"I begin with an idea ... and then it becomes something else"
~ Picasso

Thursday 3 September 2009

Blackberry and Apple Jam

I've been creative in a different way this week. I went blackberry picking and made jam





















The recipe is very easy, I thought I would share it with you as blackberries are abundant at the moment

Ingredients

Jars - preferably 1/2 or 1 lb jars
3 and 1/4 lbs blackberries - rinsed well
1 and 1/2 lbs cooking apples - washed, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
12 oz water
2 x 1 kg bags of sugar with pectin
Two large saucepans

Blackberry and Apple Jam

1. Prepare the jars by washing in warm soapy water, rinse well and dry in a warm oven (140C, 275F, Gas Mark 1)

2. Place the apples and 6 oz of the water in one saucepan, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer till the apples are very soft (about 15 mins)

3. Place the blackberries and 6 oz of the water in the other saucepan, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer till the blackberries are tender (about 10 mins)

4. Add the blackberries to the cooked apples. Mix together, then divide between the two saucepans again. Add 1 kg bag of sugar with pectin to each saucepan. Cook over a low heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved (5 mins each pan)
































5. Bring to the boil, continue to boil for 15 mins, then test for setting by putting a teaspoon of jam on a cold saucer. Leave it for a minute to cool then gently push your finger into the jam. It it wrinkles then it will set. If not, continue boiling the jam for a few minutes more and test again

6. Remove the jam from the heat and leave it to cool for 10 minutes. Spoon the jam into warm jars

7.   Leave to set, then add lids and labels

















Enjoy!

18 comments:

Cathie said...

I do hope one of those jars has MY name on it!! I so love blackberry jam.
Yummmmm. My mom used to make it, and cherry, and peach and grape for all those things grew where we lived. You are such an "old fashioned" girl. I love it!

Anonymous said...

This is my favourite jam - ever :D

It competes with blackberry and apple crumble and blackberry and elderberry wine on my "to die for" edibles.

Never enough blackberries!

murgelchen said...

Mmmhhhh, I come.
LG,
Helga

Maria Dent said...

Oh yummy! I really miss my gran for making jam. She always did something different to it. That scone looks mmmmmmmmmm!

Doreen G said...

Mmmmmmm yummy.
We don't see many blackberries here anymore they are classed as a weed and are sprayed to kill them off.
I remember as a child going with my Dad to get blackberries and coming home with a blue mouth.
The order of the day when picking them was one in the bucket and two in the mouth.

florcita said...

love home amde jam! We've been making them like crazy this year. This looks yummy!

Mr X Stitch said...

If you're into jam making and preserving, the River Cottage Handbook on Preserving is well worth the money. It covers making jams, chutneys and all kinds of preserved stuff. My wife's a big preserving fan and she uses the book all the time. Our house is imbibed with the smell of chutney at the moment! :)

Anonymous said...

Yummy photos, having 5 mins between granny duties! swings and slides and park with prams and dolls this morning. yesterday we made plum and ginger chutney with add ons from my daughters kitchen. Back soon. xx I could eat that scone now... in fact i am going to make some with the children. byee. Thanks carolyn for the idea.

Anonymous said...

Forgot to say Esther is not to keen on getting her hair wet...must go and make those scones.xxxx

AeFondKis said...

Carolyn I think you have a tv programme in the making inside you...your photos are so enticing and the full jars look delicious of course when I got to the scone I passed out! :)
Linda x

Ann Christy said...

Looks scrumptious - your photograph of the berries is lovely - and all of the others too, of course, the scones and cream look really inviting!

Barbara M said...

Carolyn, My mouth is watering!! I have a love of Autumn berries. too. Mine are called Rambleberries :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36140279@N03/3844177621/

Unknown said...

Delish... What time is tea? Now, I am going to have to go and make some jam this weekend.. Thanks... he-he..

vintagerockchick said...

Found your blog from Gina's - Fan My Flame. And one thing led to another, as it does. Just been given some blackberries and bought some apples. I don't really cook but may have to give the jam a try! Oh by the way, looking at your fav films - if you haven't already seen it I really recommend Field of Dreams - it's one of my favourite films.
http://vintagerockchick-gill.blogspot.com/

theMuddledMarketPlace said...

aha...isn't it so fab on scones with cream?!

vintagerockchick said...

A quick update - inspired by you I made my first-ever jam using your recipe and it's fabulous - thank you!!

Judy Scott said...

I could just eat this with a nice pot of tea :) you are a very clever girl, I have never ever made jam! perhaps I should give it a go too ~ Judy xxx

Rue said...

Thanks for this recipe. I live in Washington State and we have loads of blackberry bushes here. They are in season right now. Today I just picked another four pounds.

I am going to publish some blackberry recipes in my Delectable Dessert Collection blog, with a direct link back to your blog so my readers can find you as well.