Don't you just love homemade jam? Yesterday I made a shelf-full of yummy mixed berry jam for the very first time. I was surprised that it was so fast and easy to make and that it actually turned out. Yeah! As always, if we want to eat it here in Japan, I have to make it. We can by jam here, but it is expensive and tastes like colored sugar water.
I followed my missionary friend's suggestion and made it with a bag of frozen berries, sugar and Pectin (that was sent to us in our Christmas care packages). I just followed the directions on and in the box of Pectin. My family thinks it tastes great, especially spread on old-fashioned oatmeal rolls or English muffins (which are a treat in and of themselves since we couldn't get those in Hokkaido where we used to live). Hints:
1. According to my friend's suggestion, I didn't have to boil the jars ahead of time, I just cleaned them well with hot water.
2. I reused old jars and lids from jam or canned salmon that I had bought at the store...they re- sealed.
3. After filling the jars with hot jam and closing the lids tight, according to my friend's suggestion I turned them upside down on the counter to cool. I think this helps them seal. I didn't even have to boil the filled jars afterwards. Super fast and easy!
Any other good helps or hints out there?!
