My husband and I look forward to the July month every summer because that is when our raspberries, mulberries and blackberries ripen. We enjoy spending our early morning hours or early evening hours outside in our backyard picking them when its harvesting time.
One of our favorite recipes to make is freezer jam because you can use this same recipe with mulberries, raspberries or blackberries. This recipe takes less than 45 minutes from preparation to finish time.
Berry Picking Tips:
Pick only the ripe and plump berries. Any berries with defects, toss to the birds. Remove all stems and thoroughly wash berries before beginning the recipe.
Raspberry Freezer Jam Recipe
- 3 1/4 cups crushed raspberries
- 5 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 package of Sure Jell
Wash and drain your raspberries using a colander. You will need 4 cups of picked raspberries to equal 3 1/4 cups of crushed berries. After washing your berries, place them in a food processor or blender container. Process the berries until they are the consistency of a thick jam.
In a large bowl, combine crushed raspberries, granulated sugar and lemon juice. Stir ingredients together using a silicone spatula. Let this mixture sit for 20-25 minutes.
In a small saucepan, combine water with 1 box of Sure Jell. Bring mixture to a boil and boil for exactly one minute. Remove from burner and pour Sure Jell mixture into the berries mixture. Stir with the silicone spatula until all ingredients are combined.
Use a ladle and spoon mixture into small freezer-safe containers, leaving 1/2″ head space in the container. Seal containers and place into the freezer for 48 hours before using.
Storage:
The jam will keep for up to 1 year in the freezer and up to 1 week in the refrigerator. When ready to use, remove 1 container at a time from your freezer and place into your refrigerator 2 hours before serving.
Yields: I was able to fill 14 plastic containers that each hold 4 ounces which is the perfect size for my family.
The Author:
Shelly Hill has been working from home since 1989 in Direct Sales and is a Manager with Tupperware. You can visit Shelly online at http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com