Ball Jam and Jelly Maker

I purchased a new toy this past week and I used it for the first time last evening.  It is a jam and jelly maker by Ball, the jar people.  It makes small batches of jam in 21 minutes.  I do mean small batches.  After you make the jam, you can freeze, refrigerate, or can it.  I decided to make an unusual kind using blackberries and plums, along with spice and golden sherry.  I was impressed with how easy it was to make a batch of jam.  I made a batch when I was doing dishes and cleaning up after a meal.  21 minutes goes real fast!

First you place pectin in the gadget, then you add (2 2/3 cups) prepared fruit.  After 4 minutes it will beep and you add the sugar at that time.  After cooking  21 minutes, it will let you know when it is done. The jam maker has automatic arms and it stirs the jam as it is cooking.  I found that the jam to be less thick as I like it to be.  The flavor of the jam was excellent!  Did I say excellent!  It may have been the liquor flavor I enjoyed.  LOL

I will show pictures of my canned jam and give you a better recipe after I experiment a while.  What a fun way to play!

Blessings to you and yours!  Dawnie

In a Jam

I had my strawberry apron on hand too. 

I made a double batch of Strawberry Citrus Jam yesterday.  I found a lady on Craigslist that was ordering in strawberries from Florida.  I had to get some.  The car had that heavenly scent of fresh strawberries on our trip back from her farm.  With a 19, 20, and 21 year old and myself, the food budget needs all of the help it can get.  I haven't canned for several years, but I decided it was time to give it a go again.  My ingredients were: 14 cups sugar, 2 extra large lemons, 2 blood oranges, (I crushed and pureed the citrus fruits and used most of the rind, 9 cups crushed and pureed strawberries, 2 boxes pectin, 2 tablespoons of citric acid, and one tablespoon butter.  The jam tasted OK last night, but today after it set longer and I refrigerated the family container, it was wonderful!  The texture turned out perfect too.  If you haven't made jam or it has been a while for you, maybe it is time to go for it again.  It makes great gifts too.  Thank you for viewing my blog.  Many blessings for you and yours!  Dawn