Jam session

I don’t eat jam… No, it’s true, I don’t! But I love, love, LOVE making it! It all started at the farmers market in Stratford, Ontario in the spring of 2008. Well actually it started a few days before at my Aunt’s kitchen table with a jar of Judy’s bluebarb jam. Needless to say we went to see Judy at the market the following Saturday. She’s such a lovely woman and my son fell instantly in love. To be honest so did I…

We purchased a few jars of chutney, mango and rhubarb. They were nothing short of amazing, and before we went back to Sweden I was in possession of a few marvelous recipes.

Back home and following my usual obsessive behavior I started to cook! I produced jar after jar after jar of different jams, chutneys, pickles and relishes. Some classical and some with a twist…

In most jams I have apples (Granny Smith style) to balance the sweetness.

Jam jars:

·         Pineapple and chili (Spanish pepper)

·         Strawberry, chocolate, cardamom

·         Red currants with cinnamon

·         Strawberry and Rhubarb

·         Blackberry, apple, vodka

·         Gooseberry

·         Mango, honey dew melon and kiwi

·         Apple and cranberry

Chutneys:

·         Lingonberry

·         Red beet and coconut

·         Apple with all spice and cloves

Pickles:

·         Finely cut carrots with orange and jalapeno

·         Fennel with pink pepper, chili and orange

·         Red beets with all spice, cloves and orange

·         Garlic

I haven’t eaten a single jar myself, but I have made the people around me very happy with home cooked goodies. Even Judy did get a jar of pineapple/chili jam last time we went to see her. Next year I’ll bring something new and exciting yet again.