Saturday, August 19, 2006

When Life gives you berries make jam Current mood: creative Category: Food and Restaurants
At 7:30 my phone rings but I am asleep in an air conditioned room and do not hear it. That is a good thing actually, though since my father died, I am unually paranoid about missing "The call".
This one was not as life threatening, it was my vocal coach canceling due to a medical situation that needed immediate, but not life threatening, attention.
If I had gotten the call at 7:30 I would have just not woken up at all till I absolutely had to. But I awoke at 8:45, had my juice and saw the machine blinking.... upon recieving the message, I did what any other self respecting confirmed "sleeper" would do..... I took my cats and went back to bed.
That lasted for 30 minutes, the boys wouldn't let me sleep as that was their love and cuddle time. When they were done they left and I was wide awake. So much for going back to sleep! I was lying there contemplating what to do with the the 2 1/2 hours left before Weight Watchers. I had a long list, but I decided to get up and make French Instant Gratfification Jam.
One important note - the name is of the recipe is Instant Gratficiation Jam... I don't know about you but that title must be on comparison to something else because my idea of instant gratfication is not 2 hours.
It wasn't hard or complicated in any way you basically take one cup of sugar for each pint of fruit, toss it in a bowl to fruit is covered, put in a pot cover fruit/sugar mixture completely with water, bring to a boil then simmer to fruit reduces down.
Seriously, that is the entire recipe and the house smells delicious. But two hours? yikes. On top of which near the end, you really have to pay attention because one second too long and you have burned jam and a burned pot.
Mine wasn't scorched or anything and it tastes pretty good - I only used on pint of strawberries and it doesn't reduce down to much - maybe 4 servings. But it is delicious.
I don't know WHAT possessed me to do this today. Its not my way at all to make things I can buy LOL. Come on - you all must know that by now.
I proceeded to bring it up at Weight Watchers and they all stared at me. For that very reason - this is a group of people I have been with for 3-5 years. They all know....
My next plan is to see if I can do this with a mixture of sugar and splenda. then eventually I will cut over to splenda altogether. this could be a great idea for christmas gifts.
Unless you jar your jam in glass and seal it with wax for airtightness, this stuff lasts in the fridge 3-5 days. This is not preserves, its just jam.
Make it while the good fruits are in season - cut larger berries down to small pieces so that it reduces faster ( ANYTHING TO CUT DOWN THAT 2 HOUR cook time).
I think cherries next - that seems like a unique one.....