemon juice

1/4 tsp. butter

 

Combine the root beer soda and lemon juice in a large stock pot. Sprinkle the powdered pectin on top of the juice mixture and use a whisk to mix it together. Stirring constantly, heat until boiling. Boil for one minute. Add the butter and return to a boil. Add the sugar to the pot all at one time (measure it and have it ready ahead of time). Stir until sugar is dissolved. Return to a boil and boil for one minute. Remove the pan from the heat. Remove any foam with a metal spoon. Ladle the jelly into hot sterilized canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space, and process in boiling water canner for 10 minutes. Remove jars from canner and set the jars on the counter on a kitchen towel to cool.

Small Batch Strawberry Rhubarb Jam with Rose Flower Water

Small Batch Strawberry Rhubarb Jam with Rose Flower Water

Small Batch Strawberry Rhubarb Jam with Rose Flower Water

1 pound strawberries

1 pound rhubarb stalks

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

2 tablespoons rose flower water

 

Wash the strawberries and rhubarb well. Hull the berries and dice them into small pieces. Chop the rhubarb into segments approximately 1/2 inch in size. Place the chopped fruit in a glass or ceramic bowl and cover with sugar. Stir to combine and cover. Let the fruit sit for at least an hour, until the juices are flowing. I often pop the bowl into the refrigerator at this point and cook the jam the following day. When you’re ready to cook the jam, prepare a small boiling water bath canner and three half pint jars and bring it to a boil. Place three new canning jar lids in a small pot and bring them to a bare simmer. Pour the fruit and all the liquid into your jam pot and place it over high heat. For these small batches, I like to use a 12-inch, stainless steel skillet, but any low, wide, non-reactive pan will do. Bring the fruit to a rapid boil and stir regularly. Over high heat, this jam should take 8 to 12 minutes to cook. It is done when it is quite thick. You can tell that it’s ready when you draw your spoon or spatula through the jam, and it doesn’t immediately rush in to fill that space. It will also make a vigorous sizzling noise when stirred when it is finished. When the jam appears to be finished, stir in the rose flower water. Stir until it is incorporated and cook for an additional 30 seconds. The flower water is added at this point so you don’t evaporate all the fragrance during cooking. Remove the jam from the heat and funnel it into the prepared jars. Wipe rims, apply lids and rings, and process in a boiling water bath canner for 10 minutes (start your timer when the water returns to a boil, not the moment the jars go into the water bath). When time is up, remove jars from canner and set them to cool on a folded kitchen towel. When they are cool enough to handle, remove the rings and test the seals by grasping the edges of the lid and lifting the jar an inch or so from the countertop. If the lid holds fast, the jars are sealed. Any unsealed jars should be refrigerated and eaten promptly.

Simple Tomato-Basil Jam

Simple Tomato-Basil Jam

Simple Tomato-Basil Jam

5 pounds or approximately 12 cups of tomatoes

1 tablespoon sea salt

3 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup basil, chopped

 

Wash and slice cherry tomatoes, or chop large tomatoes. Toss and massage with salt. Let sit for 30 minutes to let juices from tomato flow out. Sterilize your jars and lids in hot water while you wait.

Discard the juice, and dump strained tomatoes into a large, wide, shallow pan. Add sugar and lemon juice. Simmer with lid off on medium-low heat. Check and stir occasionally. Once tomatoes start to thicken, watch and stir more often that it doesn’t burn. When it’s thick to your liking, anywhere to between a syrup or jam consistency (I like mine thicker), remove from heat and stir in the basil. Spoon into sterilized jars, wiping brims of any jam residue before applying lids and rings. Process in water bath for 10 minutes, then remove and let cool. You will hear the lids pop as they seal vacuum tight. Any jars that don’t seal properly can be stored in the fridge and used first. The rest will last a year or more stored in a dark cool place.

