Blackberry Jam With Port Food

BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• The night before you make your jam, layer the blackberries and sugar together in a very large bowl, then cover and set aside at room temperature. This helps the sugar to start dissolving so you don't run the risk of over-cooking the fruit when you actually begin to make the jam. The next morning, give everything a quick stir, then set aside again until you are ready to start cooking.
• Before you start, put a small saucer in the freezer. Take a preserving pan or a large, wide-based pan (the wider and more open the pan, the faster the jam will be ready, so a preserving pan is really ideal) and tip the berries in, scraping out all the juices and any undissolved sugar. Stir in the lemon juice, then collect all the pips and secure them inside a tea-leaf strainer or piece of muslin before adding them to the pan (cooking the pips along with the fruit extracts the pectin they contain, helping your jam to set).
• Start the blackberries over a low heat until all the sugar is completely dissolved, then bring to the boil and simmer for 5 mins. Turn off the heat and spoon a little hot syrupy jam onto the chilled saucer. Once it's cool, push it with your finger. If it wrinkles a little, it's ready and has reached setting point. If it's too runny to wrinkle, return the pan to the heat and boil in 2 or 3-minute stages, removing the pan from the heat each time you do the saucer check, until the jam wrinkles.
• Skim off any excess scum, then stir in the knob of butter, if you want - this will help to dissolve any remaining scum. Leave the jam for 15 mins before ladling into sterilised jars - this allows the fruit to settle so it doesn't sink to the bottom. The jam will keep in a cool, dark place for at least 6 months. Refrigerate jars once opened.

BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Place the berries in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a full boil over high heat, mashing the berries with a potato masher as they cook. Add the lemon juice and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring and mashing constantly.
• Add the sugar and return the mixture to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until it begins to look syrupy and thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and test for doneness: a candy thermometer should register 220 degrees F and the mixture should coat the back of a spoon. Run a finger--or a clean object about the width of a finger--through the coat of jam. If the jam does not run and fill the gap, it is done. Otherwise, return the pan to the heat for another 1 to 2 minutes and test again. Be careful not to let the mixture get too thick--it will thicken as it cools.
• When the jam is done, transfer it to a heatproof jar and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate. The jam will keep for up to 2 weeks.

BLACKBERRY JAM WITH PORT

Steps:

• Put the blackberries in a blender and blend until they are pureed. You may need to do this in two batches depending on the size of your blender.
• Strain the blackberry puree through a mesh strainer to remove the seeds - stir and press on the puree while it is in the strainer, you want to get as much puree as you can.
• Directions for making with Pomona's Pectin:.
• Measure out 5 cups of the seedless blackberry puree into a preserving pan.
• Add the lemon juice and the calcium water and bring to a boil.
• Mix the 2 and 1/2 teaspoons of Pomona's Pectin into 2 cups of the sugar. Add to the boiling fruit mixture and stir well for 2 minutes, keeping the fruit at a low boil.
• Add the remaining 4 cups of sugar and the port and stir well until the sugar is dissolved. Return to the boil and remove from the heat.
• Place into prepared jars,leaving 1/4 inch headspace and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
• Directions for making with regular pectin:.
• Measure out 5 cups of the seedless blackberry puree into a preserving pan.
• Add the lemon juice and the pectin and stir to combine well.
• bring to a boil over high heat, stirring all the while.
• Add the sugar to the fruit mixture (REMEMBER - you will need a total of 7 cups of sugar if you are making this with regular pectin! Otherwise it may not set) and stir well. Return to a hard boil, stirring constantly.
• Add the port and continue boiling & stirring for 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat and place into prepared jars,leaving 1/4 inch headspace and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Mash blackberries in a saucepan with a potato masher. Stir in sugar until juices form; place about 1 tablespoon blackberry juice in a small bowl and stir in cornstarch. Pour cornstarch mixture into saucepan.
• Bring berries to a boil, stirring often, until jam is thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in cinnamon and allspice. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Transfer jam to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until chilled. Stir in lemon juice.

HOMEMADE BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Carefully measure out the berries, put them into a very large pot (8qt).
• Carefully measure sugar in a lg bowl.
• Add the pectin to the berries a little at a time, stirring constantly.
• Heat on hi, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a FULL boil.
• Add sugar ALL at once, stirring.
• Bring mixture back to a full hard boil, stirring constantly.
• Boil for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and ladle into clean, hot 8oz jars, leaving 1/4 inch space at the top.
• Wipe the rim of the jar and put canning lids and rings on fingertip tight.
• Place in canner with very hot water, make sure water is 1 inch above jars.
• Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
• Remove and set them upright on a towel to set for 12 hours.