Blueberry & Chia Seed Jam

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

ZZ Ward ~ Till The Casket Drops Album 

Being a savoury foodie I have always been of the opinion that sweet things do have their place and can be enjoyable. lol. I know this isn't a popular view and know many men and women who would crawl over hells embers to get to chocolate and other sweet treats. However I do admit to enjoying the very best of sweet treats..hot toast with jam or marmalade. My jam preferences being blackcurrant or strawberry and my marmalade choice being a good orange or lime one. My mouth is watering at the thought of lime marmalade and due to my recent fall I have no appetite at all so that's a good thing..

But because jam in its natural state is loaded with sugar...and the reduced sugar varieties are usually crammed with sweeteners and other nasties I abstain from jam and marmalade. Eating it on High Days and Holidays...until last week when I found this recipe posted by anon. I read through the recipe and looked at the accompanying photo and thought..."Wow...if this works it would be fantastic." So the next day I was asking ML to pick up some blueberries for me. Then I fell downstairs...slight kink in my plan...so I had to ask ML to then make the jam for me. Which happened and then the jam was put into the fridge and well..we forgot about it. Ooops! lol. But to be fair we've had other things to worry about. 

Today we cracked open the container and got schmearing on the multi grain crackers that I reviewed last week. The chia seeds really do work and the jam is set to perfection. The freshness of this jam was very enjoyable. In the recipe they used Maple syrup as the small amount of sweetener but we used Agave. So the jam wasn't at all sweet...but it had that good blueberry flavour. I would maybe up the Agave just a little next time and I fully intend on trying this recipe out with all berries. Who knew that Chia Seeds could be so versatile..lol. 

Blueberry & Chia Seed Jam on Multi Grain Crackers

 


Blueberry & Chia Seed Jam

2 cups of fresh blueberries
1/4 chia seeds
2-3 tbsp maple syrup or agave

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until everything is well mixed. Put the mixture in a covered container. Place in the fridge for a good few hours. Once its set, use it as a topping for toast, yoghurt, waffles or porridge.

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your Thursday is a great one...

~Red~

NB:   To whoever created this recipe...Kudos! and thanks...great recipe and I would happily give credit where it's due if you get in touch. Namaste ~R~

Low Sugar Gingery Plum-Apple Jam

Kitchen Play List:  Sara Sant'Ambrogio ~ Song Without Words
                                      Jack Johnson ~ What You Thought You Need
                                      The Power Station ~ Some Like It Hot
                                      Skid Row ~ Youth Gone Wild
                                      Thunder ~ Only You Can Make Me Cry
                                      Billy Joel ~ She's Got a Way
                                      Sara Sant'Ambrogio ~ Nocturne in E-Flat major

Now plums should come with a warning...prepping too many will leave your fingers stained a very unattractive dark varnish colour! And it doesn't seem to want to come off! Darn it! lol 

As you will know I have a many...oh so many...plums to use up...and I have been working my way through a stack of recipes. This one caught my eye because it was said low sugar...simple as that. I love jam and don't eat it often, as the high sugar make me jittery..lol. So if I find a recipe that claims to be low sugar..you can bet I'll be trying it. 

So, apart from the classy stains preparing the plums leave you with,  this jam is very simple to make. I do confess I made it with the thought "...I'm not sure about this...." going through my mind. But I followed the recipe faithfully and now have six small jars of this jam waiting to be eaten. It smelt great whilst it was cooking and the I'm not expecting a firm gel of a jam but it was definitely 'jammy' lol. And it's the most beautiful colour. We had some leftover so I put that in a container for taste testing today. 

The results were exactly as the recipe is titled..lol. Tart fruity plums, sweet apples and a hit of ginger. The consistency is as I suspected quite loose but is spread just fine on my bread and stayed there, so does it really matter? It is a delicious jam....hope you try it..

I take no credit for this recipe as I found it on www.affairsofliving.com so the respect due is theirs alone. 

Low Sugar Gingery Plum-Apple Jam

Low Sugar Gingery Plum-Apple Jam  Makes 6 small jars
(Recipe from www.affairsofliving.com)

5 granny smith apples, unpeeled and uncored
1/3 cup peeled, chopped ginger root
1 lemon, unpeeled and finely chopped
water
6 cups pitted, unpeeled and chopped
3/4 cup agave nectar

Remove the stem and blossom from the apple, and coarsely chop. Prepare ginger root and lemon and place all in a large, tall pot with enough water to elimate sticking. Don't be alarmed by all the seeds, pith and skins - this is al high in natural pectin and will help thicken the jam. Bring the apple mixture to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat and simmer until apples are very soft, about 20-25 minutes, stirring often. 

Remove from the heat and run the mixture through a food mill or push through a fine mesh sieve positioned over a bowl and push the apple mixture through the holes with the back of a spoon. Discard the skins and seeds. 

Prepare and sterilise 6 jars and lids for potting up the jam...using whatever method you use. 

Place 2 cups of the applesauce in the pan with the chopped plums and agave nectar and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat and simmer until the plums are soft, about 20 minutes, stirring often. Mixture will splatter so please take care.

Spoon into your prepared sterilised jars and place on the wax seals. Leave to cool and then place on lids. Leave overnight and re-tighten the lids. Leave for 12 - 24 hours before using. The jam should last stored for a year but when opened, store in the fridge and use within three weeks of opening. 

Recipe creators notes: Spiced jams - feel free to add your favourite spices, such as nutmeg, cinnamon, or cardamon. Start with a small amount and add gradually, testing as you go.

Other fruit jams - use this same basic technique and substitute an equal amount of other fruit for the plums, such as peaches, cherries, raspberries, blueberries and pluots. (Nope I have no idea what these are either ~R~) 

Enjoy!
~R~