Garden Huckleberry Jam Food

HUCKLEBERRY RHUBARB JAM

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine huckleberries, rhubarb, and sugar and mix
• well. Place over high heat and bring to a full boil.
• Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and stir in pectin. Alternately stir and skim for 5 minutes.
• Ladle into hot sterilized jars leaving a 1/4" headspace.
• Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Adjust time according to altitude.

HUCKLEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Mix sugar and huckleberries together in a stockpot; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Stir pectin into berry mixture and boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Remove pot from heat and skim foam off the top using a metal spoon.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack jam into hot, sterilized jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars into the boiling water using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary to bring the water level to at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 5 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours. Store in a cool, dark area.

GARDEN HUCKLEBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Stem, wash and drain huckleberries.
• Place berries in a heavy pot, cover with cold water and bring to a slow boil.
• Cook until soft.
• Drain; mash berries with a potato masher to break their skins.
• Add sugar, nutmeg, salt, butter, lemon juice and cornstarch.
• Cook for about five minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens.
• Place pastry for bottom crust in pie pan.
• Pour in the berry mixture and dot with butter.
• Cover with top crust, crimping crust edges to seal and piercing top crust all over with a fork to allow steam to escape.
• Bake for 45 minutes or until the crust is a light brown.
• Cool.

MCP® HUCKLEBERRY JELLY

Steps:

• Bring boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain jars well before filling.
• Crush huckleberries thoroughly, one layer at a time. Place in saucepan. Add water and bring to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred). Remove from heat. Place three layers of damp cheesecloth or jelly bag in large bowl. Pour prepared fruit into cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth closed; hang and let drip into bowl until dripping stops. Press gently. Measure exactly 4-1/2 cups juice into 6- or 8-qt. saucepot. Add lemon juice.
• Stir pectin into juice in saucepot. Add butter to reduce foaming. Bring mixture to full rolling boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 2 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
• Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches; add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 5 min. Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middles of lids with finger. (If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)