Homemade Strawberry Jam. Yum.

Strawberries are on sale this week for $1.50/lb (until Tuesday).  That is about as low as they go.  I heard yesterday that Walmart had them for $1.18 on Saturday, wow!  Also, Smith's has their 4 lb sugar bags on sale for $1.89 a bag.  This is a great time to make some jam!

If you make one batch using the 8oz jars with strawberries at this price, they end up being $1.68 a jar if you buy brand new jars or $0.87 a jar if you already have jars and only need lids.
If you make one batch using 16 oz jars, they are $2.36 a jar if you buy brand new jars or $1.54 if you only need lids (that's $0.77 for 8 oz!).  Not too bad!

If your family will go through a 16 oz jar in 2-3 weeks, I would recommend using 16 oz jars as it is a better price per ounce.

To make your own homemade strawberry jam you will need:
1. Blender or potato masher
2. Large pot and small pot
3. bowl for sugar
4. soup ladel and canning funnel if you have one
5. 2 lbs strawberries - I sometimes buy a little extra in case of getting a few bad berries
6. approx. 7 cups sugar (depending on recipe)
7. 1 box Sure Jell or Ball pectin
8. lemon juice (per recipe)
9. 1/2 to 2 hours time

How to make jam Kammi Pyles style:
1. Soak jars and lid bands in soapy water.
2. Boil water in small pot on stove.  Once boiling, remove from heat and put can lids in hot water to soften rims.
2. Measure exact amount of sugar and put in large bowl, set aside.
3. Trim off strawberry leaves and put strawberries in blender.  Blend as you go on a low speed.  You don't want to puree them.  Alternately you can mash them with your potato masher.
4. Pour strawberries into large pot.  Add 1/2 tsp butter to avoid foaming, Sure Jell, and lemon juice if recipe calls for it. 
5. Follow Sure Jell or Ball pectin directions for making jam.  Usually something like: Heat until boiling point (boil that cannot be stirred down), add sugar all at once, heat until boiling point is reached again and boil for exactly 1 minute.  Remove from heat and pour into jars.
6. Once jam is in jars and lids are secure, turn jars upside down for about 5 minutes.  This is called the invert method.  The heat from the freshly boiled jam will seal the jars.  There is no need to use/prepare a canner.  Once you turn your jars back over wait for a 'pop' noise from each jar.  Your jam is done!
See, easy peasy.

Please give me a call if you have any questions and enjoy stocking your food storage shelves with homemade jam!  FYI our family goes through about 1 batch of jam every 2 months.  For a year's supply I plan on making 6 batches while strawberries are on a good deal.