Jam making help for first timer

parsonswife8

billieboy wrote: »

Morning to you too. Glad your jam came out well. I can't make any more until I get some more jars:mad: ! Have asked all and sundry to save their jars for me:D .

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Luckily I had a few jars already and a couple in the fridge that were nearly empty, so scoffed the contents of those and washed them to use as well.

I want to try blackberry jam as well, later this year. And elderberry wine.

We made the elderflower cordial which is simply divine and also have 2 large demijohns of elderflower wine on the go, for use in the winter!

foreign_correspondent

parsonswife8 wrote: »

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Good morning billieboy and foreign correspondent.

Made my strawberry jam and it came out tops! Very easy to do and set well.

:T :T :T :T :T

Going to bake some scones soon and try it out. Yum!

Thanks again fc.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

That's good news - I am glad the recipe is working for people.:beer:

It is nice and quick and easy, and great on scones! - Actually you are making me consider making some today now (I am supposed to be working from home!) ... I made some scones for my grandma's birthday in May and we had them with whipped cream and the last of last years batch of strawberry jam, and they were delicious!

I went to cornwall recently and a cream tea (pot of tea, 2 scones, clotted cream and homemade jam) was a fiver! And their homemade jam was no where as nice as mine made from this recipe:D

I think this one works so well as the cooking time is so short, so all the flavour and colour is retained (and probably more of the vitamins) - otherwise you can end up boiling strawberry jam for ages to try and get it to set, and it goes a bit dull coloured and loses the fresh fruit taste. I was concerned that this recipe may not keep as well, however, last years kept for almost a year and was still perfect.

munchki

Just my two pennies worth, but I bought a jam funnel last year at Lakeland, then it only cost me a couple of quid and works a treat!

parsonswife8

FC, I'm going to get my OH to hack half the end of a plastic funnel off for me, as well, to use for filling the jars with preserves.

I used a ladle yesterday and thank heavens, managed to be quite accurate with it.

foreign_correspondent

I just bought a big semi transparent plastic (moulded polythere type stuff) funnel from Wilkos, and cut most of the spouty bit of with a hacksaw, leaving about 1cm of spout, then filed off the edges so there are no plastic shavings to drop into the jam - it works great.
Otherwise I spend ages getting the set on jam off the outside of the sticky pots after, which is no fun!

billieboy_2

fc, I wonder if your four minute boil recipe would work with gooseberries? Have you ever tried it? Might try it with this recipe. But maybe reduce the amount of sugar(and just use ordinary sugar), I always thought 11b sugar to a 11b of fruit? I have accumulated a few more jars now and feel inspired to make some at the weekend. I looove gooseberries!:j :j :j

foreign_correspondent

billieboy wrote: »

fc, I wonder if your four minute boil recipe would work with gooseberries? Have you ever tried it? Might try it with this recipe. But maybe reduce the amount of sugar(and just use ordinary sugar), I always thought 11b sugar to a 11b of fruit? I have accumulated a few more jars now and feel inspired to make some at the weekend. I looove gooseberries!:j :j :j

I have no idea, gooseberries are normally boiled for longer with ordinary sugar to release their natural pectin, but I suppose you could try it and see - If it doesn't set when you do the saucer test just keep boiling till it does!

billieboy_2

Have found this website which reckons gooseberries are high in pectin, so I'm going to try it at the weekend (if there are any gooseberries left in the shops!):j . I'm really getting into this jam making again.

thriftlady_2

munchki wrote: »

Just my two pennies worth, but I bought a jam funnel last year at Lakeland, then it only cost me a couple of quid and works a treat!

I recommend these too, makes life much easier if you make a lot of preserves.

mrs_baggins

went to market today for some cheap fruit and veg and bought 6 peaches for a pound. however with all the other stuff in the bag by time i lugged it home they were all battered and bruised all over. didnt want to sit and eat 6 peaches so have had a go at making some jam and put in some cinnamon as well. Just waiting now for it to set. Hopefully!