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
June 24, 2012 at 10:37 amThe 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
June 24, 2012 at 10:42 amI am a subscriber too..love your blog and page!
Rachel M. says
June 24, 2012 at 10:42 amI would love to make the strawberry pineapple.
Ruth J. says
June 24, 2012 at 11:07 amI want to try the red raspberry jam. Yum!!
Rhonda Mason says
June 24, 2012 at 11:36 amWhile 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
June 24, 2012 at 11:56 amStrawberry 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
June 24, 2012 at 12:11 pmTh Strawberry-Pineapple Jam sounds heavenly!
Jessica O says
June 24, 2012 at 12:16 pmBanana Nut Bread Butter! YUM!
Christina says
June 24, 2012 at 12:17 pmI 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
June 24, 2012 at 12:18 pmEmail subscriber: jbang0331@yahoo(dot)com
debbie jackson says
June 24, 2012 at 12:42 pmhttp://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
June 24, 2012 at 12:45 pmI’ve never made jam but have ALWAYS wanted too! That rhubarb jam recipe looks delish!
Kristie says
June 24, 2012 at 1:37 pmI’d like to try the SURE.JELL® Apple Jelly.
Gloria says
June 24, 2012 at 2:05 pmI’d love to try the SURE.JELL® Concord Grape Jam.
http://www.kraftfoods.com/assets/recipe_images/
Average Rating: 5 starts
Gloria says
June 24, 2012 at 2:07 pmI’m a subscribe to your email already:)
joanne major says
June 24, 2012 at 2:24 pmi would like the red raspberry
joanne major says
June 24, 2012 at 2:24 pmemail subscriber (jmajor4870(at)aol(dot)com
susan strohl says
June 24, 2012 at 3:39 pmlast year i made strawberry, blackberry and blueberry jam!
the canning pot would have been very useful!
Micah Pearson says
June 24, 2012 at 3:41 pmStrawberry-Pineapple Jam
Micah Pearson says
June 24, 2012 at 3:45 pmI’m a subscriber!
Rachel says
June 24, 2012 at 4:44 pmI would love to make Sure-Jell Banana Nut Bread Butter. Sounds Yummy!
Rachel says
June 24, 2012 at 4:44 pmI subscribe to your emails!
Laura L. says
June 24, 2012 at 4:46 pmI’d love to try the No-Sugar-Needed Triple Berry Jam recipe.
http://www.kraftbrands.com/SureJell/favorite.aspx
Laura L. says
June 24, 2012 at 4:48 pmI subscribe by email – lajohnson555 at yahoo dot com
debbie says
June 24, 2012 at 4:49 pmI would like to try the elderberry jelly.
Jessica L. says
June 24, 2012 at 5:38 pmI want to try the raspberry jam recipe! Raspberries are my favorite!
Jessica L. says
June 24, 2012 at 5:40 pmSubscribed
Kathy S says
June 24, 2012 at 5:50 pmConcord Grape Jam
jessica says
June 24, 2012 at 7:10 pmThe Strawberry Pineapple looks aweosme!
Rachel C says
June 24, 2012 at 9:18 pmI love berries, and think the raspberry jam would be great!
sus says
June 24, 2012 at 9:25 pmRed Raspberry Jam
Aisha Holley says
June 24, 2012 at 10:12 pmTriple Berry Jam is what I’m most interested in.
Aisha Holley says
June 24, 2012 at 10:30 pme-subscriber: aisha(at)theholleyherald(dotcom)
Rochelle says
June 24, 2012 at 10:32 pmI’d love to make the CERTO® Peach Jelly recipe. I love a fresh peach jelly and this one sounds yummy. Thanks!
Rochelle says
June 24, 2012 at 10:34 pmI am a email subscriber to your blog. romapup at gmail dot com
hollowsins says
June 24, 2012 at 11:10 pmblack berry or triple berry for me
Sasha Farnsworth says
June 24, 2012 at 11:47 pmI can’t wait to try the SURE.JELL Banana Nut Bread Butter. Looks so yummy!
Jan Messali says
June 25, 2012 at 12:23 amI’d love to make the rhubarb jam.
Kelly Lebo says
June 25, 2012 at 3:35 amI have never had Rhubarb always wanted to try to make a strawberry rhubarb jam
Jamie W says
June 25, 2012 at 6:35 amI 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
June 25, 2012 at 6:36 amI am an email subscriber
April V says
June 25, 2012 at 8:24 amThe banana nut bread butter sounds amazing!!
Tasha Horton says
June 25, 2012 at 10:39 amI’m a subscriber! Love your blog 🙂
julie rmr says
June 25, 2012 at 12:04 pmthe triple berry
Michelle S. says
June 25, 2012 at 12:17 pmI would like to try the Rhubarb Jam recipe
Marilyn S says
June 25, 2012 at 2:09 pmI want to try the rhubarb jam.
