Blackberry Jam: Sky Harvest Blackberries Have to be Seen to be Believed

You had to see it to believe it - giant blackberries from Nate Youngquist of Sky Harvest Produce (Skagit Valley) purchased at the Ballard Farmer's Market. Stop a minute and look at how big this berry is in my hand! Exceptional. I bought 4 pints and turned them into a small batch of beautiful jam with the help of my FreshTech Automatic Home Canning System. 

I love this machine and regret that, due to moving and packing, I have only been able to use it twice (ever!) before this. That is a travesty. I made some funny declaration yesterday that I would use it weekly from now on and after this successful batch, I just might!

The recipe makes 6 half pint jars (only 5 fit in the canner at once, so the remainder is in the refrigerator being devoured fresh). I cut fabric circles to cover the jars and secured them with a simple rubber band. I chose unique fabrics to highlight the deep purple jam. Red & white check fabric felt too cutesy for this beautiful blend.

#jammaking #ballcanning #smallbatch #blackberryseason #finddelight

Cath Kidston Jam Jar Kit: The Power of Cute

Never underestimate the power of cute. I would never say that homemade jars of jam need decoration.  People have been making and giving jam for as long as it has been possible. It is truly a gift.

But when you can doll up your jars, why not?

I am a Cath Kidston devotee.  I have loved her modern Laura Ashley-esque style for years (oilcloth tablecloths, polka dot fabric and darling dishes) and have visited her stores in New York City (sadly, now closed) and London. She makes me want to be British.

There are very few places in the United States that sell Cath Kidston products, so my heart skipped a beat when I noticed her Jam Jar Kit on the shelf of Pacific Fabrics, a sewing shop in Seattle. 

I knew I would be buying some fabric and ribbon, but a jam jar kit? Clearly this store is interested in bringing delight. The kit includes sweet label stickers and a variety of scalloped paper circles in some of Cath Kidston's signature prints that you fold down over the sealed jar lid and secure with a bit of coordinated elastic cord. 

My raspberry jam and peach jam now look so good that I've made it a little harder for my friends to remove the cover and dig in. I actually keep the paper lid and elastic on the counter and replace it after breakfast. Why not?

American Spoon: A Shop and Cafe in Petoskey

I was able to visit the original American Spoon retail store, located in the gaslight district of Petoskey, Michigan. Are you familiar with the brand? It is a jam and jelly company that has a cult-like following. Their products are of the highest quality, their packaging is gift-worthy and, as per their website, "we still prepare fruits by hand and cook them in small copper kettle batches under the watchful eyes of our skilled cooks." Nice! 

They have slowly expanded their offering to include salsas, fruit butter and condiments. What I think is really interesting, is that they have an American Spoon Food Cafe next door. My mom, aunts and I went there for lunch and it was perfect.  Most of the menu items feature an American Spoon Food sauce or jam (genius!) and I was very impressed.

I love my whitefish tacos which featured their roasted tomatillo salsa. The salsa was bright and tangy and delicious.

The super cute cafe serves 24 flavors of house-made gelato. Order a cone, grab a stool and watch the vacationing world walk by. 

Summer Fruits Make Luscious Jam

The color and arrangement of these Summer fruits called me from across the farmer's market.  I wove my way through the crowd so that I could get a closer look.  Stunning! Do you feel the same way? I picked up a carton of the black raspberries to make a quick batch of jam, reminiscent of the one I'd make with my grandmother's berries each summer.

Do you remember this story of when I met the women staying in the cottage next door to the one that had been my grandmother's?  It still makes me smile.

Today I am mixing the black raspberries with some sugar and a packet of freezer jam pectin.  It will turn breakfast into a sweet walk down memory lane.

Best Strawberry Freezer Jam

When life gives you strawberries...make freezer jam!  Ball has made it easy with a no-fail instant pectin that requires only sugar, strawberries and love.  

I wash my jars, lids and screw caps in the dishwasher.  I washed and hulled strawberries and put them in my food processor. I used short bursts of power to "mash" the fruit into jam consistency.  I mix 1 envelope or equivalent from a jar of freezer jam instant pectin (note that this jar has a purple accented label) with 1 1/2 cups of sugar.  Stir in 4 cups of smashed fruit.  Stir for 3 minutes.  Ladle into clean jars.  Leave the filled jars at room temperature for 30 minutes, then place in refrigerator for consumption within a few days or in freezer for up to 3 months. 

My parents and I worked in an assembly line and made 5 batches of strawberry jam with 6 quarts of strawberries in about an hour.  We have been having toast and jam every morning ever since. Yum yum yum yum yum.

Black and Blue

I'm not sure the farmer believed me when I told her that it was her display that made me choose her booth for berries.  But it's the truth!  How could I resist this black and blue checkerboard effect?

As a girl, each Summer I would pick black raspberries in the yard neighboring my grandmother's house with my boy cousins.  We would eat, smush (for horror movie effects) and collect as many berries as you would expect a 9, 10 and 11 year old to.  With our bounty, my mother would make jam.  This unusual berry is my flavor of choice on toast and it is not often that I get the chance to make it.

Here is Part Two from my week of binge canning (so far tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, apricots, peaches and pickles!): 

Black Raspberry Freezer jam

It is super easy to make homemade jam when you use  Ball's No Cook Freezer Jam Fruit Pectin.  You simply blend the envelope of pectin with 1 1/2 cups sugar, then add 4 cups of crushed fresh berries and stir for 3 minutes. Then ladle the jam into clean jam jars and let stand for 30 minutes.  Put one jar in your refrigerator to enjoy now and store the extra jars in the freezer. 

Homemade Raspberry Jam

Who is up for some homemade raspberry jam?  When I learned how to make jam with Ball's Instant Fruit Pectin (sometimes labelled "No Cook Freezer Jam"), it changed my life.  All you need is one envelope of instant fruit pectin, 1 1/2 cups of sugar and four cups of crushed fresh fruit and you can make 5 (8 oz) jars of jam.  In less than 30 minutes, you measure, stir and fill the jars.  Read the directions, but it is that easy!  It will keep in the refrigerator for 3 weeks and can be frozen for up to one year.  Can you say Christmas presents? 

I can't think of anyone who wouldn't love toast spread with raspberry jam on a cold Winter morning.  Or how about a crisp cracker topped with a sliver of white cheddar and a dollop of bright red jam. Yum! 

In a few easy steps, you can preserve the delights of Summer 2011.  Come on, you know you want to.

Berry Season

Are you reeling from the choice of berries? You simply have to take advantage of this incredible season. I made jars and jars of strawberry jam this week, using my tried & true method. If you have the chance, give it a whirl. All you need is a packet of Ball's No-Cook Freezer Jam Fruit Pectin, 1 1/2 cups sugar and 4 cups of crushed fruit - see my description here.

Strawberry Jam

My new favorite thing to make is strawberry jam. Ball's No Cook Freezer Jam Fruit Pectin works perfectly - you simply blend the envelope of pectin with 1 1/2 cups sugar, then add 4 cups of crushed fresh strawberries and stir for 3 minutes. 

Then ladle the jam into really cute jars and let stand for 30 minutes. I love these tulip jars by Weck's. I have made 2 batches in the last 10 days and between eating and gifting, they are almost gone! Go get yourself some beautiful June berries and give it a try. There is nothing quite like the taste of homemade jam on buttered toast in the morning. Enjoy!