Wondering if anyone knows where I can buy canning products to make my own jams. I've seen some jars at City Super but they don't have the pans or pectin etc. Any help would be much appreciated!
I don't know what fruit you will be using but if using fruit naturally high in pectin Great did have jam sugar - I don't remember whether it sells perserving sugar for other fruits.
Pans, well I think you can use a large heavy-gauge pan - not a non-stick of course - if you can't find a preserving pan or don't want the extra expense. Try giving a call to Pantry Magic, the Pan Handler or I Love Kitchen which has copper-based pans.
To make strawberry jam using jam sugar, take 1kg of strawberries (hulled and halved), 560g of jam sugar and the zest and juice of one lemon.
Put the sugar, juice and zest of the lemon in a large pan and heat slowly until the sugar is melted. Add the strawberries and stir gently. Bring to the boil and cook for 3-4 minutes, or 10 minutes if you want thicker jam. Leave it to cool slightly, skim off any froth with a clean spoon. Spoon it into a sterile jam jar and seal.
If you excess oranges, I have a recipe for making small quantities of microwave marmalade also using jam sugar.
Saw that Great also has the preserving sugar. And jam sugar can alos be found in some Park'n'Shop stores.
Here is the recipe for microwave marmalade which makes 800g. I find that's enough for us without tiring of it.
Ingredients
275g oranges (if you can get Seville on your travels, they are the best)
Juice of 1 lemon and "shells"
500g jam sugar
Method
1. Cut the oranges into quarters, and remove the pips. Put the pips and lemon shells onto muslin square and tie with string to make a bag. Finely slice oranges and put in a 3-litre bowl (or bigger if possible to prevent splashes) with the bag, lemon juice and 300 ml boiling water. Cover and soak for 1 hour.
2. Add 200ml boiling water. Microwave on High for 20 minutes, stirring after 10, until peel is tender. Add the sugar and stir to dissolve.
3. Microwave on High for 25 minutes until setting point is reached, stirring every 5 minutes. Be careful as the mixture can get very hot.
4. Stand for 15 minutes, then stir and ladle into jars.