Jam Session 2009!
This is how my extreme jam making session got started.
For a couple weeks I knew I needed to go to Joe's Place and get strawberries so I could make jam. (My kids are jam snobs and will only eat homemade. Of course we always run out in February so for a few months they have to deal with store bought.) Anyway, I kept putting it off, things just kept coming up. So on Saturday I called and they had some flats, and said that they would also have some on Monday. I ran out of time on Saturday so decided to go on Monday at 9 am and get some. As usual, I was a little late, I got there at 10 am. I didn't think I had to hurry that much. The strawberries were GONE! And that was the last of them! They even only had U-pick til noon that day and it was over! I was in a panic!
NO STRAWBERRY JAM FOR THE WHOLE YEAR?! THERE HAD TO BE A WAY!
So I called a farm that the kids go to for field trips. They said they would have some coming in at about 12:30. So we went home, ate lunch and got to the farm at 12:15. As I pull up I see someone leaving with one flat, then another at the register. I look over and there is only one left (I really wanted 3 flats.) . I grab it and then a couple flats of raspberries to make up for not getting enough strawberries. On the way home I stopped by the groceries store to get some frozen strawberries because I wanted to try some strawberry-rhubarb jam (Rebecca gave me some she had made and it was DELICIOUS! So I HAD to try some myself!) While there they had some 4lb containers on sale so I bought six!
When I got home I realized how much work I had created for myself!
I got busy with the strawberry-rhubarb jam first. Then when Casey got home we all worked on the strawberry.
The kids were so excited to help, and they actually were a huge help! The pulled all the stems off the berries, then they stirred the jam after I added the pectin. This allowed Casey to blend the berries and get the jar ready and me to cook the pectin. We whipped out 11 batches that night.
The kids were so excited to help, and they actually were a huge help! The pulled all the stems off the berries, then they stirred the jam after I added the pectin. This allowed Casey to blend the berries and get the jar ready and me to cook the pectin. We whipped out 11 batches that night.
The next day I finished the jam session with 4 batches of raspberry jam.
So with what started out as not having ANY jam for the year, we ended up with a TON and even a little variety!
(Next year I'll be sure to get started a little earlier.)
2 comments:
HOLY JAM!! I only made three batches which I am hoping will last the whole year! Maybe you'll have a couple years worth?
I FINALLY did some strawberry jam this year too. Haven't done it for years, forgot that there is SO MUCH sugar in it--but not a concern for you and the kids I am sure. LOVE homemade jam. This year was able to find some picked berries up north and they were already stemmed too. Made the whole process much easier. Will enjoy this winter for sure!
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