strawberry jam
- 1kg /2lb 3oz strawberries
- 1kg/2lb 3oz granulated sugar
- caster sugar
- 1/2 lemon, juice only
- small knob of butter
- The day before you wish to make the jam, hull and halve the strawberries.
- Check for soft spots (which must be removed) and discard any berries with bruises or that are overripe.
- Place the strawberries into a large bowl with 500g/18oz of the sugar.
- Turn carefully to mix and coat well, then cover with cling film and place into the fridge overnight.
- The next day, place a saucer into the freezer to chill - you'll need this when you come to test the setting point of the jam.
- Sterilise the jam jars - first wash the jars in soapy water and rinse in clean warm water.
- Allow them to drip-dry, upside down, on a rack in the oven set to 140C/275F/Gas 1.
- Leave them there for at least half an hour while you make the jam.
- Pour the strawberries, their juice and any residual sugary juices into a very large pan or preserving pan, remembering that the mixture will rise as it boils, and add the remaining 500g/18oz sugar and the lemon juice.
- Stir over a gentle heat until the sugar has completely dissolved.
- Bring the strawberries up to the boil then boil hard until the jam reaches setting point.
- Check the setting point every ten minutes, although it may take up to half an hour to reach setting point.
- To test the setting point, remove the pan from the heat.
- Take your saucer from the freezer and place a drop of jam onto the cold plate.
- After a few seconds push the jam with your finger.
- If the jam surface wrinkles then it has reached setting point and is ready.
- If it slides about as a liquid, then it hasn't reached setting point and should be returned to the heat and boiled for a few more minutes before testing again.
- When setting point has been reached, turn off the heat.
- Stir in the butter and skim off any scum on the surface of the jam with a large spoon.
strawberries, sugar, caster sugar, lemon, knob of butter
Taken from www.foodgeeks.com/recipes/22162 (may not work)