My grandmother always offered my family plenty of homemade canned goods from her garden. From jams to pickled vegetables, she always had a pantry full. I’m not sure why, but I always felt intimidated by canning. It seemed tricky and something I would have to take time to master.
Now that I’m grown and have a home of my own, complete with a wonderful apple tree, I’ve always wanted to learn to can. I’ve made plenty of applesauce and apple butter but because of the sheer quantity of apples required to make these, I’ve always been able to refrigerate or give enough away that it wasn’t necessary to actually can it. So when Kraft offered me the chance to receive a canning tool kit, I was stoked. Truly. I wanted to jam.
I purchased a lot of strawberries from my local Sam’s Club but realized later it was not necessary. Unlike apple butter and applesauce, not a lot of fruit is actually required to make jam so if you are a newbie like I am, keep that in mind. I searched for recipes on Kraft.com and found several that I was itching to try like strawberry banana jam. I cleaned all of my materials, including giving my jars a boiling water bath but when I happened to glance over the instructions that came with the actual canner, I gasped when I read the following:
WARNING: DO NOT USE ON GLASS STOVETOPS.
Eek! You may remember that I got a brand new stove last fall that has a glass stovetop. Some warnings I make the conscious decision to overlook. But I certainly am not going to take a chance with my expensive stove. Instead of making the strawberry banana jam with a canner, I decided to try strawberry blueberry freezer jam which is good in the refrigerator up to 3 weeks and in the freezer up to a year. It was a 30 minute recipe that really didn’t take longer than 30 minutes from start to finish. It was so easy and I got this:
I achieved a very flavorful jam that is wonderfully sweet and different. It was a hit with my family!
While I wasn’t able to can them and give them as gifts as I had originally hoped, I am able to share them immediately or hand out later in their frozen state. When my apples are ready to be picked, you can bet I’ll be heading up to my parents house for a canning session with my mom and her new canner. (a.k.a. the canner that I received but can’t use and is now kind of hers but I can use it when I want to. Yeah, that one.)
So if you are itching to try making jam and don’t have a canner yet yourself, or you are just searching for a new and different flavor, here is the freezer jam recipe I followed.
- 1-1/2 cups crushed fresh strawberries
- 1 cup crushed blueberries
- 4-1/2 cups sugar, measured into separate bowl
- ¾cup water
- 1 pkg. SURE-JELL Fruit Pectin
- Wash six (1-cup) plastic containers and lids. Rinse with boiling water. Dry thoroughly.
- Prepare fruit by rinsing and cutting stems from strawberries. Crush fruit 1 cup at a time. (Potato masher works great). Approximately 3 cups of strawberries and 2 cups of blueberries will be needed. Rinse blueberries and crush. Mix with strawberries.
- Stir in sugar. Let stand 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Mix water and pectin in small saucepan. Bring to boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Cook and stir 1 min. Add to fruit mixture. Stir for 3 minutes. (A few sugar crystals may remain.)
- Fill all containers immediately to within ½ inch of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers; immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or freeze up to 1 year.
- (If frozen, thaw in refrigerator before using.)
How would you like to get your own “jam” on? I’ve got this fabulous Pectin Canning Craft Kit to give away to one of my lucky readers!
Valued at $70, it includes:
- Granite-Ware 9PC 21.5 Quart Canner Kit
- Bormioli Rocco Quattro Stagioni 8-1/2-Ounce 4-Piece Canning Jar Set
- Canning Tips and Tricks from SURE-JELL and Kraft Foods
And if you are searching for more great jelly and jam recipes, visit Kraft Foods or explore Sure- Jell to help make your canning go more smoothly!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: Kraft Foods is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me and has provided me with a gift of equal value for review. This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by Baby Loving Mama. All thoughts remain 100% my own.
rhonda hagy-miller says
The one on your blog looks good to me cause I have an abundance of Blueberrys this yr…of course that always means a hurricane..smh
rhonda hagy-miller says
I am a subscriber too..love your blog and page!
Rachel M. says
I would love to make the strawberry pineapple.
Ruth J. says
I want to try the red raspberry jam. Yum!!
Rhonda Mason says
While raising 6 kids we always had a garden and canned 250-300 qts of veggies, fruits and pickles each year. One year we had a huge crop of tomatoes and I found a recipe for jam using tomatoes, strawberry and raspberry jello! The kids named it Str-to-ra jam and just loved it! I think I’m going to hunt that recipe down and make it for the grandkids!
My faithful canner lasted 25 years and then sprung a leak! Maybe I shouldn’t have also used it to cook lobsters and boiled dinners. Now I have it on the patio with green beans growing in it! I think I will paint “canned beans” on the side of it! 😉
Thanks for the chance!
hondaray6 at hotmail dot com
Rhonda Mason says
Strawberry season is just starting here in Maine so its a great time to try out your recipe! Thanks for sdharing it!
hondaray6 at hotmail dot com
Mary Beth Elderton says
Th Strawberry-Pineapple Jam sounds heavenly!
Jessica O says
Banana Nut Bread Butter! YUM!
