Cashin's Opened Yesterday

Guess what Alan and I did. What a difference a year makes. With the nasty late frost last year and the relentless rains, they only picked five days at our favorite self pick farm. We never got any berries for jam. I bought a few organic berries across the river, simply because they were all that I could find, but they were absurdly expensive and sour...probably because of the weather.

Thus when the kids said the sign was out just down the road on 5S we went right out and picked ten quarts. I made two batches of jam and froze most of the rest. (Some simply must be eaten....on ice cream...not on ice cream...right out of the berry box...on the way home....)

I would have made a lot more jam, but there seems to be a Sure-Jell shortage. I had a couple of boxes left from last year but not enough to process ten quarts of berries....Alan found me some fruit pectin by Ball up at Price Chopper, but alas it is the no sugar kind. I have no interest in using it as you have to add other fruit juice. If I am going to make jams and jellies I am not going to buy commercial grape juice so I can do it. We are going to have to do a concentrated Sure-Jell hunt and soon, as the berry season is short and the jelly cravings are long. If you see any when you are out shopping I would be wildly grateful if you dropped me a note in the comments. Have a great day!

***Update, Becky found a goodly supply in Cobleskill. Thank you all for suggestions