28 jars of yummy!

Our 4th of July trip is over and we're getting  back into our routine. That is always the hardest part for me after a trip. I will post about the trip soon but first I wanted to share something I did the night before we left. It was CRAZY busy trying to get ready to leave and part of it (well...probably all of it) was my own fault. I was the one who decided to go strawberry picking for FHE (family home evening) two nights before we left, and it was me who decided we needed 2 flats of them. So the whole day of canning was my fault too. I wouldn't have been able to pull it off if it weren't for my good friend who volunteered to take the kids for me after seeing my stressed out facebook post. Thanks Nicole!

I started by washing all the strawberries in a sink full of water and one by one cutting off the tops to throw into my big mixing bowl.

I then took out 2 quarts worth and smashed the up with my potato masher in a separate measuring cup/bowl so there were about 5-6 cups of smashed berries (I just followed the directions in the pectin box).

Then I mixed in the lemon juice and pectin per instructions and added the sugar. Then it was stir stir stir...

When it had boiled for the right amount of time I filled the jars, put on the lids and then put them in my hot water canner. Boiled them for 10 minutes and that was it.

I took them out and set them all on some towels and listened to the happy sound of popping while the cans sealed. I now have 28 jars of jam sitting in my pantry. mmmmm. Oh wait...I take that back I have 26 jars in there. I took one to my mom for her birthday and gave one to the neighbor who watered our garden while we were gone.

I am looking forward to the tomatoes being ready so I can can some salsa! I also plan on doing peaches and applesauce this year.