Marilyn S says
June 25, 2012 at 2:12 pmI am a subscriber
Marilyn S says
June 25, 2012 at 2:13 pmI am an email subscriber
sandra says
June 25, 2012 at 5:44 pmi’d like to try the MCP® Huckleberry Jelly
Brooke T says
June 25, 2012 at 7:36 pmCERTO Strawberry-Pineapple Jam what a fun combo!!!
Carly says
June 25, 2012 at 10:34 pmRhubarb jam
Marj M. says
June 26, 2012 at 6:52 amI’d like to make the Sure.Jell Triple Berry Jam.
gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com
Alexis B says
June 26, 2012 at 9:09 amI’d love to try the triple berry jam! Yummy!!
michele p. says
June 26, 2012 at 2:30 pmI want to try the hot pepper relish!
michele p. says
June 26, 2012 at 2:33 pmalready email subscriber
Jennifer S says
June 27, 2012 at 8:39 amProbably triple berry jam also!
tess says
June 27, 2012 at 1:39 pmsure jell concord grape jelly- we already made that this year
tcogbill at live dot com
shelly peterson says
June 27, 2012 at 5:26 pmI would try the SURE.JELL Rhubarb Jam
lana says
June 27, 2012 at 11:02 pmBerry jam
Carrie Phelps says
June 28, 2012 at 5:25 amTriple berry jelly sounds wonderful, I recently made strawberry jam.
Eileen says
June 28, 2012 at 1:42 pmI 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
June 28, 2012 at 3:53 pmThe Triple Berry Jam!
liberty boblett says
June 28, 2012 at 10:25 pmCERTO Strawberry-Pineapple Jam!
Joye Rast says
June 29, 2012 at 3:00 pmSURE.JELL Fresh Apricot Jam looks yummy to me!
Ann B. says
June 29, 2012 at 4:32 pmThe Raspberry-Peach Freezer Jam sounds so delicious…I’d love to try my hand at making this for sure~
amanda alvarado says
June 30, 2012 at 6:52 amI’d love to try my hand with the Triple Berry Jam!
Daisy says
June 30, 2012 at 1:36 pmi would like to try the triple berry jam
Kelly D says
June 30, 2012 at 2:43 pmI would like the CERTO Strawberry-Pineapple Jam
Kim M says
June 30, 2012 at 3:01 pmCedric Strawberry Jam. Just had homemade jam this morning.
Allison Downes says
June 30, 2012 at 5:48 pmI want to try the CERTO® Peach Jelly
eve says
July 1, 2012 at 3:20 pmapricot pineapple jam yum!
Carmen says
July 1, 2012 at 9:07 pmCERTO® Strawberry-Pineapple Jam sounds interesting
Patricia Wojnar Crowley says
July 1, 2012 at 9:58 pmI’d like to try the CERTO® Red Raspberry Jam!
Kimberly Schotz says
July 1, 2012 at 10:19 pmTriple Berry Jam
Kims2312@verizon.net
Katie says
July 2, 2012 at 8:09 pmI would love to make Rhubarb jam! So tart and yummy!
Tamra H says
July 6, 2012 at 10:39 amWow, MCP Pomegranate Jelly sounds amazing!
amy marantino says
July 7, 2012 at 6:45 pmi want to try CERTO Strawberry-Pineapple Jam
Meghan Finley says
July 7, 2012 at 9:38 pmRhubarb!
Christy says
July 8, 2012 at 12:04 pmI’d like to try the red raspberry jam.
Johnny says
July 8, 2012 at 12:05 pmSURE.JELL® Concord Grape Jam
Dorothy Doll says
July 8, 2012 at 12:26 pmI would like to try the strawberry freezer jam with my fresh garden strawberries.
Kat Riley says
July 8, 2012 at 12:42 pmI want to try the SURE.JELL Banana Nut Bread Butter.
Amy Woods-Smith says
July 8, 2012 at 12:43 pmI want to try the strawberry/pineapple jam.
Kat Riley says
July 8, 2012 at 12:43 pmemail subscriber
Chrystal J. says
July 8, 2012 at 12:58 pmMCP Pomegranate Jelly
DAMIAN JARREAU says
July 8, 2012 at 1:02 pmI want to try the hot pepper relish
Valerie Taylor Mabrey says
July 8, 2012 at 2:08 pmI would like the CERTO Strawberry-Pineapple Jam
Kylie C says
July 8, 2012 at 2:32 pmI really want to make the SURE.JELL® Cranberry-Strawberry Jam.
Chrissy Nestor says
July 8, 2012 at 2:56 pmThe Strawberry Freezer Jam!
Carrie M says
July 8, 2012 at 4:19 pmThe triple berry jam
Andrea A. says
July 8, 2012 at 4:56 pmTriple berry jam!
Renee G says
July 8, 2012 at 4:58 pmI’d love to try making the 30 Minutes To Homemade SURE.JELL® Raspberry-Peach Freezer Jam
rsgrandinetti@yahoo.com
lucas says
July 8, 2012 at 5:07 pmI would like the triple berry jam.
kellie t says
July 8, 2012 at 7:19 pmrhubarb jam
Shannon Baas says
July 8, 2012 at 7:24 pmcramberry-strawberry jam.
