We had 12 cups of beautiful local strawberries so we used the below  x 1.5, all while listening to a surprising number of strawberry themed songs.   Don’t forget the balsamic vinegar!

Strawberry Balsamic Jam and Syrup

8 cups washed and hulled strawberries

5 cups sugar

5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

½ teaspoon unsalted butter

Pour strawberries into large heavy pot and bring to boil over high heat.  Once strawberries are boiling, add sugar and stir until it is dissolved.  Bring to boil and add butter.  Turn heat to medium low and boil gently for 40 minutes, until thickened to a loose soft jam.  Stir in balsamic vinegar.

Bring 6 half pint jars and their bands to a boil in a large pot fitted with a rack ( I have this in my car for you to borrow). Remove the jars with tongs.  Simmer new lids in small pan of hot water.  When the jars are dry but still hot, use a slotted spoon to fill jars with strawberries leaving ½ to ¾ inch of headspace.  Wipe the rims, set on lids and screw on bands fingertip tight.  You will have leftover juice – can it as syrup. 

Place the jars on rack in large pot and add enough water to cover by 3 inches.  Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.  Boil for ten minutes.  Let cool for 5 minutes and remove jars to dry towel.  Listen for pop.  Check seals. 

From Well Preserved by Eugenia Bone

STRAWBERRY JAM by Michelle Shocked

Saturday morning found me itching
To get on over to my grandma’s kitchen
[And what you gonna do, honey]
The sweetest little berries was cooking up right
And then we’d put them in a canning jar and seal them up tight
We were making jam
[What kind?]
Strawberry jam, that’s what kind
[Aw, the good kind
] Yeah, if you want the best jam
You gotta make your own

We have Smucker’s, Welches, Knotts Berry Farm
But a little homemade jam never did a body no harm
A little local motion is all we need
To close down these corporate jam factories
We’ll be making jam
Strawberry jam, mmmm-mm
If you want the best jam
You gotta make your own
(Make that jam Doc, show ‘em how it’s done)

Yeah, we have a little revolution sweeping the land
Now once more everybody’s making homemade jam
So won’t you call your friends up on the telephone
You invite ‘em on over, you make some jam of your own
You’ll be making jam
Strawberry jam
If you want the best jam
You gotta make your own
(Go on Jerry, let the jelly roll)

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