Red Jam
Having acquired a stunning loaf of bread that had toast written all over it, I simmered up a small pot of jam using the handfuls of berries I foraged from my sisters’ back yards (strawberries in Anne’s, raspberries in Ali’s) and the Nanking cherries I shook into my empty coffee cup between the car and our house, and a few Juliette cherries plucked at my parents’ house. I want everyone to know that making jam is not scary, and does not have to be an all day, dozens of jars process.
Small Nanking cherries and even bigger but softer, juicier sour cherries can be tricky to handle, not quite firm enough to be pitted for pie. Typically impatient with random cherries, I usually cover them with water, bring them to a simmer and press them through a colander back into the pot to get rid of any pits. As easy as draining spaghetti, really. From here you can make syrup for waffles or cocktails, or go the jam or jelly route – I tossed in some raspberries and strawberries and added about half as much sugar as there was fruit. Measured completely by eyeball. (I rarely use any packaged pectin.) Bring it to a simmer and cook it until it turns into jam – really, that’s it. I caught most of the process on Instagram stories last night – at first the berries will look like simmering berries, then they’ll condense, the bubbles will get slower, the foam will start to disappear, and it will look like warm jam. If you want to test it, spoon some onto a cold plate and push it with your finger once it starts to cool – it should wrinkle.
I let mine cool in the pot and if it’s too runny for my taste, I bring it back to a boil for another minute or two. Seriously, it’s that easy – and I love just making a jar or two to have in my fridge for toast and scones. If you want to store it longer, stick it in the freezer. Jam is not scary! And with so many good red (and purple) things growing right now, I’m hoping more people will do this. No recipe required.
I am living proof that jam is stupid easy to make IF your advice is followed (e.g. no pectin, use the “wrinkle” test or the “trail through the jam” test etc.). Since I started using the “Julie method”, I frequently impress myself and my family by casually making delicious jam in our ancient cast iron skillet. Even in winter! (Sometimes I buy frozen fruit just to make jam.) My few jam “failures” converted effortlessly into fruit syrup for spooning over ice cream or (heh heh) frozen fruit cubes for floating in sangria/sparkling wine/coolers etc. As a long-time and battle-scarred kitchen klutz, jam is one of the things I make (thanks to you!) with zero anxiety and stress. TRY IT EVERYBODY. IF I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT.
Esme, you just made my whole week!!!
Just yesterday I had my first harvest of Evans cherries and made jam in just about the way you described…unfortunately I didn’t twig to the idea of just boiling the fruit, pits and all to render juice. Spent an hour carefully de-pitting each blasted little cherry! Duh! It’s lovely, ruby and jewel-like but stull packs a pucker! I’d love to tame that a bit. Thinking maybe a tad of vanilla paste and/or almond extract? Thanks for helping celebrate our lesser-known culinary prairie gems.
Sounds amaaaaazing! A lot of people add a bit of almond extract, but I’m not a fan. You’re thinking of adding something to the finished jam?
Yes! Julie. There is nothing as good as jam, jelly, pancake syrup, punch or cocktail base…made with the berries around us in summer. I don’t use pectin either, but I add a squeeze or two of lemon juice to enhance the flavour and help jelling. Spoon into jars (sterilized) while hot and count the pops as they seal.
Yes!!
Adding extract to the finished jam…yes…but now I’m thinking maybe not. Chalk that one up to experience. There are more cherries to be harvested so I will tweak the next batch, adding vanilla or a teeny tad of almond when off the heat. I’ve seen a reference to “Juliet” cherries on your site…are they viable in our part of the world…ie. mid-central Alberta? I’d take a chance on growing them if so. Their flesh is much darker than the Evans cherry, closer to a Bing.
I’m starting to see them everywhere… they are very similar to an Evans cherry, and get darker as they turn almost over-ripe!
Julie, made this jam out of just raspberries this afternoon. Took me about 1/2 hr start to finish including dishes. Did about 3 cups of fruit and scant 1 1/2 cup sugar and a squeeze of lemon for good luck. It turned out beautifully.
1 bon mamma jar and 2 small glass yogurt jars. Shared one and the rest is for scones and toast.
Thank you so much . No more big batches to kill my self processing in this heat. It’s awesome. I did a toast test while it was still warm.
This makes me so happy!! 🙂
Usually I make syrup or jelly with our sour cherries ( way too much work to pit those suckers!), but after the delicious sour cherry jam we had in France last year I may donate a couple of hours to the cause, and actually try pitting some. But I’ll definitely try this for the cherries that are already frozen.