Christina says
I would love to try the Red Raspberry Jam – http://www.kraftbrands.com/surejell/Recipes/recipe-detail.aspx?recipeId=50463 …. or the Apple Jelly – http://www.kraftbrands.com/surejell/Recipes/recipe-detail.aspx?recipeId=52025
Jessica O says
Email subscriber: [email protected](dot)com
debbie jackson says
http://pinterest.com/pin/100416266662100273/ my first pin link so hope i did it correctly
red raspberry jam recipe is what i want to try
emailsub
debbie jackson,
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
Jennifer @ Mom Spotted says
I’ve never made jam but have ALWAYS wanted too! That rhubarb jam recipe looks delish!
Kristie says
I’d like to try the SURE.JELL® Apple Jelly.
Gloria says
I’d love to try the SURE.JELL® Concord Grape Jam.
http://www.kraftfoods.com/assets/recipe_images/
Average Rating: 5 starts
Gloria says
I’m a subscribe to your email already:)
joanne major says
i would like the red raspberry
joanne major says
email subscriber (jmajor4870(at)aol(dot)com
susan strohl says
last year i made strawberry, blackberry and blueberry jam!
the canning pot would have been very useful!
Micah Pearson says
Strawberry-Pineapple Jam
Micah Pearson says
I’m a subscriber!
Rachel says
I would love to make Sure-Jell Banana Nut Bread Butter. Sounds Yummy!
Rachel says
I subscribe to your emails!
Laura L. says
I’d love to try the No-Sugar-Needed Triple Berry Jam recipe.
http://www.kraftbrands.com/SureJell/favorite.aspx
Laura L. says
I subscribe by email – lajohnson555 at yahoo dot com
debbie says
I would like to try the elderberry jelly.
Jessica L. says
I want to try the raspberry jam recipe! Raspberries are my favorite!
Jessica L. says
Subscribed
Kathy S says
Concord Grape Jam
jessica says
The Strawberry Pineapple looks aweosme!
Rachel C says
I love berries, and think the raspberry jam would be great!
sus says
Red Raspberry Jam
Aisha Holley says
Triple Berry Jam is what I’m most interested in.
Aisha Holley says
e-subscriber: aisha(at)theholleyherald(dotcom)
Rochelle says
I’d love to make the CERTO® Peach Jelly recipe. I love a fresh peach jelly and this one sounds yummy. Thanks!
Rochelle says
I am a email subscriber to your blog. romapup at gmail dot com
hollowsins says
black berry or triple berry for me
Sasha Farnsworth says
I can’t wait to try the SURE.JELL Banana Nut Bread Butter. Looks so yummy!
Jan Messali says
I’d love to make the rhubarb jam.
Kelly Lebo says
I have never had Rhubarb always wanted to try to make a strawberry rhubarb jam
Jamie W says
I use Sure Jell’s Strawberry Jam freezer recipe and I’ve done Cherry too but I would love to try canning it to save room in my freezer.
Jamie W says
I am an email subscriber
April V says
The banana nut bread butter sounds amazing!!
Tasha Horton says
I’m a subscriber! Love your blog 🙂
julie rmr says
the triple berry
Michelle S. says
I would like to try the Rhubarb Jam recipe
Marilyn S says
I want to try the rhubarb jam.
Marilyn S says
I am a subscriber
Marilyn S says
I am an email subscriber
sandra says
i’d like to try the MCP® Huckleberry Jelly
Brooke T says
CERTO Strawberry-Pineapple Jam what a fun combo!!!
Carly says
Rhubarb jam
Marj M. says
I’d like to make the Sure.Jell Triple Berry Jam.
gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com
Alexis B says
I’d love to try the triple berry jam! Yummy!!
michele p. says
I want to try the hot pepper relish!
michele p. says
already email subscriber
Jennifer S says
Probably triple berry jam also!
tess says
sure jell concord grape jelly- we already made that this year
tcogbill at live dot com
shelly peterson says
I would try the SURE.JELL Rhubarb Jam
lana says
Berry jam
Carrie Phelps says
Triple berry jelly sounds wonderful, I recently made strawberry jam.
Eileen says
I was going to say blackberry, because they are “in” now to pick, but I saw the strawberry/pineapple recipe and sounds like a good mix to try!
http://www.kraftbrands.com/surejell/Recipes/recipe-detail.aspx?recipeId=60887
Christy Anderson says
The Triple Berry Jam!
liberty boblett says
CERTO Strawberry-Pineapple Jam!
Joye Rast says
SURE.JELL Fresh Apricot Jam looks yummy to me!
Ann B. says
The Raspberry-Peach Freezer Jam sounds so delicious…I’d love to try my hand at making this for sure~
amanda alvarado says
I’d love to try my hand with the Triple Berry Jam!
Daisy says
i would like to try the triple berry jam
Kelly D says
I would like the CERTO Strawberry-Pineapple Jam
Kim M says
Cedric Strawberry Jam. Just had homemade jam this morning.
Allison Downes says
I want to try the CERTO® Peach Jelly
eve says
apricot pineapple jam yum!
