When we came home I couldn't help myself and made up my first batch of 2011 jam. Half of the jars are pure blueberry jam and half are peach-blueberry jam. We haven't finished our 2010's jam yet, so why am I making more jam when it's probably cheaper, and definately more convenient, to buy commercially produced jams?
Reason #1 - I love blueberry picking! It's a relaxing and enjoyable outdoor activity, and it's quality visiting time with your fellow pickers...especially with my 86 year old Mother-in-law. She is her "best self" when she is blueberry picking, and we enjoy great conversation about her life and her family history while picking. She is a great berry picker, so we now have mountains of berries and I have to find things to do with them...jam, muffins, cakes, cobblers, pies, etc!
Reason #3 - I love to cook things from scratch. If I didn't work outside the home, I would make all my family's food from scratch. When I make jam, I know every ingredient that goes into it.
Fruit is the number #1 ingredient ...not sugar, or other weird ingredients and additives (have you seen this video about "blueberry products" that have NO blueberries?!) I think my jam tastes better and is healthier for us to eat. Anybody else out there an obsessive jam maker?!? If you have a good recipe to use up blueberries I'd love to try it!
I love making jam and blueberry jam is my husband's favorite. I use the basic Sure-Jel recipe although I'm going to try a higher ratio of berries in the next batch. He likes his jam a little less jelled than what I made. But, I'd love to try another recipe if you have a recommendation! I eat blueberries, along with strawberries and blackberries in my daily smoothie. As for jam, blackberry and cherry are my favorites!
ReplyDeleteI luv blueberries too. You're so lucky to be able to pick so many and that is a bargain price. I freeze them to make muffins during the winter. My husband (sadly) won't eat them but my kids do.
ReplyDeleteI do love to cook from scratch and make my own jam. It is great to know what is really in your food! My husband LOVES blueberries, but they are a bit tricky to grow here. I usually make strawberry and raspberry jam, as I grow those. And when Dad gives me peaches or apricots, I have made jam from those, too. Yes, it does pile up in the freezer!!
ReplyDeleteI buy frozen blueberries and make muffins and pies, or throw them in with raspberries and blackberries for a Razzleberry pie. We use them in smoothies, and I think it was LuAnn over at LOOSE THREADS that posted a lemon blueberry bread several weeks ago. It is from the Cake Bible by Rosy Beranbaum. Looks delicious!
Scary video - my husband loves blueberries. We make a lot of freezer jams because the recipes we use have less sugar.
ReplyDeleteSounds just delicious! I love making things from scratch whenever I can *s*
ReplyDeleteWe have blueberry bushes in the garden but the mockingbirds discovered them this year -- grrr. I've made lemon-blueberry bread, banana-blueberry bread, and all sorts of cobblers with blueberries combined with something else. My one disappointment was a blueberry pie -- just too much!
ReplyDeleteI just had my mil bring home 2 - 5 qt ice cream pails of blueberries for me to freeze for pies!!! Mmmm blueberry pie!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought we picked a lot of blueberries. We are under you at about 40 pounds. No jam this year though. I went jam crazy last year and have a lot left over.
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