5.12.2010

blackberry jam









"Mimi's house...Mimi's house...Mimi's house...."
Sing-song voices blend into a chant as my three little back seat drivers direct me into traffic.
I point the nose of the van onto I-55 and we breeze over the south pass to Lake Ponchatrain.  Legend isn't crying this time, so the forty five minute drive doesn't feel like a marathon.  He'll save his crying for the trip home.

We pull into the driveway and they spill into the yard, tumbling over each other in excitement.  And I remember.  That special place called Grandma's house that always smells like cookies and freshly baked bread.   Where the sun just seems brighter and there's never a moment to be bored.

What a fine day we had.  Swimming in the pool that has already taught three grandkids how to swim.  The scent of sweet jasmine teasing our noses.  Running through sprinklers and eating red jambalaya.  And the best treat of all?  Blackberry picking with Mimi and Papa D.  We meandered through the woods, eating the berries that grew on the side of the path, and finally stopping at the "mother lode".  Astair stuffed blackberries in her mouth, one right after another, until we feared her bulging cheeks would pop.  Thaddeus would have ventured on forever, as happy as a lark exploring the woods.

We left that day with happy memories fresh in little minds and faces still sticky from Mimi's homemade blackberry jelly.





Blackberry Jam Recipe


Ingredients:


2 c. crushed blackberries, rinsed and drained
2 c. sugar
2 tsp. lemon juice

Directions:

In a medium pot cook the blackberries, sugar and lemon juice for five minutes on high heat.  Then reduce the heat to medium and cook it for 10 to 15 minutes but no longer than 15.  Scoop the foam off the top and then pour the jam into a scalding hot jam jar.  Seal it with a hot lid.  Allow it to cool at room temperature before chilling and serving.

*If you want to make larger portions just remember to add 1 pound of sugar to every pound of blackberries.


Happy Jammin' to you!


20 comments:

Loren said...

Sounds HEAVENLY ~ I just love going to grandmas or in my case NANA's. Always the smell of cookies and nana bread in the air. The love was unconditional and the hugs were never ending....oh how I miss those days! What a blessed day you were given!

Love your pics

carissa said...

grandma's house is always the best of houses!!! what sweet memories you are making. i am in love with blackberries. thank you for this delicious recipe... i am going to make it tomorrow... and i will feel like june cleaver (my hubby is going to be impressed, all thanks to you!). i can't wait to taste!

Lara said...

Thanks for the recipe - I've been wanting to do some canning but I am very intimidated!

I just don't know if I can get through the day now without blackberry pie or compote of some kind. Thanks, Joye. Thanks a lot.

Andrea said...

Great recipe! I love blackberries!!
Blessings,
andrea

PS: Sitka has an award for you at All Gods Creatures.

Lauren said...

oh yum yum yum yum!! I love blackberries and blackberry jam is my favorite!! So delicious! Thank you so much for sharing your family recipe! Those photos are wonderful too! :)

Kristin said...

What sweet memories!! We used to have a blackberry vine that grew outside our back door. My Mom used to make blackberry cobblers and they were so good!

Mrs Anne said...

THAT's what memories are made of.

:)

Your package is being overnighted TODAY! :) keep an eye out for it tomorrow!

xoxoxo

Unknown said...

Oh I LOVE homemade jam - this looks delicious! :-)

MandyE (Twin Trials and Triumphs) said...

I have wonderful memories of picking blackberries as a child...and of pulling into my grandmother's driveway. :)

Beautiful pictures, especially of your son eating jam!

PaisleyJade said...

Yum!!!

Aren't grandmother's houses the best!

Mich said...

CAn I just say "YUMMY!"

I always treasure the memories of my Granny and Nanny's houses.

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

YUM! I just love your pictures. I can see the wonderful memories that were made in each one.

Lisa said...

Mmmm...we have a wild blackberry patch really close to our house. I think I've been inspired to make some jam!

Jocelyn said...

that looks and sounds delicious! can't wait to try it! thanks for sharing!

Kelly @ Sufficient Grace Ministries said...

What a sweet, beautiful, downright lovely day filled with memories to hold on to as life walks on. Love it! I wrote about my grandma (and grandpa) today, too.

Love to you...

Natalie said...

Thad looks SO GROWN UP in that last picture!

christy rose said...

No matter how old my kids are, everyone of them love going to grandma's house. What memories that they have made there. But blackberry jam is not one of them. I need to plant some blackberry bushes. We love every kind of berries. We have had strawberries and raspberries. Now we need to try blackberries. And blackberry jam is my very favorite.

Anonymous said...

Sounds SO YUM!

Covnitkepr1 said...

I always ate as many as I picked...that leaves zero for jam.lol
I’ve enjoyed looking over your blog. I came across it through another blog I follow, and I’m glad I did. I am now a follower of yours as well. Feel free to look over my blog and perhaps become one as well.

Jennifer said...

We used to live right across the street from the best wild blackberry thicket ever. Your post brings back fond memories!

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