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| Mom never stops being your mother |
Give your own personally made jar of jam as a gift, a homemade is always a delight to receive.
There’s no doubt that being able to offer fresh-tasting, home-canned, or preserved foods to your family and friends throughout the year is definitely one of life’s luxuries. But there's more.
The price of food has skyrocketed in the last few years. Food safety has become a concern for everyone. Plus, homemade jam makes a welcome gift.
Canning is the answer to both the price dilemma and the desire to offer nutritious foods throughout the year.
Canning and preserving are also ways to protect food from spoilage so that you can use the food at a later time.Canning is really one step beyond cooking. It is a method that applies heat to food in a closed glass home canning jar to stop the natural spoilage that would otherwise take place, and removes air from the jar to create a seal. Pectin is a natural, jelling ingredient derived from apple and citrus fruits.
Strawberries, lemon juice, Ball® RealFruit™ Classic Pectin and sugar combine to create this homemade strawberry jam. Try out this recipe easy enough for a beginner, then make your own with new twists to this favorite canning recipe.
Homemade Strawberry Jam
Makes about 8 (8 oz) half pints
You Will Need:
5 cups crushed strawberries (about 5 lbs)
1/4 cup lemon juice
6 Tbsp Ball® RealFruit™ Classic Pectin
7 cups granulated sugar
8 Ball® (8 oz) half pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands
PREPARE boiling water canner. Heat jars in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Wash lids in warm soapy water and set bands aside.
COMBINE strawberries and lemon juice in a 6- or 8-quart saucepan. Gradually stir in pectin. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that can not be stirred down, over high heat, stirring constantly.
ADD entire measure of sugar, stirring to dissolve. Return mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
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. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.
Source: Ball Fresh Preserving, National Center for Home Food Preservation, Benefits of Canning
The Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company began manufacturing fruit jars in 1884 in Buffalo, New York. After a destructive fire in the Buffalo plant, however, the five Ball brothers and their families relocated to Muncie, Indiana, where their business has become known worldwide.
As a leader in home food preservation, Jarden Home Brands is committed to continuing the tradition started by the Ball brothers and handed down through generations by providing quality products to help Americans preserve garden fresh produce. Join us in continuing our efforts to Preserve America for the next 125 years.
You can preserve many different foods in jars to enjoy off season. Jams and jellies, pickles, salsas, meats, poultry, seafood, fruits, vegetables, soups and sauces, desserts and food for special diets.