Making jam or jelly

[ladytoysdream]

I used to make a lot of jam when the kids were growing up.
I made a minimum of 60 jars annually, sometimes more.
Favorites were strawberry, black raspberries, and long blacks.
I also tried some different ones, like current.

I did make some last year, and am going to make some this year.
I have some berries in the freezer that I need to do something with.

I like to have some jars handy that I can give as gifts.

So do you make jam / jelly and what kind do you make ?

[Lady_V]

I make the 'off the wall' kinds like Mt Dew jelly... or apple jelly with redhots

I haven't made any in a while... I think I just found the motivation to finish the kitchen.

[nuisance26]

~I usually only make apple butter and marmalade. But this year I plan to forage more in my mom's wooded backyard for blueberries. We picked buckets last year and I froze a bunch but I mainly use them for muffins and pancakes. I think blueberry jam would be yummo!
Apple jelly has been on my to-do list for awhile because of the natural pectin in the peels. Gotta be frugal! And the kids might like it enough to replace the grape jelly I buy with all the yucky corn syrup in it.~

[Luckybustert]

Last year I made strawberry and cherry jams, and watermelon jelly. This year I plan to make some wine jelly - will probably give it as a Christmas gift to some of my friends who are really into wine.

[MomToTwoBoys]

This year, I'm going to try to make gooseberry and raspberry jam. I'm still debating Saskatoon berries, but the bushes we've been looking at are larger than I want to put in the yard at the moment.

My MIL makes some spectacular peach jam. I'd love to replicate her recipe.

[BeachBaby]

I made up about 6 qts of strawberry jam yesterday. I need to get some apple butter made up also.

When blueberries and peaches come in season I will be making jam with those also.

[sunshine]

I just did a batch of dandelion jelly last week. . . strawberry jam this week. . .

I also do the "unusual ones". . . corncob jelly, cantelope jam, watermelon jelly, champagne jelly, gooseberry jam, tomato jam, etc.

[nodmicks]

I haven't made any in several years as I can't figure out how to make an all fruit spread without sugar or artificial sweetener. If anyone knows how to make it I would be thrilled to learn.

We do freeze tons of the berries though for smoothies etc.

My fav jam in the whole world was the peach/cherry jam my mom used to make. it was so good I would practically eat it out of the jar with a spoon!

[scooby8themall]

I make crabapple,strawberry,raspberry,3 paths to Heaven ,blackberry,grape and blueberry. I want to try rose hip this year.My dh has to watch his sugar so I give some away for Christmas and we eat the rest sparingly .

[mauimagic]

Wine jelly - what a great idea for gifts!! Does anyone have favorite recipes for wine jelly?

Think I want to make jalapeno jelly again - it's a great one with bagels and cream cheese!!

My favorite jelly of all time was my grandmother's raspberry jelly - made from raspberries from her backyard - clear as wine and so tasty!!

[frugalfranny]

I make some most years. Part of it depends on what is left from the year before.

I can't be without strawberry and raspberry freezer jam. And I like ALL the butters but lots of people give me that for gifts.

I love trying new ones but last year only tried the banana nut spread and the ones made with green tomatoes and jello. Made a couple different flavors. It was good and a big success for Xmas gifts. I am going to try some more unusual ones this year.

[Dutchie]

I also used to make a LOAD of jam each year when our raspberries were in such abundance (different house - no more raspberries).

However with one thing and another making jam just didn't happen again till last year.

Last year our apricot tree was in overdrive and we couldn't eat that many - really it was ridiculous.
So I started experimenting with home made jam again.
Finally I got the recipe that worked the best for me and it was GOOD!!!!
However I still had a load of jam so I gave a lot of it away to friends - they LOVED it!

So I am hoping for a good crop this year too.

[itlw8]

freezer straawberry jam though we usee far less now that the kids are grown well when we can keep them from snagging a jar when they come to visit. LOL

[Judi Dial]

I just did a batch of dandelion jelly last week.

Really? Is the recipe in the cookbook? I'd love to have it!

I made apple butter for the first time last year, intend to make some marmalade this year.

Judi

[sunshine]

Dandelion Jelly

Ingredients:
4 cups yellow parts of dandelion blossoms
3 cups boiling water
4 1/2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons Freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 package powdered pectin

Directions:

Pull the yellow blossoms apart from the green parts. Get lots and lots of blossoms.. While you are collecting them, you can freeze what you already have. Make sure there are no green parts since the green parts have a bitter flavor. I pack the blossoms into a 4 cup measure. More blossoms mean more flavor for the jelly.

Bring the water to a boil and fill the water with dandelion blossom shreds. Simmer over very gentle heat about 10 minutes. Pour the water and blossoms through a strainer. Press the blossoms as dry as possible to extract the maximum amount of water. Add more blossoms to the strained water and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Continue simmering and straining until all the blossoms are used up. Add more water to make up 3 cups. You lose some water because it is caught in the blossoms. Strain the water very well. I use a coffee filter. Combine water with lemon juice, sugar and pectin. Bring to roiling boil and stir until sugar is dissolved. Boil hard for one minute. Skim. Pour into hot jars and seal. I haven't used food coloring but I have seen this jelly lightly tinted and it looks prettier.