What did you guys think of that new automatic jam maker I reviewed yesterday? I admit at first I thought, hmm….it’s just a fancy machine to stir for me….really? But after I tried it….wow, so much fun! I’m making red pepper jelly next. My grandma even chimed in with her two cents in the comment section. Yeah…..my grandma’s cool like that. 😉 She doesn’t just know what a blog is, she even comments on it. I’m thrilled she reads……my grandma is a gifted writer, and it means a lot to me that she reads my stuff!
Back to canning and Ball’s new jam maker. You know I’ve shared with you how she’s canned and preserved food her entire life….well, she was EXCITED to see this invention. Here’s her quote from my comment section, “The news of this new gadget comes at a great time, as a back problem makes it uncomfortable to stand for long periods of time for the making of much jam on the same day. Thanks, Denise, for seeing that your grandmama got the word!”
Wow…now I knew this would be a great product for those doing a lot of jam canning, but I never even thought of how it’d help out health related conditions. And no….this isn’t a commercial or sponsored post, just that I’m a fan of this neat machine. Many more experiments to come!
I had the mangos and apricots to use up, and so I made this mango apricot jam. It was super easy to make! It was a little on the sweet side for me, but my girls gobbled it up. The amount of sugar you use does affect the thickness (setting) of the jam. So this is the most sugar I’ve used. I’d like to scale it back to just a cup and see what happens. When I make my jam on the stovetop, I use as little sugar as possible. You can also use honey in jam making, but I’ve yet to find out if I can use it in the new jam maker. That would be a plus. I’ll keep you posted on all my experiments!
Don’t forget to stop by and enter my giveaway that’s running till next Tuesday. Kmart is giving away a Ball Canning Discovery Kit to one of my readers! It’s the perfect kit to get you started with canning. I’m going to buy one for myself, and am super excited to start on my canning journey!
Photo courtesy of Jarden Home Brands
- 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and diced
- 6 apricots, peeled and diced
- 3 Tbsp Ball RealFruit Classic Pectin
- Juice of one lemon (or 2 Tbsp bottled lemon juice)
- ½ tsp butter
- 1¾ cups sugar, preferably organic cane sugar (unbleached)
- Wash and peel mangos and apricots and cut them in small pieces.
- Sprinkle pectin along bottom of jam maker.
- Add fruit evenly over pectin.
- Squeeze lemon juice over fruit.
- Add ½ tsp butter to top (helps to prevent foaming).
- Press JAM button, then press enter. Cook time will be 21 minutes.
- After 4 minutes machine will beep prompting you to add sugar. Add sugar and place glass lid on top of jam maker.
- minutes later your jam will be ready. The jam maker stirs continously and keeps the fruit at the right temperature.
- Makes 4 HALF PINTS OF JAM!
- * If you don't have a jam maker, then just put these ingredients into a saucepan over medium heat till bubbly. Turn burner to low and cook till thick....stirring as needed to keep jam from sticking to the bottom. This usually takes me around 30 minutes give or take. You can cut back the sugar (use ¾ or 1 cup) if you want. Or try it with honey (1/2 - ¾ cup)
Disclaimer ~ I was supplied with the Ball Freshtech Automatic Jam Maker for the purpose of reviewing it. This post has not been compensated monetarily, and all opinions are my own. Kmart is providing the Ball Canning Discovery Kit to one of my readers.
WOW! I’m impressed; you already created a jam recipe. I feel like I always have to use a recipe with jam to get the proper consistency. This jam looks awesome!.
michelle recently posted..shrimp burgers
Mango and Apricot are great compliments to one another and I’m sure that they taste great in a jam. Thanks for sharing 😎
Chineka recently posted..Cake Central Review
Mango apricot sounds like a great flavor, I would be tempted to turn it into a chutney. I read your post about the automatic jam maker, that would be handy. I haven’t made jam or chutney in years, I used to can it. I never thought of freezing it right in the canning jars. That would be easier and I imagine would have more nutrition since it wouldn’t go through all that boiling. Good to know!
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