Lemonberrymixupfreezerjam Recipes

FOUR BERRY JAM

Steps:

• Prepare your jars in advance--sterilize them and keep the jars, lids, and rings warm while preparing the jam. Have all tools ready and handy (ladle, towel, wet cloth, canning jar funnel, etc).
• Crush berries in a large, non-reactive (such as stainless steel) saucepot. Stir in pectin until dissolved.
• Bring to a full, rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly to avoid scorching (reduce heat to medium-high if needed).
• Stir in sugar. Return to a full, rolling boil and boil for exactly 1 minute (starting from when you can no longer stir the bubbles down).
• Remove from heat and quickly skim off any foam. You must move quickly at this point to prevent the jam from cooling off too much.
• Quickly ladle hot jam into hot, sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
• Wipe rims with a clean, warm, damp cloth to ensure a good seal. Place lids on jars and screw rings on snugly but not too tight. Flip jars upside down. Let stand upside down for 5 minutes, then turn right-side up again. Let sit for one hour.
• After one hour, check seals. If any lids are still popped up (there is a bump in the center of the lid that should be down if the jar is sealed, and up if not), then refrigerate and use immediately, or process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes.
• Store jars in a cool, dark place until ready to use; use within 1 year.

EASIEST MIXED BERRY JAM

Steps:

• Chop the frozen fruit from each bag into pea-sized chunks (you can mash the thawed fruit with a potato masher if you prefer larger fruit chunks in your jam - I don't, I like jam that has a chunky texture, but spreads easily).
• In a large pot, combine fruit and sugar.
• Bring mixture quickly over high heat to the gelling point (it actually takes quite a while, in excess of ten minutes - and stir constantly, or fruit will stick to the bottom and burn).
• After fruit has reached the gelling point (thick enough to slide, as one 'flake', from a cold spoon), remove from heat.
• Ladle into sterilized jars, apply seals and rings, and process for 15 minutes, with whole jars submerged at least 1-2 inches under boiling water.
• That's it! Six bags, six cups. Chop, mix, boil to the gelling point, fill jars, process, DONE, all in less than an hour.
• NOTE: the Ball Blue Book calls for 9 cups of "berries" (i.e., blackberries, young berries, dew berries, etc.,) - six 12 oz. bags of mixed berries yields slightly less, but approximately that much.

LEMON BERRY MIX-UP FREEZER JAM

Steps:

• Remove berries from bags and place in a large bowl.
• Thaw berries in the refrigerator until soft enough to crush, but some ice crystals still remain.
• Crush berries with a potato masher.
• Measure 4 cups crushed berries; set aside.
• Combine freezer jam pectin and sugar in a medium bowl, stirring to evenly blend.
• Add crushed berries and lemon zest.
• Stir for 3 minutes.
• Serve immediately, if desired.
• For longer storage, ladle jam into clean freezer jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace; apply lids. Let stand until thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or freeze up to 1 year.
• Yield: five 8-ounce jars.

MIXED BERRY FREEZER JAM

Steps:

• Stir together the sugar, pectin and salt in a small bowl until combined. Mash the berries in a separate large bowl with a fork or potato masher until evenly and finely crushed; stir in the lemon juice.
• Add the sugar mixture to the berry mixture and stir until well combined and the sugar has fully dissolved, about 2 minutes (this will also help the pectin bloom). Ladle into a glass mason jar or other freezer-safe container and set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes to set. Cover and store in the freezer for up to 1 year.

BERRY BEST FREEZER JAM

Steps:

• Combine blueberries and raspberries in a large bowl.
• Stir in sugar and lemon juice.
• Let stand for 10 minutes.
• In a small saucepan, bring water and pectin to a boil.
• Boil for one minute, stirring constantly.
• Add to fruit mixture; stir for 3 minutes.
• Ladle into freezer containers; cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Cover and let stand overnight at room temperature before freezing.
• May be frozen up to one year.
• Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks after opening.