Recipe: Lillies Blackberry Jam

Ingredients

1.5kg hand picked blackberries
2 lemons
1kg jam sugar

Fruit is always best hand picked

Method

Wash and place the berries into a colander to air dry. Once dry, cover the berries with sugar and stir. Allow them to chill in the fridge for 3 hours. Place the berries into a thick bottomed pan, add lemon juice and gently heat then bring to the boil.

Turn down the heat and allow the jam to simmer for 40 minutes. Remove the jam from the heat and allow to cool for 40 minutes. Ensure the pots that you are using are sterilized and air dried. Pour the jam into the jars, seal and label.

As a family that makes a lot of Jam during the summer months we often find ourselves giving it away to friends and family. Our jam is not as thick as some but we use it for a lot of things rather than with the traditional toast. My wife enjoys it with Greek or natural yoghurt, the kids love it in ice-cream sundaes and I enjoy it with shortbread biscuits and a cup of tea in the garden.