ELIZABETH C. says
July 8, 2012 at 7:49 pmTheres quite a few but i would choose the Triple berry jam.
Debra P says
July 8, 2012 at 7:58 pmThe strawberry pineapple jam sounds wonderful.
Vanessa says
July 8, 2012 at 8:01 pmStrawberry jam.
Laura Johnson says
July 8, 2012 at 8:16 pmTripple Berry Jam!!
Jammie says
July 8, 2012 at 8:38 pmtriple berry jam sounds yummy.
Judy Abernathy says
July 8, 2012 at 8:55 pmthe triple berry jam…Yum!!!
Judy Abernathy says
July 8, 2012 at 9:00 pmI’m a subscriber!!!
Angella L says
July 8, 2012 at 9:07 pmGrape …traditional
Christine says
July 8, 2012 at 9:18 pmthe triple berry jam
Carolyn Daley says
July 8, 2012 at 10:08 pmI am interested in SURE.JELL Banana Nut Bread Butter
Breanne says
July 8, 2012 at 10:30 pmBanana Nut Bread Butter
Melody Drew says
July 9, 2012 at 1:29 amI want to try the Sure-jell triple berry jam!
dani marie says
July 9, 2012 at 5:11 amthe rhubarb jam for sure.
EMMA L HORTON says
July 9, 2012 at 6:39 amTHE RED RASPBERRY JAM
Cindy Merrill says
July 9, 2012 at 6:52 amMy hubby wants us to try the Hot Pepper relish recipe.
R Hicks says
July 9, 2012 at 7:25 amwould love to try SURE.JELL Rhubarb Jam recipe
brich22 at earthlink dot net
R Hicks says
July 9, 2012 at 7:27 amsubscribe via email using ardy22 at earthlink dot net
brich22 at earthlink dot net
kathy pease says
July 9, 2012 at 9:22 amid love to try the SURE.JELL for Less or No Sugar Needed Recipes – Pear Jam
jules mcnubbin says
July 9, 2012 at 9:46 amsure jell triple berry jam!
Carol Mclemore says
July 9, 2012 at 10:05 amThe Raspberry-Peach Freezer Jam
Suzanne K says
July 9, 2012 at 10:09 amsince I have blackberries in my garden, I’d try the CERTO® Blackberry Jam
SYLVIE W says
July 9, 2012 at 11:15 amNow, the Apricot-Pineapple Jam is one recipe I’d like to try.
alyce poalillo says
July 9, 2012 at 12:04 pmCERTO® Peach Jelly sounds good to me
Vicki D. says
July 9, 2012 at 12:53 pmI’d like to make the red raspberry jam.
Sonya says
July 9, 2012 at 1:07 pmI want to try the SURE.JELL® for Less or No Sugar Needed Recipes – Hot Pepper Relish!
April Brenay says
July 9, 2012 at 1:34 pmthe red raspberry looks soooo yummy
Lisa L says
July 9, 2012 at 1:47 pmThe recipe for No-Sugar-Needed Triple Berry Jam sounds yummy!
Gloria Schulte says
July 9, 2012 at 2:21 pmI would liek to try the Raspberry-Peach Freezer Jam
Melanie Dauterive says
July 9, 2012 at 2:27 pmi wanna try the triple berry jam
Jeanette Hamilton says
July 9, 2012 at 4:28 pmSURE-JELL Triple Berry Jam sounds good.
Geoff K says
July 9, 2012 at 6:28 pmThe MCP Dutch Apple Pie Jam sounds like a winner!
susan smoaks says
July 9, 2012 at 6:42 pmi want to try the sweet bbq chicken kabobs recipe
Trisha McKee says
July 9, 2012 at 6:57 pmCerto peach jelly would be one I’d love to try.
Lim says
July 9, 2012 at 7:00 pmSure Jell Apple Jelly – what can I say, I’m a Vermonter.
Jesselyn A/Jesstinger says
July 9, 2012 at 7:36 pmTriple 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
July 9, 2012 at 8:25 pmConfirmed email subscriber
trixx says
July 9, 2012 at 9:05 pmI’d love to try their SURE.JELL Concord Grape Jam
trixx says
July 9, 2012 at 9:08 pmI subscribe via email
Beverly Metcalf says
July 9, 2012 at 9:44 pmI’ve made the strawberry jam and it’s delicious. I love it on english muffins. Thanks for this contest.
Sand says
July 9, 2012 at 10:24 pmI would like to try the CERTO® Blackberry Jam.
shirley zolenski says
July 9, 2012 at 10:51 pmThe triple berry jam
Blessie Nelson says
October 10, 2012 at 7:02 pmThank you very much for the recipe!
Jean says
August 23, 2013 at 3:27 pmI 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!