Carmen says
CERTO® Strawberry-Pineapple Jam sounds interesting
Patricia Wojnar Crowley says
I’d like to try the CERTO® Red Raspberry Jam!
Kimberly Schotz says
Triple Berry Jam
[email protected]
Katie says
I would love to make Rhubarb jam! So tart and yummy!
Tamra H says
Wow, MCP Pomegranate Jelly sounds amazing!
amy marantino says
i want to try CERTO Strawberry-Pineapple Jam
Meghan Finley says
Rhubarb!
Christy says
I’d like to try the red raspberry jam.
Johnny says
SURE.JELL® Concord Grape Jam
Dorothy Doll says
I would like to try the strawberry freezer jam with my fresh garden strawberries.
Kat Riley says
I want to try the SURE.JELL Banana Nut Bread Butter.
Amy Woods-Smith says
I want to try the strawberry/pineapple jam.
Kat Riley says
email subscriber
Chrystal J. says
MCP Pomegranate Jelly
DAMIAN JARREAU says
I want to try the hot pepper relish
Valerie Taylor Mabrey says
I would like the CERTO Strawberry-Pineapple Jam
Kylie C says
I really want to make the SURE.JELL® Cranberry-Strawberry Jam.
Chrissy Nestor says
The Strawberry Freezer Jam!
Carrie M says
The triple berry jam
Andrea A. says
Triple berry jam!
Renee G says
I’d love to try making the 30 Minutes To Homemade SURE.JELL® Raspberry-Peach Freezer Jam
[email protected]
lucas says
I would like the triple berry jam.
kellie t says
rhubarb jam
Shannon Baas says
cramberry-strawberry jam.
ELIZABETH C. says
Theres quite a few but i would choose the Triple berry jam.
Debra P says
The strawberry pineapple jam sounds wonderful.
Vanessa says
Strawberry jam.
Laura Johnson says
Tripple Berry Jam!!
Jammie says
triple berry jam sounds yummy.
Judy Abernathy says
the triple berry jam…Yum!!!
Judy Abernathy says
I’m a subscriber!!!
Angella L says
Grape …traditional
Christine says
the triple berry jam
Carolyn Daley says
I am interested in SURE.JELL Banana Nut Bread Butter
Breanne says
Banana Nut Bread Butter
Melody Drew says
I want to try the Sure-jell triple berry jam!
dani marie says
the rhubarb jam for sure.
EMMA L HORTON says
THE RED RASPBERRY JAM
Cindy Merrill says
My hubby wants us to try the Hot Pepper relish recipe.
R Hicks says
would love to try SURE.JELL Rhubarb Jam recipe
brich22 at earthlink dot net
R Hicks says
subscribe via email using ardy22 at earthlink dot net
brich22 at earthlink dot net
kathy pease says
id love to try the SURE.JELL for Less or No Sugar Needed Recipes – Pear Jam
jules mcnubbin says
sure jell triple berry jam!
Carol Mclemore says
The Raspberry-Peach Freezer Jam
Suzanne K says
since I have blackberries in my garden, I’d try the CERTO® Blackberry Jam
SYLVIE W says
Now, the Apricot-Pineapple Jam is one recipe I’d like to try.
alyce poalillo says
CERTO® Peach Jelly sounds good to me
Vicki D. says
I’d like to make the red raspberry jam.
Sonya says
I want to try the SURE.JELL® for Less or No Sugar Needed Recipes – Hot Pepper Relish!
April Brenay says
the red raspberry looks soooo yummy
Lisa L says
The recipe for No-Sugar-Needed Triple Berry Jam sounds yummy!
Gloria Schulte says
I would liek to try the Raspberry-Peach Freezer Jam
Melanie Dauterive says
i wanna try the triple berry jam
Jeanette Hamilton says
SURE-JELL Triple Berry Jam sounds good.
Geoff K says
The MCP Dutch Apple Pie Jam sounds like a winner!
susan smoaks says
i want to try the sweet bbq chicken kabobs recipe
Trisha McKee says
Certo peach jelly would be one I’d love to try.
Lim says
Sure Jell Apple Jelly – what can I say, I’m a Vermonter.
Jesselyn A/Jesstinger says
Triple Berry Jams sounds wonderful but Apricots (&) Pineapple (Jam) combine two of my favorite fruits. I’d really like to try some SAVORY jams too, my Aunt makes a wonderful Garlic Jelly that is yummy on roasted and grilled meats.
Jesselyn A/Jesstinger says
Confirmed email subscriber
trixx says
I’d love to try their SURE.JELL Concord Grape Jam
trixx says
I subscribe via email
Beverly Metcalf says
I’ve made the strawberry jam and it’s delicious. I love it on english muffins. Thanks for this contest.
Sand says
I would like to try the CERTO® Blackberry Jam.
shirley zolenski says
The triple berry jam
Blessie Nelson says
Thank you very much for the recipe!
Jean says
I just made my first batch of freezer jam (blueberry for me) and it came out GREAT! I just used quick-acting pectin and did a no-cook method. It was so easy and good. I don’t think I’ll be buying jam or preserves as long as I can get good fruit in season!