Sunday, May 16, 2010

You win some...You lose some...

Megan and I decided last week after a quick jaunt to the strawberry patch. Let's make some jam. Last week's berries didn't last long, but we knew another trip was needed this weekend.

Well...we didn't have our lovely helpers this week and it was soooo hot...um..yeah, the berry picking on Saturday at the hottest part of the day wasn't fun...we are still paying for that decision ;) (aching bones, not sunburned)

Strawberries in their fresh from the patch state....
Colander o'berries

Strawberries in the process of being killed er..um..squished...
proceed to the squishing of berries

Megan squishing her berries.... :P
Megan squishing her berries ;)

Hmmm what's going on here....
Lookee at we have here!
dualling stockpots...which I, the experienced jammer....lost (more on that below!)

Just after filling, while still hot, turn upside down to help with the sealing.
just after filling
I do this until the jars are cool, then flip over again to their right side. I must report, all jars sealed successfully...now if they had thickened successfully...hmmm

After Megan left, I had just enough berries to make another batch and add rhubarb.
Rhubarb and strawberries...yum!
We will not discuss the cost of said rhubarb. Sigh..I remember the days I'd walk out of my back door, rip a stalk off, bring it inside and wash it. Then stick it in sugar and eat! It will not grow in the south so one must pay dearly for it. I make this out of love for my FIL, he loves this jam. I even had a little bit leftover to save for a pie later.

The Winners--Strawberry Rhubarb Jam!
The Winners...Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
minus 1 jar (see below why ;) Oh...why is it a winner...it's jam, you know thick, lovely jam!

The losers....Strawberry Jam!!!
The Losers...Strawberry Jam
loosey, goosey not thickened strawberry jam... More like ice cream toppings. This misbehavin' jam will be reboiled and repectinized tomorrow. It'll jam! I fear it didn't boil quite enough, thus the loosey, goosiness of it. Need to pick up new lids and pectin after work and we'll give it another go. The 2 cute jars with the gold tops to the left will be left as ice cream toppings. Can't get replacement lids for those. Good thing I bought an ice cream maker this weekend.

I kept a jar of the strawberry/rhubarb jam for me.
yum!
whoa...it was awesome and all I could do not to grab a spoon and finish it off...must behave ;)

11 comments:

~RaenWa~ said...

Yummy strawberry jam sounds good.

cpurl17 said...

Yum!! It all looks delicious!

I've never made jam before (hands head in shame)

Cookie said...

Nothing wrong with having something yummy to put on top of ice cream.

xo

Montreal Mama said...

Jam looks yummy! Do you ship to Canada? LOL

Sandra said...

damn - I'm hungry again!

Bezzie said...

NOthing wrong with a little thin jelly!!!

I hear you about the rhubarb. I bet we could grow it here, but don't know if I've ever seen anyone that does!

Pat said...

I'd leave it as strawberry topping for pancakes/waffles/ice cream - YUMMM!

We have a giant raspberry patch and I make tons of raspberry jam each year - it is so satisfying to hear those caps seal!

IrishGirlieKnits said...

Seriously delish!! I hope this year is the year I finally try making jam :)

Batty said...

Oh yum. Homemade strawberry jam is one of my favorites. If you have more leftovers, you can make a cobbler too. I do that with fruit that's getting squishy when I don't want to make jam.

Acornbud said...

Ooh, all those lovely berries. I'm drooling!

Carol said...

yur strawberries are in already??!?!?!! I am SO jealous!