www.sunnycovechef.com
  SUNNY COVE CHEF
  • Home
  • Food Philosophy
  • Recipe Index
    • Desserts
    • Seafood
    • Main Dish
    • Jam
    • Salad
    • Soup
    • Appetizers
    • Miscellaneous
    • Vegetables
    • Pasta
  • About
  • Contact
  • Wanderlust Blog

An Epic Jam Making Sunday

7/31/2013

13 Comments

 
Picture
30 Jars of Jam

It began a week ago when Ronald, a local organic farmer, told me that his strawberries were just right for making my jam and I knew I had to do it soon because I'm going to Germany in a couple of weeks. 
 With that in mind I stocked up on  organic sugar that I like to use (this sugar is not as fine as regular sugar) and made sure I had enough jars and lids. For some time I kept a recipe for homemade pectin and this was the year I was going to try it. Last year I made strawberry jam, and mixed fruit jam, using strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and my rhubarb that I grow in my tiny little plot in front of my house. My husband's favorite is the mixed berry jam. He likes his jams spreadable and I like mine runny, dripping off my toast, and excellent over vanilla ice cream. Last year I had used powdered pectin to give the mixed berry jam the consistency my husband likes. 
On Saturday I visited my friend's Birgit and Robert, who have a wonderful piece of property, where Robert has planted a variety of usual fruit trees, berries, and a fantastic  vegetable garden. It is a cooks paradise. We picked several pints of ripe blackberries and some green apples, not quite ready to eat but great for my homemade pectin. 
On Sunday morning I bought my flat of strawberries from Ronald at the farmer's market. At the market I also noticed that, "Dirty Girls,” another local farm, (I love the name) had strawberries for jam on sale. I couldn't resist and bought another half flat. Here I was with 19 pints of strawberries and some additional fruit waiting at home. 


Picture
Robert and Birgit in their beautiful garden
Picture
Picture
Picture

Things that make jam making so much easier


If you don't buy anything else invest in a wooden spoon with a long handle, you need to stir the jam and it is very hot. Your three dollars investment will keep your arms from looking like Scar Face.
Make sure you have a tall pot because the jam will often bubble up dramatically and you don't want sticky jam on your stove top. A wide funnel will be a jam makers little helper when ladling the jam into the jars. I love it. 
This year I added a pair of silicon glove pot holders to my arsenal. They're ok to have but not really necessary. I used them instead of tongs to get the jars and bands out of the hot water. 



Picture
Picture
Have fun with your jam making. Once you have made homemade jam you and your will never eat the commercial stuff again. Many recipes call for adding spices and other favors. I 'm a purist when it comes to jam making. Using ripe fruit that has just been picked needs no other flavors in my humble opinion.
Picture
Strawberry Jam 
with Homemade Pectin
view recipe
Homemade Pectin
view recipe
Strawberry Jam
view recipe
Rhubarb Strawberry and Blackberry Jam
view recipe
13 Comments
Birgit Weskamp link
8/3/2013 03:46:38 am

So wonderful to see the produce from our garden used, can't wait to enjoy some of your jam and try out the recipes!

Reply
Gerlinde de Broekert link
8/9/2013 12:36:50 pm

There is a bag with jam waiting for you

Reply
Lynette Eads link
8/6/2013 01:58:23 am

Such great looking jam. It is always so wonderful to look at all of the jars you have canned after all of the hard work is done. Why is it that the days are so hot when you do canning?

Reply
Gerlinde link
8/21/2013 07:52:54 am

Lynette, as soon as I get up to the mountains I will bring you a jar.
Gerlinde

Reply
Birgit Weskamp link
8/7/2013 04:05:30 am

How lovely to see our produce put to good use! Looking forward to trying out your jam.

Reply
Gerlinde
7/11/2017 09:24:19 pm

Anytime Birgit!

Reply
Carol Gordon
9/2/2013 12:46:18 am

I love your site. I know you are quite talented in the kitchen. This is a wonderful thing for you to share.

Reply
Gerlinde de Broekert link
9/4/2013 12:46:08 am

Reply
Gerlinde
7/11/2017 09:23:40 pm

Thanks Carol, you and Jack are pretty good cooks yourself.

Reply
Nora Alvord link
9/16/2013 03:25:17 pm

Fresh produce shopping in Birgit and Robert's yard looks like a lot of fun! But your cooking delights are even more awesome!

Reply
Gerlinde
7/11/2017 09:25:19 pm

Thanks Nora, Birgit and Robert have a beautiful garden.

Reply
Pamela link
7/12/2017 11:02:46 am

I am drooling as I'm typing. I'm like your husband as far as the jam - I enjoy it nice and thick. I spread it on wheat toast in the morning with peanut butter. Best breakfast in the world! I wish you sold your jam-I'd be first in line to buy it. 💚😎

Reply
gloria link
7/12/2017 01:35:31 pm

I love all this jam :)

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  It means a lot to me and I would love to hear from you .
    Comments in English and German are welcome!
    
    Picture

    Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Appetizers
    Desserts
    German Food
    Holiday Cooking
    Ice Cream
    Jam
    Main Dish
    Miscellaneous
    Pasta
    Salads
    Seafood
    Seasonal Cooking
    Soup
    Stories
    Travel
    Vegetables

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Blogroll:


    the chef mimi blog
    food52
    East of Eden Cooking
    Marie Gabrielle
    Dorie Greenspan
    roughwighting
    The Wednesdaychef
    David Lebovitz
    thekitchensgarden
    The Kitchen Lioness
    lifeonthecutoff
    mamangerie
    Chocolate and Zucchini
    ​apuginthekitchen
    ​
    Cocoa and Lavender
    ​from the Bartolini Kitchen
    ​TheBeachHouseKitchen
    Saving Room for Dessert
    Memoriediangelina
    ​Sippitysub
    Saving Room For Dessert
    COPYRIGHT © 2013- 2019
    Sunnycovechef blog.
    ​All rights reserved.
Proudly powered by Weebly