Jams and Jellies

Jams, jellies, and sweet spreads are a great way to preserve fresh summer fruit. I always make strawberry jam in the spring, as that’s our family favorite. I have tried others as well, but strawberry remains the favorite. The one ingredient that you’ll definitely have to buy is fruit pectin. Pectin comes in powdered or liquid form and is easy to use. It’s just important to remember: Do not try to change the amount of sugar in a recipe, because the jelly will not gel correctly. I’ve tried that with disastrous results! (We had strawberry sauce that year instead of jam.) There are different versions of most recipes, some are made with liquid pectin, some with powdered pectin, and some are made the old-fashioned way with no added pectin at all. I always use the powdered pectin as that seems to work well. I prefer using Sure-Jell brand fruit pectin, but that’s just my preference. I’m sure other kinds work just as well.