Life is Always an Adventure!

... even when you do something as simple
as make strawberry jam for the first time!


What fun! I only had two quarts of strawberries and decided on the spur of the moment to make jam, going the whole route and canning it too. I can't begin to describe the self-satisfaction when I heard the first jar pop and seal as it sat on the kitchen counter.

I stopped and stared at the jars, marvelling that I,
a canning newbie, had succeeded!


As a side note, I researched pectin quite extensively before I began canning my strawberries. Here's a web page that has tons of info on pectin. I found it to be quite interesting and even reassuring - pectin is a natural occurring substance found in many fruits. The prepared pectin that we buy comes from apples and just helps our jam to thicken quickly, so we don't cook all the vitamins right out of them. This page also helps you troubleshoot if your jam turns out too stiff, lumpy or runny. AND it tells you how to make your own pectin, if you so desire. Check it out, it's quite interesting.

I think next year when we get that garden put in I will just HAVE to buy a proper canning pot. I made do with something I found in our kitchen that was just barely deep enough to allow the water to cover the jar tops - the water splashed out as it boiled and I went through 10 tea towels, mopping up the top of the stove as they processed. But it worked, and I have 6 finished jars of strawberry jam.

Y'all stay tuned now...
I'm hoping to have a country giveaway very soon. It's been way too long since I've hosted a fun giveaway and I miss it!

Wishing everyone a well and happy week!

34 comments:

  1. Love strawberries. Linda and I have about a 30ft square area in backyard just as a strawberry patch. Easy to grow and take care of and last season we had lots of strawberries. Have a great day

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  2. I made strawberry jam last year, and tried to triple my batch. Apparently, I can't add properly, and it was a disaster.

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  3. Kristina, it wasn't your fault. Quite honestly, you should never double or triple a jam recipe. Here's more info from the pickyourown.org website:

    How much fruit?
    Jam can ONLY be made in rather small batches - about 6 cups at a time - like the directions on the pectin say, DO NOT increase the recipes or the jam won't "set" (jell, thicken). (WHY? Alton Brown on the Food Channel says pectin can overcook easily and lose its thickening properties. It is easier and faster to get an even heat distribution in smaller batches. It takes about 8 cups of raw, unprepared berries per batch. For triple berry jam, I use 4 cups of mushed (slightly crushed) strawberries, 1 cup of raspberries and 1 cup of blackberries. For strawberry-only jam; you’ll need 6 cups of mushed strawberries.

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  4. Yummy! I was just telling my hubs how next year I want to start canning...so exciting to see the wonderful foods that you prepare and can yourself!

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  5. you go girl!! both my grandmother made jams and jellies...couldn't wait to try them out...

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  6. Well are you just the happy homemaker!!

    Hope you are faring well on the range all by yourself.
    I cannot believe you are going to be a grandmother...WOW! I guess because J and I don't have kids it always blows my mind when I think of a friend becoming a g-ma!
    Oh, and putting those cookies in the freezer wouldn't help me. I LOVE frozen cookies! Try one or a dozen straight out of the freezer :)
    Misha

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  7. There is nothing more satisfying than producing something. Well done with the strawberry jam!
    Wishing we were right there with some warm, fresh scones!!
    xx

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  8. Sounds yummy! Mom made strawberry freezer jelly before but it was a long time ago. She likes to make apple butter and has already made 1 batch and is getting ready to make another. She has a secret that makes it OH SO EASY! If you're interested she would probably share if you ask.

    Does Ringo get to lick the spoon? You do know that chocolate and strawberries were meant for each other, right?
    Chester ;0=)

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  9. Don't you just LOOOVVVEEE pickyourown.org? That is my canning "bible" and it is what got me started on my canning craze!!!!!! I am so very proud of you! We need to get together and can, what fun!

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  10. wow, how great and productive is that!!
    Love the picture. Canning is so much fun and a lot of work, but the rewards are plenty!
    Awesome job on your jam.
    Take care

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  11. Sure does look tasty! My brother in-law mad his first jam this year...and we all got one container. Ours is gone already! Mmmmm!