Dandelion Jelly

Dandelion Jelly

Dandelion Jelly

2 c. dandelion flowers (harvested from pesticide free location)

4 c. sugar

1 pkg. or 6 T. powdered pectin

2 T. lemon juice

1/4 tsp. butter

 

Rinse dandelions in a colander and remove stems by snipping them off with a pair of kitchen scissors. Place dandelions in a bowl and cover them with 4 C. of boiling water. You are essentially going to make “dandelion tea.”  After the water cools off, place the bowl of water and dandelions in the refrigerator until the next day. It was two days until I got back to mine, but it was just fine. The next day, run the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove the pieces of dandelion. You should end up with a clear liquid. If not, try pouring it through the strainer again. Measure the tea, adding a little water if necessary to get exactly 4 C. of liquid. Pour liquid into a large stock pot. Stir in lemon juice. Sprinkle the pectin on top of the juice and use a whisk to mix it together. Stirring constantly, heat until boiling. Boil for one minute. Add the pinch of butter and return to a boil. Add the sugar to the pot all at one time (measure it and have it ready ahead of time). Stir until sugar is dissolved. Return to a boil and boil for one minute. Remove the pan from the heat. Remove any foam with a metal spoon. Ladle the jelly into hot sterilized jars, leaving ¼ inch head space, and process in a boiling water canner for 5 minutes. Remove jars from canner and place on a towel on the kitchen counter to cool. Lids will make a pinging noise when they seal. If a jar does not seal, place it in the refrigerator and eat in the next couple of weeks. Cooled sealed jars can be stored in the pantry for several years.

Green Tomato Jam

Green Tomato Jam

Green Tomato Jam

4 pounds green tomatoes (2 1/2 pounds net)

4 1/3 C. superfine sugar

Juice (and zest) of two small lemons

 

Rinse tomatoes in cold water. Dry them with towel. Cut in wedges and remove juice, seeds and the white center parts. Dice tomatoes. In a bowl, combine the tomato pieces, sugar and lemon juice. Cover with plastic wrap and let macerate overnight. The next day, pour this mixture into a preserving pan (large bottomed large surface area copper pot/pan). Bring to a boil and on low heat cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour back into the bowl. cover with plastic wrap and again refrigerate overnight. The third day, bring the mixture to a boil, skim if necessary and continue cooking in low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Check the set and cook a bit more if needed. Put the jam into jars immediately and seal (or for small batches, just refrigerate).

Red Plum Jam

Red Plum Jam

Red Plum Jam

5 C. red plums about 2 pounds

3 C. sugar

3/4 C. water

 

3 pint canning jars

3 lid and ring sets

Water bath canner

Canning tool set

 

Prepare jars according to the water bath canning directions. Chop plums into small-ish pieces. Leave them larger if you like your jam a little more chunky. Combine chopped plums, sugar, and water in a large pot. Bring to a boil slowly, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Turn up the heat and bring to jelly stage quickly. (220°) As jam thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking. Remove from heat. If foam as formed on top, skim it off. Ladle hot jam into jars, leaving a 1/4 inch headspace. Finish jars and process jam according to water bath canning instructions for 15 minutes. Notes: Jams and Jellies must be made in small batches, or the finished product will not set up.

Easy French Apple Jam

Easy French Apple Jam

Easy French Apple Jam

about 6 apples (I mixed Granny Smith and Honeycrisp)

2 1/2 C. sugar

5 cardamom pods crushed (use a rolling pin or heavy spoon to gently crack open the pods)

juice of 2 lemons divided

2 T. pectin powder this is totally optional, the jam will set without it

 

Fill a large bowl with cold water and add the juice of 1 lemon. Peel, core, and quarter the apples and add them to the lemon water as you work. Remove the apples from the water (discard the water) and finely dice them. Add the apples to a heavy bottomed pot, along with the sugar, cardamom pods, (and any seeds that have escaped) the pectin (if using) and the juice of the other lemon. Stir well, and then bring to a boil. Boil, uncovered and stirring often, for about 30-40 minutes until thickened. About halfway through the cooking I used my stick blender to blend the jam just a bit, but I left lots of apple chunks intact. This is optional and depends on what texture you want your jam to have, and how large or small you chopped your apples in the first place. If you do this, be extra careful not to splatter yourself, the jam is very hot. Ladle the finished jam into clean (sterilized) jars, cover tightly, and let cool before refrigerating. See note below for preserving options.

