Jam Session

After the last jam making endeavor, I thought some adjustment was in order. Some things just didn't work- the giant water canner was at the top of that list.

In order to remedy this situation, I figured that experimenting with some more jam might be a good idea. The jars are short and can easily be covered by the requisite 1-2 inches in a much shorter pot than the mammoth canner I have.

I went rummaging through all the junk I never use which is shoved in the back of some cabinet or other just waiting to fall on my unsuspecting toes if I choose to delve too deeply into the recesses of those hiding places. After the wave of curse words died down following my toe's unfortunate incident, I spied the perfect vessel.

It is a large stock pot. One I do not remember having bought or being given- it is just mysteriously there. I choose not to question my good fortune, grab the pot, and put some jam jars in there to see how they fit.

I can fit 5 jam jars into the pot at the same time with plenty of room for them to be covered. Hey, pot, if lovin' you is wrong, I don't want to be right.

I found a recipe for raspberry-pineapple jam but, seeing as I didn't have any raspberries, I made strawberry-pineapple jam. I know, all the canning recipes say not to alter them in any way lest you be cursed with botulism. But, hey, I'm more adventurous than your average fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants jam maker.

I'm a rebel.

Here's how it went:

2 cups crushed strawberries
2 cups crushed (fresh) pineapple
1 box powdered pectin
5 cups sugar

Bring the first three ingredients to a full boil that cannot be stirred down. Boil 3 minutes.

Add sugar, return to boil and boil 3 minutes.

Process by placing in hot jars, affixing hot lids and rings, then placing in canner for a 10 minute soak in the boiling water.

The jam is sweet- the pectin I used was the regular pectin instead of the no sugar needed pectin which can jell with less sugar. I do prefer the less sweet. However, Husband loves sweet. The sweeter the better until his teeth fall out, I suppose.

Guess that's why he married me, no?