My husband really likes peanut butter and jam sandwiches. And now that he packs a lunch every weekday, a lot of peanut butter and jam sandwiches go out our door. Store-bought jam won't do, however - he likes his mom's homemade strawberry freezer jam. I knew about this before we got married, but I was secretly hoping that she makes some sort of miracle freezer jam that replenishes itself - a Jam Jar that Never Runs Dry type of thing.
No such luck. The Jam ran out.
In anticipation of this, a few months ago when we were visiting his parents, she made a batch with me watching, showing me how to do it. That alone bought me more time. But alas, The Jam ran out again.
The time had come for me to make The Jam. At our last trip to the grocery store, we eagerly picked out fresh strawberries and a box of pectin (of course, we had to call my MIL while in the aisle because who knew there were 4 different types of Pectin?!)
Yesterday was the day we set aside to make The Jam. Partly because we were both home, and partly because I would still have some time today incase everything went horribly wrong and I had to start again.
For other new wives out there, or perhaps just new Jam makers, here was our step by step process.
Step 1. Open the pectin box and read through the instructions for the Quick and Easy Strawberry Jam recipe 14 times (or more if necessary) just to make you sure you really understand it.
Step 2. Wash all jam jars.
Step 3: Wash strawberries
So far so good!
I can handle this - I am an experienced dish and fruit washer!
Step 4. Crush strawberries - enough for 2 cups in our case. We used the blender to crush the strawberries. Note: Do not puree! You want chunks of strawberries.
Step 5. Mix crushed strawberries with sugar. Measure everything very carefully - that's important. Then let the sugar/strawberry mixture sit for about 10 minutes.
Step 6: Mix pectin with water in a saucepan and heat on high stirring constantly. Once it boils, keep stirring it constantly for one minute - then remove it from the heat. Andrew did this part and I cheered him on. And took a picture.
Step 7. Mix the pectin and the sugar/strawberry mixture - stirring it for about 3 minutes, until all the sugar dissolves.
Step 8. Pour into clean jars! Note: leave room at the top for it to expand during freezing.
Final Step. Let jars sit for 24 hours to set, and then you can put them in the freezer.
And that's all it takes to make Strawberry Freezer Jam - and keep the husband happy and well fed. :)
But then again, we haven't tasted it yet...
