Sheree's Homemade Cooking Made Easy

Every year during strawberry season I make at least two batches of strawberry jam for my family. This recipe is so easy that you can make it even if you are not a canning person. It is a family favorite, and it is so much better, in our opinion, than the store-bought ones. You will need the following ingredients:

Yields: 3 pints or 6 half-pints

Strawberry JamPhoto bySheree

Recipe:

5 cups of chopped strawberries

1 package of sure-jell

7 cups of sugar

1/2 teaspoon of butter

Strawberry JamPhoto bySheree

Wash your strawberries.

Strawberry JamPhoto bySheree

Remove the stems and hull them.

Strawberry JamPhoto bySheree

Chop the strawberries into small pieces and place them into a measuring cup and measure out 5 cups.

Prepare your water bath canner. Tip: If you do not have a water bath canner you can use a stock pot that is larger than the jars you are using. Just place a dish towel in the bottom of the pot so that there is something between the jars and the bottom of thr pot. Place the jars inside the pot making sure they are covered at least 2 inches with water. Heat the water but do not bring it to a boil.

Strawberry JamPhoto bySheree

Use a large stock pot, I use at least 7 quarts, add the strawberries, butter and the sure-jell and bring to a boil. The butter keeps the strawberry jam from getting foamy on the top.

Strawberry JamPhoto bySheree

As the strawberries are heating up, use a potato masher to break the strawberries into even smaller pieces.

Strawberry JamPhoto bySheree

Add the sugar and stir on medium high to high heat until this mixture comes to a rolling boil. Stir this consistently as it could burn if you do not. Boil this until it still boils even while you are stirring it.

After it has reached a rolling boil, set a timer for 1 minute. Stir this mixture carefully while it is boiling as it will rise in the pot.

Strawberry JamPhoto bySheree

After it has boiled for a minute remove the pot from the stove and carefully begin filling your jars with a ladle. Wipe the rims with a warm rag, place a lid on it and a ring and tighten to fingertip tight.

Place the jars into the water bath canner and process for 10 minutes once the water in the water bath canner reaches a boil.

Strawberry JamPhoto bySheree

Remove carefully from the canner and sit on a clean and dry dish towel. Let this strawberry jam sit undisturbed for 24 hours. If you have a jar that didn’t seal just place it in the refrigerator and eat in the next few weeks. Enjoy!

Strawberry JamPhoto bySheree

Note: You can make this recipes using less sugar just buy the low sugar sure-jell and follow the directions.

We enjoy this on some warm buttered toast or buttermilk biscuits.