In an effort to branch out my cooking, and into the blog world, I have joined up to a monthly cooking club! Lucent Imagery organises a challenge for each month for the bloggers to take part in – they have already had a few months of challenges, but this month was the first one I partook in (and I was very excited to be involved!)
The challenge was: Make jam.
Seems simple enough? I had made jam before, back in the day of my high school home economics class, so I didn’t remember the details of the process – luckily the internet quickly solved that. As a lot of your typical jam fruit isn’t in season in Melbourne I went with a simple Strawberry Jam recipe I had found from foodgawker. Strawberries aren’t in season in Victoria, but with the Queensland season well under way they were the most cost-effective fruit at the markets (well the most cost-effective fruit that you can jam). I didn’t have many of the proper canning equipment that many recipes required, but I managed to repurpose some pieces to do the job well enough.
Loaded up on strawberries I began the process – the recipe was easy enough to follow, just a bit time-consuming to get the jam down to the right consistency. It would have been easier if I had more than one large saucepan, so I could have the jam going as well as the sterilising the jars at the same time, instead I had to do the jars one by one in a smaller pan, which did make the process slightly longer. In the end though it all worked out – and I ended up with three jars of Strawberry Jam! I passed one onto my sister, and probably need to give another away to a friend as I just don’t think I will get through the Jam that quickly (especially going gluten-free which means no toast!).
All in all the process was a lot less work than I imagined – which always reminds me that I need to make more things from scratch! If you’d like to see how the other participants in the challenge went you can view them here:
Lucent Imagery (cooking club founder) - From River’s Edge - Bakery Bookery - Down by the Sea - Explody Full - Chi Garden - Under Lock & Key - Christa to the Max
Head over to see how their jamin’ went!
Welcome to the cooking club! It looks like you had a good production line of Jam going! Hope enjoy the cooking club as much as I do – it gives you that extra little push to try things you wouldn’t normally try!
Thanks! Loved being involved for this month – it is great to be set a challenge which does expand your cooking skills. Eager to learn what the next challenge is!
Great job! I’m glad one of us made a traditional strawberry jam
Thanks Kylie – I must say I wasn’t sure what sort of Jam to make, but after seeing Strawberries on special at the markets I choose to go the traditional route. Your marmalade looks amazing though! Might need to try that one next.
This looks amazing! I’ve always wanted to make my own jam but thought it looked too difficult. I love the cooking club idea, I might have to check it out!
Yeah it does seem complex on first look, but it really is easy (just maybe a bit time consuming – but so worth it).
If you head over to Lucent Imagery she is the founder and she is more than happy to add more members – it is only my first month but I love the community feel of all trying to complete a challenge!
Looks good! I too was very surprised at how easy it was to make jam from scratch.
Thanks Trishie! Was a pleasant surprise how easy it was – if only I had the storage room to jam some more!
Love strawberry jam! That was the first kind I made too
Strawberries seem to be really cheap and delicious at the moment. If you’ve sterilised the jars and boil them (filled) in a pot of water to seal them, the jam should actually last a long time in there!
Yeah I hope I have sterilised them correctly – I didn’t have all the tools they suggested (like the canning tongs) but the lids ‘popped’ so I presume they have been sealed. I really wish I had put them in smaller jars though, as once I open one, not sure I can finish it fast enough.
Your habanero jam looked amazing – didn’t even think about savoury jam!
It was my first month joining the challenge as well! I think you did a very nice job, and am a little envious of your previous experience. Although, I think I’m the only one who failed at this challenge. :chuckles: In any case, your jam looks darn good!
Thanks Christa! At least you mentioned your jam still tastes good – and sometimes you learn more from things not working than from when it all goes to plan.
Strawberry jam is one of my favourites, and homemade jam always tastes so much better. The smell must have been so good as you were making it too. and your photos are lovely. Nice to meet you on your first cookery challenge.
Sarah x
Thanks Sarah – yes my house did smell beautiful for an afternoon there. Looking forward to the next challenge!
such a neat idea…i don’t cook, but like seeing the results of others