Strawberry Lime Jam ( Tutorial Tuesday stand in)

Strawberry Lime Jam
(I totally went 100% organic on this one and used no pectin as well...
it worked astonishingly well!)

4 baskets ripe strawberries-cleaned and cut up
4 cups sugar
1/3 cup lime juice
zest of one lime
1 tbsp butter

Sterilize your jars and keep hot in boiling water in your canning pot or time your dishwasher to end just before the canning part. I have to start mine about 15 minutes earlier than I start my stove. Heat your rings and lids in a pot of water and put 2 small plates in the freezer.

Place the berries in a big pot and mash them up with a potato masher or slotted spoon. Pour in all the sugar and stir. Put on medium high heat, add lime juice and zest and stir until all the sugar is dissolved . Stir often, and watch for any signs of burning. As the mixture begins to really boil put in the butter. This is optional, but it cuts out the foam, which I really like. Let boil (stirring quite often, or constantly if you are a worry wart, like me.) If you have a good thermometer, you want the jam to get to 220 degrees, but you also can check to see if it leaves a thick coating on a metal spoon when dipped in.

When it seems like it might be ready, do the plate test: take a cold plate from your freezer and dribble some juice, letting it sun down the plate. Count to 5 and then draw a line with your finger through the line of juice keeping the plate tipped up. If the lines don't reconnect, you are ready to can.
Fill a clean sterilized jar with jam, leaving a 1/4 inch gap at the top. Be sure to wipe the rim and place a lid and ring on and finger tighten the lid. Fill all your jars and then put in boiling water in the canning pot for 5 minutes. Remove with tongs and check for seal. If they don't seal quickly (1-3 minutes.. ) double check that the ring is tight and the turn upside down. Turn over after 10 minutes. If it still doesn't seal, refrigerate, and eat that one first!

Here are some more beautiful "artichokes in bloom" pics.
( click to enlarge.. it's worth it.)

I really can't imagine why all this deliciousness was allowed to turn into all this beauty, but I sure am glad I got to see it! (almost as glad as if I had gotten to eat it!)

The etsy update is coming, with lace necklaces, utili-obis, and sign language sampler kits but it has been delayed by a combination of a power outage, internets failing, and photography class homework. The Bitter Betty Industries prognosticators are guessing sometime between tomorrow night and Friday... Stay tuned to this blog for further info!