Plumvanillajam Recipes

PLUM JAM

Steps:

• Stir together plums, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved and mashing plums with a potato masher. Add lemon juice; continue to boil, stirring frequently, until bubbles slow, chunks of fruit show at top, and mixture clings to a spoon but falls off in clumps, 10 to 12 minutes. Skim foam from top.
• Ladle jam into clean containers, leaving 3/4 inch of headroom. Let cool completely. Cover, label, and refrigerate up to 1 month, or freeze up to 1 year.

PLUM AND VANILLA JAM

Steps:

• Put a plate in the refrigerator for at least one hour before starting making jam. (With this plate you will check whether the jam has thickened sufficiently after cooking.)
• Sterilize the pots as described in the notes section.
• Make a bowl with ⅔ water and add ⅓ vinegar. Wash the prunes in vinegar water.
• Cut the plums in half and remove the pit.
• Put the prunes and the vanilla extract in a pan and add ⅔ cup (180 ml water).
• Bring the contents of the pan to a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
• Puree the jam with a blender and strain the puree.
• Weigh the leftover puree. Add 4 cups (750 grams) of sugar for every 3 cups (1 kilo) of fruit puree.
• Bring the puree with the sugar back to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Take the plate out of the fridge, and drop a few drops of jelly on it. When the jam is done, the jelly will stiffen immediately, otherwise, you have to cook for 2 more minutes and check again (put the plate back in the cooling in between because you need a cold plate for checking).
• Pour a small bottom of jam into the jam jars (about ½ inch) (not too much else the pots can burst), wait a minute, and pour more jam until the jar is full.
• Turn the lid on the pots and put the pots bottom up.
• Allow to cool to room temperature and turn the pots upside down. They are now sterile.
• Label the jam. Jam can be stored in a sterilized jar for 6-12 months at room temperature. Once it is open, you have to keep it in the fridge and it will last for a few weeks.

PLUM JAM

Steps:

• Place the plums and water into a large pot, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the sugar, and add butter to reduce foaming, if needed. Bring the mixture to a full, rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly, and then mix in the pectin quickly. Return the jam to a full boil, and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and skim off and discard any foam.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the plum jam into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/8 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2 inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area. Refrigerate opened jars for up to 3 weeks.

PLUM VANILLA JAM

Steps:

• Bring all ingredients to a boil in a large pot, mashing with a potato masher.
• Cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is the consistency of very thick honey, about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove plum skin if desired. Discard vanilla bean and zest. Do not strain; jam should be chunky.
• Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 1 month.