jam

[catchpole]

hello every one (new member) on my 3rd lot of rhubarb and made some lovely strawberry and rhubarb jam , about to make some more (tips welcome). have put my lettuce in wall baskets and for the second year have had good untouched crops , got perenial flowers every where which incourages bea's etc; to my tomato's and got a hedgehog with road sense which takes care of the slugs and beatles ..........love the garden

[vegetable-gardener]

Sounds good have you got a recipe for the jam?

[catchpole]

unfortunately its the same amount of sugar as stock with a touch of lemon juice but try it with less sugar and its a bit runny but it goes lovely on scones

[vegetable-gardener]

I made some jam with the fruit from the summer - there were loganberry, tayberry, raspberries, and some blackberries. I had 21/2 pounds of fruit and I used 2 lbs of sugar and boiled it longer. It's really, really nice.

[Matrix34]

If you want to be more adventureous, try ,making your own Pectin from apples instead of using jam sugar to thicken the jam.

I made some great strawberry jam a month ago which tastes out of this world.

[vegetable-gardener]

That sounds interesting. How do you make that?

[catchpole]

will try that with my apples which for some reason this year are scar free

[Matrix34]

Pectin is really easy to make:-

Basically cover with water in a pan some sour cooking apples.
Bring to the boil then simmer for about 20mins.
Next you need to strain the pulp using a large sieve lined with muslin.
Add the juice back to the heat and simmer until it gently thickens.

You can refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or freeze it for 2 months.

[Lesley Jay]

Hi, for jam made with low pectin fruit I either cook a peeled Bramley apple in a little water to a pulp in the jam pan first, or I cook gooseberries in a tiny bit of water in the jam pan until they have turned to a pulp, then I carry on with the jam recipe. Both gooseberries and Bramleys are high in pectin and are really great for setting jam. With strawberry jam I find that the gooseberries don't alter the taste of the strawberries and my OH loves this jam!

[vegetable-gardener]

I'll have to try this as it sounds a good way to make jam.