Jamming, All Summer Long
Jam doesn’t have to be complicated. Just simple and sweet, the way it’s meant to be.
Highbush Blueberries, LaCoe's Berry Nice Farm Newton Township, PA
Making jam out of my favorite summer produce is one of the greatest pleasures in my life. It's a great way of capturing the bright summer flavors while keeping it accessible all year long.
The excitement I feel when I see summer berry bushes flush with ripe, juicy berries is simply indescribable. It brings me back to my childhood when I picked my first bucket of berries and the sense of accomplishment when I completely filled up my bucket for the first time without spilling it. Now as an adult I have a deep sense of pride for the jams I procure with the produce I seek out and pick by hand. My heart and soul goes into every single jar I fill and my immense efforts definitely show in the taste of the final product.
As a rule of thumb, in my household, eating seasonally is always better. It makes the food and ingredients more special and meaningful. If you can only have a certain item only a few times a year it makes you appreciate it a whole lot more, especially when it’s unavailable. In order to preserve a lot of the fruits that we enjoy during the summer months we make jam, lots and lots of jam. I like to ensure that we will have enough to get us through the year and into the next season when those specific fruits are available again. I know, this may seem excessive but this is how I was brought up in order to save money and have food for the winter. Now, as an adult, I do it for the quality of the product. It just so happens it can also be cheaper than the products you can typically buy in the store. Why would I spend my household money on sub par produce and products that me and my family aren’t going to fully enjoy? The simple answer is, I wouldn’t.
Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty of my jam making process. First of all, I don’t like to overcomplicate the process. I like to keep it nice and simple in order to let the produce speak for itself and keep the headaches of preserving produce down to a minimum.
The main technique I use when jarring jams is an European technique I discovered a few years ago. Instead of going through the hassle of pressure canning and processing the jam filled jars in hot boiling water, I jar the jam in sterilized jars and insulate the heat from the hot jam. I do this by layering clothes over the lidded jars and then letting the jars cool at room temperature to make the jar seal. I’ve used this technique time after time with great success. I found it’s a much better and less processed form of canning. It doesn’t overcook the fruit and it helps to preserve the fruit's natural flavor. As long as the jars seal and are stored in a cool, dark place they will keep your pantry fully stocked with delicious jam for at least a full year.
You may ask yourself, what do you do with a year’s supply of jam? Well frankly, there are lots of things I use my supply of preserves for. The obvious answer is toast, there’s nothing wrong with this humble breakfast. It's one of my personal favorites but we can’t limit this delicious product to only one use. Jam can be one of the most versatile items in your pantry if you give it a chance. You can use it to flavor your favorite plain yogurt or smoothies as well as use them for a homemade dessert that can be whipped up in a flash. The possibilities are endless! You just have to be creative and your homemade preserves will keep on giving back to you all year long.
So with this brief introduction into my summer jam session, I invite you to join me down the jelly jar that is my life. It’s a noble but yet humble task that I take on every year to restock my pantry.
I’ll be picking berries, perusing the farmer’s markets and of course making tons of seasonal jam. It maybe a tiring and sticky pursuit but by golly someone has got to do it!
In the coming weeks I’ll be sharing my recipes for specific jams and preserves as well as giving a more in depth view of this jamming technique.
I hope you will join me on my yearly summer journey and be brave enough to even try it yourself. Trust me, your efforts will be rewarded!