If you happen to have a bucket of freshly picked strawberries hanging about your kitchen, you should make this jam! The sweetness of the strawberries combined with a bite of ginger is fantastic!
This recipe is from The Vegetarian Epicure Book Two by Anna Thomas
Here’s what ya need (makes 3 pints):
2 1/2 pounds fresh, firm strawberries
3 cups Ginger Sugar
3 cups plain ol’ sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Wash and hull the berries. Cut them in half if they are very big, you can leave the smaller ones whole.
Combine berries, sugar, and lemon juice in a large pot.
Stir often and carefully with a wooden spoon, over very low heat, until the sugar is completely dissolved and the syrup is clear.
Turn the heat up very high, and stirring constantly, bring the jam to a full, spitting boil. Boil hard and continue stirring gently, until jam sets ~ this could take up to 15-20 minutes.
As soon as the boiling jam starts to make a heavy plopping sound, test for set*. When it is starting to set, remove from heat. Let it cool for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Ladle it into hot, sterile jars**, leaving at least 1/4 inch of headroom. Wipe the rims until they are perfectly clean and dry and seal immediately.
Label the jars (yeah, do it, that way when you discover a jar that was shoved to the back of your pantry you’ll know what it is and when it was made). Store in a cool dry place.
*How to test for set: drop a small amount of jam onto a cold plate (place a plate in the freezer when you start your jam making process so it will be nice and cold). If it thickens enough to form a skin and wrinkle when touched, it’s time to put it in jars.
**How to sterilize jars: Place jars in a large pot, cover them completely with water, and boil for 20 minutes. Leave the jars in the hot water until you want to use them. Remove them with tongs and fill while still warm. Self-sealing lids with rubber strips should not be boiled ~ put them in a bowl and cover with boiling water, leave them there until you’re ready to use them.
Enjoy jam with freshly baked biscuits and bread!
XO
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