It's a sad regret I have: I didn't make it out to pick my own blackberries this year. For the past two years, we have picked our own blackberries and strawberries and made the most fantastic freezer jam out of the pounds and pounds of fresh fruit. Now, with a heavy heart, I announce that you are looking at the last of our freezer jam...the final jar of sweet goodness...the end of a special indulgence I took for granted.
I used to be a loyal Smuckers fan - there weren't many snacks that I would choose over Ritz crackers smothered in peanut butter and touched with a smudge of Smuckers strawberry jam. But, now, I must sadly admit that I have become a bit of a jam snob. Smuckers doesn't curb my cravings...and...truthfully...I have a hard time even swallowing it. It has become a cheap imitation of the real stuff.
So, my sincere question is: are there any other jam snobs out there? And, if so, what type of jam do you like? Are there any good store brands?
our favorite jams have included strawberry, plum, apricot, peach and raspberry. michelle will bottle a batch of each every other year or so and we work our way through each kind. much better than any store bought stuff!
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry to hear that! You are very cool to even make your own jam. I have always just bought ours. All though my kids don't really like jam. Emma can't really have any because of her berry thing, and Lily and Sadie have never really liked it.
ReplyDeleteI made your apple bread for Conference yesterday, and David's whole family had rave reviews! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh my heavens. I have really warped my kids, and no one in my family will willingly eat store jam. It's strawberry freezer jam for us, thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteThis is how bad it is. In 2000 strawberry season happened when I was about 17 weeks pregnant with the triplets and almost on bedrest. (17 weeks pregnant with triplets is sort of like 51 weeks pregnant with one baby. Sort of.) I just knew that I was never in a million years going to be able to squat down and pick a single berry. So I broke the news to my kids that I wasn't going to be able to pick berries, so when we finished the last container of freezer jam, well...that would be it. Their reaction was swift and violent. This could not happen! They conferenced together and told me that they had a plan. If I would drive them to Lyon Farms, *they* would pick the berries. And then they would make them into freezer jam. And so that is how it happened. I took my children, who were almost 12, 8, and 5 to Lyon Farms. They picked the berries. (Cindy Lynn is a better berry picker than I to this day!) Back at home they cleaned & topped the berries. I blended them up (sharp blades in the blender, you know) and they did the rest of it. They were amazing. And we didn't have to resort to eating store jam. Thank goodness!
Next year I want to pick blackberries--where do you go to do that?
No jam?? That's it. I'm not coming.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I guess I'm a snob about plenty of other things, but not jam. I actually buy the cheap store brand of grape jelly sometimes, and I kind of like it! Now I want to go make a list of things I'm a snob about and things I'm not- thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteNothing beats freezer jam. But, there is a strawberry Jam at Costco...some organic thing that is palatable.
ReplyDeleteHey Lindsay! So glad I came across your blog. Sam will be excited too. I love your posts. You are a funny girl. I can't eat anything but freezer jam. Sorry, no suggestions. You have such a darling family!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately your snobbery is just what every other kind of jam but freezer jam deserves. So I too, have no suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI would like to invite you to me art blog though:)
artappreciationcommunity.blogspot.com
I had never had freezer jam until I went to BYU and my roomies had serious obsessions. They were justified though, you can't beat a good quart of strawberry freezer jam. Love it!
ReplyDeleteSorry about your bee sting!
Summer just told me that y'all live down the street from them. Small world! They're the greatest. We unfortunately haven't even met little Garrett yet. Give him a hug from us!
you are such a good home maker. you make bread and jam. I try to be a good home maker but with Cory hardly being home, I just don't have the time.
ReplyDeleteUm... you don't know me... i stumbled across your blog while wasting time today and your jam caught my attention because I too am a jam snob and I didn't get to pick fruit this year either. BUT, I found that frosen fruit works pretty well, too. Anyway, good luck!
ReplyDeleteThat was supposed to say FROZEN fruit. oops, sorry.
ReplyDeleteI'm a TOTAL jam snob. The only jam I've eaten for like four years is homemade. Have you ever tried canning with a steam processor? That way, you can make a HUGE batch and not worry about taking up your whole freezer. If I were your neighbor, I'd bring you some of my pluot jam (in case you didn't see my blog about making that jam, pluots are plums crossed with apricot) because it is SOOO good. Goodness knows I've got enough - my friend I made over 50 cups worth (hey, I got all the fruit for free from the in-law's backyard)! Good luck finding a good store bought jam - my mom says the "all-fruit" kind is pretty good.
ReplyDeleteHi Lindsay, I saw your blog on Kathleen's and thought I'd say hi. The Trader Joe's jam is pretty good, AND it's organic reduced sugar. Plus they call it preserves, which sounds extra fancy.
ReplyDeleteFresh raspberry & blackberry are most excellent! I don't get a chance to have it very often tho :( But those are my favs.
ReplyDeleteI would have to admit that I too am a jam snob. My mom and I have ordered bulk strawberries and raspberries and made TONS jam a couple of time. It's all we use but it lasts FOREVER. I do love just about any homemade though. My sis-in-law did some blackberry-plum jam once and it was delish.
ReplyDelete