Huckleberry Preserves Food

WILD HUCKLEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Wash huckleberries and check for stems.
• Place berries and water in deep saucepan or pot.
• Slowly bring to a boil.
• Add the sugar all at once.
• Bring to a roiling boil, then cook for 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Add the Certo packet and stir for 3-4 minutes.
• Pour into jars (note: do this as quickly as possible- it will start to set almost immediately).
• Seal using method of choice. Boil for 10 min (if your altitude is between 3,000 and 6,000) then let cool.

HUCKLEBERRY PRESERVES

Steps:

• Put 2 1/2 cups huckleberries and 1/3 cup water in a blender with the lemon zest. Blend until pureed. Add balance of huckleberries and 1/3 cup water and puree.
• In large stockpot, add pureed huckleberries,pectin,lemon juice and water.
• Stir constantly. Bring to a rolling boil. A boil that cannot be stirred down.
• Stir in Sugar. Stir until dissolved. Bring a full rolling boil. One that cannot be stirred down. Boil 1 minute exactly.
• Stir in margarine.
• Take off heat and skim any foam.
• Pour in hot sterilized jars.
• Wipe rims with a hot cloth and seal and band.
• Put in a hot water bath for 15 minutes.
• Take out on a toweled counter. Keep away from drafts until they seal.

HUCKLEBERRY STREUSEL BARS

Steps:

• Line the bottom and sides of a straight-sided 13-by-9-inch metal baking pan with foil.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the butter, 3/4 cup of the sugar and the salt. Whisk in the egg yolks. Stir in the flour to make a stiff dough. Transfer about 2 cups of the dough to the prepared pan and press evenly into the bottom. Prick the dough all over with a fork. Refrigerate the pan for 30 minutes (or if short on time, freeze for 5-7 minutes). Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Bake the dough until crust begins to set but does not brown on the edges, about 20 minutes (center will not be firm yet). While crust bakes, prepare the streusel.
• With your fingers, combine the remaining sugar with the reserved dough until crumbly. Mixture should hold together when pressed, but readily break into smaller pieces.
• Spread the huckleberry preserves evenly over the hot crust. Scatter the streusel over the preserves, careful not to break it up too much. Set oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake bars near top of oven until top is golden, about 25 minutes. Once cooled, cut bars into 1 3/4 inch squares.