We planted several berry bushes on the Homestead this year, but the only bushes producing a decent amount of fruit this year is the 2 blackberry bushes we planted last year. I love watching all the kids go out for a mid day “snack” as they stand at the berry bushes and eat the blackberries right off the plant. The berries were disappearing like hotcakes and I thought the kids were eating them all. Turns out, the birds were enjoying the berries just as much.
We covered the bushes with some netting and viola, enough berries to make a small batch of jam. By “small” batch I mean literally…1 jar. I found this super simple non-canning recipe from food.com and we got right to work.
Step 1:
Pick 3 cups of ripe berries and wash. Put a plate in the refrigerator to chill.
Step 2:
Mash the berries in a small stainless steel pot until you reach your desired jam consistency (we like a little bit of chunkiness in ours).
Step 3:
Add 1 1/4 cups of sugar (we used organic raw sugar), put on the stove and heat on medium until all sugar is dissolved (this happened almost immediately).
Step 4:
Raise the heat to medium/high and boil for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 5:
Test the jam by putting a little bit on the chilled plate and see if it stays in a mound. If it does, you’re done! If not, keep boiling.
Step 6:
Poor into a glass jar, put the lid on and let it cool. Once cooled, put in the fridge (or open it up and enjoy warm jam on homemade zucchini bread, mmmmmm). The jam should last several weeks.
Super easy right??? I can’t wait to try all the other berries next year! Anyone else have good easy jam recipes to share?
Mama Nice
Nice Family Homestead 