Gooseberry Blueberry Jam Food

GOOSEBERRY-BLUEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Pick through and rinse gooseberries and blueberries, removing stems and leaves and discarding any bad berries.
• Add the lemon juice and water to a medium saucepan.
• Over medium heat, slowly add the sugar to the lemon and water, whisking as you go, until the sugar-water mixture is smooth. If necessary, you can add a bit more water.
• Heat on medium until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Just don't keep heating it, because you'll end up with caramel - in this case, not good! And yes, I've done it.
• Add the gooseberries, and cook (keeping the heat at medium) for about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the blueberries (and the nutmeg, if using).
• Bring the mixture to a boil, and allow to boil for about 5 - 10 minutes until thickened.Tip: How do you tell it's the right consistency? Do the spoon text. Dip a cold metal spoon into the mixture, and pull it out sideways. If the mixture drips off in one stream, it's not ready. When the mixture drips off in two drips, it's close. Then the two drips begin to form a sheet, it's ready! Keep in mind it'll keep thickening up after it cools.
• Allow to cool a bit, then pour into jars. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

EASY SMALL-BATCH BLUEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Mix blueberries, sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon in a saucepan; cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until thickened, about 30 minutes.

STRAWBERRY-GOOSEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Wash the gooseberries and put them in a sauce pan with the water.
• Cover and bring them to a boil, stirring gently, until they are all popped.
• Press through a sieve, and reserve the puree.
• Discard the skins, stems and seeds.
• Gently rinse the strawberries and drain well.
• Mash them lightly.
• Mix the gooseberry puree, strawberries, sugar and lemon juice in a large pot.
• Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves.
• Boil hard until the mixture just reaches the gell stage, about 20 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and skim.
• Seal in sterilized jars.
• Process in boiling water for 5 minutes.

GOOSEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• First sterilise your jars by washing thoroughly in very hot soapy water. Rinse in very hot water then put on a baking sheet in a 140C/fan 120C/gas 1 oven until completely dry.
• Put the gooseberries, lemon juice and 400ml water in a large wide pan (use a preserving pan if you have one). Bring to the boil then simmer for 15 minutes until the fruit is very soft and pulpy. Put 2 or 3 small saucers in the freezer (these will be used to test the setting later on).
• Add the sugar and stir over a gentle heat for another 10 minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved. You don't want it to boil at this point as the sugar could crystallize. Once you can't feel or see any grains of sugar bring to the boil and boil hard for 10 minutes, skimming the surface as you go and stirring now and again to stop it catching. The jam will start to turn a pinky red hue as it cooks.
• Spoon a little jam onto a chilled saucer, leave to cool then run your finger through it. If it's ready it will wrinkle up. If this doesn't happen boil for another 5 minutes then keep testing and boiling until it does.
• Do a final skim on the finished jam then pour into the sterilised jars and seal. Store in a cool dark place - the jam will be good for up to 6 months. Keep in the fridge once opened.

GOOSEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Remove blossom and stem ends from gooseberries. Force berries through food mill. Measure 4 cups of the berry mash into a large pot. Stir in the sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in pectin at once. Skim off any foam with a large metal spoon.
• Sterilize jars and lids in boiling water for at least 10 minutes. Take turns with skimming foam, and stirring the berry mixture for 5 minutes to let it cool slightly. Ladle into hot sterile jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
• Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

GOOSEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Place a few small plates in the freezer. Put gooseberries and 1/4 cup water into a medium saucepan. Cover, and cook over medium heat, stirring halfway through, until berries are just beginning to soften, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in sugar, and mash berries against side of pan with the spoon. Cook, uncovered, stirring more frequently as jam thickens, until it is bubbling rapidly and the consistency of very loose jelly, about 30 minutes, skimming any foam that rises to surface. Remove from heat.
• Perform a gel test: Remove a plate from freezer, and drop a spoonful of jam on it. Return to freezer for 1 to 2 minutes, then nudge edge of jam with a finger. If jam is ready, it should hold its shape. If jam is too thin and spreads out, return to a boil, testing every minute, until done.
• Return jam to a boil before transferring to a jar. To seal and process, fill 3 hot, sterilized 4-ounce jars with hot jam, leaving 1/4 inch space in each jars neck. Wipe rims of jars with a clean, damp cloth; cover tightly with sterilized lids and screw tops. Transfer jars, using tongs or a jar clamp, to the rack of a large canning pot filled with hot water, being sure to keep jars upright at all times; cover with water by 2 inches. (Jars should be spaced 1 inch apart, and should not touch sides of pot.) Cover; bring to a boil. Process jars in gently boiling water for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool 24 hours. Press down on each lid. If lid pops back, it is not sealed; refrigerate unsealed jars immediately, and use within 1 month.

BLUEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Crush the blueberries in a large kettle.
• Place over high heat and add pectin and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Stir in the sugar, bring back to a boil, and let boil for 1 minute.
• Remove kettle from heat. Skim off and discard any foam. Carefully ladle jam into hot, sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Wipe excess jam from inside and outside rims, then seal.

BLUEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Thaw and drain blueberries.
• Crush blueberries one layer at a time.
• Combine 3 cups crushed blueberries and lemon juice in a large saucepot.
• Stir in Fruit Jell pectin.
• Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Add sugar, stirring to dissolve.
• Return mixture to a rolling boil.
• Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat.
• Skim foam if necessary.
• Preserve It-.
• Ladle hot jam into hot "Ball" 8-oz jelly jar to 1/4 inch below rim.
• Wipe jar rim clean.
• Place lid on jar and tighten band, just until a point of resistance is met.
• Process 10 minutes in a boiling-water canner.
• Cool for 12 to 24 hours.
• Remove bands.
• Lids should be concave in middle.
• Yield: About 6 half pints.

BLUEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Put a plate in the freezer for you to test your jam is set later. Sterilise two 500ml jam jars so they are ready to use.
• Put the blueberries, sugar, vanilla and lemon in a large heavy-based saucepan over a medium heat. Crush the blueberries a little with a potato masher. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 mins. Skim off any skum that has formed on the top with a spoon and discard.
• Test the jam is set by spooning a mound on to your cooled plate. Put in to the fridge for 3 mins. If the jam forms a skin and ripples when you push it with your finger, it's ready. If not, return to the heat for 5 more mins then repeat the test. Do this until you reach setting point.
• Leave the jam to sit for 10 mins off the heat. Ladle into your warm, sterilised jars and seal the lids on top. Leave to cool completely. Will keep for six months unopened in a cool, dry place, or two weeks once opened in the fridge.