Saturday 25 June 2011

Sweet Taste of Summer

Summer days bring berries and fruit ripe for making jams and jellies. 

Is there any better comfort food than homemade jam? It goes so well on warm, buttered toast or hot pancakes for breakfast. How about dabbing some on scones or biscuits fresh out of the oven?

My father loved raspberry jam and I remember one summer my mother canned 101 pint jars for him!  I guess I come by my love of jam honestly. Now I've  discovered that it seems to taste even better when it's served out of vintage jam pots or fancy condiment dishes, such as these ones I've collected recently.








If you're hankering to preserve a sweet taste of summer for the cooler months, here's a great grape jam recipe courtesy of the Atco Blue Flame Kitchen that I'm sure you'll enjoy.

CONCORD GRAPE JAM
2 lb (1 kg) Concord grapes, about 4 1/2 cups (1.125 L)
White granulated sugar

Stem and wash grapes; press pulp from skins. Cook pulp until soft, about 10 minutes; rub through a sieve to remove seeds. In a separate saucepan, cook skins until tender in just enough water to cover, about 15 minutes. Combine the two mixtures and bring to a boil; boil 5 minutes. Measure mixture. Add 1/2 cup (125 mL) sugar for each 1 cup (250mL) of mixture. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, until thick. Pour into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch (6 mm) headspace. Wipe jar rims thoroughly. Seal and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
Yield: About 3 cups (750 mL).

7 comments:

  1. Yummmm!! Those dishes are absolutely adorable. Now I'm craving rhubarb jelly! Gram always made that when I was a wee one. :)

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  2. Jams and Jellies are definitely some of the best comfort foods!

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  3. yummo! i can eat the grapes alone! jellies always sound incredible to me in every occasions!

    dita

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  4. I love the dishes! I have never made my own jam/jellies... but have wanted to give it a shot :)

    Your newest follower,
    -Laurie

    createdbylaurie.blogspot.com/

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  5. Jam is better out of cute serving dishes I must agree.

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  6. My mom makes homemade grape jelly from my sister's Concord grapes every summer. So yummy and it's enough to tide me over for most of the year!

    Thanks for visiting and following my blog!

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  7. I grew up baking and cooking a great deal with my mother. I do the same with my teen daughter now. Love this entry and those about childhood. Blackberry jam is my best but concord grape is fabulous too...Thanks for sharing

    Wanda Fleming
    River Girls Soap
    River Girls Studio 365

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