freezer jam

i made homemade jam for the first time the other day and it was so easy! i expected it to be long and complicated but it was so far from that. it tastes so much better than store bought and is good for short term food storage.

i tried out two recipes and they both turned out DELISH. with the first recipe i made only strawberry. with the seond i made strawberry, blackberry and peach and they all turned out so yummy! as far as the recipes go i prefer the second, but only because it uses less sugar and is a little thicker. make both and decide for yourself!

1. recipe from http://just-cook-already.blogspot.com/ (thanks jenna :-)! )

*2 cups pureed strawberries
*4 cups sugar
*2 TBSP lemon juice
*1 package powdered pectin
*3/4 cup water

In a large bowl, combine strawberries, sugar & lemon juice. Let sit 10 minutes. Meanwhile in a small sauce pan- bring water to a boil. Add pectin. Bring back to a boil. Cook at hard boil for 1 minute. Pour pectin mixture into strawberries. Stir until sugar is all dissolved. (i usually feel it between my fingers till it is no longer grainy) Pour into washed & dried containers, either glass or plastic, store in the freezer up to 1 year or in the fridge for 1 month.

2. recipe off back of "Ball" brand fruit pectin box

*1 package of ball brand fruit pectin
*your favorite fresh or frozen fruit to yield 4 cups crushed
*1 and 1/2 cup sugar

stir sugar and contents of fruit pectin package in a bowl until well blended. stir in 4 cups crushed fruit. stir 3 minutes longer. ladle jam into clean jars. let stand 30 min to thicken. store in freezer up to a year or the fridge for 1 month.