Strawberry Freezer Jam

It's that time of year again!  We all love strawberries and prefer to eat them when they are in season.  They taste soooo much better.  We tried a new (to us) farm this year and were very pleased.  There were 3 different varieties of strawberries.  I can only remember the name of the smaller ones - sweet charlies.

My son prefers homemade strawberry jam.  He can tell if it's not "like mommy makes".  It's important that I make enough to get us through the year.  Today I prepared 17 half-pint jars using the Sure-Jell quick and easy strawberry freezer jam recipe.  It's so simple.


Strawberry Freezer Jam
Ingredients:
2 cups crushed strawberries
4 cups sugar
3/4 cup water
1 box Sure-Jell pectin (we use the one in the yellow box)


Directions:
1.  Wash and rinse freezer safe containers with tight fitting lids.  I use half-pint canning jars.
2.  Wash and hull strawberries.  Crush using a potato masher.  (You want bits of fruit left in the jam.)
3.  Measure exact amount of crushed fruit into large bowl. 
4.  Measure exact amount of sugar and add to crushed fruit.  Mix well. (Do not reduce the amount of sugar here.  If you prefer a low/no sugar jam you'll want to buy the Sure-Jell in the pink box.)
5.  Let sugar and berries stand for 10 minutes.  Stir occasionally.
6.  Stir 1 box pectin and 3/4 cup water in small saucepan.  Bring to a boil on high heat, stirring constantly.  Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.
7.  Stir pectin mixture into fruit/sugar mixture.  Stir constantly until sugar is completely dissolved and no longer grainy, about 3 minutes.
8.  Pour into prepared containers, leaving 1/2 inch space at top for expansion during freezer; cover.
9.  Let stand at room temperature 24 hours until set.  Refrigerate up to 3 weeks.  Otherwise, store in freezer for up to 1 year.  Thaw in fridge. 

This recipe is included in every box of Sure-Jell pectin....along with recipes using several other kinds of fruits.

Have fun!  I'll be dreaming strawberries tonight.  We picked 44lbs today!  All but one flat is washed and I'm working on flash freezing them and getting them in bags.  Hope to finish before I head to bed tonight.