Saturday, July 30, 2011

Wild Raspberry and Blueberry Jam


Getting read to freeze. Checking for bugs is easier at this point.

What I love most about the summer, along with all the other things I’ve been waxing poetic about lately, is picking fruit. Mostly berries. The other day, I went with my husband and son to pick blueberries, and as we drove home I said that it was perfect—the only thing I wanted to do. Steve commented that although it was fun, he could only handle it once or twice a summer. That I could do it all the time was surprising to him. I find it surprising that people don’t want to pick berries all the time. That someone could pass berry bushes filled with ripe red raspberries is unthinkable to me.

Town hall? A cup of tea?

Everybody has a place that they belong in, and mine is the woods, I think. The other morning I got out early to pick in my secret wild raspberry (also called wineberries) patch. This was one of the hottest days of the year, to date, and I appropriately left at 7 a.m. I headed off with my bait bucket—perfect for berry picking. With my smart hiking shoes, I took off along the path and suddenly drifted into my world. Steve is never happier than when body surfing in the ocean. I easily can see it, as I sit on the sand while he's in the surf, by the light in his eye, that he is deeply happy.

A perfect ladder for a squirrel.

For me it’s winding paths in the mountains. It’s rocks and downed trees, seas of fern, and a muted quiet. Soon, I am lost in the berry picking, except for remembering to whistle or sing (this year it was songs from the new Winnie the pooh soundtrack, fittingly enough, and don't laugh-- it's a great album!) in case a bear is somewhere doing the same thing I am. I am happiest when I’m in that dark, green veiled world. A world where I can imagine frogs talking to mice in waistcoats, or a fox smoking a cheroot while he surveys his domain. There are secret little worlds in there, in the hollowed out tree trunks and lily-pad-strewn ponds, with its dark peaty browns and lacy soft greens and dots of ruby red amidst it.

A lovely place to rest for a weary spider.

When I came back, legs scratched and hands sticky with resin, I felt satisfied with my haul, which is good because it was probably my last of the season. I decided to stop this particular moment in time with some blueberries in a small batch jam. The sweetness of the blueberries stand up to the tart wild raspberries. And the pectin of the blues makes for a nice set, easily gained with the acid of both fruit. This recipe made a full pint that I stuck in the fridge and is almost already gone.  You could process two half-pints instead for ten minutes.

1 cup of wild raspberries
1 cup of blueberries (good for you if they're wild too!)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Put all ingredients in a pot that looks like it's larger than you need. It's not much fruit, but it will still boil up high, like all jams. I let my fruit macerate with the sugar overnight, just because I was too tired to do it then. Either way, when you are ready, bring the mixture to a boil. Let the little bubbles rise and wave frantically. My jam reached a gel stage after about ten minutes of boiling. I didn't use a freezer test or thermometer, just checked it dripping off my spoon and watched for sheeting. I'll admit, it's easier to recognize when you've made jam a ton of times. Remember, a thin jam is never a problem. A stack of pancakes will always come to the rescue.

Turn off the heat and let the bubbles subside. Ladle the jam into a warmed pint jar--I fill mine with very hot tap water and dump it out right before filling, so that it's not such a shock from boil to bottle. Or, as I mentioned you can process this, following normal canning procedure, for ten minutes in two half-pint jars.

I like this jam on toast, while thinking about chipmunks meeting for tea on a toadstool, or some kind of woodland fiction like that.

A spoonful of jam makes every story better.

14 comments:

  1. Totally delicious. I love that, when you go foraging, collect a medley of different ingredients on your outing and then make your jam as a souvenir of your experience.

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  2. Amazing. A good piece of bread and I'd be happy for a lifetime :)

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  3. What a great blog...my friend recommended it to me and I'm so glad she did! I have to completely agree with you as far as being out in the woods! I live in a little corner of SW Washington state right by Mt. St. Helens and we sure got the woods here...LOL! We mainly have blackberries and huckleberries out here, I do have a raspberry bush planted, my neighbor has a blueberry and so, between the two of us, we should be able to make some of your delicious jam! Please visit my blog at http://lifeinanarv.blogspot.com if you would like! Thanks!!

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  4. Beautiful post Julia! I know the feeling~ I love being in the woods, peeking around corners and just noticing it all.
    I don't think I've had a wild raspberry!

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  5. Gloria - I think that's why I preserve. I like to keep moments in time. Don't you?

    Jane - Right?

    witchywoman - Thank you! And thanks for coming by. The PNW is awesome berry heaven, isn't it?? I'll come by, thanks for leaving your blog address. : )

    Meg - Aw, thanks, you! You aren't missing out too badly on the wild raspberry, esp. considering the berry goodness you get out where you live!

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  6. "I like this jam on toast, while thinking about chipmunks meeting for tea on a toadstool, or some kind of woodland fiction like that." -- excellent.

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  7. How wonderful to know a place you belong. I love seeing the pics of the forest near you. It is beautiful. The forests of California all looks so different (also beautiful, but different) I haven't found secret berry patches in my special places, I guess I need to keep looking!

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  8. Denise - Thanks. : )

    Karen - Keep looking. I know for sure you have blackberry bushes out there somewhere!

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  9. I read this last week, and was thinking about you and your berry pickin' when I found a patch of wild raspberries pretty much right behind my house a few days ago. Even though I may be allergic and they're on the way out, Luc and I still ate a few handfuls. I may or may not have had a slight reaction, which I'm choosing to ignore - and plot for next year to snag them in their prime. (I suppose I should be responsible with my health, and give them away however.)

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  10. Simple. Summer. Goodness. I like your style!
    Cheers,
    E

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  11. R - There is nothing finer than scoring a secret berry patch! I have mental notes of all the little spots I have found. Thinking about writing it all down because it gets bigger and bigger. And what a bummer, about possibly being allergic to them. Sounds like Luc isn't though! He can eat your share...

    Erin - Thanks! it's how I roll. ; )

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