I remember growing up thinking I didn't eat unhealthy, but kind of thinking that healthy food had to taste nasty to be good for you. Wow, was I wrong. Since I was never really a huge fan of cooking until I got married (almost 8 months ago), cooking is a fairly new hobby for me and I love it. But it amazes me how delicious good and fresh food can be for you. I am currently trying to cut as much sugar out of my diet as I can and using natural sweeteners like honey and agave when needed. So appropriately I thought my first post could be about some blackberry jam I made on Friday. We all know jam is packed with sugar, but there is nothing like delicious homemade jam and toast. I had been wanting to try agave as a substitute for awhile and Sunflower Market had blackberries on sale for 99 cents a box so I got 5. The jam doesn't taste like it's loaded with sugar, but it is sweet and you can actually taste the natural delicious flavor of the blackberries, so it is much more "fresh" tasting.
Agave Jam
30 oz. blackberries or any berry you want (I used five 6 oz. boxes) It should be just under 4 c. mashed
1 1/4 c. agave or more as desired (we use light agave)
1 package Pomona's Universal Pectin (or any pectin should do)
7 canning 8 oz. jars
juice from 1 lemon
3/4 c. water
Follow the recipe on the pectin for the freezer jam (or cooked if you would like). We just mashed the blackberries, added agave and lemon juice and added the pectin mixed with water after we boiled the water and blended it with the pectin in a blender. We didn't use the whole package of pectin because we made such a small batch. After adding the pectin, ours called for adding calcium water, which is needed to make it jelly. Just follow the pectin box on this one, most don't call for that, but if they do, there are instructions included (you just add the powder given in box to water). Continue to add the calcium water until desired thickness of jam (my husband says it's called its desired viscosity?) Since freezer jam is naturally more runny, we just boiled it for 1-2 minutes after all ingredients were added, poored it into the jars and it turned out great once it cooled. Also, with this method it actually lasts longer in the fridge.
Yay for healthier jam! No need to seal the lids since it's freezer jam, but the cooked and sealed jam doesn't take that much longer. This recipe is super adaptable to berry or sweetener preference. Honey works as well, I will try that next time. But give it a try and enjoy this low glycemic index deliciousness:)
-Leah Marie
This looked so good that I went to sunflower and bought the blackberries to make it happen! I'm excited to try it out! Sugar free is so great!
ReplyDeleteleah!! i love your recipe blog. i was a bit nervous to come look because i am sort of a healthy eating nut and a lot of recipes are not healthy and do not call for real, whole food. but i was super excited to see that your recipes are recipes that i will use and love. so thanks!!! you should take a look at my family blog...i just posted a yummy real food pudding recipe, you should try it.
ReplyDeletei'm excited to keep getting recipes from you! and i love that you posted how to do jam because i have wanted to make jam but know it's loaded with white sugar, so agave or honey is an awesome replacement. can't wait to try it!
- kami