Another Green Smoothie Group Cleanse is coming August 6th with a revised tutorial available next week! Stay tuned for the Green Smoothie Cleanse: Second Edition! And don’t forget to enter this week’s contest.
I have always associated jam with old men. Wait. I know this sounds gross, but for my entire childhood, the only person I knew who ate jam was my grandpa Gene. And it wasn’t even jam. It was marmalade. Orange marmalade on toast was my grandpa’s favourite. He used to tell us this joke all the time about a chicken and I can’t remember it but the punch line was “Look at the orange marmalade”- a play on “Look at the orange mama laid” but either way it never really made sense to me.
My mom’s favourite has always been blueberry jam. Remember these blueberry jam making shenanigans from way back when Making Love In The Kitchen was so young and innocent? (pssst- the last ten seconds might be the best part if you’re up for a little giggle with us).
Well, after Josh and I spent the day munching on raspberries, I knew just what I wanted to do with the surplus. This was going to accomplish two tasks. 1. I was totally going to impress his momma and 2. I was totally going to thrill mine.
Little does anyone know that it is so crazy easy to make jam and that you can do it without:
- A Caribbean island’s worth of sugar
- A disturbing packet of powdered pectin
That’s right my lady and man loves. All natural jam using just fruit, a little honey, raw cane sugar and love. So much love. Now raspberries are an incredibly healthy food. They are power-packed with phytonutrients, anti-oxidants (muchas vitamin C), anti microbial and anti-carcinogenic. But I am not about to pretend that this jam is a health food. Nope. If you want the healthy amazingness, keep’em raw and plain-Jane (or try Wednesday’s sorbet treat!)
This jam is a treat but as far as treats go, she really is one of the very best- and so easy! And if you are wondering why we use apple sauce in this jam recipe, it’s because of the pectin silly. Why use a paper packet of faux-pectin when it comes naturally in apples?
Fresh Picked Raspberry Jam
4-5 cups of fresh berries (can use other berries too!)
1 cup of apple sauce (go with organic, unsweetened, or make your own)
1/2-3/4 cup honey
1/2-3/4 cup sucanut
- Throw all ingredients into a pot
- Bring to a boil while stirring (uncovered)
- Reduce to a simmer uncovered and continue to stir occasionally
- Leave it to cook down to about 1/3-1/4 of it’s original volume. It will thicken as it cools too
- Once desired consistency is reached (about 30 mins of simmering), pack into a clean jar and store
You can use traditional canning methods or my fave method, put it in the freezer until your ready to use it.
Question Of The Day: Are there certain foods you associate with certain people in your life?
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This summer I’m planning on canning. (The rhyme wasn’t intentional)
I already have a day set aside to go blueberry picking so I hope to make a jam your mom would love.
I’ll probably pick up some tomatoes from Leamington in August for canning as well.
It really is so much fun!
You read my mind, I’ve been wanting to make preserves! My mother made them all the time growing up (prob. with a ton of sugar though!).
These are super easy!
what kind of cracker do you have the jam on? it looks really good.
Radishes – my mom loves radishes. I call her a Fraggle (you know Fraggle Rock? they loved radishes) because she loves them so much.
I don’t know! It was some kamut cracker with rosemary and sea salt that my mom had bought. I make awesome crackers though- will have to share that recipe soon.
I love how natural and simple this recipe is. Way to go — thanks for sharing the old-time video
I also just wanted to blurt out that I think your Mom looks AMAZING.
That is all.
xo Aletheia
Yummy! I have yet to make jam. I know, crazy. Now I know what to do with all of the fresh berries around here!
Your jam looks perfect! I must admit that I’ve only made it with pectin so this sounds really interesting!
So was his mom impressed?
Andrea! You are so funny! Still dreaming of the wedding I guess
Meghann,
Applesauce for the pectin…Brilliant. This sounds so simple and good. Can’t wait for next summer’s berry season.
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[...] I have mentioned before, the very best berry to eat is the one that grows close to home. They are by far my fruit of choice [...]