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Thursday, July 22, 2010

Blueberry Picking & Raspberry Jam

Today, we decided to take a break from leaky toilets and sheet-rock.

My Mister & I loaded up the 4 younger kids and our granddaughter and drove to Sauvie Island.

Also known as "my happy place".

The blueberries and raspberries are in full swing, with the marionberries just starting.

We decided to pick blueberries.

Madison decided to eat the blueberries.




She was very careful to only pick the blue ones.



I have $20 waiting to bribe one of the aunties to change her next poopy diaper.

Madison insisted on helping to bring in the harvest.

This was only part of our haul.

We agreed to only pick blueberries, which we did.

Nobody said anything about pre-picked raspberries though, so I smuggled 2 flats into the wagon!


The Mister & I really love raspberry freezer jam.

We hide it from the kids on the top shelf of the freezer, amongst the plums and blueberries.

It was working until the kids grew tall enough to see the top shelf.

Drat.

If you make this, find a better hiding place.

Or a taller freezer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Raspberry Freezer Jam
(from the pectin box)

3 cups mashed raspberries
5-1/4 cup sugar
1 box pectin
3/4 cup water

Smash raspberries with a potato masher. Make sure that you measure carefully or the jam will not set up.


In a large bowl, mix sugar with mashed berries.

Let set for 10 minutes.


This allows the sugar to dissolve.


After 10 minutes, pour 3/4 cup water into small saucepan.

Whisk in 1 box of pectin and bring to boil.


Boil hard for 1 minute, then remove from heat and pour into berry/sugar mixture.


Stir for 3 minutes.

Ladle jam into freezer containers. Use a funnel for less mess.

Trust me.


I found these nifty little containers in the canning section of one of our stores. (If you live near me, Bob's Sporting Goods is where to go!) They are made by Ball and the tops screw on; no more lids popping off!

Hallelujah!

Why can't I think of things like that? This could be one of the greatest inventions of the 21st century.

Better than the screw-top lids~these are stack-able!!

Be still my heart.


And canning season has only just begun!



5 comments:

  1. YUM! We're going picking on the 27th. Should be fun!!

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  2. Are they organic (not nessecarily certified) where you picked. My kids are eating all my raspberries and I can't get enough to freeze...sigh.

    Great post...I can't wait till I have grandbabies! Kim

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  3. Wait...you got those at Bob's? I just read the very end of your post. I must, must have some! Kim

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  4. Can u tell me which farm u went to? What prices should I expect? Yes, I've never u-picked before but it looks fun for the kids!

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  5. Heather~Have fun!! We're going back next week for more blueberries!

    Kim~They're not certified, but I think they are "drug-free"! Somebody told me that a lot of the farms out there use a natural clay to deter bugs.

    Anonymous~Thank you for visiting! We went to Sauvie Island Farms for the berries, stopped at Kruger's for some cherries, then finished at The Pumpkin Patch for salad makings and 15 lbs. of green beans! My goal is to visit every farm out there before the end of the season~Love it out there!!!! If you go, I would suggest mid-week though...less crowds and it gives the berries a chance to recoup after the weekend rush! Have fun!!

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