(Family Features) With fresh inspiration from the seasons juiciest, most delicious fruits, you can create jams, jellies and other spreads with ease right from your own kitchen.
For many, the thought of turning their favorite fruits into sweet and scrumptious jams and jellies may sound like countless hours in a hot, stuffy kitchen. But creating your own, homemade fruit spreads can be quite simple with the right ingredients and tips.Any cook can create delightful jams and jellies, regardless of their canning abilities, said Shirley Camp, M.S., registered dietitian, licensed dietitian nutritionist and retired University of Illinois Extension master canner and educator. There are so many great products, such as Mrs. Wages No Cook Freezer Jam Fruit Pectin, which allow you to whip up homemade spreads, without cooking, saving time without a messy kitchen.Four canning tips for great jams and jelliesFor the best results for your canning creations, follow these four simple tips for canning success:1. Pick em right.When picking berries, keep in mind these fruits have high water content and are very fragile. So, use smaller containers when picking them so the berries do not get crushed under their own weight.2. Rinse, dont soak.Due to their fragile nature, the berries should be lightly rinsed to remove surface dirt. Do not allow them to sit in water for very long because they tend to take on more water and will become mushy.3. Firm and ripeWhen selecting berries for jellied products, ripe berries are best, but not overripe ones. Choose those that have good flavor and are still firm to the touch. For strawberries, look for the smaller, juicier berries instead of larger types that are available today.4. Mix flavors.While many people prefer their jams to be one flavor, mixing two or more different types of berries together produces great jams with good flavor. Try a mix consisting of blackberry and red raspberry, or strawberry with red raspberry. Another great combination includes pureed berries and peaches mixed together to make jam. Red raspberry peach jam is always a huge hit.For canning or preservation questions, call the Mrs. Wages Customer Care Center at 1-800-647-8170, MondayFriday 8:00 a.m.5:00 p.m. CST. For additional canning recipes and how-to information, visit www.mrswages.comFresh, flavorful canning recipesWhether you need a sweet topping for a slice of breakfast toast or a dollop for thumbprint cookies, these simple jam and jelly recipes are sure to please everyone in your family. From the ease of Fast Fruity Freezer Jam to the cool blast of Mint Jelly, these recipes all feature Mrs. Wages fruit pectin, which provides the perfect consistency to enhance all your favorite fruit flavors.Photo courtesy of Getty ImagesRecipe: Best Blue Ribbon Basil Jelly
Ingredients:
- 4 cups water
- 2 cups firmly packed fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
- 1 package Mrs. Wages Fruit Pectin Home Jell
- 3 drops green food coloring, optional
- 5 cups sugar
Preparation:
- In large saucepan, bring water and basil to a boil. Remove from heat, cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Strain and discard basil. Return 3 2/3 cups liquid to pan. Stir in pectin and food coloring, if desired. Return to rolling boil over high heat. Stir in sugar. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat. Skim off any foam that forms on top of jam. Ladle mixture into hot, clean jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Remove air bubble. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Twist lid bands so not loose but not too tight. Process for 15 minutes in boiling water bath canner.
6 half pints