I promised you guys a step-by-step of the Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam process, but first, some plant porn: (I am laughing my ass off at anyone who arrives at this page searching for "porn"....)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrp81VnqZQr4KXsD0DySkbHvaowyckJbArX1JTPPieMTyOQm4Xp2EQ4FaamfBRjlKD5H4-XMRf_aRgGGusP6SQlpH00tJ0B8Gk6xqubeaRXXcWhsBwakCbzbpQD7aBHkMv6lQqdz4JgAI/s320/IMG_3113.JPG) |
Regular tomato plant - needs a bigger pot. |
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Cherry tomatoes. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0VeURY-bLAkLh37CVi68fl8NV_YkD2x62UgTO96lmw9Co5lENBv8cIayXlY6MrBuQW2VOi0CmmfZgeio48V4c3g5v5zS3-FH063U4JM3mZIqfynVp8CUg_Tx1RZZXOCO94EPufsRiiU/s320/IMG_3112.JPG) |
Cherry tomatoes. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6_35G-rSDttnWxdVktyDCsHreqyvAuYqK8eu0RadcclokBW6_s_ds02RGX8h_AgAT8xM1OcGOdKDGPDz6nWVuvXZOIyp-lrzFO1B9tm9w2nIMHU9oBUwdaWK_epwmRLXXu2wsrMnjnU/s320/IMG_3115.JPG) |
Not sure quite what these are... probably marjoram and oregano? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYBDUMaBN2mZCG3Me6vV3oVVtX7potJrrmF4-jlPc8kZkH4uiPb4MthYhHL3AaFEi0sQp96Rpf_DQu1RYiLy7yI5eeFEVZqQ8q6awXBIglrChyphenhyphenMoDbHz_KJ-cdSmHmg2pN_t57DHNOmo/s320/IMG_3116.JPG) |
My lone surviving basil & chives from the 2nd planting. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh58vW8pUsS1PnzAk3wQin5w1VsNzI6ib1wnZp-tw0ii6sN2jp6KDH8tqLPx98Xn77p84Y3iD4wyNMCRm7Pcai5yh39zQJg0DA8ibglA77ROCKMwJIicsaf7Q6kFisz08itTZGPJFr_XY/s320/IMG_3117.JPG) |
Parsley, if I'm not mistaken. I'm pretty sure the cilantro didn't take. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AnibGhk8Q1Kg2kqmGepTY6elkTZyHZBoupRnl3jAF27gtjvMsbzChiHCsO5L0kkONYq5Q5U_6FOX1gb4o_llf0BEXeOfxDgXef_bW8wN3OXKFvi0m1b6qglNynEabehm6rXUZfACThk/s320/IMG_3118.JPG) |
1st planting chives. Believe it or not, these have been eaten by cats at least four times. |
Sorry for the image-heavy post, but I was hounded by a few people for plant pics :) I'm very disappointed that the neighbor's cat destroyed my four other basil seedlings. At least she was too busy destroying those to attack my tomatoes. I need to do some transplanting this week. The tomatoes need bigger pots, and the herbs need a bit more room to move around in.
And now, for the jam!
Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam (makes 5 half-pints)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEibBCpe1hLxfBDuHXHHOW0WgcJgYSBuwUxpR2WDayH6FXtSUGaRJZ8ESPKsyuxQUziQ9YEyHn3xUUKA388b59WWMPPBfiK8sYoGQ-FNmGwSERaPVOkKMtlM58uqOLmQHEXUgMtHHVYPM/s320/IMG_3120.JPG) |
2 cups crushed strawberries. |
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Caution: 2 cups crushed is not the same as 2 cups of uncrushed. Measure carefully. |
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2 1/2 cups rhubarb, chopped. |
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Boil your jars to sterilize. |
Ingredients:
2 cups crushed strawberries
2 1/2 cups rhubarb, chopped
1 package light pectin crystals
2 3/4 cups sugar
Combine the pectin crystals with 1/4 cup of your sugar. Place berries and rhubarb in large dutch oven. Pour pectin mixture in and stir thoroughly. Heat to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. When full rolling boil has been reached, add remaining 2 1/2 cups sugar, stirring constantly. Return to full rolling boil and cook one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and continue stirring constantly for 5 minutes (to keep fruit from floating). Skim off any foam.
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Using a canning funnel, ladle into prepared jars. Add lids and tighten rings to fingertip tightness. |
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Process jars in hot water bath for 5 minutes. |
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Remove from hot water bath and set on counter overnight to settle. Once the lids have popped, tighten lids fully and store in a cool, dry space. |
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Once we were done with the jam, this was all I had the energy to make for dinner... broccoli, cauliflower and pork stewing cube stir-fry with black bean sauce. |
I'd have taken pictures of the cooking process, but I was too busy "stirring constantly". You really do need to, because otherwise stuff sticks to the pot and burns. I ended up with less than half a cup of "garbage" for the compost! And here's where I start wishing that blogger was a bit more intuitive and I could place my pictures side by side. *grumble*
Thanks, Lynne, for the jam recipe. I'd love to try it. I have to buy rhubarb as my plant isn't producing enough yet.
ReplyDeleteAnd your plants look great! I have a few herb plant out back but I didn't grow them from seeds like you.