Start with clean jars, strawberries, sugar and a fruit pectin. (I typically use SureJell; but could only find the Ball Fruit Pectin this year:
Wash your berries:
Now, I do not like chunks in my jelly, I prefer it smooth so I place berries in a blender and blend them into a sauce. Some people just place them in a bowl and mash them...all in your preference.
Pour into bowl and mix with 2 Tbsp. lemon juice and 4 cups of sugar. Mix well and allow to sit for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. During this 10 minutes, combine the fruit pectin and 3/4 C. Water in a small saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil and boil continuosly for 1 minute. Pour pectin mix into the strawberries. Stir for 5 minutes.
I missed strawberry season this year too!!! It rained so much and then bam! Strawberries were over! I had just gotten to a point where I could do it on a weekend but I was too late! The shipped berries are never as nice as our fresh berries but I'll have to manage!
ReplyDeleteMy kids are jelly snobs too and this is what I make, but I do it a little differently (nothing is cooked on the stove) but get the same result in that it is freezer jam and that my kids refuse to eat anything from the store. The closest thing in the store is Bonnie Maman (?) and that costs an arm and a leg, but in a pinch that will suffice.