This weekend's adventures in cooking...

[kareid]

Just finished making raspberry jam, from berries we picked yesterday.  We used honey instead of sugar, and less than is usual, so the jam is tart, but also tasty.  It was shockingly easy, especially in comparison to our adventures in separating curds and whey.  I'm not quite sure what to do with it all; 6 jars of jam is a lot. 

It was fun enough that I'd gladly do it again, though it's not a money-saver when you pick your own berries.  It might be if we hit haymarket at the right time.  And we can try interesting flavors and combos if we make our own.

Comments

[gmpe.livejournal.com]

well, it is a money saver if you tried to buy jam as tasty as what you made.

[vfish.livejournal.com]

It's also not a question of saving money if there's nothing comparable on the market. Nearly every jam in a supermarket is too sweet.

[lakmiseiru.livejournal.com]

Growing up in a family that always made our own jam, buying jam from the supermarket is always such a letdown. It's nearly impossible to find a raspberry jam that contains seeds and only sugar, not corn syrup - you'd be surprised, but it is! And then that really perfect jam, if you can find it, is enough more expensive that even pick-your-own sometimes is cheaper. Jam keeps forever, so if you only make it every few years you can save on both money and having excess jars - I'm still eating jam my mom made back in the 90s, in fact, and it tastes just as good as it did back then as long as the seal hasn't been broken. Worst comes to worst, give it away for Christmas :^)

[kareid.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'll give some to SJ and you then you can try it. :)