DIY Strawberry Jam // Strawberry Madness

About 30 years ago, I went strawberry picking with a friend of mine and her mom. The mom wanted to make jam. We each picked a five gallon bucket of strawberries. Came home, cleaned and hulled them and then I watched as the mom made about 30 quarts jam. I'm really not sure how many. I just remember they had a deep freezer and half of it was filled with jam. For at least five years after that, any time I wanted some, I just asked and they gave me a quart. 

I still love strawberry jam but I for sure do not have the time or the space to make that much. Now I can make a small batch of strawberry jam any time I want with just one pound of berries. 

There is no cooking involved either. Super easy too. 

Let's get started. Here is what you will need. 

1 pound of fresh strawberries, cleaned and hulled

3 tbsp of real maple syrup

2 1/2 tbsp of chia seeds

1 tbsp of fresh lemon juice, this acts as a preservative

a dash of salt if the jam seems a bit bland. Completely optional though.

Dice the berries into little chunky bits and put in a bowl. Add everything else except the salt and give it a stir. With a potato masher, mash some or all of the berries. Just depends on how you like your jam. 

Give it a taste. If it seems bland, add the salt. If not, just let it sit for about an hour. The chia seeds will absorb some of the juices from the strawberries and thicken up. Poor into a mason jar with a lid and store in the fridge for up to two weeks. 

#strawberrymadness