Tuesday morning I set out to go strawberry picking in hopes of getting about 20 lbs of strawberries. I figured that I need to make at least 3 batches of strawberry jam and freeze some as well.
Well, the strawberry field was pretty much done for the season and I only managed to get about 10 lbs.
When I got home, I cleaned the strawberries and processed enough to make three batches of Strawberry Jam. I was pleasantly surprised to have enough to freeze too. These strawberries are not nearly as tasty as the ones growing in the garden. But, they would definitely make some good strawberry jam!
Wednesday I made two batches of jam. I ran out of pectin so I will have to make the final batch today. I ended up with 6 pints and 5 half pints of great tasting jam to keep "The Italian" happy, for awhile anyway. The final batch will be put in half pint jelly jars for gift giving.
So, what have you been putting up lately??
I bought some strawberries from an organic farm and I didnt think they were nearly as tasty as the ones in the garden either! Do you think there is something to that or we are bias ;)
ReplyDeleteJane, there is definitely a difference in taste with the ones that I purchased. I did some research before I purchased my strawberry roots for the garden this year. I have to say that research paid off and the new strawberries are great tasting. The strawberries in my old strawberry bed next door are not nearly as flavorful as my new plants.
ReplyDeleteI really didn't care that the purchased strawberries weren't as sweet as I always add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to my jam mixture when making it. The lemon juice gives the jam that extra something!
I never get to the point of making jam--though we would sure LOVE some. We make absolute pigs out of ourselves gorging on them fresh. I wonder how many never make it to the kitchen. I've seen hubby wandering out there with juice stains on his shirt. Strawberries? What strawberries??!
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Your hubby sounds like my "Little Garden Helper"! His face is always covered with strawberry juice during strawberry season! I have always made all of my jams and jellies even if I have to buy the berries. My children have never had store bought in their entire life...not around here anyway! I will never forget when my daughter was about 5 years old. We would always go out to breakfast after church. She grabbed a package of strawberry jam and put it on her toast. It was that good brand. She took one bite and promptly spit it out on the plate!
ReplyDeleteWe have several organic strawberry farms here, and they are so tasty that I ripped out my strawberries to get back the space and go to the u-pick farms LOL, sadly I waited too long this year, combined with the early blast of 100 temps the farms shut down early. They are a huge cash crop here so they do them pretty well, they seem to love the sandy soil near the ocean & sounds here.
ReplyDeleteNothing, unless you count "putting up" with Mr. Granny.
ReplyDeleteI got so many berries from my patch last year I have jam to last a couple of years! Mr. G. doesn't like strawberry jam, and I'm a bit stingy about giving it to the kids.
I wish I could put up lettuce!
Erin, I'm sure that I would have gotten better berries if I went a little earlier in the season. I had to take what I could get. The strawberry season ended early here too.
ReplyDeleteGranny, I guess putting up with Mr G counts for something! Wouldn't that be great to be able to put up some lettuce???
I've got strawberry jelly from two years ago, with my diabetes creeping up ...we have them with sour cream or just plain cream...so I just freeze mine and we enjoy them like that...Don't think I'll try to grow them, not enough land :o( < (another hint for a bigger farm :o)
ReplyDeleteThose berries and the jam look delicious. Our strawberries are going to be minimal this year because I started a new patch and then a bunny proceeded to mow them down just as they were really going well. They are bouncing back but not much future for us on strawberries. I imagine I could follow your lead and go do some u-pick but I think I will just wait for the raspberries to come on which won't be long now.
ReplyDeleteNot doing huge amounts of preserving yet, freezing some spinach, broccoli, and celery so far.
Strawberry envy, they are so pretty and the jam look delicious, I don't have enough berries to make jam.
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