How to Make Jam and Jelly

1. Write out a recipe. Insist that others follow it no matter how bad they are at reading it.

2. Pick strawberries from your Grandmother's garden.




3. Carefully wash all the jars and lids.

4. Stir.

5. Stir some more.

6. Put the finished product in fancy jelly bowls.

7. Slather a liberal amount on top of a tortilla with peanut butter.

8. If you have any left after lunch, load up jars for lunch tomorrow...and the next day...and the next day.

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This was our first ever experience with making jelly and with canning of any sort. We went to my mom's house this morning to make two batches of grape jelly and a batch of strawberry jam. We made a big mess, had lots of fun, and felt we connected with generations from the past (my grandmother would be proud to see her great grandchildren following in her footsteps). The finished product was 20 jars of delicious jam and jelly.

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Basia really wants to make peach jam when the peaches from my parents' tree ripen. She did let us know, however, that she did not write the peach jam instructions on her recipe. I don't know how we will manage.