The holidays are a great time for family traditions. When I was a child, one tradition we had every year was making tamales. My mom, aunts, and cousins would get together and make tamales that would last the whole holiday season. Now, I continue this tradition with my two daughters every year. Looking back at the traditions I had as a young child gives me a sense of accomplishment, belonging and happiness, and I wanted to bring that same experience to my children. In addition to making tamales every year, we started the tradition of making holiday jams for ourselves and as gifts for family and friends. This has been a great tradition for my family, and I en-courage you, too, to start a family holiday tradition. If you haven’t got one already, consider something as easy as a holiday jam.
Tips for making no-cook/freezer jams:
- Follow directions for preparation for no-cook or freezer jams.
- For the best jam flavor use fully ripened fruits.
- Use fruits at room temperature. This will help to dissolve the ingredients more easily.
- When making lower sugar freezer jam, follow the low or no-sugar recipe and use the correct pectin.
- Use clean pint or 1/2 pint freezer jar or a rigid plastic freezer containers with tight-fitting lids.
- Leave at least 1/2 inch of space from the top of the jam to the lid to allow for expansion of the jam as it freezes.
- In some recipes, the jam must be allowed to stand at room temperature for 24 hours; others can be frozen right after the jam is made.
Food safety tips when preparing freezer jams:
- Ensure your preparation area is clean.
- Always wash your hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before you start making your jams.
Rinse your fruit thoroughly under running water.- Make sure all your utensils and bowls have been washed and are clean.
- Wash the containers for jam in hot soapy water or run through the dish-washer.
- After opening the jam, store in the refrigerator. Remember, the product is not cooked. Therefore it will ferment and mold quickly if left at room temperature for extended periods of time.
Whatever you decide to to as a family to create a new tradition, make it fun and sustainable for the whole family. Be open to trying new things and willing to let go of traditions that do not work well for your family.