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  12. Yay, Susan! They look beautiful too. Those lid pops never cease to thrill me, year after year. Although really this year was the first year I had canned anything in a loooong time. And guess what? My grape jelly was runny! Hmmmm.... grape syrup anyone? -Tammy

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  13. Jam, you made Jam! Good for you! The butter the other day looked great too..Love the direction you are going with your blog:)

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  14. Since you are in Kansas you MUST find a sand plum thicket if you like making jelly/jam. They haven't done real well around here the past couple of years, I don't know how they do in your part of the prairie. Look along railroad tracks and fence lines. Sand plums make the BEST jelly, you don't need to add pectin, they have enough naturally. Sugar is all you add and it gives it a wonderful sweet/sour flavor that everyone LOVES. :)

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  15. Strawberry plants. You only need to start out with five or six. Those plants will send "runners out" starting new plants. In just a few years you will have as many as you want

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  16. Now that's what I call getting in touch with your inner Domestic Diva!! Making Jelly is a very ambitious undertaking in my book. I bet it tastes wonderful. I'm SO jealous!!!

    For some reason I've been having this strange need to make homemade bread and I've never tried it before. I'll let you know how that turns out for me.

    p.s. you are right, we really are kindred spirits!

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  17. Home made strawberry jam! The perfect impetus for a canning obesession! I bet your jam was absolutely perfect. Don't feel bad for using pectin. If you are making a large batch of jelly or jam, you MUST use pectin - unless you have a few hours to spend in the kitchen. I don't use it with a small batch, but I definitely use it for a large. Can't wait to read about your canning adventures in the future! Just a small tip - go ahead and save up for a pressure canner. This new obsession is going to demand it!

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  18. Woo-hoo! How much fun is that! I love that pop of the jars sealing. I recall once when my kids were little, one of them had pushed down on the lids, they were "helping" them...yikes!

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  19. I just made jam for the first time with a ton of figs that were taking over my backyard. Next year, I'm definitely trying fig & strawberry jam. :)

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  20. I used to a make a lot of jelly, but I remember the first time it did. Currants. Didn't even know what they were. Turned out so good. A great memory. Then while visiting my parents, the kids and I would pick raspberries and cherries and then I'd make cases of jelly for the next year. I love looking at the finished jars. Always seems such an accomplishment.

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  21. That jam looks delicious! Well done you.

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  22. Now that sure looks tasty!! I think I am going to have to learn how to do that someday!!

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  23. Tis is definitely a very sweet adventure. Strawberry jam is my favorite and I like to eat it with cheese

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  24. I bow to you of oracle of jammy goodness! Send some my way for the next time I fancy some jam for my cream tea! lol. Well done you!

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  25. Way to go with the jam. Now that you have started canning you won't be able to stop.

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  26. Your success is encouraging! I'm hoping to make wild raspberry jam for Christmas baskets this year. Hhmm, I should get on that!

    Be well! ~Andrea~

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  27. We love strawberries, especially strawberry pie, but I will see nothing but pumpkin and pecan pies in the coming months (which is not such a bad thing either).

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  28. Now you are a country woman! I canned for the first time in forever. It has been so long that I nearly forgot how. I started with strawberries too! Good for you, I know that you will be into it next summer but do get the right pots it is hard to use what you have I did that too. Its not fun when the jars don't sit right and your washing machine is running from the mess you made trying to do something good.

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  29. Mmmmmmm yummy! I just make a big old batch of homemade hot rolls. Ya want to get together? I just love strawberry jam on fresh hot rolls. Congrats on a job well done!

    Ya'll have a fun day full of blessings and jam surprises!!!

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  30. Oh I am jealous. We didn't get any strawberries from our garden this year because it rained every day in June!

    My sister gave me a microwave jam recipe that I used to make blueberry and peach jam. Suddenly we were putting jam on everything.

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  31. Is there anything better than fresh jam? I've never made any myself but love it when a friend shares after her annual jam making session. One day, I'm going to visit her during the whole process so I can join in the fun.

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  32. Wow, Susan. That's quite an accomplishment. I've never made my own jam or jelly but my mother-in-law usually makes some every year and sends them out as gifts. I just love the home made stuff.

    You go girl!

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  33. Looks good and congratulations at succeeding! My daughter makes it too and then mails me a jar. Very sweet and yummy, strawberry rhubarb.

    Come on over to my blog if you want to enter to win a pretty scarf. You have until Tuesday nite to enter.

    Di
    The Blue Ridge Gal

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  34. Good job! Very satisfying, I'm sure.

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