Day 1: Introduction to The Strawberry Jam Challenge
Introduction to The Strawberry Jam Challenge
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Thank you for joining The Strawberry Jam Challenge! I am so happy you decided to join me and learn how to can a batch of strawberry jam!
Why I decided to bring you The Strawberry Jam Challenge
I have been making homemade jams and jelly for over 25 years. I never stood along side and watched in wonder as my mother or my grandmother stirred a boiling pot of fruit and sugar. As a child I never heard that satisfying sound of pings as those hot filled canning jars sealed.
Before I made my first batch of homemade blackberry jam I never saw anyone make a batch of jam. My desire to preserve came from my heart.
I am one of those rare canners. I’m not sure where my desire to start canning came from. Except for the fact that at the time I was living in Georgia.
In Georgia there are wild blackberry vines growing everywhere. All that fruit going to waste along the side of the roads! I couldn't believe no one was picking those wild blackberries and making homemade jam with them. I couldn't bare to see all that fruit go to waste so I went about teaching myself how to make jam.
Who is the Strawberry Jam Challenge for?
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Someone who wants to take advantage of fresh seasonal produce that you grow yourself or buy at the Farmer’s Market to enjoy all year.
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You want to start preserving your own food but don’t know where to start.
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You want to control the ingredients that go into the food you and your family eat.
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You are dying to make your own fruit jams but are afraid you will kill your family members by poisoning them with botulism.
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You want to fill your pantry.
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You prefer homemade to store bought.
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You want to bring back a tradition from your mother or grandmother.
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You want to teach your children there are other ways to eat than to go to the grocery store and buy mass produced food.
Why Strawberry Jam?
Who doesn't love Strawberry Jam? Almost everyone I know loves strawberry jam. There may be a few exceptions but strawberry jam is a basic homemade jam recipe that most people love.
Strawberries are also very easy to come by. You can usually buy them all year long.
What Can You Expect from The Strawberry Jam Challenge?
If you have never made jam before I am going to teach you from start to finish how to make a batch of delicious homemade strawberry jam.
If you’ve helped your grandma make jam but never made a batch of jam by yourself the Strawberry Jam Challenge will help you learn what you need (canning supplies and such) to start your first jam making adventure.
If you’re an experienced canner The Strawberry Jam Challenge probably isn’t for you unless you just want to see how I do it. The challenge is free so why not join?
The Strawberry Jam Challenge Canning Day
Tomorrow you will receive the first email of the Strawberry Jam Challenge. The first email of the challenge will list all of the supplies and ingredients you will need to buy to start your canning adventure.
You probably own some of the equipment already. There will be a few items that you will need to buy.
I will list a few options that you can choose from that will fit in with your budget. There is no need to go out and buy the more expensive canning equipment until you decide that you want to make canning a permanent part of your life.
One good thing about gathering the canning equipment you will need to make a batch of strawberry jam is that once you have all the equipment on hand you will use it over and over again for each batch of preserves you decide to make for years to come.
The only canning supplies you might need to rebuy are the ingredients and canning jars.
You’ll need to have all of the equipment on hand canning day. Once you start the canning process you really can’t stop and run out to the store.
Special note to glass top stove owners.
Please see the Ball Fresh Preserving video below for special instructions on water bath canning with a glass top stove.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFUyaBFrcYU&feature=youtu.be
If you have a glass top stove that does not allow for water bath canning and would still like to make water bath canning a part of your life you might want to check into buying the Ball freshTECH Electric Water Bath Canner and Multi-Cooker.
The Home Canning System is an electric hot water bath canner. It will safely sterilize your jars and process the filled jars for you. No need to use the stove. The appliance sits on your counter.
I’ll share more info soon on the different options you have for water bath canning.
Important Note About Canning Day
You will need to block out a few uninterrupted hours on canning day. The first time you make jam it will take much longer for the entire process because you are canning for the first time and learning a new skill.
Each time you make jam or jelly the process and time involved will get shorter as you learn to make jam.
It does take some time and once you start you really shouldn't stop. Up until the point of cooking the jam you have a little leeway but once the pot of ingredients is on the stove cooking you need your full attention on the cooking process and will have no time to stop and tend to small children or to walk away from the stove until all the jars are filled with the hot jam.
If you have small children it is a good idea to have another adult in the house to help. When my kids were small I would make my jam late at night after they were in bed.
I’m excited to get started and I hope you are too! See you tomorrow!
Head over to the private Strawberry Jam Challenge Facebook group where you can ask questions and chat with other members of the challenge.
If you have any questions feel free to send me an email at flouronmyface@gmail.com with Strawberry Jam Challenge in the subject line.
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