it's time to jam

I remember canning days growing up. My mom would solicit help from all the children, and we would sort through grapes, or peel tomatoes and peaches, or turn the mill to squash the fruit into juice.

Glass jars lined the shelves of our pantry with bottles of homemade pickles, applesauce, grape juice, stewed tomatoes, jams, and salsa. I loved it all.

When I left for college, I carefully wrapped bottles of salsa, applesauce, and jam in between my clothes as I packed my suitcase. If mom happened to visit, I’d often ask her to bring a few canned goodies for me. (And she always did!)

But, now that I am Mrs. Pike, I felt that it was time for me to start my own canning tradition. And so for the very first time, I would can all by myself.

Mr. Pike was also excited for this first time canning, having grown up on his mother’s delicious canned goods. So the two of us rolled up our sleeves to make a batch of jam. Strawberries and blueberries were on sale, so we combined the two together to make strawberry/blueberry jam. (Something you won’t find in the grocery stores.) We made a double batch and ended up with 17 jars of jam! Enough to last the two of us quite a while.

OUR RECIPE
Mr. Pike and I cut up our fruit, and because we don’t yet have a food processor, we mashed the cut berries with a pastry cutter. Then we boiled the fruit down with lots of sugar and a packet of pectin (my mom and aunt recommend Sure-Jell; and there's even a no sugar needed variety). Now the best part of making jam is you don’t need a canner! (Which Mr. and Mrs. Pike also don’t have yet.)

My mom’s trick -- Boil the jars, lids, and rings. Fill the jar almost full. Wipe the mouth of the jar very clean; put the hot lid over the jar mouth and twist the ring on tightly. Then tip the jar upside down. (The heat and pressure help to seal the jar.) After about 20-30 minutes turn all of the jars right side up, and let them rest for 24 hours before moving. Check the lids to see if the jars have sealed. Whatever didn’t, put in the freezer and remove when needed.

I recommend having at least two sets of hands to help out, especially for first-timers like Mr. & Mrs. Pike.