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13 July 2009

We Be Jammin!



As I mentioned in a previous post, I am participating in a jam exchange being held over on Stephchows. There are still a couple of weeks before I actually needed to make the jam, and the fruit looked so good. I couldn't help myself!

The two jams I decided to make were Quadruple Berry and Pineapple-Rhubarb. I wanted something different and bit unique. The idea of Triple Berry sounded so good and was actually going to be the first one I attempted. It consists of strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries...three of my favorites all together. I ended up at Whole Foods pretty early on Sunday morning to pick up the raspberries when I came across my other love: blueberries. "Surely I can add that to my triple berry and it will still taste good," I thought to myself. I grabbed a pint and made my way to the register as I tried to come up with a creative name for the jam. Black and Blue with some Red? Um, no. Bruised Ego Jam? Better. Quadruple Berry? Well, yes that's true. Nothing really stands out to me, so if you can come up with a creative name, I'd be eternally grateful (I might even be convinced to give a jar away to the person who came up with the best name...Hint hint!).

I'm in a love-obsession with rhubarb at the moment so I decided to try something a bit less conventional. I love pineapple and was so happy to come across a recipe that paired the two (I really didn't want to have to go the predictable route and use strawberry). I was a bit concerned that it wouldn't turn out since it called for way less sugar than the berries and absolutely no pectin (this was my first time so I had no idea what I was actually doing).

Overall, I'm happy with the outcomes. The berry jam is by far the better of the two (I'm counting down the minutes until breakfast so I can try it on toast). I actually think I'd like it with a schmear of peanut butter which you all know I just don't like. The rhubarb one is good, not great, but good. I think it would taste better heated up a little and put on a waffle or giant stack of fluffy buttermilk pancakes. I'm still trying to come up with something special to add to the package that I'll be sending to my jam buddy. I'm excited to see what everyone else comes up with, but mostly I'm excited to hear if the person i get likes what I made. Enjoy!

Quadruple Berry
I adapted this recipe from the Triple Berry recipe in the Sure-Jell box

2 pints strawberries, hulled
1 1/2 pints raspberries
1 pint blackberries
1 pint blueberries
7 cups sugar, divided
1 package pectin
  1. Be sure all of the berries are cleaned. Crush berries into a large pot and mix together.
  2. Mix 1/4 cup sugar with the package of pectin. Add this mixture to the berries and stir. Heat the berries to a rapid boil.
  3. Add the remaining sugar and bring back to a rapid boil for exactly one minute. Remove from heat.
  4. Fill your sterilized jars to within 1/4-inch of the top. Place sterilized lid and band on the jar and process for 10 minutes. Allow to rest in a cool dark place for 12 hours or overnight.

Pineapple-Rhubarb Jam
Recipe from Rhubarb Info

8 cups rhubarb, chopped
4 cups sugar
2 cups pineapple, chopped

  1. Mix all ingredients together and boil to jam stage, about 30 minutes, being sure to stir the mixture every so often (I would do a little less, maybe begin checking on it at 20 minutes). Pour into sterilized jars and process as you would any other jam.

14 comments:

suzy said...

Delicious!
You are so amazing in the kitchen. I admire you.
x

Peanut Butter Swirl said...

wow you come up with some of the most amazing meal combos!

Unknown said...

You could call your quadruple berry jam Fourberry Jam. Pineapple rhubarb sounds interesting. Both of those are kind of tart.

What I dearly love is rhubarb pie with a double crust above and below. My great aunt used to make that and it was so good it made your tongue slap your brains out.

Sunshine said...

Toni - Oh my goodness! Thank you so much!

PB Swirl - Thank you also!

Tulsa Gent - That's really good idea. Surprisingly, the pineapple-rhubarb was quite sweet and tasted very tropical (I think some coconut added to it would be fantastic). I'd love to try your aunt's pie. Sounds fantastic!

Nurit "1 family. friendly. food." said...

Jam exchange - what a great idea!
I don't make jams myself (my husband tried to in the past, pre-kids days... now we're too busy) but I think if I did, it would have made a great oportunity to explore new flavors. maybe even add herbs and spices, chilis, for all kind of combinations.

Anonymous said...

I just found your blog and I want to be jammin too! Looks great. Going to follow!

Deelish Dish said...

Mmm! That Quadruple Berry sounds right up my alley! I made Nectarine Jam a year ago and am still happily going through jar after jar. I need to make a berry stash though, pronto.

stephchows said...

How did I miss this post the other day!?!? SO EXCITING!! Both sound great!! OH and I have the answer for the no pectin in the one... it's because rhubarb naturally has pectin in it... like raspberries. So no need to add any! :) OK now to brainstorm name ideas!

koralee said...

Now that jam looks amazing...i just made plain jane raspberry..but this looks yummo!!!! I may have to give it a try! Thanks for sharing today!

Megan said...

Both your jams sound amazing. Great job!

Sunshine said...

Nurit - You're in for a treat! I'm going to try my hand at a lavender jam this weekend. I think other herbs would make for some interesting flavors too.

Sunshinemeg - Thank you! I'm following you now as well.

Deelish Dish - Your jam sounds fantstic! I may have to give that one a shot.

Steohchows - Tsk tsk! Lol! I figured it had to do with the natural pectin, but I didn't want to say that and then end up being wrong. Can't wait to see what names you come up with!

Koralee - I love raspberry jam! I think there's nothing wrong with having just straight up raspberries.

Megan - Wow! Thank you for dropping in! I feel honored to have one of the DBs commenting on one of my posts.

Gaia said...

we are doing tons of jams: peaches, apricots, mixed fruits, figues (my favorites).
Home made jam is fantastic. once you try it you don't gt back to the one you buy ! Don't you agree?

Karine said...

MmM jams! Yours look delish!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

They both sound amazing!