Friday, July 18, 2008

Grandma's Freezer Jam Recipe

I have had a request for Grandma's jam recipe from Clare so here it is. I am sure this recipe is in no way unique but it is very simple. When my sister-in-law and I were first married we used to go over to Grandma's to make jam with her. It is a memory we both cherish. I inherited all of her recipes when she died, which consisted of a large sized ziplock bag full of ones clipped out of newspapers and ones she wrote down herself. There is something very comforting about seeing someone's handwriting years after they died.
This is my grandma's recipe card for jam. You can tell it's been around the block a few times.

And because I am the world worst photographer with a hand-me-down camera I will tell you what it says.............

Frozen Berry Jam:

2 cups berries mashed

4 cups sugar

1 box MCP pectin (we always use MCP pectin, I don't know why but Grandma always did)

1 cup water

Combine berries and sugar. Let stand 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Boil pectin in water to rolling boil. Boil one minute. Stir constantly. Remove from heat and pour into fruit and stir for 2 minutes. Fill jars and cover with lids. Let stand out for 24 hours. Then put in freezer.

Peach and blackberries are also very good. I can attest to this as I have tried both.

Special thanks to Danni for teaching me how to link my words.

9 comments:

Danni said...

I was going to ask you for this recipe!! So glad you posted it...I can't believe that's all there is to it! Don't you have to boil it or something to sterilize it and such? Or does the freezing do the same thing? And then what? The jam is stored in the freezer until it's wanted? Do you thaw it prior to use and then store remainder the fridge? So many questions - gosh, I'm irritating. Anyway, I love the handwritten recipe - that's so special to have.

And thanks for the thanks on the link thing. You're fun! :-)

goatgirl said...

Farmgirl, I told you it was simple. No you don't boil it. I run my jars and lids or whatever I put it in through the dishwasher first to sterilize them. The jam is stored in the freezer and then I just take one out and put it in the fridge. You can leave it in the freezer but it is a bit harder to spread:) It is really good on ice cream too.
You can also freeze your berries to make jam later if you want. Just let them thaw and then follow the recipe.

Heidi said...

There really is comfort in that isnt there? Its like seeing a by gone loved one on video or hearing thier voice on tape... :) I am gonna try grannys recipe and see how it goes!!! Thanks for sharing this with the rest of us, that was very special! :)

@JDHealingTimeOnEarth said...

Thank you, Wendy! I totally agree about the old recipe cards. Treasures, for sure.

I will have to try this soon. It sounds very simple, and much easier than the canned version.

goatgirl said...

Heidi, I remember when I saw my mother-in-law on tape and heard her voice after she died. It was so special yet a bit disturbing.
It is a reminder for us in this day and age of email and computers that the written word can be very important after we are gone.
Hope this recipe works for you. My sister-in-law tryed it one time with less sugar...didn't work.

Your welcome Clare let me know if it turns out. It is much easier than canning. You can put it in tupperware too. You don't need perfect jars and lids.

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Oooh I remember making freezer jam, as a child, at my grandmother's house each summer. It was so much easier (and not as hot) to make then the canned jams.

Thanks for sharing her wonderful recipe with everyone.

May I suggest that you make a copy of her recipe and save the original in a scrapbook, in a sealed acid-free plastic cover so that her recipe is preserved (no pun intended) forever?

What a treasure you've got there!

Oh. And I know what you mean about hearing the voices of deceased family. My mother died when I 8 years old, but when I was a baby, she took me to see Santa at the mall. They made a recording of her voice introducing me to Santa and saved it on a 45 vinyl record(remember those?).
Listening to her voice is so haunting to me. And sad.

goatgirl said...

Twinville, I am sorry you lost your mother so young and yes I do remember 45's. I'm old! I say that proudly.
What a good idea about preserving Grandma's recipes. I have been planning on doing a recipe book for my family with them and now with all those publishing programs on the web I think I will finally do it.

Anonymous said...

It sounds just like my Mama's old recipe.
Can't wait to make it again.
You are right, the handwriting can be so comforting.

Glass Girl said...

Awwww-this brought tears to my eyes. Remember getting into the freezer and eating frozen berries. When Grandma Ding asked if we'd been stealing berries we would grin with our purple teeth which pretty much convicted us without saying a word.