28 April 2008

7 months later...repeat the process

For my birthday this past year, Elaine gave me the greatest present ever...She taught me how to make jam. Our efforts were quite rewarding, I must say, and we had a blast messing around in the kitchen.

Because I've shared the end result from that batch with several people, I found myself without jam recently and decided to fix that with another jam-making session. This time, I chose Rochester as my location and my mom as my cooking partner (she also has some knowledge on the process of jam concoction, so choosing her was a wise choice, if I do say so myself).

I had the great idea to make three kinds: red raspberry (because I know so many people who love it), strawberry (because I love it), and triple berry (because mom had suggested a berry medley).

I purchased a dozen small jars and all sorts of frozen fruit, the necessary pectin (which makes the jam part), and we commenced jam activities around 10:30 on Saturday. What I forgot was two extra bags of sugar (do you
know how much sugar it takes for jam? Okay, don't ask.) and I lacked the mental capacity to realize that I had far too many ingredients for twelve small jars.

The first batch of raspberry jam not only caused a great mess, actually forming small burns on my arms from the popping and boiling magma on the stove, but it also filled EIGHT jars. We had only four left! mom descended to the basement and emerged with at least twice as many jars as I had bought. We filled them all.

Our triple berry (black, blue, and rasp) turned into quadruple when we found we needed to add more fruit and dumped in the leftover strawberries. I do believe that it turned out to be my favorite.

If anyone is in need of jam, look me up. I have enough to last me at least three years, I think.
Mom snapped some photos to document the immensity of our end product. She captured some great perspectives here. Well done!





3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think it's becoming quite obvious that I have no ability to judge the scope of projects I undertake. My first sewing project was a quilt big enough for a king-sized bed. Jam ended up in 4 batches of hugeness. Scrapbooking my Ireland semester took up two entire 12 x 12 scrapbooks.

Whatever project I start next, can I please enlist someone who can warn me as to the size or scope of said project, and keep me from burying myself in a sea of whatever it turns out to be?

Thank you.

Alaina said...

Well, I'm no help since I tend to do the same. :)

I'm so impressed with your jam - I made some a couple of years ago (triple berry, raspberry, peach, and apple butter) and had so much fun! I hope to make a few kinds this year - they were all good but peach and triple berry were my favorite!

Calli said...

mad props for such a great gift idea. i would say that Elaine must of had all friends and family in mind considering the massive amounts you tend to make things in. that's just alright lana! man, it would be great to see you. i love you sister.