Strawberry Jam

Yesterday afternoon Lee and I traveled to Knob Creek, a lovely produce farm located on highway 18, somewhere between Morganton and Shelby.  They have lovely, big, juicy, sweet strawberries!  For the past two weeks, Lee had already made three trips for berries, both for us and for our neighbors.  Those berries went for an assortnent of desserts, freezer bags and some for just eating!  The berries purchased yesterday were destined for jam.....per request by Lee.

I must warn you.....I am not a good jelly or jam maker!  I usually mess up big time!  It is either too runny, or too thick or too sweet or not sweet enough.  At any rate, it is always a flop! 

I was awake by 6:00 and could almost smell the overly ripe berries as the scent drifted through the house.  After only one cup of coffee, I charged forward and began washing, capping and slicing the berries.  By the time Lee was up @ 7:00, I had already managed to have five quarts ready for the freezer!  My plan was to finish the next gallon for maybe a pie or just to eat.

Not to be!  Lee reminded me that he remembered a time when he could have fresh strawberry jam each summer. ( Hummmmmmmm??)  He also said that he did not think it was a difficult thing to do!  Not to be outdone, I decided to get on with the process of making the jam after finishing his breakfast. (Especially since he reminded me that the purchased jar of strawberry jam had to cost more than what I could make!)  Lee had to do one thing for me.....go to the store for the necessary pectin.

Finally around noon, I had managed to complete 12 1/2_ pints of strawberry jam that now stood adorning my kitchen counter!  It was time to tally up the price of my home-made jam:

1 gal strawberries........................................$9.00
2 pkg pectin................................................  5.00
6 cups sugar...............................................   3.00
minimum wage labor..............
$8.50 x 5 hours...........................................42.50

Total cost of jam....................................... $59.50 or  $4.41 per 1/2 pint jar

Comparison to grocery jar:.......................32 ounces cost:  $3.79

There you go...........................Good old home-made, money-saving strawberry jam!

More Later.............................Brenda