Homemade Raspberry Jam

I used to make jam all the time! Lately I have been reading about jam made with just fruit and sugar.  So I decided to try it with Raspberries. Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries were all on sale at Sprouts this week.

So I decided to make the Raspberry Jam and read several different recipes and then created my own recipe.

Ingredients:

8 cups of fresh raspberries

7 cups of sugar

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

Directions:

I always put my jars, lids, rings, jam funnel, and jam tongs in the dishwasher. My dishwasher has a super sterilizing  function. This dishwasher cycle takes almost two hours - so I don't even start making the jam until the cycle is almost over. You could also boil tour jars, lids and rings in a large pot for 10 minutes. I only had little jars so I went the dishwasher route.

Crush the raspberries with a potato masher. Add them to a large stockpot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and slowly stir in the sugar and lemon juice. Bring the mixture back to a boil and stir  frequently so that the jam mixture thickens but doesn't burn.  Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

Set out the hot jars from the dishwasher or boiling method on a clean dishtowel.

Using your sterilized jam funnel start filling the jars leaving 1/4 inch head space.

Once the jar has been filled add the sterilized lid and ring.

 Then place the jar into a pot of hot boiling water for 10 minutes.

Make sure that the boiling water covers the tops of the jars. After you remove the jars from the boiling water with your jar tongs place the jars on clean dishtowel. When the jar has cooled press the top and hopefully you will hear a pop and that means that the jar has sealed!

I decorated the tops of the jars with a little piece of striped scrapbook paper and tied two jars together with a thick piece of ribbon. Because I am planning on giving these jam jars to friends and neighbors.

I had this raspberry jam on my toast this morning. It was delicious and I was bummed I forgot to take a picture!

Fresh Fig Jam

Tomorrow I am going to Fig & Olive for a girlfriends birthday lunch. I wanted to make a small party favor. Lately I have been bringing flowers in repurposed tin can vases and sachets for party favors. So today I decided to do something different and make small jars of Fresh Fig Jam.

I love figs, in my childhood home we had a fig tree in our backyard.

All summer I have seen fresh figs at Trader Joe's, Sprouts and Whole Foods. When I researched fig jam all the recipes were all about the same - fresh figs, sugar, water and lemon juice. I had sugar and fresh lemons but everyone was out of figs.

 However, when I went (as a last resort) to the produce store next to Trader Joe's and asked them if they had figs - he said sure we have "June figs" and they are with the berries.  These "June figs" are smaller and very sweet.

Ingredients:

4 cups chopped fresh figs

2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

Directions:

Wash the figs and trim off the stems.

Chop the figs into small pieces and throw them into s saucepan with the sugar and water. Bring the mixture to a boil.

Then reduce heat and simmer for about an hour until the mixture has reduced and thickened. Add the lemon juice and simmer for an extra minute or two.

Let the mixture cool and carefully spoon the fig jam into the sterilized jars and seal with the lids.  Once the jars have cooled place them in the refrigerator.

While the mixture is simmering - you should prepare your jars and lids by sterilizing them in boiling hot water. Set the sterilized jars on a clean dish towel. I used small 4 ounce jars. And this recipe filled 5 small jars. I bought these jars at Target. They have a great jar selection in the kitchen section.

Isn't this fig jam beautiful? I love the color.

Since I made these little jars for a party favor I added a little piece of scrapbook paper on top of the lid and a small piece of coordinating ribbon around the lid.  I am hoping to make little birthday labels in the morning.

This jam can be used on toast, English muffins or scones. It can also be used as a condiment on a cheese and crackers tray. It is wonderful on ice cream!

And of course it would be fantastic in a sandwich with brie and argula or even a pizza with the fig jam and argula.  I think my friends will love this party favor.

Happy Birthday Kim!