Spiced Christmas Jam Food

SPICED CRANBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Combine cranberries, white sugar, turbinado sugar, water, orange zest, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, and pepper in a large pot over medium heat. Simmer, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves and cranberries pop, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Blend cranberry jam into desired consistency using an immersion blender.
• Pour jam into a glass pint jar; cool until thickened and set, about 1 hour. Seal jar and refrigerate.

CHRISTMAS JAM

Steps:

• Grind strawberries and cranberries in a food processor or grinder; place in a Dutch oven. Add sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil; boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat; stir in pectin and return to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. , Cool for 5 minutes; skim off foam. Carefully ladle hot mixture into hot half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles; wipe rims and adjust lids. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling-water canner.

FRESH SPICED PEACH JAM

Steps:

• Heat five 12-ounce jars in simmering water until ready for use. Wash lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Mix peaches, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice in a large pot. Bring to a boil; cook, stirring occasionally, until peaches are soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Mash peaches with an immersion blender or potato masher to desired size and texture. Return to the heat; continue cooking jam until thickened, about 10 minutes more.
• Pack jam into hot jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Wipe rims with a clean, damp cloth. Top with lids and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower in jars using a holder, placing them 2 inches apart. Pour in more boiling water to cover the jars by at least 1 inch. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool, about 12 hours. Press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that lid does not move up or down and seal is tight.

SPICED CHRISTMAS JAM

Steps:

• Fill a boiling-water canner about 2/3 rds full with water and bring it to a boil.
• Pulse strawberries {if using frozen} and cranberries in a food processor or blender and then place prepared fruit into an 8 quart sauce pot. Add sugar and spices and stir. Bring to a full rolling boil; boil for 1 minute, stir.
• Remove from the heat; stir in the liquid pectin and return to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat
• Skim off any foam with a spoon.
• Next, ladle the delicious jam mixture into hot prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe the jar rims and threads clean if needed. Cover with 2-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner and then lower the rack into canner. Make sure the water is covering the jars by about 2 inches. Place the lid on the pot and bring the water to gentle boil.
• Process spiced Christmas jam 10 minutes. One recipe makes {12} 8oz jars
• Remove jars and place on a towel to cool. After 24 hours check the seals. If the lid springs back, jam is not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.

CHRISTMAS JAM

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse the strawberries and cranberries - you can process them to a finely chopped texture for a completely smooth jam, or leave some fruit partially chopped for a chunkier jam.
• Pour the processed fruit into a large heavy-bottomed pot. Add sugar and over medium high heat, bring the fruit and sugar mixture to a full rolling boil.
• Boil for 1 minute.
• Remove the pot from the heat and add the pectin, stirring to mix completely.
• Allow the jam to cool for 5 minutes, then skim off the foam on the top.
• Ladle the hot jam mixture into sterile half-pint jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Wipe jar rims clean, cover with hot lids and screw on the jar bands.
• Process the jars for 10 minutes in a water bath. (Read more how to's here).
• Makes about 14 half-pint jars. Recipe may be halved.

SPICED PEAR JAM

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until thick, 1-1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Stir more frequently as the mixture thickens. , Remove from the heat; skim off foam. Carefully ladle into hot half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles; wipe rims and adjust lids. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling-water canner.

SPICED GRAPE JAM

Steps:

• Prepare jelly jars and seals by sterilizing them in boiling water.
• Remove grapes from stems; rinse and drain.
• Place grapes in a large heavy-bottomed pan and mash to break skins.
• Add remaining ingredients and bring to a full rolling boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and let boil gently for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Strain through a food mill or sieve.
• Put strained mixture back into the pan and bring back up to a simmer.
• Pack into sterilized jelly jars.
• Seal jars as directed by the manufacturer.

SPICED PLUM JAM FROM FRESH PLUMS

Steps:

• Wash the plums well. To remove the seeds - first cut the plum in half. Next, cut the plum half with the seed, in half again (into quarters). One of these quarters will have the seed attached, which you can easily pull out. Alternatively, you can cut the plum flesh around the seed.
• Repeat with all the plums.
• Cut all the plums into 1 inch chunks (roughly). It's OK if the plums are a little crushed at this point, since they will be cooked down anyway.
• WEIGH the chopped plums, so you can decide how much sugar needs to be added. Place the plums in a large bowl (large enough to accommodate the sugar that will be mixed in too).
• Add sugar, salt, lemon juice and spices into the bowl. Mix well.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours (or up to 48 hours). Also, place some small saucers / bowls / spoons in the freezer for the jam test (explained below).
• When you're ready to cook the jam, scrape all of the plum-sugar mix into a large pot. Add the grated apple and stir to combine.
• Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir the mixture to let it heat evenly. Lower the heat to medium - medium low, and cook until the fruits start to soften.
• MASH the plums with a potato masher, OR you can pass about ¾ of the mix through a food mill (this will remove the skins).
• Continue to cook the plums until the mixture reduces and starts to thicken slightly. Stir frequently to prevent the jam from sticking to the bottom and burning. While the jam is cooking, sterilize some heat-proof jam jars and lids.
• Check the temperature of the plum jam every 10 - 15 minutes (more frequently as it thickens more). Cook the jam until the temperature reaches 220°F (105°C).
• If you don't have a thermometer, you can perform the JAM TEST. To do this, drop a little jam on a frozen surface (saucer / bowl / spoon). Then keep it in the freezer for about a minute and check the consistency. If the consistency is jelly-like without being runny, then you've cooked the jam to the right temperature. (If you run a finger through the jam to create a streak, the jam shouldn't join back up in the middle to fill the streak, if it's at the right consistency).
• Remove the pot from the heat.
• Using clean tongs, clean ladles and clean paper towels, carefully ladle hot jam into the hot, sterilized jars. Please be careful, as the jam and jars will be very hot at this stage (wear gloves or oven mitts to protect yourself).
• Screw on the lids while the jars are hot. As the jam and jars cool down, this will create a seal.
• Allow the jars to cool to room temperature completely. Then label and store.