 

Make it your own

 

  • To can this jam you can follow the instructions from the Ball® website: Ladle hot jam into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band until fit is fingertip tight. Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off heat and remove cover. Let jars cool 5 minutes. Remove jars from canner, do not retighten bands if loose. Cool 12 hours. Check seals. Label and store jars.
  • Add a few cranberries for a fresh flavor or mix the apples with pears.
  • Double or triple the cardamom for a delicious spread to serve with cheese and crackers.
Rhubarb Vanilla Bean Jelly

Rhubarb Vanilla Bean Jelly

Rhubarb Vanilla Bean Jelly

2 and 1/2 pounds rhubarb washed, trimmed, and sliced

1/2 C. water

7 C. granulated sugar

2 T. lemon juice

seeds of 1 vanilla bean

2 pouches 3 ounces each of liquid pectin

 

Puree the rhubarb in your Vitamix blender or food processor, along with the water to get it started. You may need to do this in 2 batches. Put the rhubarb puree into a clean jelly or nut bag, and let it hang over a large bowl to allow the juice to drip out. Don’t press or squeeze the bag aggressively or the pulp may come through and this will make your jelly cloudy. I do squeeze it a little bit, though, to move it along. It can help to have a jelly strainer, which is made for this purpose. You want to end up with 3 1/2 C. liquid. Put the rhubarb juice in a large stainless steel pot or saucepan. Stir in the sugar, the lemon juice, and the vanilla bean seeds. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring almost constantly. Once the mixture has reached a full rolling boil, let it fully boil for 3 minutes. It may foam up so stay right by it. Stirring is ok. After 3 minutes, stir in the pectin, and bring it back to a full, rolling boil. Boil 1 minute. Again it may foam up so be careful. Take the jelly off the heat and skim off any foam that is on the surface. Fill your sterilized jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. If you care canning: Wipe down the rims of the jars to remove any spilled jelly, then attach the lids and screw them, but don’t over-tighten. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling-water canner. If you aren’t canning: Let cool and then cap and refrigerate.

Peach Butter

Peach Butter

Peach Butter

4 lb. fresh peaches, (about 10 good sized peaches)

1/2 C. sugar

1/2 C. water, (if your peaches are juicy omit the water)

2 T. fresh lemon juice

 

Peel and rough chop the peaches. Add the peaches to a heavy pot along with the water and sugar. Heat on medium, stirring to dissolve the sugar. When the mixture comes to a boil, lower the heat slightly and cook for about 20 minutes until the peaches are completely tender. Stir occasionally. Add the lemon juice to the peaches, and then, working in batches, puree the fruit until it is completely smooth. Don’t rush this step, let the processor or blender run long enough to get all of the lumps. At this point I strain the puree through a mesh strainer just to make sure it is completely smooth. Push it firmly with the back of a spoon to get all the puree through. Discard any lumps. If your puree is smooth enough, you can skip this step (use the vitamix). Put the puree back into the (rinsed out) pan and bring back up to a boil. Lower the heat and cook gently until it is greatly reduced and thickened. This will take about 25-30 minutes or so, depending on the size of your pan. Stir very frequently during this step so the fruit doesn’t scorch. I like to use a splatter screen because it does splatter. TIP: The longer you cook the peach puree, the thicker the butter will be. You know it’s ready when it starts to darken slightly, and your stirring starts to leave trails in the mixture. Test it by dipping a spoon in, and then run your finger down the spoon, if the butter doesn’t fill in the strip, it’s ready. Ladle the hot peach butter into a clean jar or jars and let cool before capping and refrigerating. The peach butter will thicken as it cools. Consume within a couple of weeks. If you would like to can this recipe: Follow safe canning practices and ladle hot peach mixture into sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Wipe jar rims. Close lids to fingertip-tight. Place jars in boiling-water canner and process jars 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off heat; remove lid, and let jars stand 5 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

