Chocolate Jungle Jam Jar Recipes

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY JAM (CANNING RECIPE)

Steps:

• Crush berries thoroughly, 1 cup at a time. If using frozen berries, use both liquied and solids; they were all part of the original fresh berry. (Sieve 1/2 of the pulp to remove some of the seeds if desired. You can sieve it all if preparing from those with dental problems. Removing seeds causes waste, so be sure you have enough berries.).
• Make sure your canning equipment is scrupulously clean, and place 7 pint or half-pint jars on a rack in a boiling water canner. Fill the canner with water, adding a shot of vinegar to prevent mineral buildup, and bring to a boil while you prepare the jam. Allow it to boil for 10 minutes to sterilize jars, then turn down the heat to keep the jars hot. Remember to keep a kettle of hot water handy, and a saucepan of boiling water for your lids and rings.
• Measure 6 cups of crushed fruit into a 6-8 quart heavy nonreactive saucepan. Break the chocolate squares into smaller pieces and add them to saucepan.
• Measure sugar into a separate bowl. Mix 1/4 cup of the measured sugar with the pectin powder in another small bowl. Stir pectin-sugar mixture into fruit in a saucepan. Add butter. Bring quickly to a full rolling boil. Boil for EXACTLY 1 MINUTE, stirring constantly.
• Remove pan from heat. Skim off any foam and ladle the jam into hot sterilized pint or half-pint canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
• Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water canner.
• Remove the jars to a towel/newspaper lined surface, invert for 10 minutes, and allow to cool. Label the jars and store in a cool dry place for up to 1 year.

BLACK FOREST PRESERVES

Steps:

• 1. Start by sterilizing jars and lids. This takes a little while, so I start this 1st. I place my clean jars in my canner and cover with hot water. Bring this to a boil and boil for at least 10 minutes. Remove jars when ready to use. Pour some of the boiling water from jars back into canner and keep the water boiling so you will be ready to process jars of jam. In another small pot; sterilize lids in gently boiling water.
• 2. Prepare cherries; remove stems and pit, coarsely chop. I use my food processer and it works great for chopping cherries. Just don't totally liquify the fruit. A little juicey won't hurt.
• 3. Whisk sugar and cocoa together, mixing it good. I did this in the pot I would be cooking the jam in. Add the cherries and lemon juice, stir until combined. Add 1/2 tsp butter to reduce foaming. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Add the pectin and return the mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for one minute. Remove pot from heat and skim any foam from the surface with a metal spoon. Add Amaretto and stir.
• 4. Ladle hot jam into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Wipe rims of the jars, cover with lids, and screw bands on until just barely tight. Place jars on rack in pot and cover completely with boiling water. Cover pot; boil over high heat for 15 minutes. Remove jars from pot and allow them to rest undisturbed on countertop for 12 to 24 hours (do not dry jars). Check seal and band to ensure they sealed properly. Preserved jam will keep for up to one year in a cool, dark place. Unpreserved jam will keep in the refrigerator for about six months.