Thursday, July 19, 2007

Wild Plum Jam

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A nice friend of ours told us that the wild plums at his ranch were ripening and that we were welcome to pick as many as we could.

So we all went with buckets in hand on my husband's day off and had a good old fashioned time picking until all our arms were scratched up and our buckets were full.


When we got home, MaddieLynn weighed the booty and announced that we had ten and a half pounds of plums!


A sweet friend from church came over with her own antique utensils that she has used many times while making and canning her own fruit jams and jellies.


We boiled the plums and I strained the juice through cheesecloth and began making the jelly while MaddieLynn and The Bubba put the plums through the strainers for the jam.




After I prepared the jam, we put it and the jelly into pint and half pint jars and processed them in a hot water bath for a sterile seal.

After all was said and done, we canned 10 half pint jars and 8 pint jars! That's 6 and 1/2 quarts of jellies and jams for only the cost of the sugar, the Sure Jell, and the jars. We plan to keep some and give some as gifts. Of course, one of the first gifts will be to the owner of the ranch.


Go to Biblical Womanhood for more great frugal tips.

10 comments:

moreofhim said...

Oh those jars all lined up are gorgeous! I love making jams and jellies every year - it so blesses my family and friends! God bless!

Kara said...

Sounds like a great time! I think we have some wild pears around here. We'll have to go check it out.
Kara

Sherry said...

Oh, you brought back a memory! When I was a kid and my sister, cousin and I were spending a day at Granny's house, a great aunt showed up with a box full of wild plums. So right that day we set to making jelly from them with Granny coaching us through it. The jelly turned out wonderful, and such a beautiful color! I know you'll enjoy yours a lot!

Btw, everytime I come to your page, I think, "Must get back to smocking." And I really must.

The Rusty Hoe said...

I just wanted to say I love reading your blog. It's an enjoyable time of my day to stop by, read a bit and think.

Your jam looks absolutely delicious, btw! Perfect for tea time!

Stop by and see me sometime!

~Oney
Tea at Three

The Rusty Hoe said...

Guess I better mention you can find me at www.oneyjones.blogspot.com :)

Kara said...

I just found one of those antique contraptions for making jelly at a garage sale today for 2.00! So now I have to go find those wild plums. (I noticed I said pears in my earlier post, hmmm am I too young to be senile?!)

Smockity Frocks said...

Kara,
I call my affliction "half-heimers". I think it started around kid #3. :P

A Hopeful Hollar Knits said...

Dec 10th... Does that day ring a bell? I can take it home with me to save any shipping costs!
(Don't you just hate it when friends EXPECT gifts!) He He He!!

It looks delightful!!!!!!

The Estrogen Files said...

Oh that looks so yummy! Enjoy it.

Anonymous said...

This looks delicious!

Blessings,
Janne at
Janne's Jabberwocky

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