All content copyright Katrina Hall 2008 through 2025

Monday, March 1, 2010

winter jam

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Wild weather here in New Hampshire lately - everything from over a foot of wet snow, to rain, to a wild windstorm that knocked out power. And is there anything better than whipping up some warm, fresh strawberry jam to spread on toast once the power comes back on? I'll certainly vote for it!
Winter strawberries may not be as fragrant as the early Florida berries, or the local June and July strawberries, but they still taste wonderfully better than store-bought jam. I like to put a drop of vanilla in winter jams; it captures some of the perfume of sun ripened berries. And it's quick to make (under a half hour), so you can have a bowl of warm jam on the table in time for breakfast.
To make:
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2 cups sliced strawberries
1 drop good vanilla
1 1/2 cups warmed sugar
3 T. fresh lemon juice
Turn oven to 200F.
Measure out the sugar and place in a heat proof bowl. Set aside.
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Place the berries, vanilla, and lemon juice in a heavy bottomed pot and turn to medium-high heat. When the berries start bubbling, mash them with a potato masher, and keep stirring.
Place the sugar in the oven for 5 minutes, then remove.
Add the warmed sugar to the berries and lemon juice and continue stirring on medium-high heat.
Cook for approximately 15 minutes, stirring constantly, until jam thickens and drops heavily from a wooden spoon.
Remove jam from heat and cool.
Scoop into jars or glasses and serve immediately. It will thicken even more as it cools.
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Note: This jam is just wonderful on rosemary rolls!


6 comments:

Martha said...

I now make almost all of my jams in small batches. They are so good and so fresh!

katrina said...

I totally agree, Martha! Why did it take me soooo long to discover how easy it was to make a few jars of jam?

Maria said...

Love the photos! This jam would be perfect on homemade bread.

Barb said...

Great pictures - I can almost taste the jam! I even love the winter photo - it's beautiful! Winter does get exhausting after a while though, doesn't it?

We're expecting rather warm temps in the next few days; maybe the warmer weather will head up your way!

katrina said...

Thanks, Maria! You're right - the only time I eat bread and jam nowadays is when both of them are homemade. We're spoiled:)

katrina said...

Glad you enjoyed, Barb! And I think "your" weather arrived yesterday - it was 50 degrees! Woo hoo!