Vanilla Pear Sauce

Vanilla Pear Sauce

Vanilla Pear Sauce

15-20 pears, unpeeled, sliced and cored

1/2 to 1 C. white sugar

1 T. lemon juice

1 tsp. high quality cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick

2 vanilla bean, split and scraped

 

Place pears in large stock pot or french dutch oven over medium heat. Do not peal pears, the skin has a lot of flavor and nutrition you don’t want to miss out on. Don’t be afraid to fill the pan up to the top, they will cook down to about half their original size. Split the vanilla beans lengthwise with a sharp knife and put the whole thing in the pears and stir. Once the pears start to cook down, add the rest of the ingredients until everything comes to a boil. Reduce heat to low and put the lid on the pan. Simmer for 30 to 60 minutes until pears are very soft. Remove vanilla beans and discard. Drain most of the liquid into a C. (so you have some to thin out the sauce or so you can drink it, it’s very tasty). While still warm, mash the pears for a chunky consistency or blend in the blender for a smooth consistency (I prefer smooth). Place in clean canning jars and process in a water bath canner. These make great gifts and add a special flare to any meal.

Pear Jam with Honey

Pear Jam with Honey

Pear Jam with Honey

1/2 C. water

1/2 tsp. calcium powder

 

4 C. pears, peeled, cored and mashed

3/4 C. honey

1/4 C. lemon or lime juice

3 tsp. pectin powder

4 tsp. calcium water

 

Mix water and calcium powder together. Store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator and shake before each use. Will keep for a few months sealed tightly.

 

Peel and core pears. Mash using a potato masher or large fork. Stir mashed fruit, lemon or lime juice and calcium water into a medium sized pot. In a separate bowl, mix together the pectin powder and honey. Bring fruit mixture to a boil and add the honey-pectin mixture. Stir for 1-2 minutes and then return to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat Sanitize jars, lids and rings. Fill jars to 1/4″ of top, clean rims and carefully attach lid and twist rings on. Put filled jars into a boiling pot of water and process for 10 minutes.

Add an extra minute for every 1000 ft above sea level. Remove from water and let cool. Lids should be “sucked” down.

Tomato-Basil Jam

Tomato-Basil Jam

Tomato-Basil Jam

2 ½ pounds ripe tomatoes, peeled

¼ cup lemon juice

3 tablespoons snipped fresh basil

3 cups sugar

1 1.75 ounce package powdered fruit pectin for lower-sugar recipes or 3 tablespoons powdered fruit pectin for low- or no-sugar recipes

 

 

Seed, core, and finely chop tomatoes. Measure 3 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes; place in a 6- to 8-quart stainless-steel, enamel, or nonstick heavy pot. Bring to boiling, stirring occasionally; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Measure 3 1/3 cups tomatoes; return to pot. Stir in lemon juice and basil. In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup of the sugar and the pectin; stir into tomato mixture. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Stir in the remaining 2 3/4 cups sugar. Return to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and quickly skim off foam with a metal spoon. Ladle hot jam into hot sterilized half-pint canning jars, leaving a 1/4-inch headspace. Wipe jar rims; adjust lids and screw bands. Process filled jars in a boiling-water canner for 5 minutes (start timing when water returns to boiling). Remove jars from canner; cool on wire racks. Makes 5 half-pints.

