This is a Public Service Announcement

Yes, like Bob Marley, we're jamming. And I also want to jam it with you... but perhaps not in the sense that Mr Marley meant. Nothing gives the housewife a sense of business-like, no nonsense competency than being able to make her own jam. Men are amazed, small children are in awe, other women wonder at her culinary skill and bravery (boiling sugar is so very hot!). Making jam is like the homemaking equivalent of having A' level Maths...it's a special and unusual accomplishment you can casually mention during dinner parties...it's also a very good way of preserving fruit.

So if you, like me, regularly go a bit mental at the local pick-your-own farm and end up with seven pounds of raspberries (or whatever) slowly festering on your kitchen counter then jam them, gentle reader, jam them. For the past few years I have been using my copy of the The Practical Home Handywoman to help me jam my fruit, and I have found their table for jam making absolutely indispensable. If you're into old household management books you could easily find a copy of the book on Abe or eBay, but if you're just interested in jamming - and how could you not be having read my inspirational sermon on the subject - then here is the Home Handywoman's table reproduced by yours truly.

Apple and blackberry
4 lb berries 2 lb apples peeled and cored - 1 pint water - 5 lb sugar
Apricot
4 lb fruit juice of 1 lemon - 3/4 pint water - 4 lb sugar
Blackberry
4 lb fruit - 4 lb sugar
Blackcurrant
4 lb fruit - 3 pints water - 5 lb sugar
Cherry
4 lb fruit - 1 pint red currant juice - 3 1/2 lb sugar
Damson
3 lb fruit - 1/2 pint water - 2 1/2 lb sugar
Elderberry
3 lb fruit (or 3 pints juice), juice of 3 lemons - 3 lb sugar
Gooseberry
3 lb fruit - 1 pint water - 3 lb sugar
Gooseberry & redcurrant
3 lb berries 1 lb currants - 1/2 pint water - 4 lb sugar
Greengage
3 lb fruit - 1/2 pint water - 3 lb sugar
Loganberry
3 lb berries - 3 lb sugar
Plum
3 lb fruit - 1/2 pint water - 3 lb sugar
Quince
2 lb fruit - 2 pints water - 2 lb sugar
Quince and apple
1 lb quince 1 lb apple - 1 1/2 pints water - 2 lb sugar
Raspberry
3 lb raspberry - 3 lb sugar
Redcurrant
3 lb fruit (or 3 pints juice) - 3 lb sugar
Redcurrant & raspberry
1 lb raspberries 1 lb currants - 2 lb sugar
Strawberry
4 lb strawberries juice of 4 lemons - 3 1/2 lb sugar
Strawberry & gooseberry
2 lb strawberries 2 lb gooseberries - 1/2 pint water - 4 lb sugar
Strawberry & redcurrant
2 lb strawberries 1 1/2 lb currants - 3 lb sugar

This is the table from the book with only the vegetable marrow jams removed. If you want a recipe for marrow jam, do email and I'll find one forthwith. For more jam information and tips please go here.

Oh and a little bird tells me that American women can their jam. Is this true? American jammers please put me out of my misery.

Well, that's enough for today, even I can have enough of jam! Anon, good huswives, anon!