Category: seasonal canning

  • Low Sugar Jam

    Here in Alabama, u-pick is really coming into its own. Today we picked nearly 2 gallons of blueberries at an awesome local farm (Bear Mountain) that grows its berries according to organic principles (that means, they haven’t paid the federal government for the privilege of the “certified organic” label!) But you only really get the…

  • Reduced Sugar Cherry Jam

    I am loving the results I get with Pomona’s Pectin. The jam tastes like fruit gently stewed in honey. Wonderful. 4 cups, mashed or chopped, pitted cherries 1/4 cup lemon or lime juice 4 tsp calcium water Place these ingredients in a large saucepan and start to gently heat. 1 cup honey (or, if you…

  • Low added sugar blackberry jam

    Having picked a lot of delicious blackberries at Holmestead Farm as part of my fun U-Pick experience, I set out to create some awesome low added sugar blackberry jam, using Pomona’s Universal Pectin. Yield: about 5 cups (5 jelly jars) Thoroughly rinse and pick through your blackberries 4 cups blackberries 1 cup honey 2 teaspoons…

  • Reduced Sugar Strawberry Jam

    Pomona’s Pectin is an alternative to conventional pectin, which allows you to make jams with reduced, or no, sugar. Due to the very mild winter we have had this year, strawberries have come into season early and very sweet. What else could I do apart from make some jam? And as I have Pomona’s Pectin,…

  • Seasonal eating – July / August

    Apologies for missing out on the July seasonal eating post – I have been busy canning like a madman, because pretty much everything is in season! Broccoli Carrots Tomatoes Squash Onions Potatoes Cucumber Eggplant Beans Corn Peas Garlic Herbs Basil Cantaloupes Figs Peaches Muscadine Watermelon Honeydew What can you make with these ingredients? Pickled cucumbers,…

  • Blueberry fruit butter

    Fruit butters are extremely easy to make in your slow cooker and you can use any fruit to make a butter. Use this recipe and technique to design your own – substitute your favourite fruit for blueberries.   Blueberries – 5 pints / 10 cups / 2.25 litres / about 3.5 lbs / about 1.75…

  • Blueberry pie filling

    Part 2 of my short series on blueberries – pie! 7 cups blueberries, washed and sorted 1 2/3 cups sugar 2/3 cup ClearJel 2tbsp lemon juice OPTIONAL 12 drops blue food colouring 4 drops red food colouring 1tsp grated lemon zest Prepare your jars and lids in the usual way. Half fill a large stainless…

  • Blueberry Syrup

    Blueberries are in season just now, so get out there and pick some yourself! Once you have a ridiculous amount of blueberries, what can you do with them? Well, I am here to help with a short series, starting with blueberry syrup. Prepare your jars and lids by thorough washing with soap and hot water.…

  • Seasonal eating – June

    As the temperature rises, so do your choices of fruit and veg. A good, but busy time of year! Beets – root and greens Broccoli Broccoli rabe Cauliflower Red Cabbage Chinese Cabbage Carrots Peas (various) Radishes Scallions / green onions / spring onions Tomatoes Summer squash Onions Potatoes Cucumber Corn Garlic herbs arugula / rocket…

  • Seasonal eating – May

    Finally, things are beginning to get better. More produce is appearing on the shelves, but not to the overwhelming levels we’ll have in a couple of months. Asparagus Beets: roots and greens Broccoli Broccoli Rabe Cauliflower (time to make piccalilli!) Cabbage: red, green, Chinese Carrots Peas (English, sugar, snap, snow) Radishes Spinach Turnip Onions Kale…