Basic Blackberry Jam

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Recipe Name: Basic Blackberry Jam
(although you could also use raspberries etc)

Makes: 2 Medium Bottles

Ingredients:
500g Blackberries (thawed or fresh)
500g Granulated sugar (raw sugar is fine)
Lemon Juice - The juice from 1 medium lemon

Method:
Place all ingredients in bowl and cook for 40 minutes at 100 degrees on speed 2.
Check for a set - tilt bowl, stand it back straight and then look for gel at the top of the bowl.
If it needs longer cook in 5 minutes intervals (100 degrees on speed 2), checking for a set after each interval.
If you reach 50 minutes and it still isn't setting place a folded towel firmly over the MC and heat on Varoma for 3 minutes, speed 2 (be careful removing the towel as it will be quite hot).
Pour the jam into warm sterilised bottles.


Notes:

• You can use less sugar in this recipe, but have some jam setter or pectin ready in case it won't set.
  
  
• To sterilise bottles give them a good scrub in hot soapy water, place them upside down on an oven tray and "bake" them for 30 minutes at 140 degrees.  Plastic coated metal lids can be sterilised by placing into a pot of boiling water for 1 minute.
  
  
• If you have any left over jam place into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and use within a couple of days.
  
  
• If your jam bubbles too much, reduce temperature to 90 degrees for a couple of minutes.
  
  

[marmee]

 

Thank you so much for sharing this xx

[Thermomixer]

Thanks Chelsea - do you have many blackberries (brambles) growing wild in Tassie? 

We used to go up to the local hills and pick them when we were kids.    Those were the days.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Thanks Chelsea - do you have many blackberries (brambles) growing wild in Tassie? 

We used to go up to the local hills and pick them when we were kids.    Those were the days.

Yes lot's.  A lane way along the road from us has a big patch.  I don't go there anymore though after seeing a big snake. 

[~Narelle~]

Oh Chelsea thanks for this!  I've been picking blackberries like mad, we live on a rural road and have heaps too.  And some of them are so big and fat!  There are some at the school bus stop, so I pick a tub and send to school while we wait for the bus! 

MIL is coming for arvo tea, so going to make some fresh jam and scones.  YUM!

[andiesenji]

It's the wrong season for fresh fruits here but I recently came across this recipe and copied the link to my "must-try"  file.
The combination of peaches and blackberries just sounds soooo good.

Obviously it's not for the TMX but it shouldn't be too difficult to convert for those of you who are experienced.

http://www.familyoven.com/recipe/peach-and-blackberry-tart-with-oatmeal-cookie-crust/53884

[Thermomixer]

Does sound like a good combo with a crumble topping;  I have seen something similar here recently - maybe one of the food mags?

[achookwoman]

Thanks for all the ideas.  The grandchildren don't like the seeds,  so i was going to make jelly.  Now I think I will cook the berries with some nectarines, zap them while in the TMX, push through the mouli, back into TMX with sugar and presto jam without seeds.

[cookie1]

I don't blame you for not picking the blackberries after seeing a snake. If there is anything that will send me into a flat spin and have me sitting on a table it is a snake.

[judydawn]

Snakes can climb tables can't they Cookie1

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Golly I hope not!!! 

[achookwoman]

I'd run a mile if I saw a snake, (not very fast).   In 27 years up here, we have never seen a snake.  However we do have leeches.

[cookie1]

Judy, I would then be hanging off the light fittings.  When we were teaching in Carnamah we had a lovely old guy next door who couldn't manage to mow his weeds down so DH would do it for him. One day a snake came out and over to our yard. DH wanted me to watch where it went so he could dispose of it-it was very hard to see from the top of the chair I had on the table.

[judydawn]

I wondered where you were heading as soon as I read the bit about the snake heading over to your place    They say to just stand still and the snake will leave you alone but I just can't see you (or me) doing that Cookie1.

[andiesenji]

During the snake "season" (they hibernate during cold weather) I carry a heavy hoe whenever I go out into the garden.  I don't do any actual dirt work with it but it makes a dandy snake killer. 
I don't bother the non-poisonous ones but we have the Mojave Green rattlesnake here and their neurotoxin is deadly unless one gets the antitoxin within a short time of the bite. 
I have used various implements to kill them but the old hoe is still the best.  Although, I did have considerable success with a giant balloon whisk I bought on a whim many years ago and which lived in my garden shed after I removed it from the kitchen.  When I say giant, I mean that it was more than three feet long and I bought it at a restaurant supply place to use as a decoration.  The heavy wires really did a number on the rattler that had invaded my shed.