Strawberry picking - Freezer Jam

We went strawberry picking on Friday and it was a lot of fun.  We went right at the beginning of the season this year which was much more enjoyable.  The strawberries were overflowing and there wasn't tons of foliage.  All four of the kids did a great job picking and had a lot of fun doing so.  I just love doing stuff like this.  There is something about being out in nature and picking the food you're going to eat.  I guess because I'm such a garden lover stuff like this is just right up my ally (I LOVE that the kids love it too).

   Adi was so proud when she found a big one or one that was shaped like a heart!

Three GREAT friends!

 My little crew

 It was fun finding some of the ones that had grown funny!

 And the taste testing begins (does this remind you of anyone Grandpa Randy?)

 Check out those hands.  Yeah - it wasn't obvious what he did the second half of our time in the field.  I can only imagine what the workers inside thought.  He was so in love with picking and eating at the end he threw a horrible fit and Lindsey had to carry him off the field (thanks friend)!

Look at those sweet little pickers

 

Getting ready to wash them

So... Lindsey and started making the jam and like all good recipes that you've never made before we figured out how to do it by the last batch.  It was MESSY, but man oh man this stuff is good!  Lindsey had the great idea to dump all the jars into a big pot and mix it up because the first two batches appeared to be pretty runny (good thinking girl)!  So as a side note for next year, in between batches the stove was still hot and I mixed the pectin and water and set it on the hot stove, it started to thicken a bit before we did the boil and this is when we got the right consistency.  So next year set water/pectin mix on a hot, but OFF stove top to start to thicken a bit and then turn stove on and boil for the 1 minute the recipe calls for. 

Another side note, 16 pounds of strawberries was probably a bit too much.  I say that but I froze 1 large cookie sheets worth and the rest of the strawberries that were in the fridge were eaten within 24 hours.  So this picture will at least give us something to compare to for next year!

 Sure Jell Strawberry Jam Recipe:

2 cups  crushed strawberries (buy 1 qt. fully ripe strawberries)

4 cups  sugar, measured into separate bowl

3/4 cup  water

1 pkg.  SURE-JELL Fruit Pectin

RINSE 5 (1-cup) plastic containers and lids with boiling water. Dry thoroughly. Discard stems. Crush strawberries thoroughly, 1 cup at a time. Measure exactly 2 cups prepared fruit into large bowl. Stir in sugar. Let stand 10 min., stirring occasionally.  

MIX water and pectin in small saucepan. Bring to boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Continue boiling and stirring 1 min. Add to fruit mixture; stir 3 min. or until most the sugar is dissolved. (A few sugar crystals may remain.) 

FILL containers immediately to within 1/2 inch of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers; immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours. Jam is now ready to use. Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks or in freezer up to 1 year. (If frozen, thaw in refrigerator before using.)

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