Preserving Fruit

There are many ways that you can go about preserving fruit. Some of these ways include things like canning and desiccation (dehydration). However, of all the possible ways that you can preserve your fruit, nothing tastes quite as good as making your own homemade jam. One of the easiest methods available for making your own jams or preserves is through the use of a machine that you may not have though of. Since most bread making machines actually have a setting specifically for making jams, jellies, and preserves why not take advantage of this and make some?

Here is a great recipe for making your own Raspberry and Blackcurrant Jam. Try it out today!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound 5 ounces of Raspberries
• 7 ounces of Blackcurrants (weight after topping and tailing)
• 1 pound 12 ounces of jam sugar (which contains pectin) or 1 pound 12 ounces preserving sugar and 1 sachet of pectin
• 6 teaspoons water
• 5 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 ounces butter
• Enough wax or grease proof paper for your jars
• 45 jam jars

Recipe:

1. Prepare the fruit. Crush the fruit with a potato masher (or food processor) and place into the bread maker pan.
2. Liquids. Add the water and lemon juice.
3. Start machine. Select the jam making cycle and then press the start button. The kneader in the machine will generally take care of the stirring, (although giving the occasional stir with wooden spoon will not hurt in any way).
4. Sugar and butter. After fifteen minutes, add the jam sugar and the butter.
5. Prepare jars. Prepare your jam jars by sterilizing them with boiling water, then leave them upside down to dry out.
6. Cook and stir. After another 55 minutes the cycle will be complete.
7. Remove. When finished, remove the pan from the bread maker (warning the jam and pan will be very hot).
8. Pour. Carefully pour the jam into the jars to within half an inch of the top. I put a double thickness of greaseproof paper over the top of the jar and then screw on the lid.
9. Pour. Leave the jam to cool.

Total cooking time will take you about one hour and ten minutes. This recipe will make 45 jars of preserves. Feel free to sit back and enjoy your new treat with some hot bread and butter. Another possibility for this homemade delicacy is to give a jar or two to friends and family as gifts.