Cookaholics Bulletin Board

I know it's not rocket science but some are just too sweet, others not sweet enough. Not looking for exotic blends just simple Strawberries, sugar and pectin. Anyone have a good tried and true recipe? I'll be on Long island next week and it's strawberry picking time there, I plan on bringing a bunch home, if any New Yorkers have a favorite farm to recommend chime in!

I use the one that comes with the pectin package and if the strawberries are really sweet, I add more lemon juice. Sometimes I also add finely minced mint or basil to cut the sweetness.
Ilene

Here's the easiest recipe known to man -- no cooking. It's for freezer jam and is really good:


Ingredients
• 1 package of Ball brand instant fruit pectin (comes in a small pouch, available at most grocery stores)
• 1 quart of strawberries
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 5 half pint jars or other freezer-safe containers
Instructions
1. Stir the 1 1/2 cups sugar and pectin in bowl to combine. Add 1 quart of crushed strawberries and stir to combine. Spoon into jars and freeze for up to 1 year.

I don't really know. Some old guy just drops them off and says "here you go honey". Sorry, could not resist. I'll ask him this weekend how to cut back on the sugar, he likes things sweeter than we do, but maybe will know. Also, having tried the freezer jam, I'll fouch for it.

I will only observe from direct experience that the recipe with liquid pectin is 180 degrees different from the recipe with powdered pectin. Does anybody want a jar of strawberry sauce? I have several.

Hmmmm...not cooked, I need to try this, I can certainly see a much "fresher" stawberry taste.

I like mine cut with a bit of rhubarb. It cuts the sweetness a bit and is delicious. I don't have the recipe with me though, sadly.

We have a Swiss guy here that makes a superb strawberry jam, but he won't share his recipe. He sells it as Baguio's Best. And it is darn good, I prefer it to Smuckers and the like that shows up occasionally. Sadly, my medical condition (asthma) says all the strawberries I consume are cooked or else. When we do strawberries for flavoring ice cream, I use real lemon juice to balance the sweetness.

Pete,
Side splitting funny.

Frank,
You have to go to Long Island, NY for strawberries?
I'd think someone between Houston and Austin would have them.
NYC is about 1700 miles from 6-Shooter J.
You must REALLY like strawberries.

With that, I make my strawberry jam the way Ina Garten does it; with the juice and zest from 1 large lemon.
If you boil it and reduce it down, it stands on its own without pectin.
The lemon makes a much fresher taste -- for me anyway.