One of the first things we did when we moved in about 5 years ago was to put in fruit trees, berry bushes, and a garden. Not only do we save a lot of money, but it is a wonderful educational experience for our kids. They love picking their own produce and as a result are some of the best eaters I know!
This year we got LOTS of blackberries! We probably picked at least 20 pints so I decided to make jam.
Homemade blackberry jam is AMAZING! And the best part – it is SUPER simple! You only need 3 ingredients: 2 cups mashed blackberries, 2 cups granulated sugar, and 1 teas lemon juice. Here is what you do:
Mash up freshly washed blackberries. I used a potato masher.
Boil blackberries, lemon juice, and sugar for 10 minutes over medium heat.
Pour mixture in to sterilized canning jars. (Note: Dip clean jars & lids in boiling water for 5 minutes to sterilize) Wipe off the lip as residue will make it hard to open the lid.
Bring water to a boil. Put canning jars into boiling water making sure water covers the top of the jar by 1”. Boil for 10 minutes.
Lift jars out and place on towel to cool. Make sure lids have “popped” and you can store the jam in your pantry for a year. If the jar does not pop down, put the jam in the fridge and use within a month. This recipe works with raspberries too.
Note: Blackberries and Raspberries have natural pectin in their seeds so there is no need to add any additional pectin to get a solid consistency. The jam will be thick and delicious without it!
Additional Resources:
- How to make Bread & Butter Pickles
- Planning my Garden
- {free} Disney Inspired Meal Planners
- Homemade ice Cream for $0.40 a serving
- {Family Favorite} Sweet Chili Recipe
- 107 Must do Summer Activities for Kids
- Ultimate Guide to Disney World from a Mom that’s been there done that