Freezer Jam

1 quart of raspberries or blueberries

4 C sugar

2 T lemon juice

1 package CERTO liquid pectin

You can make many varieties of freezer jam (see recipes in the CERTO package for amounts of fruit, sugar, lemon juice and sometimes water needed). All the instructions are included on the insert that comes with every package of CERTO (available at Target, grocery stores, etc. – about $3.50 for a box of two packages), so I am not going to retype them here. Just remember when making freezer jam:

·         You will get a fresher fruit flavor because the fruit is not cooked

·         If you use a food processor, lightly chop the fruit. DO NOT puree it. You want chunks of fruit.

·         Use the exact amounts of crushed fruit and sugar called for or it might not set

·         Do not reduce the sugar or use sugar substitutes; it will not set. Look for Sure-Jell reduced sugar pectin if you want to make reduced sugar jam. It comes in a pink box. I don’t know if it is freezer or cooked…

·         Leave about ½” at the top of your containers when you fill them because the jam will expand in the freezer

·         After filling containers, let the jam sit at room temperature for 24 hours to set. Then keep it in the fridge for several weeks or the freezer for up to a year.