Homemade Strawberry Jam

Ingredients

• 2 pints of fresh, ripe berries (You need to have 2 cups of crushed strawberries for this batch of jam)
• 4 cups of granulated sugar
• 1 box of fruit pectin (Use a name brand pectin)
• 3/4 cup of water
• (Makes a single batch of strawberry freezer jam-about 2 cups worth)

Directions

1. When you make jam,you always want to be sure that your containers and lids are clean.
2. Wash the jars and lids in nice hot soapy water and rinse in good hot water as well.
3. Just put the clean jars upside down on a clean kitchen towel to air dry.
4. You don't need to boil the jars for freezer jams.
5. Jars are fine in the freezer so long as you don't overfill them.
6. You must leave room for the jam to expand as it freezes.
7. To make the jam give the berries a good washing,remove stems and let them air dry.
8. Place the berries into a large bowl.
9. This recipe calls for two full cups of crushed berries. Use a masher to mash down the berries, Add the sugar to berries in the bowl and let it sit for 10 full minutes. Be sure you have 2 cups of berries exactly.
10. In a medium sized saucepan, on the stovetop, pour in the water, and add the box pectin.
11. Bring to full boil, and continue to boil for one minute and stir constantly.
12. Next you will pour the pectin water to the strawberry sugar mixture.
13. Stir the mixture until you see the sugar is completely dissolved. This may take 3 or 4 minutes to achieve.
14. Immediately scoop the jam into the washed glass jars and put on their lids.
15. Be sure to leave a good 1/2 inch of space at the top of the jar for expansion in the freezer.
16. Leave out for 24 hours and then freeze.
17. *Note. When you make jam or jellies make sure your measurements are exact or they won't set correctly.
18. Also use a good name brand pectin from your area.