Making Jam

I have learned something new!  I am so proud of myself!! 

I learned to make jam!  I was raised on the farm and always watched as my grandmothers canned pickles, peaches, beets.....etc. etc.   They did it all.  Made cucumbers into pickles, made chow chow, took corn off the cob.   Any number of weird things you can imagine they have done it. (pickled peaches is the strangest thing to me)  I never really had time or interest in doing any of these things until recently.  I am not sure what came over me, but something did.  Maybe it is that canning is an aging process that doesn't happen on a regular basis.  Maybe I feel that the art of canning is being lost.  I don't know something weird definitely came over me.  As I drive down the street now, it is as if I have some sort of fruit radar.  I look constantly in search of fruit trees.  Wondering if I can preserve it. ????? I know weird right.  I feel it too.  Anyway I made two types of jam, Sand plum and Apricot. 

I had a friend that gave me a little instruction on how it works but boy I couldn't believe how complicated it all seemed at first.  I had my fruit all picked, washed, run through the sieve. (not sure how to spell that, never used one until now)  I was ready to go. Sure-jell bought, jars washed, seals heated, sugar measured, fruit cooked.
 

The next few steps seemed to be critical.  Bring to boil, add sugar, boil only one minute.  Not a second longer!  Very important. Don't know why but my friend stressed this point strongly.

This is a picture of the finished product.  Yes, they are upside down.  I forgot to take a picture once I turned them back over. 

 

Oh, and it is delicious!!! I can't help but brag.  I am proud!