I guess I’m in the minority! I can jam/jelly all year long as things come in and out of season, takes me maybe 1.5-2 hours from start to finish. I always add pectin, unless it’s something like apple butter which cooks down and thickens up on it’s own. But I always buy the “no sugar/low sugar” Ball pectin (sure jell I believe has aspartame in their no-sugar pectin which is just yuck!) and I don’t add that much sugar to a batch. I’ve only ever had a problem 1 time and that was with strawberry jam, it has almost no natural pectin in it and so needed some extra to thicken up properly. I don’t get the whole jam/pectin intimidation thing I guess.
I like the idea about using a colander to get rid of the cherry pits! I made a batch of black cherry jam and bought a 6 at a time cherry pitter to speed it along. But a colander would’ve been soooo much quicker! Next time.
Hi dinnerwithjulie.com admin, Your posts are always well-formatted and easy to read.
Do you have any tips for successfully foraging for berries in your local area?
It sounds like you had a wonderful experience making jam with foraged berries! Your description captures the joy of cooking with fresh, local ingredients beautifully.
To the dinnerwithjulie.com webmaster, Your posts are always well-received and appreciated.
Hi dinnerwithjulie.com owner, Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Dear dinnerwithjulie.com administrator, Good job!
Hello dinnerwithjulie.com webmaster, Thanks for the well-structured and well-presented post!
Hi dinnerwithjulie.com admin, Thanks for the well-researched post!
To the dinnerwithjulie.com owner, Nice post!
To the dinnerwithjulie.com administrator, Your posts are always well researched and well written.
Juicing or Syrup – Simmer them down and strain to make juice, syrup, or even cherry jelly.
I am in point of fact enchant‚e ‘ to glance at this blog posts which consists of tons of of use facts, thanks for providing such data.
I couldn’t turn down commenting. Well written!
order azithromycin 250mg generic – tindamax pills flagyl price
semaglutide 14 mg without prescription – buy semaglutide 14 mg pill periactin 4mg ca
order motilium 10mg sale – buy sumycin 500mg sale flexeril 15mg pill
inderal pills – clopidogrel 75mg without prescription order methotrexate
cost augmentin – https://atbioinfo.com/ ampicillin for sale online
buy generic nexium over the counter – nexiumtous nexium over the counter
coumadin 5mg brand – https://coumamide.com/ cozaar online
cost mobic 15mg – https://moboxsin.com/ buy mobic 7.5mg
buy deltasone 5mg generic – https://apreplson.com/ order deltasone 20mg pill
buy ed pills generic – https://fastedtotake.com/ buy ed pills usa
purchase amoxicillin sale – buy amoxil for sale amoxicillin without prescription
diflucan 200mg generic – https://gpdifluca.com/ forcan price
how to get cenforce without a prescription – https://cenforcers.com/ where can i buy cenforce
purchasing cialis – poppers and cialis cialis super active real online store
ranitidine generic – https://aranitidine.com/# ranitidine 150mg uk
cialis trial – https://strongtadafl.com/ best price for cialis
With thanks. Loads of erudition! online
can you buy viagra cvs – https://strongvpls.com/# sildenafil citrate 100mg en es
The reconditeness in this ruined is exceptional. order gabapentin 800mg pills
The thoroughness in this break down is noteworthy. https://ursxdol.com/clomid-for-sale-50-mg/
The thoroughness in this break down is noteworthy. https://prohnrg.com/product/acyclovir-pills/
I’ll certainly carry back to skim more. cenforce prix
More articles like this would frame the blogosphere richer. https://ondactone.com/simvastatin/
This is the type of delivery I turn up helpful.
topamax medication
The thoroughness in this break down is noteworthy. http://zqykj.cn/bbs/home.php?mod=space&uid=302445
order dapagliflozin generic – https://janozin.com/ dapagliflozin without prescription
buy orlistat generic – on this site buy xenical 120mg
More posts like this would persuade the online play more useful. http://zgyhsj.com/space-uid-979363.html
You can keep yourself and your stock by way of being heedful when buying panacea online. Some druggist’s websites control legally and sell convenience, reclusion, sell for savings and safeguards over the extent of purchasing medicines. buy in TerbinaPharmacy https://terbinafines.com/product/propecia.html propecia
More posts like this would make the online play more useful.
Amazing things here. I’m very glad to peer your article.
casinos online usa real money
online casino gaming
best casinos
betmgm Montana https://betmgm-play.com/ betmgm NJ
Indulge in the sweetest slot ever: Sweet Bonanza! Cascading sweet bonanza winning strategy symbols and multiplier bombs create epic win chains. Start your candy-filled journey today!
Prestante preplacet! Generika za super ceny > opravdovalekarna.cz
https://opravdovalekarna.cz
Upon the millions winning momentous on fanduel betting – the #1 tangible in dough casino app in America.
Get your $1000 PLAY IT AGAIN honorarium and refashion every spin, ???? and rotate into legitimate coin of the realm rewards.
Irresponsibly payouts, gigantic jackpots, and day in effect – download FanDuel Casino again and start playing like a pro today!
