Strawberry Jam

I love strawberries. But I normally don't buy them. I mean I don't buy them as part of our weekly grocery from the supermarket. There are two reasons for that. The are over priced and they taste nothing like strawberries! So don't judge me for not willing to pay a hand and leg for something that taste slightly worse than rubber. So we just get strawberries when we go for fruit picking at a farm or from the farmer's market or from a super market (yes I know....) when my hands are itching to try out a new recipe. Since it's a not a nice fruit picking weather yet and I saw strawberries in abundance at the local Tesco for just £1 per box I thought I'll give then a shot.

Verdict : Exceptionally sweet & juicy strawberries. Tesco never stops to amaze me...impressing me again just when I thought I'll give up shopping at Tesco :).

Nobody in my house is a ''Jam'' person. Not even Little T. She loves strawberries though. The only jam we all love is the Kissan mango jam :D. But I had this Strawberry Jam at my friend Monica's house when we were in Kolkata and I loved it. By ''Loved it'' I mean I was licking a spoonful of jam every now and then. She made it at home and it was OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD! Trust me! She gave me the recipe quite sometime back and as soon as I saw the strawberries at Tesco I couldn't stop myself from craving for that spoon licking kind of jam again. 

Strawberry Jam

Ingredients : 

Large juicy strawberries - 600 gm (will be enough to make a small jar like in the picture)

Sugar - 2 tbsp + 2 cups (more if the strawberries are not sweet enough or as per your taste)

Water - 1 cup

Juice of 1 lime

Bark of Cassia or Cinnamon Stick - 1 inch 

Method : 

Roughly chop the strawberries and place in a saucepan. Sprinkle 2 tbsp of sugar and the lime juice. Mix well with a spoon and mash up a little with your fingers. Keep aside for 10-15 minutes.

Add the cassia or cinnamon sticks to the strawberries and put the pan on flame and start stirring slowly. Once the sugar has melted add the water and bring to boil, stirring carefully so that it doesn't burn. Lower the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes stirring continuously and watching it like a hawk...quite literally!

Once the quantity is reduced to half it should be done. Do a quick test by placing a spoon of jam on a cold plate and keep in the fridge for 5 minutes. If it's set and doesn't move much when you tilt the plate it's done. If not then put it back on heat for 5 more minutes and do a test again. 

Once it's done cool it down and pour in a sterilised glass jar. It can be kept in the refrigerator upto a month. Slather on a crumpet and enjoy it the British way! :)