Raspberry Lavender Jam Food

RASPBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Toss the raspberries, sugar and lemon zest and juice in a medium saucepan to combine, then mash slightly to release some of the berry juice. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the raspberries to macerate and the sugar to dissolve. Meanwhile, place a small plate in the freezer to chill; this will be used to test the doneness of the jam.
• Place the saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium, stirring frequently. Continue to cook until the jam becomes thick and syrupy, about 25 minutes. To test doneness, place a small amount of the jam onto the chilled plate and freeze for 2 minutes. Drag your finger or spoon through it. If the jam holds its shape and thickness, the jam is done; remove from the heat. If it's runny, continue to cook and test again in 5-minute increments. Once the jam has reached the right consistency, transfer to jars and cool completely before storing, covered tightly. Jam will keep in the refrigerator up to 6 months.

APRICOT LAVENDER JAM

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup sugar and lavender blossoms in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until the lavender blossoms are finely chopped and the sugar is fragrant.
• Measure apricots; you should have 5 cups prepared fruit. Chop finely and place into a plastic or glass bowl with a tight-fitting lid. Add lavender sugar and lemon; mix well. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Inspect 8 half-pint jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until jam is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Mix 1/4 cup of the remaining sugar and pectin together in a bowl; add to apricots. Transfer fruit mixture to a large saucepan and mix well. Slowly bring to a full rolling boil that does not stop bubbling when stirred. Add the remaining sugar and stir well, scraping over the bottom of the pan, to fully dissolve the sugar. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Ladle apricot jam immediately into the prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims with a moist paper towel to remove any spills. Top with lids and tightly 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 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart. Let rest for 24 hours without moving the jars. Gently press the center of each lid with a finger to ensure the lid does not move up or down. Remove the rings for storage and store in a cool, dark area.

NECTARINE-RASPBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Stir together fruit, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved and mashing fruit with a potato masher. Add lemon juice; continue to boil, stirring frequently, until bubbles slow, chunks of fruit show at top, and mixture clings to a spoon but falls off in clumps, 10 to 12 minutes. Skim foam from top.
• Ladle jam into clean containers, leaving 3/4 inch of headroom. Let cool completely. Cover, label, and refrigerate up to 1 month, or freeze up to 1 year.

RASPBERRY JAM WITHOUT PECTIN

Steps:

• Bring raspberries to a boil in a very large pot. Cook for 4 minutes. Add sugar and lemon juice; stir well. Bring back to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook for another 4 minutes.
• Remove pot from heat and pour jam into sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch of space at the top. Seal and transfer jars into a boiling water bath. Make sure jars are covered with at least 1 inch of water; let sit for 5 minutes. Lift jars and let them cool in a draft-free place without touching, 8 hours to overnight.

SMALL-BATCH RASPBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Place a few small plates in the freezer. Stir berries, sugar, lemon juice, salt, and half the orange zest in a large, heavy pot. 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 jam holds its shape on plate.
• Strain about half the jam through a fine sieve into a bowl; discard seeds. Return strained jam to pot; stir in remaining zest. Return to a boil, then remove from heat. Let cool before using or storing.

RASPBERRY LAVENDER JAM

Steps:

• The night before you make this jam put the raspberries into a non-reactive bowl and shred the lavender over the top. Stir to combine and leave covered in the fridge.
• The next day, put the berries and lavender into a pan and cook on a low heat.
• When the juice starts to run from the berries, bring the pan to the boil.
• Once boiling, add the sugar and stir briskly until the sugar has dissolved.
• Once the sugar has dissolved, boil the mixture for about 5 minutes, then pour into sterilised jars.
• Store in a cool dark place - due to the lavender it needs to sit so wait for about 1-2 weeks before consuming.

BERRY LAVENDER JAM

Steps:

• Sterilize jars and keep them hot.
• Steep the lavender in the hot water and lemon juice for 20 minutes.
• Strain and place into a heavy bottom pot cooking to reduce by 1/2.
• Thaw and drain berries.
• Crush berries and add to lavender tea.
• Stir in pectic.
• 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.
• shut off flame and let sit 5 minutes. Remove to a draft free spot without tilting jars.
• Cool for 12 to 24 hours.
• Remove bands.
• Lids should be concave in middle.

STRAWBERRY-LAVENDER JAM

Steps:

• For this recipe you need 1.5 kg cleaned and hulled strawberries.
• Cut the strawberries into pieces and put into a suited pot.
• Add sugar and lime juice. Mix and let stand for 2 hours.
• Bind the lavender sprigs with the inflorescences together. Add to the strawberries.
• Bring to a boil over medium high heat stirring all the time.
• Let cook for 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Then remove from heat and remove the lavender.
• Add 4 tablespoons of orange juice. If you like you can mash now the strawberries as you would like them in your jam.
• Fill into twist off preserving jars and close jars. Let stand for 1 minute and then turn up side down. Let stand for 10 minutes and turn over again. Let cool completely.
• NOTE on lavender: I use lavender inflorescences while flowering. I cut the leaving about 15cm of the sprig at the inflorescence. If you can't get fresh lavender you can sub it by about 8 teaspoons of dried lavender flowers (but that is a guess).
• NOTE on "Dr. Oetker's Super Gelling Sugar 3:1". Dr. Oetker is a well known brand in Germany. There are several gelling sugars available. The "3:1" super gelling sugar already contains pectin and you only need 1/3 of sugar. If you can't get it, you could also use Dr. Oetker's 2:1 super gelling sugar.

RASPBERRY CAKES WITH LAVENDER

Steps:

• Line 12 muffin tins with paper cases.
• Mix eggs and sugar with electric mixer until very light and fluffy. Carefully fold in flour and baking powder with spatula. Mix in melted white chocolate just until combined.
• Divide the mixture among the paper cases and bake for about 20 minutes until the cakes are golden brown. Remove from the over, wait for 5 minutes to cool down and then set the cakes on a wire rack to cool down completely. Remove from the paper casings.
• While baking, make the raspberry sauce. Set the raspberries with syrup and starch into a small frying pan over a medium heat and cook for about 10 minutes until the sauce is jam-like. Let it cool down.
• To make the cream, beat the double cream with 2 tablespoons of lavender syrup and 1 tablespoon of sugar into soft peaks.
• Cut the cool cakes on halves. Spread the sauce over the bottom halves and add a tablespoon of cream. Cover with remaining halves.
• Just before serving, dust the cakes lightly with icing sugar.