Banana Berry Freezer Jam

Banana Berry Jam

What you need:

Jars

Strawberries-3 cups, mashed(little over 2lbs)

Bananas-2(mashed)

Blueberries-1/2 cup(mashed)

Lemon Juice 2TBSP

Instant Pectin 6 TBSP

Sugar 2 cups

 Step 1: You guessed it wash the jars!

 Step 2: Wash and hull the strawberries

Step 3: Mash the berries one layer at a time, in a separate bowl mash the bananas and blueberries(add lemon juice and mix well)

Step 4: Mix Pectin and Sugar together in a big bowl, add the bananas and berries

 Step 5: Stir for 3 minutes(my big helper, isn't he sweet?!)

Step 6: Pour into jars! Make sure you leave a 1/2" at the top so it can expand when frozen! Let stand for 30 minutes!

Step 7: Enjoy!!! Or you can keep it in the fridge for 3 weeks or the freezer for 1 year.

 

Now I have a freezer full of yummy jam to enjoy over the next year.  I do love just plain raspberry, BUT since we are in the middle of Kansas they are too expensive to buy.  Maybe someday soon we will plant some berry bushes/plants so I can pick my own again! Here's to wishful thinking!



Strawberry Freezer Jam

 

Strawberry Jam

 

Now this one I had to make the old fashion way because I ran out of instant pectin, and had bought my second container in regular(didn't check the label, oops!) After making one of this batch and then all the others using instant pectin-definitely prefer the instant, especially with small children around and a baby in the Moby wrap. Way easier to stick with the instant! This recipe is taken from the ball jar website with the elimination of lemon juice because we never added lemon juice growing up and it tasted just fine!

 

What you need:



2 c strawberries(mashed)-about 2 lbs
1 box(6 TBSP) classic pectin
3/4 c water
4 cups sugar(a lot more than the instant variety, another reason to do instant)
jars!

 Step 1: Wash jars!

 Step 2: Wash and hull strawberries, easiest way to do this is with a straw!

 Step:3 Mash strawberries, one layer at a time(much easier than trying to do them all at once-trust me). Combine with sugar, mix well.  Let stand for 10 min

Step 4: In a small saucepan combine water and pectin. Bring to a rolling boil-stirring constantly. Once at a boil cook for 1 minute long-keep stirring :)

Step 5: Add to strawberry mixture and stir for 3 minutes 

Step 6: Spoon into jars, place lids on top and let set for 30minutes. Make sure you leave 1/2" at the top so it can expand once frozen. Then move to fridge for up to 3 weeks or to the freezer for a year!

I know it really isn't too much harder-just hate the boiling water part(more stirring and dishes!). It turned out good. Can't wait to enjoy some of this yummy goodness on some sandwiches or toast!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Rasp/Peach Freezer Jam

Raspberry Peach Jam

 

What you need:

Peaches(chopped fine) 3 cups-about 1 1/5 lbs

Raspberries (mashed) 2 cups-about 2 pints

3 TBSP Lemon juice

6 TBSP Instant Pectin

2 cups sugar

Jars!



 Step 1: You guessed it, wash the jars!

Step 2: Put water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Place peaches in pot for 30 seconds, then immediately move to ice bath.

Step 3: Peel and pit the peaches

Step 4: Mash the raspberries in a small bowl, Mash the peaches, but leave some chunks!

 Step 5: In a large bowl combine peaches, raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Mix well and let stand for 10 minutes

Step 6: Add pectin and stir for 3 minutes

Step 7: Pour into jars

Step 8: Wipe off jars, place lid on top, and let stand for 30minutes. 

You're done! Now you can either move it to the fridge(where it will be good for 3 weeks), or move it to the freezer where it will keep for 1 year (again, I have kept it longer and it has been fine!)

 



Peach/Peach Spice Freezer Jam

Peach Jam

 

What you need:
Peaches (about 2lbs), when chopped fine 5 c of fruit
Sugar(2 cups)
6 TBSP Instant Pectin
3 TBSP Lemon Juice
Jars (of course)

Step 1: Wash Jars 

Step 2: Bring a big pot of water to boil, then put the peaches in pot for 30 seconds 

Step 3: Place the peaches immediately in ice water(this helps to shock them)

Peel and pit the peaches(the skin should fall right off making this step super easy)

 

Step 4: Mash the peaches with a potato masher-keep some chunks in it don't mush them too much!

 

Step 5: In a large bowl mix sugar, lemon juice, and peaches, mix well and let stand for 10 minutes

Step 6: Add in Pectin and stir for 3 minutes 

Step 7: Pour into jars! Let stand for 30min(with lid on)

Step 8: Enjoy immediately keeps in fridge for 3 weeks or move to freezer will keep there for up to 1 year(Honestly I have kept them longer than this and they still taste good and no one has gotten sick!)

 

Guess what your done!! Simple enough right?! I love this new instant pectin-going to be my new favorite thing!

 

NOTE: I also made another batch, but I made it peach spice.  After stirring in the pectin, I added 2 tsp of cinnamon and 1 tsp nutmeg. Let me tell you made it heavenly.  Probably should have made both batches this way! Definitely worth trying-tastes like dessert!

Jam Time!

It is that time of year! Time to make jam! I grew up on homemade jam and there is nothing store bought that can even compare, so needless to say this is something I have to make every year! I look forward to making this every year since it brings back many, many memories.  Memories of going and picking the berries, to memories of us all crammed in the kitchen making jam together and having our specific jobs.  I always enjoyed the day with the family and all the fun we had while making jam!

I can't wait until the kiddos can be a bit more helpful with this process, although we did have fun involving them!

I will make sure to include some recipes here soon! I will also make sure I link them all up to this page for a quick reference later on.

I didn't get too many pictures of the kiddos helping since it was just me at home.  Elijah helped with the dishes, the stirring, the watching, the measuring, and the counting! What a big helper he is, don't know what I would do without him!

Avery sat all cuddled up in the Moby wrap sleeping away.  She was clingy today and didn't want to lay down for a nap. We decided she could "help" too! I love my Moby wrap!

Athaiah I held in my arms and let her watch what we were doing. She helped stir at one point in time, but she was mainly just curious and wanted to see what we were doing in the kitchen.

This year I found a wonderful new product, it is called instant pectin. Wow! Can't beat that.  It helped us make each batch in about 30minutes.  Now this would take even less time if you had big people helping, and if you were not tripping over little children.  Although, I wouldn't trade my little ones for the world and I very much enjoyed the time that we got to spend together making memories of our own!

Peach/Peach Spice Jam
Raspberry Peach Jam
Strawberry Jam