[kwarwick]

Does anyone have some good recipes for strawberries - how to freeze, no- or alternative-sugar jams, etc? We're drowning in u-pick strawberries, and I'm looking for some creative ideas!

Thank you!
Karen

 

[Max'sMama]

No Jam ideas, but to freeze and not have a clump rinse and freeze in a single layer on a cookie sheet for a few hours then put into freezer safe container.

You could also make fruit leather with some. Ruth Yaron's Super Baby Food book has a couple of ways to make fruit leather.

 

[AmandaBL]

I puree a bunch in the blender & freeze in ice cube trays then transfer to ziploc bags. I use them in smoothies & oatmeal whenever I want them. The kids like them in lemonaid & plain as a snack (although a messy one) too.

 

[cjr]

There are commercial pectins that are made specifically for no-sugar jams. I made a batch and instead of processing the jars, I just froze them. They only keep for about a week or so, but the jam is great in plain yogurt and where you would use regular jam. You can use frozen fruit too so I usually make a couple of batches right away and then freeze the berries to make more jam when we run out.

 

[rainbowmoon]

mmm..fresh picked strawberries are the best!

this site should give you some ideas
http://www.justberryrecipes.com/inxstr.html

 

[Mommay]

My idea is kind of like amandbl's, but a little different. I haven't been happy with the stonyfield yogurt I've been buying for ds, who just loves it, because it has so much sugar in it! 18 grams in a teeny weeny little serving. So, I finally resolved to make my own strawberry flavored yogurt, and the u-pick strawberries I had were perfect. I blended it with apple juice concentrate and strained it (I think one of the things ds likes about the stony field is its smoothness). I then added enough honey to make it sweet. Then I added it to a tub of plain yogurt to taste. DS loves it! The consistency is a bit more liquidity, but he can still spoon it, and sometimes drinks it, or just makes a mess. And I'm a lot happier. I saw a lower sugar stonyfield yogurt at whole foods the other day, but they added a sweetner I can't even pronounce. What is up with them?

 

[blissful_maia]

Mmmmm... can you post the recipe for fruit leather? Couldn't find it online. Thank you... I think Ayla would

it.

 

[kwarwick]

Thank you for all the great ideas! I've been using all of them, except the fruit leather. I agree; I'd love the recipe if anyone has it.

I did happen to find a freezer jam recipe online that uses agar flakes (vs. gelatin) and honey (vs. sugar). I made it tonight, and we all liked it!

Here's the recipe:

1 tbs. agar flakes, 6 tbs. apple juice
4 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 tbs. freshly grated lemon rind
1/3 cup barley malt, honey, or rice syrup, or to taste, 1 tsp. liquid stevia (optional)
1/8 tsp. dried ginger, powdered, 1/4 tsp. coriander, ground
1. Bring the agar and apple juice to a boil over medium heat, stirring often.
2. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, or until the agar is dissolved.
3. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often.
4. Reduce heat and simmer another 5 minutes, stirring often.
5. Test for firmness (agar's thickening effect varies according to its fineness) by putting a large metal spoon with a small amount of jam in the freezer for a couple of minutes until chilled. If the jam is the right thickness, your recipe is done. If it's too watery, stir in more agar, simmer another 5-10 minutes, and test again. If it's too thick, stir in some fruit juice or water and test again immediately.
4 cups

We still have a lot of strawberries to use - we picked 29 1/2 lbs! I don't know what we were thinking......we just got carried away because we were so happy that DD was having so much fun!

Thanks again for the great ideas,
Karen

 

[blissful_maia]

I really want that recipe if you can scrounge it up! Thanks mama....