Jam in Jars
Capturing the harvest in a jar
Jam in Jars is my passion. I love making unique jams that bring out the flavour of the local harvest here in the Golden Horseshoe. This year’s harvest was particularly fantastic. I have a list of everything that is hot off my stove on Facebook.com/jaminjars »
Homemade jam is a classic gift to give away during the holiday season. Wrapped in a sheet of tissue paper and tied with raffia, jam is a perfect hostess or co-worker gift. When several are bundled together in a basket and paired with a knife-spreader or package of scone mix, it’s always well received as a personalized birthday or Christmas gift.
My ingredients are simple: local produce from the farmers market in the Golden Horseshoe or urban gardens (thank you Ann, Barb and Shirley), lemons imported from the USA, bottled vinegar, the occasional spice, and organic cane sugar. Some of the feedback I’ve gotten was sent by email (cited with permission):
Oh my heavens – I just cracked open the figs in port. It is the best thing you have ever put in a canning jar. It will take all my will power not to eat the jar!!! It is delicious!!! I love it. Going to buy goat cheese tomorrow and eat fig jam and goat cheese on crackers. Taking all my will power not to drive to the store now 🙂
Each jar comes with a handcrafted label and I can provide an ingredients list. I use standard jars (1 cup) but for rarer ingredients or complex recipes I prefer the smaller jars (about 1/2 cup).
If you are planning to make your own jams, I’ve posted a few of my favourites:
Jam is made from cooked fruit and sugar to make a gel. The quintessential uses are on toast with peanut butter or on scones with Devonshire cream. However, I have heard many stories about eating my jam with a spoon straight out of the jar!
Preserves or fruit butters are very similar to jams. They are loaded with fresh fruit (or vegetables) but have reduced or no sugar added.
Chutneys are a savoury jam most commonly served with meat or cheese.
Salsa is not a jam but I do like to make it. It tastes fantastic in all the traditional south-western dishes or on its own with tortilla chips.
Jelly is made by taking the juice or water infused flavour of the fruit and mixing it with pectin and/or sugar to make a gel. I don’t like to make jellies but if you can find pepper jelly, it’s absolutely delicious with cheese on crackers.