Small Batch Mixed Berry Jam

kickassbaker.com

I've pared down this homemade jam recipe to produce a small batch mixed berry jam using three different types of seasonal berries - strawberries, blueberries and raspberries - and far less sugar than is traditionally called for, but still with loads of fresh, delicious fruit flavor.

I love summertime and its bounty of fresh fruit. When the local farmers markets open their gates and seasonal fruit is available aplenty and relatively inexpensive, I am in heaven! I started making my own jam a few years ago using seasonal fruit and am continually surprised at how easy it is to do this at home

Strawberries  Raspberries Blueberries Sugar Fresh lemon, lime or orange juice

Making jam at home is not difficult at all. And since this recipe produces about one eight-ounce jar of mixed berry jam, there's no canning or preserving required to store excess jars. To start, wash your berries thoroughly with cold water.

Put all the berries in a large heavy-bottomed pot and stir in the sugar. Allow this to sit for at least 15 minutes. This is sometimes called macerating. It's sort of like marinating and it helps to draw moisture out of the fruit.

Once the berries have been macerated, start cooking them, stirring continuously. After you add in the citrus juice and the jam starts to resemble jam-like consistency, Stick a small plate in the fridge while the jam is cooking. Once it reaches a point where it seems jam-like, spoon a small amount onto the chilled plate and stick it back in the fridge for a couple of minutes.

If you can drag your finger through the jam and it retains it's shape without being too watery or runny, it's done!

TIP Store your berries in the fridge in their original containers until ready to make this recipe. Do not wash the berries until you are ready to use them.

Enjoy the English Muffins with your Homemade Jam!