G?¶r varje snurr r?¤knas p?? Betano Casino https://betanogame.org/sv/. Ta en gener?¶s ?‚¬500 v?¤lkomstbonus och spela de hetaste spelen. Live casino, poker och sport ??“ allt under ett tak.
Mostbet ??“ o favorito cassino com b??nus de 150% + 250 rodadas gr??tis esperando por voc?? – https://mostbetpt.pro/ , Mostbet: onde cada aposta pode virar uma grande vit??ria todos os dias .
The table tilts toward winners ??” guess who??™s sitting – https://www.milliescentedrocks.com/board/board_topic/2189097/8038074.htm , One flip and the whole timeline shifts in your favor .
The MSME Registration process is simple and can be done online easily.
Votre sant?© entre de bonnes mains expertes et bienveillantes – https://www.pharmacieprovidencevifane.com/mentions-legales/ , Votre pharmacie de c?“ur, o?? bienveillance et expertise se rencontrent chaque jour .
Love this approach to jam—simple, low-stress, and perfect for small batches. The way you turn foraged berries and cherries into something beautiful with almost no fuss is really inspiring, especially for anyone who thinks preserving is intimidating. The wrinkle test, the no-pectin method, and the idea of making just a jar or two for the fridge make it feel so doable. I’m bookmarking this and will definitely be trying a similar approach soon. Also, if you enjoy creative food inspiration and playful ideas like this, I’d invite you to check out Deltarune Prophecy Maker as well.
I love how approachable you make jam sound — especially the no-pectin, no-fuss method and the “eyeball” measuring. The mix of berries and cherries sounds gorgeous, and now I’m tempted to try a small batch myself instead of waiting for a “perfect” day. For anyone who enjoys simple, hands-on kitchen experiments, there’s also a fun way to explore a different kind of game-based challenge at ??????? . Thanks for the reminder that homemade jam really doesn’t have to be scary!
What a wonderfully reassuring post — you make jam sound approachable, flexible, and actually fun. I love the idea of turning a handful of mixed berries into just a jar or two for toast and scones, no pectin and no fuss. The “wrinkle test” tip is especially helpful for anyone who’s been intimidated by homemade preserves. Your method feels practical enough for busy people, but still a little magical. Also, the idea of using up slightly tricky sour cherries this way is brilliant. For anyone who enjoys creative kitchen inspiration beyond preserves, I’d also suggest taking a peek at Witch Hat Atelier Spell Maker.
This post makes jam feel wonderfully approachable — exactly the kind of kitchen confidence many people need. I love the idea of using whatever red fruit is on hand, skipping the fuss, and letting the berries do the work. The “no pectin, no all-day process” advice is especially refreshing. It’s also a great reminder that small-batch preserves can be just as satisfying as big production runs. For anyone who enjoys turning simple ingredients into something beautiful, the step-by-step creativity here is inspiring. If you like making visuals as easy and accessible as this recipe, check out the Image to Line Art Converter for a quick, fun transformation.
This is such a helpful, reassuring post—especially for anyone who thinks jam-making has to be a complicated all-day project. I love the simple, no-fuss approach and the reminder that a small batch can be just as satisfying as a huge preserve session. The color and “wrinkle test” details make it feel very approachable. For anyone who enjoys pairing homemade preserves with creative kitchen inspiration, AI Song Creator is another fun place to explore fresh ideas and make something memorable.
I love how approachable this post makes jam feel—just fruit, a little sugar, and a bit of patience, no intimidating setup required. The color and simplicity of a small-batch batch like this is exactly what makes homemade preserves so satisfying. It also reminds me how useful a good finishing touch can be when you want flavors to really shine, much like how AI Mastering helps polish audio without overcomplicating the process. This kind of easy, practical creativity is always worth revisiting.
TechnoCare APK is frequently searched by users looking for additional device management or customization options, depending on the version they are using. Its lightweight design also makes it suitable for devices with limited storage space https://technocareapk.com.in/
Love this approach to jam—simple, flexible, and totally doable without a huge production. The part about simmering the berries, using the wrinkle test, and skipping pectin makes it feel so approachable. I also like that you can turn small batches into something beautiful for toast, scones, or even syrup if needed. For anyone who enjoys this kind of playful kitchen improvisation, I’d also recommend checking out Random Pokémon Generator for a fun little break while you browse recipes and ideas.
I love how approachable you make jam feel here — no pectin, no fuss, just good fruit and a little patience. Your “eyeball” method and the cold-plate wrinkle test are especially helpful for anyone who’s always assumed jam was a big project. The idea of turning backyard berries and sour cherries into a small batch for toast or scones is so appealing. For anyone inspired by this kind of easy kitchen creativity, tools like AI Music Generator are also fun for adding a little extra inspiration to the process.