Blueberry Lemon Basil Jam

Blueberry Lemon Basil Jam

Blueberry Lemon Basil Jam

3 pounds of blueberries, stems removed

1 1/2 C. of sugar

2 T. of lemon juice

Zest of 2 lemons

3/4 C. of water

10 basil leaves

1 T. of powdered pectin

 

To start, stick a small plate into your refrigerator to chill. This is used to test the jam constancy later on. In a great big bowl, you’re going to mix up the blueberries with the sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest. Allow to sit for a bit. While it’s sitting, get your jars together and start preparing them. Prepare your jars for canning – I use a ball canning kit so I just followed the directions on the insert. I used two mason jars and 2 old small jelly jars I’d been saving for the photos. (seen in photo) Four Mason jars should work sufficiently for you. Depending on your canning equipment on hand, you might need to purchase a canning kit to properly prepare your jars for canning. In a small piece of cheese cloth, lay the basil leaves on top and smash, and slice them up a bit so they release their full flavor. Tie the cheesecloth closed with some kitchen twine or string. In a medium pot on medium heat on the stove, add the blueberry mixture and the basil cheesecloth package with the water. Heat the mixture to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, mash the berries up so they are no longer chunky. You can use whatever you want to mash them, I just used the back of a spoon. You want the mixture to be much smoother. Don’t hesitate to smash that bag of basil down into the blueberry either, just to get some more of that flavor in. Boil the entire mixture for about 20 minutes or so. Be sure and stir it up frequently so it doesn’t stick and it’s evenly cooked. At the end of 20 minutes, use a spoon to skim off the foam that collects on top. Remove as much as you can. It all has to go. Reduce your heat to a low simmer (make sure it’s still bubbling) and continue skimming off the foam and stirring often until the jam thickens. If you don’t stir often enough, and the jam begins to thicken, you will burn the jam. To get to the properly thickened stage, it took me to about the 45 minute mark but can take more than an hour to accomplish. Stir in the pectin at this point and stir well. You can now test the jam with the plate we put in the refrigerator. Grab the plate and plop a small spoonful onto the plate and then stick it back into the refrigerator for about a minute. Remove and tilt the plate a bit to the side. If the jam runs, it’s not ready. It should stay right where it is. If it’s not ready, continue cooking and stirring and add a little more pectin if needed, but often if you just give it a bit more time it will thicken and gel. When the jam is finally ready, remove the cheesecloth filled with the basil with a slotted spoon. You can throw this all away. Using a ladle with a spout, ladle the jam into your jam jars leaving about a 1/4 inch of room between the jam and the top of the jar. Screw on the lids (be careful jars are VERY hot). Submerge them in rapidly boiling water for an additional 5 minutes. When they are done, remove them from the water and listen for the audible sound which will let you know they are sealed. It’s a weird kind of pop sound with a little metal ring to it and sometimes isn’t very loud. Allow the jam to sit for at least 24 hours before using.

Blubarb Jam

Blubarb Jam

Blubarb Jam

4 1⁄2 C. rhubarb, chopped

2 1⁄2 C. fresh blueberries

3⁄4 C. water

1 T. lemon juice

4 & 1/2 C. of sugar

1 box of low-sugar or no-sugar pectin

 

8 jam jars for canning (8 oz size)

8 canning lids

 

Sterilize your canning jars, and canning lids. Drain on clean dishtowels and set aside. Fill canning pot with water and bring to a gentle boil; keep over heat throughout prep so it is ready when needed. Wash berries. Measure out blueberries in a bowl. Mush them so they get quite juicy but there are still chunks remaining (mushing releases the pectin needed to make jam). In a separate bowl, mix 1 box of pectin with M C. of the sugar. Measure out remaining sugar in another bowl. Boil rhubarb and water over high heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes over medium heat. Add the mushed blueberries, lemon juice, and pectin and mix together. Bring to a boil then add sugar. Stir and bring back to a vigorous boil again, while stirring continuously. Boil hard while continuing to stir for 1 minute (and 1 minute only—if you want jam that will set, this is serious, people). Remove from heat, stir and ladle hot jam into sterilized jars, securing lids tightly. Place jam jars in your canning pot with gently boiling water and boil for 5 minutes (again, keep your time on this—too long may make your jam runny). Remove jam and allow to cool. Check lid seals once cooled—any tops that pop back when pressed should be refrigerated.

