Strawberry Bourbon Vanilla Preserves Food

PORK BELLY PASTRAMI ON BISCUITS WITH STRAWBERRY-BOURBON PRESERVES

Steps:

• For the pork and brine: In a large stockpot, combine 1 gallon of water with the kosher salt, bourbon, granulated sugar, brown sugar, honey, curing salt, bitters, pickling spice and garlic. Bring to a boil and then refrigerate overnight.
• The next day, add the pork belly to the brine and refrigerate for 48 to 72 hours.
• Remove the pork from the brine (discard the brine) and rinse the pork with cold water. Pat the pork dry, then put it on a baking sheet and refrigerate it overnight, uncovered, to dry out.
• The next day, prepare a smoker with applewood chips.
• For the spice mixture: Combine the coriander, black peppercorns, paprika and red pepper in a small bowl. Rub the pork with the spice mixture.
• Smoke the pork at 180 degrees F until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the pork reads 155 degrees F, about 3 hours.
• For the strawberry-bourbon preserves: Combine the strawberries, brown sugar and 1 cup of the bourbon in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring often, and cook until the jam is reduced and thick, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Finish with the remaining 1 tablespoon bourbon. Let cool.
• For the biscuits: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a food processor. Add the cold butter cubes and pulse until the butter is in little specks. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl, pour in the buttermilk and mix by hand. Scrape the biscuit dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat it down with your hand until it is 1/2 inch thick. Cut the dough into about twenty-four 2-inch circles with a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass and place the circles on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until puffed and golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
• To assemble the sandwiches: Thinly slice the smoked pork belly pastrami and saute it briefly in a skillet over medium heat. Slice the biscuits and spread both sides with the preserves. Fill the biscuits with the sliced pork belly.

BLUEBERRY LEMON DROP JAM

Steps:

• Place a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet or line it with a clean towel. Set aside. Place several small plates in the freezer to use later to test the consistency of the jam.
• Combine the blueberries, sugar, lemon juice and salt in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Let stand until the berries start rendering their juice, about 15 minutes.
• Bring the blueberry mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. The mixture will bubble up, rising high up the sides of the saucepan. Using a slotted spoon, skim off any light-colored foam as it collects on the edges. Cook the jam until it reaches the jelling point, 220 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, 30 to 45 minutes. (If you don't have a thermometer, you can also dribble a few drops of the jam on a frozen plate. If it crinkles when you run a finger through it and your finger leaves a clear line in the jam, it's ready. If not, check it every 5 minutes or so.)
• While the jam is cooking, place the canning rack in the canner and fill the pot with water; bring to a boil over high heat. When the jam reaches the jelling point (220 degrees F) add the reserved lemon zest and stir to combine.
• Place eight clean 1/2-pint jars (see Cook's Notes) on the prepared baking sheet. (This will help contain any dribbles or spills and prevent the jars from directly touching the metal.) For each jar, insert a canning funnel and carefully ladle in the jam, allowing at least 1/4 inch of headroom. Clean the rims of the jars with a clean, damp towel and tightly secure the lids.
• Using tongs, place the jars on the rack in the canner. The water should cover the jars by at least 1 inch. Cover the canner. Return the water to a boil and boil gently for 15 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the jars to a towel to cool. If the seal works and fits properly, the metal lid will be slightly concave within 24 hours of processing. Store the unopened jars of jam at room temperature for up to 1 year. Once the jam is opened, store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.