Strawberry Blackberry Jam With Lavender Food

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.

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.