WINTER SPICE JELLY

Steps:

• Wash and cut up the apples into small chunks, leaving the peel and cores in. Tip the apple into a large pan with the spices, orange peel and bay leaves, reserving 2 star anise, 4 cloves and 2 bay leaves for the jars. Cover with 600ml water. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat and simmer with a lid on for 1 1⁄2 hrs.
• Pour the apple mixture into a jelly bag or a sieve lined with muslin or a J-cloth, suspended over a large bowl. Leave to drip for 2 hrs (until it stops dripping) or overnight. Do not be tempted to push the liquid though the sieve or your jelly will become cloudy.
• Measure the juice - you should have about 600ml. Pour the liquid into a large pan along with the jam sugar and vinegar.
• Set over a low heat to dissolve the sugar, stirring constantly. Once dissolved, turn up the heat and bring to the boil. Boil rapidly for 15 mins, or until setting point is reached, skimming away any scum that rises to the surface.
• Pour jelly into hot sterilised jars and place a star anise, bay leaf and 2 cloves into each jar. Chill for 3-4 hrs or overnight until set.

CHRISTMAS JAM

Steps:

• Combine cranberries and sections of seeded orange in a food processor.
• Pulse until coarsely chopped.
• Add strawberries, zest, cloves and cinnamon.
• Continue processing until finely chopped, but not pureed.
• Stir together fruit mixture, sugar and water in a very large saucepan or dutch oven until well blended.
• Cook for 2 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly.
• Increase heat to high and bring mixture to a full, rolling boil.
• Stir in liquid pectin.
• Stirring constantly, bring to a rolling boil again and boil for one minute.
• Remove from heat and skim off foam.
• Immediately pour into 6 hot, sterilized half-pint jars.
• Carefully wipe clean rims of jars with a damp cloth.
• Place lids on jars and screw on bands just until snug.
• Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
• Remove from water bath and cool away from drafts until jars seal.

CHRISTMAS JAM RECIPE

Steps:

• Tie the cinnamon and cloves in a small piece of muslin and put in a large pan with the apples, orange zest, orange juice.Cook gently for 10 mins until the apples are soft.
• Add the cranberries and simmer for 5-10 mins until they are soft but still retain their shape.
• Stir in the sugar and heat gently, stirring all the time, until the sugar has dissolved. Boil rapidly for about 10 mins. Remove and discard the muslin bag.
• Remove the pan from the heat and test for setting point by spooning a little of the hot jam onto a chilled saucer. Leave for 2-3 mins then push your finger through the jam - if it wrinkles it is ready. If the jam is still runny, boil for a further few minutes then test again.
• Cool for 10 mins then skim any scum from the surface with a slotted spoon. Pour the hot jam into warm clean jars and seal and label.

CHRISTMAS JAM

Steps:

• Coarsely chop the strawberries and cranberries in a food processor or grinder (do not puree). It's fine if you still have some larger chunks of fruit - you can mash them with a potato masher or a wooden spoon while they're cooking. You don't want the fruit totally pureed, because this is jam (not syrup or jelly!) - and it should have some chunky pieces of fruit throughout.
• Transfer the fruit to a large Dutch oven. Add orange zest, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and sugar.
• Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring occasionally. Once the mixture comes to a full rolling boil, continue the boil for exactly 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat; stir in pectin and return to a full rolling boil. Once the mixture returns to a full rolling boil, set a timer and boil for exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat.
• Cool for 5 minutes; skim off the foam. At this point, the mixture will still be quite thin - it will not look like a thick jam. That's fine! It will thicken and set as it cools.
• Carefully ladle the hot mixture into hot, sterilized half-pint jars, leaving ¼-inch of headspace. Wipe the rims clean with a damp cloth; secure the lids. Process in a water bath for 10 minutes.
• Carefully remove the jars to a towel on the counter. Let stand, undisturbed, for 12 hours at room temperature. Check the seals after 12 hours by pressing the center of the lids. If the lid gives or the center button remains popped up, store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. Properly sealed jars will keep in a cool, dark place for up to 8 months. Refrigerate after opening.

ALICE'S CHRISTMAS JAM

Steps:

• 1. Place all the berries in a very large pot with the sugar.
• 2. Cook long enough for the cranberries to break.
• 3. I use a potato masher at this point and mush up all the fruit as the frozen strawberry pieces can be quite large. There will be a lot of foam, most of it will settle down but if there is a lot, I start skimming it off just before adding the pectin.
• 4. Add the pectin.
• 5. Bring it to a full rolling boil and stir continuously for 2 minutes.
• 6. Skim off any foam that has come to the top.
• 7. Remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes.
• 8. Pour into clean, sterilized jars, leaving 1/4" at the top of each jar.
• 9. Put on caps and process for 15 minutes in a hot water bath.
• 10. Let cool upside down overnight, making sure each jar is closed securely.
• 11. Note: If you do not have a pot large enough to hold all the berries (the pot needs lots of space when those berries start bubbling), halve the recipe and use 2 pouches liquid pectin.