Jammin'

I haven't been making salads lately because until yesterday it was cool and even rainy. Also because I've been making Jam!!!
I started with my favorite - plum jam. Other than scorching the bottom of the pan (thus making it into "Carmel Plum Jam") it went well. I've never canned solo and it was intense.
Next was tomato jam. Andrew was standing by, but this came off without a hitch. It is has a unique taste and may be coming to a Christmas stocking near you...you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout...
I made Serrano jelly next using the Red Plaid's recipe for jalapeno jelly. It came out tasty but not spicy enough for my taste. It was fun to try liquid pectin. I also planned to distribute these during the holiday season, but my second batch tastes odd. I used more serranos, but I think the real culprit is using apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar. It is more vinegary and less tasty. I also 1 1/2 the recipe and didn't have a big enough pot. Now I am trying to figure out how to get blackened char off the burner. At least the jelly didn't burn!
Next came Apricot Conserves. I made them today too. I got the recipe from Jeffery Steingarten's book, It must have been something I ate. The day after reading his story about the conserves, I came across a bounty of perfectly ripe apricots for 79 cents a lb. at a local produce store. This was a great experience because the recipe doesn't call for pectin. Let me just say that the result was extraordinary and delicious. I don't like apricots, but I love apricot jam. The conserves were the very best of the best apricot jam I've ever had. Imagine a mix of jam like hunks, whole softened halves and golden liquid apricot syrup.
This is definitely Christmas gift worthy, but we only have 5 jars - probably won't last a month! Tonight after yoga, I went back to the store to get some more apricots, but there wasn't an apricot in the place! Was it just a mirage...
Next up - more tomato jam...and if I can get my hands on some apricots, more conserve!