Berry-Basil Limeade Jam

Berry-Basil Limeade Jam

Berry-Basil Limeade Jam

8 C. fresh strawberries, hulled

1 package (1-3/4 ounces) powdered fruit pectin

1/3 C. lime juice

1 tsp. butter

7 C. sugar

1/4 C. minced fresh basil

4 tsp. grated lime zest

 

Rinse nine 1-C. plastic or freezer-safe containers and lids with boiling water. Dry thoroughly. In a small bowl, thoroughly crush strawberries, 1 C. at a time, to measure exactly 5 C.; transfer to a 6-qt. stockpot. Stir in pectin, lime juice and butter. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar; return to a full rolling boil. Boil and stir 1 minute. Immediately stir in basil and lime zest. Immediately fill all containers to within 1/2 in. of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers; immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours. Jam is now ready to use. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or freeze up to 12 months. Thaw frozen jam in refrigerator before serving. Yield: 8-1/2 C..

Roasted Garlic Jelly

Roasted Garlic Jelly

Roasted Garlic Jelly

3 medium heads garlic

1 T. olive oil, divided

1 T. balsamic vinegar, divided

1 C. dry white wine

2/3 C. water

1/2 C. white balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, crushed

3 T. lemon juice

3 C. granulated sugar

2 (3oz) pouches liquid pectin

 

Using a sharp knife, cut off tops of garlic heads, exposing cloves. Place each head on a small square of aluminum foil set on a baking sheet. Top each head with 1 teaspoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar. Scrunch foil loosely around garlic heads and roast in preheated oven until garlic is golden and very soft, 45 to 60 minutes. Let stand until cool enough to handle. Separate cloves, pinching each one to extract the soft roasted garlic. Discard skins. In a medium stainless steel saucepan, combine roasted garlic, wine, water, white balsamic vinegar and peppercorns. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and boil gently for 5 minutes. Cover, remove from heat and let steep for 15 minutes. Transfer garlic mixture to a strainer lined with several layers of dampened cheesecloth or a dampened coffee filter set over a deep bowl. Let drip, undisturbed, for about 30 minutes. Measure 1 2/3 C. garlic juice. If you do not have the required amount, add up to 1/4 C. dry white wine or water. (This step can be done up to one day in advance. Cover and refrigerate juice until ready to use). Meanwhile, prepare canner, jars, and lids. Transfer garlic juice to a large, deep stainless steel saucepan. Stir in lemon juice and sugar. Over high heat, stirring constantly, bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Stir in pectin. Return to a boil and boil hard, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Remove from heat and quickly skim off foam. Quickly pour hot jelly into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to fingertip tight. Place jars in canner, ensuring they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil and process for 10 minutes. Remove canner lid. Wait 5 minutes, then remove jars, cool, and store.

Bourbon Peach & Thyme Jam

Bourbon Peach & Thyme Jam

Bourbon Peach & Thyme Jam

 

3 large fresh peaches, peeled

3 T. granulated sugar

Juice from 1/2 lemon

2 T. bourbon

1/2 tsp. minced fresh thyme, lightly packed

 

Using a sharp knife, cut peaches into 1/2-inch segments. In a large saucepan, place peaches, sugar, lemon juice, bourbon, and thyme. Bring to a boil over medium high heat and reduce the heat to bring the jam to a simmer. Continue simmering, stirring occasionally, until jam thickens to desired consistency (about 20-30 minutes). If the peaches are too large for your tastes, mash them a bit with a fork to smooth out the jam. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Serve on bread, scones, biscuits, or as an ice cream topping.