Fresh Strawberry Jam

Use a combination of overripe and unripe berries. If you have the strawberries on hand, but aren’t going to make the jam right away, store the berries, unwashed, wrapped in two layers of paper toweling, in a closed plastic bag in the refrigerator. Because strawberries absorb water quickly, never float berries in water while cleaning them. Just rinse under running water right before using. This is how my mom likes her jam (she makes a few small batches every spring)—not too sweet, kind of ru