JAM - a question

[funky_fudge_factory]

Unopened jam, if properly sealed, can keep for a year..... or more. It never hung around that long in this household though. Once opened keep in the fridge. Even commercially made jam doesn't last forever once opened. The keeping ability is improved if you use Preserving Sugar as opposed to granulated or caster sugar.

I remember once using a [well scrubbed] Baby Burco wash boiler to make a huge amount of jam using windfall apples, damsons, and blackberries. Delicious at first, but we soon got heartily sick of it.
My breadmaker makes jam in small quantities which is manageable. Home made lemon curd is very easy to make, and so much nicer than the shop stuff. Orange curd is good too.
The worst experience was making chutney. My kitchen does not have an outside door. The windows are just 3 fanlights. I couldn't stay in the kitchen with the door shut because of the acidic fumes, so I opened the door to the sitting room. The fumes rapidly spread through the cottage and all the windows had to be flung wide open. I had sore eyes and a sore throat from the fumes. Never again. It was the best chutney I've ever had, but it would have to be cooked on a calor gas cooker in the garden.

lol !! I LOVE chutney, I still have an unopened jar of "christmas spice chutney".
I might have a go at making marmalade one day when I have time again as well..... my little lad absolutely loves it... marmalade sandwiches (the lemon variety). A very nice lady on Ebay RT sent me a few recipes to try. I will have a go at blackberry jam next year as well..... the birds got to them all before me this year (it's VERY noisy here at breakast time, I think our garden is the "Friends Central Perk" of the bird world)

mmmmmmmmmmm -------> off for more toast (with jam on)

[inchworm]

we have a damson & elderberry trees at the end of our garden

my mom made some damson jam a few years back, tarty & scrummy

but i haven't got the patience so the birds have a feast every year now

heard you can make elderberry wine (or is that elderflower?)
anyways, have never made anything from the elderberry tree

wouldn't know where to start

shame really cos think of all the yummy stuff i could make