Cooking With Miranda - Fresh Berry Jam

Trying to hold on to the last remnants of summer fruit? What better way to do it than making delicious berry jam. You can use just strawberries or mix up all your favorite berries - Either way, it is delicious!

Fresh Berry Jam

Ingredients

4 cups fresh berries or 3 cups sliced strawberries
3/4 cup sugar
freshly squeezed lemon juice from one lemon
Lemon zest

Directions

Mix the ingredients in a wide skillet and bring to boil on medium high heat, stirring occasionally. Once it starts to boil, reduce heat to medium and cook for 8-10 minutes. Keep stirring until the mixture resembles thick syrup. If it runs down the side of the spoon when lifted, the jam is not ready. Keep cooking for an additional 1 to 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly. Cool jam to room temperature and then spread it on your favorite cracker, bagel or peanut butter and jelly sandwich and enjoy!

Though this jam will only last in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks, it can be preserved for longer, by using the traditional canning method. Simply put the jam in glass canning jars. Closing the lids tightly, lower them into a large pot of boiling water for 10 minutes. This helps prevent molding, which means that your concoction can be kept in the refrigerator for up to one year if, you can resist it for that long!

Sources: Miranda, Dean & Lisa Church