Strawberry Preserves

Since I have so many strawberries, I have decided to make four different types of strawberry preserves: strawberry lemon preserve, strawberry fig preserve, strawberry preserve with balsamic vinegar and black pepper, and a spiced strawberry preserve with blood oranges. I'll be going with a very simple recipe and jazzing it up.

I have also decided to hold a contest this month. Last month I had over 200 hits, but two comments. Please leave your thoughts, comments, and questions. At the end of the month I will put all the comments into a hat and pull out three. Each winner will receive a pint jar of marmalade, preserves, pickles, etc that I have made if it is still available. Winners will be announced on May 1. Unfortunately, I can only ship within the United States and maybe Canada.

Strawberry Preserves Recipe

12c Strawberries, quartered
12c Sugar
1c Acid (Lemon Juice)

I tossed all my ingredients and let it sit for a few hours. In a heavy bottomed saucepan, mix together the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to high, and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil, stirring often, until the mixture reaches 220 degrees F (105 degrees C).

Strawberry Fig preserves: add 2 cups of chopped dried figs to 12c strawberries.
Strawberry Balsamic: Substitute the lemon juice for balsamic vinegar
Strawberry Blood Orange: I just stirred in 4cups of a blood orange marmalade that never set into the strawberries along with couple sticks of cinnamon, cardamon, and star anise.

Transfer to hot sterile jars, leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch headspace, and seal. Process in a water bath.