Once you’re a mum, you’ll probably discover that finding ‘me time’ becomes a little tricky. With a little one longing for hugs, love, and food almost constantly, your interests can take a bit of a backseat! But, there are ways you can take a little of your life back, and if you love to cook then this quick jam recipe for busy mums is a great way to kickstart that.
Go traditional: A simple strawberry jam recipe
After sterilising jars in the microwave, it’s time to get started on your tasty jams. If you’re new to jam making then start off with the simple strawberry recipe:
Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
- 1kg strawberries (don’t forget to remove the stalks and leaves!)
- 750g granulated sugar
- Juice of 1 lemon
Start by preparing your fruit:
- Rinse your strawberries with clean water.
- Remove any dirt and mud with a piece of damp kitchen towel.
- If you’ve got any chunky strawberries, cut them in half to make cooking your jam easier.
Place your strawberries into a bowl along with the sugar and lemon juice before mixing everything together. Leave the bowl overnight at room temperature, making sure it’s covered to keep away any unwanted pests.
Now skip ahead to read our easy method for turning your ingredients into a tasty jam!
Go unconventional and exciting: Rhubarb and gin jam recipe
Ready to step up your jam making game? We’ve got you covered. Be a little bold with our rhubarb and gin jam, perfect for adding something a little special to your morning toast.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 450g rhubarb
- 450g granulated sugar
- 2tbsp lemon juice
- Rind from ½ lemon
- 2 tbsp gin (go for a flavoured gin for an extra fruity kick)
- Seeds from ½ vanilla pod
If you want to change the measurements to make more or less, just remember that you need equal parts rhubarb and sugar, and equal parts lemon juice and gin.
Not a fan of gin? You can switch it for vodka and make a jam that’s just as tasty! For the best results with vodka, swap 50g of rhubarb out for 50g of raspberries.
Now it’s time to prepare your fruit:
- Wash the rhubarb under cold water
- Trim the ends of the stalks
- Remove any ‘bad’ bits from your fruit
- Cut the rhubarb into slices approximately 2cm in length - don’t worry if you’re not exact.
Pop everything together in a big bowl - rhubarb, sugar, lemon juice and rind, and vanilla seeds.
Let everything soak together overnight for a flavoursome jam, but if you’re in a rush then you can move onto the next steps after one hour.
Now read on for our simple method to turn your ingredients into the perfect jam.
Making jam: A simple step-by-step guide
No matter what ingredients you use, every jam is made in the same basic way. So, now you’ve got your fruit prepared, it’s time to get cooking and create some delicious flavours!
- Place a saucer into the fridge to cool – you’ll need it later.
- Place your prepared mixture into a preserving pan before warming it over a low heat.
- Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves.
- You’ll usually end up with a lot of sugar on the sides of your pan - this is okay! Just use a pastry brush dipped in hot water to combine it back with your mixture.
- When you can’t feel any grains of sugar in your mixture, turn the heat to high for 5-10 minutes, bringing it to a boil.
- Place a little jam onto your cold saucer (we said you’d need it again!) and pop it back in the fridge for 30-60 seconds. If it cools to a gel-like jam texture, it’s ready! If it doesn’t, simply repeat the boiling and cooling until it sets like jam.
- Remove any bad bits or foam which may form on your jam using a spoon.
- After sterilising jars in the microwave, leave your jam for around 15 minutes before ladling into them.
- Add some cute labels to your jars with their flavour and the date they were made. You can also add cute little ribbons and jar lids to make them look extra special.
- Keep your sealed jam in a cool, dry place for up to a year.
- Always keep it refrigerated after opening and consume within 2 months.
No matter how busy you are with little ones, it’s important you always make time to do the things you love. There are plenty of other self care activities you can do to give yourself a bit of downtime alongside these jam recipes, so check them out and start feeling a little more like you.
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