Allotments 4 All

I made Blackberry jam/jelly for the first time this week...utilising the public footpath at the bottom of my garden I managed (with help from a 6 year old niece) to get 3 and a half pounds of fruit. Mashed, then strained  - so technically a jelly not a jam  ;)  Unfortunately the 6 year old thinks it is to be eaten like jelly, with a spoon straight from the jar..not on bread like jam  ::) Bless   ;)

However the jar given to my Dad seems the sloppiest and hasn't set like the other 3 jars  :-\

Sounds lovely.  I think it is going to be a good year for blackcberries.  The hedgerows round here are full of them.

I am not sure I understand why if you make it in one batch that one jar should decide not to set. 

For a top rate jelly (i.e. for a show) resist the temptation to squeeze the bag when straining overnight.

Cheers,    Tony.

CHeers Tony, this was my first attempt and I only had the kitchen flour sieve to hand  :-\ and unfortunately didnt have the time to leave it overnight...but I managed a pint and a half of strained juice...it's just bizarre that the one jar didnt set...it was a different shape jar...but I'm sure my Dad will still enjoy it, having been made with a lot of love from his 6 year old granddaughter  :D
Does it make a big difference to use the bags...will it be worth my investing in some...the hedgerows around here are heaving with fruit...and I was maybe thinking blackberry wine....and a friend has a recipe for blackberry whisky  :o

The bags are needed if you want the jelly to be properly clear.  I do not think that being cloudy affects that taste and it sets more easily.   My grandmother used to make a second batch with the squeezings from the bag.  Not sure why she bothered when she had a whole farm hedgerow full of free blackberries. 

I do a lot of JamEllies by grinding rasps or blackberries (not too hard) through a sieve  then treating like jelly.. Basically it turns out like a seedless jam and has more flavour than a true strained jelly.. Especially good is mixed blackberries and raspberries.. great taste.. Also did some rasp and red currant like that - delicious..

That's a good tip Gavin- I was going to do nectarine (from the market :-[ not the lottie!) and white current jam, but was worried about the pips! Thanks muchly  ;D