Mock Strawberry Jam Food

MOCK STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Stir the zucchini and sugar together in a large pot over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture begins to boil, about 10 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and gelatin, and continue simmering 5 minutes more, stirring constantly.
• Ladle the hot jam into 6 hot, sterilized half-pint canning jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe the rim and jar threads with a clean, damp cloth. Center lid on jar and screw the ring down firmly. Place into a boiling water canner covered by 2 inches of boiling water. Process for 10 minutes. Remove from the canner, and allow to cool to room temperature, and refrigerate any jars that do not seal.

FRESH STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved. Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 20 minutes, until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly. Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate. (I keep one in the freezer.) Pour carefully into 2 pint canning jars and either seal or keep refrigerated. Use immediately, or follow proper canning guidelines below.
• Sterilizing Tips:
• Jars should be made from glass and free of any chips or cracks. Preserving or canning jars are topped with a glass, plastic, or metal lid, which has a rubber seal. Two piece lids are best for canning, as they vacuum seal when processed.
• To sterilize jars, before filling with jams, pickles, or preserves, wash jars and lids with hot, soapy water. Rinse well and arrange jars and lids open sides up, without touching, on a tray. Leave in a preheated 175 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Or, boil the jars and lids in a large saucepan, covered with water, for 15 minutes.
• Use tongs when handling the hot sterilized jars, to move them from either boiling water or the oven. Be sure the tongs are sterilized too, by dipping the ends in boiling water for a few minutes.
• As a rule, hot preserves go into hot jars and cold preserves go into cold jars. All items used in the process of making jams, jellies, and preserves must be clean. This includes any towels used, and especially your hands.
• After the jars are sterilized, you can preserve the food. It is important to follow any canning and processing instructions included in the recipe and refer to USDA guidelines about the sterilization of canned products.

QUICK STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Put the strawberries in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a large saute pan along with the sugar, lemon juice, balsamic and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, 8 to 9 minutes. Transfer the jam to a heat-resistant container and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate for up to 10 days.

QUICK STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• In a food processor, process strawberries until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a large skillet and stir in sugar and lemon juice. Cook over medium-high, stirring frequently, until jam is thickened and bubbles completely cover surface, 9 to 10 minutes. Transfer jam to a jar and let cool to room temperature. (To store, seal jar and refrigerate, up to 10 days).

STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Prepare the strawberries by wiping them with a piece of damp kitchen paper. (Wiping the strawberries rather than washing them ensures the fruit doesn't absorb lots of water - too much water and the jam won't set easily.) To hull the fruit, use a knife to cut a cone shape into the strawberry and remove the stem. Cut any large berries in half.
• Put the strawberries in a bowl and gently toss through the sugar. Leave uncovered at room temperature for 12 hrs or overnight. This process helps the sugar to dissolve, ensures the fruit doesn't disintegrate too much and helps to keep its vibrant colour.
• Before starting the jam, put 2 saucers in the freezer. Tip the strawberry mixture into a preserving pan with the lemon juice. Set over a low heat and cook very gently. If any sugar remains on the sides of the pan, dip a pastry brush in hot water and brush the sugar away.
• When you can no longer feel any grains of sugar remaining, turn up the heat to start bubbling the jam and bringing it to the boil. (The sugar must be completely dissolved before increasing the heat, otherwise it will be difficult for the jam to set, and it may contain crystallised lumps of sugar.)
• Boil hard for 5-10 mins until the jam has reached 105C on a preserving or digital thermometer, then turn off the heat. If you don't have a thermometer, spoon a little jam onto one of the cold saucers. Leave for 30 secs, then push with your finger; if the jam wrinkles and doesn't flood to fill the gap, it is ready. If not, turn the heat back on and boil for 2 mins more, then turn off the heat and do the wrinkle test again. Repeat until ready.
• Use a spoon to skim any scum that has risen to the surface and discard this. Do this only once at the end, rather than constantly during the boiling stage, to reduce wastage.
• Add a knob of butter, if you like, to the finished jam, and stir in to melt. This will help to dissolve any remaining scum that you haven't managed to spoon off the top. Leave the jam to settle for 15 mins - this will ensure that the fruit stays suspended in the mixture and doesn't all float to the top of the jam jar. Meanwhile, sterilise your jars.
• Ladle into warm jars, filling to just below the rim. Place a wax disc on top of the jam (this prevents mildew forming), then cover with a lid or a cellophane circle and elastic band. Pop on a label (include the date), plus a pretty fabric top, if you like. The jam can be stored for up to 1 year in a cool, dry place. Refrigerate after opening.

SARAH'S BERRY JAM

Steps:

• Place a few small plates in the freezer. Stir berries, sugar, lemon juice, and salt in a large, heavy stockpot. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar and mashing lightly with a potato masher. Skim foam from surface. Cook, stirring more frequently as jam thickens, until it has the consistency of very loose jelly, 8 to 9 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Remove a plate from freezer; drop a spoonful of jam on it. Return to freezer for 1 to 2 minutes; nudge edge of jam with a finger. It should hold its shape. If jam is too thin and spreads, return it to a boil, testing every minute, until done.
• Strain about half of the jam; discard seeds. Return strained jam to pot. Return to a boil. Remove from heat. Spoon hot jam into hot sterilized jars; cover immediately with sterilized lids.

NO-COOK STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor finely chop strawberries.
• Measure 3¼ cups.
• I a 4-quart bowl combine measured fruit and lemon juice.
• Slowly add pectin stirring vigorously.
• Set aside 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add corn syrup; stir until well combined.
• Gradually stir in sugar until dissolved.
• Ladle into ½ pint freezer jars or containers, leaving ½ inch head space; cover tightly.
• Refrigerate jams to be used in 2 to 3 weeks; freeze up to 1 year.
• •Peach or Nectarine Jam: Omit strawberries.
• Peel and pit about 2½ pounds ripe peaces or nectarines.
• Finely chop in blender or food processor.
• Measure 3¼ cups; continue as above.
• •Apricot Jam: Omit strawberries.
• Peel and pit about 3 pounds ripe apricots.
• Finely chop in blender or food processor.
• Measure 3¼ cups; continue as above.
• •Apricot raspberry jam: Omit strwaberries.
• Peel and pit 1½ pounds ripe apricots.
• Finely chop in blender or food processor.
• Measure 2 cups.
• Fully crush about 1 to 2 pints ripe raspberries.
• Measure 1½ cups.
• Combine with measured apricots; continue as above.
• •Sweet Cherry Jam: Omit strawberries.
• Pit about 2½ pounds ripe sweet cherries.
• Finely chop in blender or food processor.
• Measure 3¼ cups; continue as above.

MOCK RASPBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Combine tomatoes and sugar in a large saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often.
• Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Add Jello, and stir until it dissolves.
• Pour mixture into airtight containers.
• Store in refrigerator up to 1 week, or freeze up to 6 months.

SUMMER STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Prepare boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.
• Place strawberries in a 6- or 8-quart saucepan. Gradually stir in pectin. Over high heat, bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, stirring constantly.
• Add entire measure of sugar, stirring to dissolve. Return mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
• Ladle hot jam into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band until fit is fingertip-tight.
• Process in a boiling-water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.