Raspberry Freezer Jam

Its raspberry picking time; Raspberries are a prairie gem that is easy to grow, and yield a constant plethora of fruit for weeks and weeks during the summer. My earliest memories are of eating them at my Baba’s in a bowl, with a teaspoon of sugar floating in rich thick farm fresh cream. If there were any unseen worms in the raspberries, they floated to the top, once the cream was poured on where they could be easily removed.

Our raspberries started to get ready around the third week of July this year and they became the first batch of Freezer Jam. One of the great benefits of freezer jam is that, it is a jam with less sugar, and since this jam it not cooked, it is bursting with all the taste and nutrients of fresh raspberries. Packing the jam in a small size container is preferred over large containers because once you unfreeze the jam, it needs to be used up with a few weeks, as it does not have the preserving qualities of a high sugar jam, but of course if you have a big family, that can eat a lot in a short time, then larger containers are the way to go. My husband and family love this jam, and it is my husband that makes it and this is his recipe. The grandchildren love to have it on toast when they come to visit. They also all love eating fresh raspberries with all their breakfasts, or they enjoy them outside, picked straight off the bush. Food doesn’t get any fresher that that.

Raspberries are a great source of vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant that strengthens the immune system. Raspberries contain many beneficial antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and flavonoids. Raspberries are very low in sugar, with 1 cup having only 5 grams of sugar. Raspberries contain compounds that help to protect from heart disease, cancer, arthritis, obesity and diabetes. In a study, at the Illinois Institute of Technology they found that eating 2 cups of raspberries a day reduced the amount of insulin needed and produced better blood sugar control. Raspberries, with their powerful antioxidants, boost brain health and memory, and help sweep out unhealthy toxic proteins in the brain. Another amazing benefit is that raspberries are a very high fiber food, with a whopping 8 grams of fiber per cup.

Raspberry Freezer Jam

8 cups of raspberries, checked over

1 cups sugar

1 package of freezer jam pectin,

45 gram

In a large 8 cup measuring cup, add the raspberries and then mash gently. Add the sugar and pectin until dissolved. Taste to determine sweetness, and add more sugar to your desired sweetness. Let it sit for 10 minutes for the sugar to melt into the jam. Bottle in freezer safe 1 cup containers. Freeze. To use take out of the freezer ahead of time to thaw.