My First Experience with Homemade Rasberry Jam!

today's little recipe trial is considered another tiny step up the kitchen ladder in being able to

successfully make my own very own batch of home made jam. i mean, the idea of jam or preserves intimidated me, my imagination ran wild with mason jars and metal prongs, large pots, and professional seals..i imagined a kitchen turned science lab really, all with a little old grandma sporting goggles and an overly floral apron at the helm. how could i possibly attempt to make it myself?

I've been purchasing my favorite brand of raspberry and strawberry preserves, Bonne Maman for years now, i love how seedy and sweet it is, and the packaging wins my eye of approval. i save most of the glass jars and even have a few of the tiny miniature ones floating around as well. 

The other day, my generous neighbor Char appeared at my door with a lush metal pan full of freshly picked raspberries from the end of the season's pick at a local farm a few towns over. she is always gifting us with fresh produce, homemade meals, and if we are extra lucky, she'll show up with a hot apple pie or even more recently, pumpkin cheesecake! man o man, does she spoil us!!

i'd been only beginning to think about attempting to try my hand at jam by looking up recipes, figuring out what the word pectin meant, and would i need it? is it required to make jam? and what about the sealed jar method i was so frightened of? what was all that? is it also required to make a perfect batch of jam? to my relief, both of those commotions are not required to make a simple, delicious, hearty jar of homemade jam. phew phew phew.

i landed on one that asked for only 3 ingredients. 3 ingredients?! that sounds right up my ally!! i know everyone has their own methods and extensive instructions varying at length from easy to difficult, but where i ended up was good for a newbie like me. 

i honestly don't even know how many raspberries i used. i was looking for a small batch recipe anyways..i eyeballed what i had, and i think it was about 4 cups...maybe..?

ah, well, i am still learning and i'm really just sharing my tiny accomplishment, so i apologize for the guessed measurements..

i'll share what i remember.

this batch filled two empty bonne maman jars.


you'll need:
3-4 cups fresh raspberries, sorted, and removed of soggy or moldy ones..
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
the juice of  1 freshly squeezed lemon

method: [hold that word loosely]

i just threw all the raspberries into a large pot. i used a wooden spoon to kind of smash them down as they began to heat. of course natural breakdown will occur and liquid is released, so i just stirred away.

while i was doing that, i boiled water in my electric kettle and filled the empty glass jars i chose to fill, along with soaking the lids to kind of sanitize and bring the jars to square one and eliminate any odors or weird whatevers.

i added the sugar to the pot. i guessed on the measurement above, so it could have been 2 full cups when all was said and done. i think you can pick how sweet you want it. i thought mine was plenty sweet.

i continued to stir over medium to high heat, skimming the edges and trying to make sure everything was getting mixed evenly. i loved seeing how the jam really began to thicken on its own and the color deepened to a beautiful deep crimson color. my kitchen smelled wonderful.

i lastly squeezed the lemon juice and this i think gave its
perfectly balanced flavor of sweet, sharp, hint of lingering citrus, but not overpowering the delicious raspberry flavor. 

you don't have to do this, but i did add a tiny bit of vanilla extract as well. 

overall, i think i stirred and simmered and skimmed for a good 20-maybe even 30 minutes. i wanted that thickened jam texture and i found the longer i let it develop, it gave me the consistency i was looking for. not watery or soupy, but gloppy and saucy. i wanted to be able grab some with a knife and slather that red goodness on a buttery scone or hot baked bread.

i took it off the heat and let it cool completely. i then gently and carefully poured it into the two jars.

the satisfaction of seeing the jam I MADE, in a jar with a lid..was wonderful. i was so excited!!

i hope you get excited too, making something you've never really attempted before till now, and with a successful outcome at that! what a gift to be given that little confidence booster!