One of my favourite ingredients when it comes to cooking are the different berries which can be found in the wild all over our local area. If you pick too many and feel some may go to waste, why not try making a pot of fresh jam. It’s easy and it tastes great. This recipe will be enough to make around 4 pots of jam.

You will need;

• 900g of mixed summer berries.
• 750g of jam sugar with added pectin
• The juice of half a lemon
• 4 Jam jars
• Cling film
• 4 Elastic bands

1. First take your berries selection and mix it with the jam sugar in a large bowl. Cover this with cling film and set it aside at room temperature overnight. This will allow for the sugar to start dissolving.
2. Take your berry and sugar mixture and add it to a wide bottomed pan. Add the lemon juice into the mixture and stir.
3. Start heating the pan gently until all of the sugar has visibly dissolved into the mixture.
4. One dissolved bring the pan to the boil and let it simmer for around 3-5 minutes.
5. After you have let the mixture simmer take a teaspoon and pour some jam onto a chilled saucer. Once cooled if the jam wrinkles when touched it is ready. If your jam is still runny then place it back on the heat and repeat the process.
6. Once ready, be sure to skim the scum off the top of the mixture to ensure your jam is looking and tasting fantastic.
7. Once decanted into the jam jars, you have to make sure the jar is sealed to ensure long life. Place cling film over the opening and tie with an elastic band before sealing the lid. By doing this your jam can last up to 6 months in a cold, dry environment.

Do you have any recipes you would like to share? Why not send them to editor@consettmagazine and your family favourite could be shared with the whole of Consett in the next Consett Magazine.