Strawberry and Jalapeno Jam

Well my strawberries are starting to get some fruit on em!  In light a that, thought I'd share this little look toward the future with a recipe, from Mother Earth . . . .  Enjoy!!  :)

If you’ve ever made jam or jelly at home, you know most recipes require more sugar than fruit — oftentimes 4 to 7 cups! — causing many people to look for other ways to preserve more naturally and with less sugar. Pomona’s Pectin is the answer to this canning conundrum. The following Strawberry-Jalapeño Jam Recipe was created by Pomona’s jam maker, Carey Nash.
For more Pomona’s Pectin recipes, you can purchase Preserving with Pomona’s Pectin from the MOTHER EARTH NEWS store.
This Strawberry-Jalapeño Jam Recipe is a low-sugar jam made with Pomona’s Pectin. Pomona's Pectin contains no sugar or preservatives and jells reliably with low amounts of any sweetener.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups chopped strawberries (about 1 pint)
• 1 cup chopped sweet red peppers (about 3/4 lb or 3 medium bells)
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup chopped jalapeños, depending on how hot you like it (about 12-15 small peppers)
• 1-1/2 cups lemon juice
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons calcium water
• 2 teaspoons Pomona’s Pectin powder

Instructions:

1. Prepare calcium water by combining 1/2 teaspoon calcium powder (in the small packet in your box of Pomona's pectin) with 1/2 cup water in a small, clear jar with a lid. Shake well.
2. Extra calcium water should be stored in the refrigerator for future use.
3. Wash jars, lids, and bands. Place jars in canner, fill canner 2/3 full with water, bring to a boil. Turn off heat, cover, and keep jars in hot canner water until ready to use. Place lids in water in a small saucepan; cover and heat to a low boil. Turn off heat and keep lids in hot water until ready to use.
4. While you prepare your jars, wash, finely chop, and measure the strawberries and the peppers. Remove stems, seeds, and white membranes from the peppers before chopping. Use latex gloves when handling the jalapeños. (I used a food processor to chop the peppers and berries so the measurements listed are exact.)
5. Put measured berries and peppers in the pot along with the lemon juice and vinegar. Slowly bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Simmer covered for 5 minutes.
6. In a separate bowl, thoroughly stir pectin powder into sugar and set aside.
7. After simmering for the 5 minutes, add the calcium water to the jam pot and stir well. Bring the jam to a good boil, then stir in the sugar-pectin mix.
8. Stir vigorously for 1 minute then boil hard for 1 minute. Remove from the heat.
9. Fill hot jars to 1/4” of top. Wipe rims clean. Screw on 2-piece lids. Put filled jars in boiling water to cover. Boil 10 minutes (add 1 minute more for every 1,000 ft. above sea level). Remove from water. Let jars cool. Check seals; lids should be sucked down. Eat within 1 year. Lasts 3 weeks once opened.

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Serving Suggestions

• Serve with cream cheese and crackers.
  
  
• Spoon onto grilled chicken or shrimp.
  
  
• Try it on a taco.
  
  
• Toss onto steamed vegetables.
  
  
• Mix a dollop into your fruit salad.
  
  
• Eat with a spoon directly from the jar.