4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Guest]

Well after reading the Jam virgin thread I was ready to get going on my very first batch, just in time for next weeks village show.

 

I went here to pick some fruit http://www.eapples.co.uk/pyo.html and I got about 2k of strawberries and 800g of raspberries (James had well had enough by then and the raspberries were harder to find).

 

I decided to use Jam sugar and the breadmaker to do it, the breadmaker recipe said 400g strawberries and 600g sugar but having done a lot of reading I thought that was a lot of sugar and went for 550g strawbs and 450g of sugar. It came out quite well and I think its setting. I used the same recipe for raspberry and that came out BRILLIANTLY, is setting nicely and tastes amazing - I think I have an entry for next weeks village show there. I also kept some aside in a lock and lock to use in my victoria sponge for the show.

 

The problem I had was with the jars. I used the microwave to heat them and the first one broke, I realised with the second batch of jam this was probably because the jar cracked in the microwave as I noticed one of them had in the second lot I heated.

 

The last jar I heated was in for 1 min and the microwave started doing that thing it usually does if you put metal in - and there is a scorch mark on the side of my microwave.

 

Any ideas on the microwave side of things?

 

Or on presentation for the village show - should I make frilly hats? I've knocked up some labels.

[Guest]

raspberry jame sets very well, better than strawberry which is also yummy. You could try adding a splash of vanilla extract or a liquer to jazz up your jam for the show? Raspberry and Amaretto for instance?

 

you didn't put the lids in the micro did you?

 

I wash the jars in hot soapy water, rinse under the cold tap and put them in the micro for 2 mins. The lids get washed, rinsed and bunged on when the jar is full.

 

I also make it in my breadmaker; 300g fruit, 220g jam sugar and 2 tbsps lemon juice.

 

I did try doing it with increased quantites once and it was a flop, guess the BM couldn't take the strain!

[Guest]

oh, as for presentation, something like this would look lovely

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1251/1429453843_1330ac5e22.jpg?v=0

[Guest]

Thanks Poet - I didn't put the lids in but I may have done them for 4 mins although the last "sparky" one was only in for 1 minute.

 

Those little hats look good - I have some rather nice chicken fabric, I think I will need to put something over the lid as despite a good scrub I couldn't get the sticky off of the label which had been on the lid and it also has the makers name.

 

I figured that changing the overall quantity in the bread maker probably wasn't the way to go so I just adjusted to add up the the same amount. The bread maker could have made twice as much but I guess the programme would then need adjusting. TBH it was good to use it - not been making any bread as it's only James and the Chooks who get to eat it at the moment. I might make a loaf for the village show but that's not supposed to be made in the bread maker althought talking to people last year they mixed in their breadmakers and then cooked in their ovens.

 

Its all a time thing, I have few garden entries this year as very little is right, not a fuscia in sight, chickens trampled my sweet peas and the veg are not quite ready. And I have a prom to go to on Thursday night and a work meal on Friday - with the people I don't like and a couple I do. Mind you I'll not stop there long.

[Guest]

white spirit will get the sticky stuff off, good luck at the show. Would love to see some pics of your entries!

[..lay a little egg for me]

Were the jars wet or dry in the microwave? You have to put them in wet or the m'waves don't have anything to absorb them and so bounce around the inside of the cooker in the same way as when they are reflected off metallic objects...

[Guest]

Were the jars wet or dry in the microwave? You have to put them in wet or the m'waves don't have anything to absorb them and so bounce around the inside of the cooker in the same way as when they are reflected off metallic objects...

 

too clever for her own good this one She hammers me at scrabulous every single time as well

[redhotchick]

I pop the lids in a pan of hot water and boil them up for a few minutes.

I don't know if it matters, but I feel that I cannot do any more to sterilize them. Vegetable oil sometimes gets sticky marks off, also you may find it comes off easy after boiling anyway.

[..lay a little egg for me]

too clever for her own good this one She hammers me at scrabulous every single time as well

 

Early days yet Poet, we haven't played all that often...don't say you are going to 'black ball' me?! I can't cope without my scrabulous fix!!!

[TAJ]

This all looks a bit complex - depending on the quantity I do one of two things - a dry cycle in the dishwasher to get hot and dry jars. Or after washing put damp in a cool oven to dry out on a baking tray - I usually do sort the jars out first and they are ready to go by the time I have made the jam.

 

Tracy

[Blackrocksrock]

The oven is the place to do the jars - just put in and the metal lids and leave the oven on low till you are ready to fill them

[Jules.]

When I did my first ever jam session last year I sterilized my jars in a warm oven, like my mum does.

i need to have a go with my breadmaker at jam.