Summer Strawberry Preserves

When life gives you limes…

Publix had strawberries on BOGO for two weeks in a row so obviously I stocked up. Especially since it seems like berries cost a small fortune these days and my one year old has decided they are one of his favorite foods now. Well, it wasn’t a strawberry loving week in the Edwards household so for fear of a whole free carton turning bad I decided to make jam. Coincidentally we ran out of store bought strawberry jam this week.

Don’t you just love it when the stars align like that?

I swear the older I get the more I understand it truly is the simplest things in life. I was also out of lemons so experimented with limes. I must say, it gave this jam the most delightful bright flavor. Another aligning of those fancy little stars.

This strawberry jam has a bright unique complexity thanks to those limes and a hint of orange extract. It’s perfect for a fresh mango parfait or as a goat cheese topping served with crostini.

What You’ll Need

• 1 Carton of Fresh Strawberries

• 1 Cup Raw Cane Sugar

• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Lime Juice

• 1/2 Teaspoon Orange Extract

How To

• Wash strawberries (I soak mine in warm water and white vinegar) then slice into small(ish) pieces. I like my jam on the chunkier side, but if you prefer a smoother texture chop accordingly.

• Place berries in sauce pan with sugar and lime juice over medium heat

• Once berries start to simmer and a good juice has formed add in your orange extract. It should take about twenty minutes for a good juice to form before adding the extract.

• As the mixture begins to thicken make sure to stir frequently to avoid burning.

• Continue the simmer and stir until mixture has thickened to a warm jam consistency. Once the jam has cooled it will thicken up a bit more.

• Place in a jar and leave on the counter until cooled down. Then place in the fridge UNLESS you’ve sanitized the jar/lid to make it shelf stable outside of the fridge. I skip this step unless I’m giving it as a gift. Mine goes straight into the fridge so we can start enjoying the next morning over breakfast.