I just made my first ever batch of jam!

[Paula H]

I'm so excited - and really rather proud of myself (even if I didn't do it all by myself).

For the last couple of years, one of my friends at work has complained that her daughter (who is my age) has no interest whatsoever in learning how to make jam, and how it's a dying art. So last summer I told her that the next time she makes jam, I'd really like her to teach me.

So yesterday I went around to her place, complete with two bags of plums. The original plan was that she was making strawberry or raspberry jam, but she hadn't been able to find any jam fruit at the orchards, and I had plums coming out my ears from a generous neighbour, so why not see what plum jam is like?

It was great (although tiring in the humidity). She taught me all her little tricks, and I now have five jars of very very very yummy plum jam in my kitchen. I've never had plum jam before, and it's absolutely delicious! My boyfriend is suitably impressed (and is now wanting to learn how to make jam himself), and we're now trying to figure what on earth I can make jam from next!

[SusanL]

I always think that my homemade peach jam is the best. Haven't made it in years but I know how great you are feeling!

[yorkshirepud]

Good for you Paula!

Jam making is something I would like to tackle one day too.

[oskie]

I thought this was another one of those old threads getting resurrected again - who makes jam in January??

Um... people in New Zealand!

Congratulations (and sorry about the Northern Hemisphere bias)!

[MKSquared]

Congratulations! I got hooked on jam-making this summer - just do a few searches, and you'll find some awesome-sounding recipes out there.

[swquilts]

Oskie, I thought the same thing! I doubled checked the date...then finished reading.

Good for you Paula! I've just started canning as such and jam will be a project next year.

[Deanna]

Yay for you, Paula! Homemade jam is one of the world's finest delicacies! When I was young, my Aunt Elsie always made the BEST red plum jam. Unfortunately she no longer has the plum tree and her jamming days have ended. However, it is my #1 favorite to buy at the grocery store.

Another quick story -- when I was a little kid, my mother got a new set of Samsonite luggage with the greatest little cosmetic case (remember those?) One day my sister and I hauled the little case over to the neighbor's back yard and proceeded to fill the case with the purple-est, juici-est fat grapes we could find. Stuffed the thing and hauled it home. Of course my mother was horrified to find her brand new little cosmetic case all stained inside from us packing it full of grapes!

She sent us to bed and when we awoke, she was in the middle of making grape jam for us! It was wonderful!

d

[KimKelly]

Originally posted by oskie
I thought this was another one of those old threads getting resurrected again - who makes jam in January??

Um... people in New Zealand!

Congratulations (and sorry about the Northern Hemisphere bias)!

Actually people in San Diego too! I just purchased our first lot of fresh (huge, red, juicy and organic too!) Strawberries! . The jam goes on the stove today!

Kim

[Curleytop]

I thought the same thing about making jam in January, until I saw it was in New Zealand.
Well, I live in So.Cal. and I too make jam in the winter. I FREEZE
my boysenberries when they ripen in May and June. Then I can make jam anytime I feel like.

[Cooky]

I commend anyone for making "canned jam".

I usually do the freezer version and its very good also, but not as involved.

[Paula H]

Chuckle - sorry to anyone I caused confusion for by making jam in January. I often look at topics on the BB and think "Why are you baking strawberries in the middle of winter? Why are you making stews in summer? Ohhhhhhhh, wait, America. Duh."

I'm currently thinking that I'll have to buy myself a small plum tree (maybe espalier it?) so that I can make more plum jam next year. And hopefully the black currant and raspberry bushes I was given by a friend for christmas will do quite nicely.

Still smiling at my little jam accomplishment!!

[kermit]

cool, i love making jam too! every year i pick berries at a local farm & make jam. i just gave away a bunch for christmas gifts. it's become a tradition in my house, and every year i have to recruit a couple friends to help with the berry picking & jamming afterward. one year so many people showed up at the berry farm - we picked 50 lbs of berries! i can't wait to make some again (now that i gave away all my extra jars!)!

Jennifer