Soft Set Strawberry Pimms Jam Food

REALLY FRUITY STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Layer the strawberries and sugar in a large bowl, finishing with a layer of sugar. Cover the bowl and leave for 24 hrs. Meanwhile, put a couple of saucers in the freezer to chill.
• Next day, the juices will have been drawn out from the fruit, leaving you with a bowl of berries in a sugary pink syrup. If this hasn't happened, give the berries a quick stir, then leave for a few more hrs.
• Tip the mixture into a preserving pan (or a large pan with wide, sloping sides) and warm to dissolve the remaining sugar. Once dissolved, bring to the boil, stirring frequently until bubbling.
• Pour in the lemon juice, return to the boil, then boil hard for 10 mins, stirring occasionally. If the surface of the jam starts to look a little scummy, add the butter. Take from the heat, then drop a little jam onto a chilled saucer. Let it cool a little, then push your finger through the jam. If the jam parts, leaving wrinkled ripples, it is ready. (Turn to p23 for more detail on testing when jam is ready.) Allow the jam to cool for 30 mins, then pot into sterilised jars and, when the jam is cool, label the jars. Keeps for 1 year - store in the fridge once open.

STRAWBERRY & PIMM'S JELLY

Steps:

• Wash, drain and hull the strawberries. Tip into a food processor or blender with the caster sugar and blitz to crush.
• Line a colander with a sheet of clean muslin. Place the colander over a large bowl. Tip the strawberry mixture into the colander and allow the juices to drip through overnight (not in the fridge).
• In the morning, measure the strained juice - you should have 300-400ml depending on the berries. Add enough Pimm's to make up to 600ml.
• Place the gelatine leaves in a bowl and cover with cold water. Leave for 10 mins to soften, then lift out of the water, squeezing out the excess. In a small pan, heat 200ml of the strawberry and Pimm's liquid until it is hot to touch, then remove from the heat. Add the gelatine to the hot liquid and stir to dissolve. Pour back into the remaining cool liquid, taste and add sugar or lemon juice to balance the flavour.
• Divide the mixture between 4 glasses and place in the fridge for at least 4 hrs to set. Top with halved with strawberries and whipped cream, and serve with shortbread.