Blueberry Jam for Bill not Frances!!

Okay, so if you don't get the title of my post today.  You obviously were deprived as a child, or your children were.  However, not to worry, your grandchildren do not have to be deprived, it's not too late!!

Remember the Frances books?!  They were written during the 60s and 70s by Russell Hoban and the very first book by Hoban was illustrated by Garth Williams (Little House on the Prairie series illustrator too!), the rest of the books in the series were illustrated by Hoban's wife Lillian.  The first book in the series was titled "Bedtime for Frances" but one of my favorites was "Bread and Jam for Frances."  These books are truly classics!  I love classics!

Okay, back on the farm, as my daughter would say when we get off on a bunny trail, or in this case a badger trail!  LOL!  Sorry for my humor this morning.  I may be the only one laughing.  I went to bed at a regular time last night, almost my going back to work time, then I got up at my going back to work time, and I have already had two cups of java, made a batch of zucchini bread and am working on some Pioneer Woman layered jello for a snack for Bible study tonight.  It's a visual for part of our lesson.  Don't worry, they get the zucchini bread too, and with cream cheese frosting to spread on each slice, if they choose!

My Dad's birthday was last week.  He loves to get, or at least he says he does, I am pretty sure he is telling the truth, anyway he loves to get my homemade cream or fruit pies for his birthday with a home made card.  Yes, he still likes these from me even though his daughter is over 45 and almost 50, home made cards! However, for this birthday I decided to try to make him some Blueberry Jam, another one of his favorites; since I had made him a blueberry pie for Father's Day.  

I found this great Blueberry Jam recipe online and just had to try it!  I am always looking for quick and easy recipes, but having the taste like you slaved over the stove for hours!  Anybody with me?!?!  There were only two ingredients used in making this recipe: fresh blueberries, and sugar.  I have seen other recipes in which people have used lemon juice or lemon peel and cinnamon, that is fine too.  Whatever your taste buds like, I say use those ingredients! However, on this particular day, I just used the two.   

First I washed the jars and then boiled the jars and lids for 5 minutes.

While that was all happening, I took the time to really wash and stem the blueberries.  

We didn't want those yucky stems in our beautiful completed jam, now did we!!

Once the blueberries were washed I did take the time to pat them dry 

with a paper towel.  Not ever having made this recipe before, 

I didn't want extra liquid to be a factor in how long

 it took for the berries to cook down into jam.

Next I put 4 pints of cleaned and patted dry blueberries into my pot on the stove.

I then added 3 cups of sugar, turned the stove up to medium heat, 

then used a potato masher and started releasing the juices from the blueberries.

*Side note here: I actually used this utensil I had in order to mash

and stir my mixture.  I used this so that the utensil I was using

would not scratch the surface of my pot.  This product worked 

great because it wasn't flexible.  It was stiff so that I could actually

mash the blueberries but then stir the mixture as well.  

Once the mixture was pretty mashed and it had come to a boil,

I continued to stir mixture for approximately 30 minutes,

allowing for it to be in a controlled boil the entire time.

Mixture is done thickening when you spoon out some jam onto a 

surface and it leaves a thick trail behind your spoon.

Do Not stop stirring the mixture or you will scorch your jam.

Believe it or not, I was able to get 3 1/2 pints cooked product

out of 4 fresh pints of blueberries.  

It is amazing how much cooks off!

If I don't say so myself,

the finished product was/is quite tasty!

There is no need to seal the jars with wax 

if you intend to eat the jam within 4 weeks.  

This recipe is good for up to 4 weeks stored in the refrigerator.