Fall Berry Conserve Recipes

FALL BERRY CONSERVE

Steps:

• Combine cranberries, sugar, and port in heavy large saucepan.
• Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium-low; add chopped orange and grated ginger and simmer until cranberries burst and mixture thickens slightly, about 15 minutes.
• Mix in dried cherries and blueberries. Cool fall berry conserve completely. Stir in pecans and candied ginger. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate.)

GRAPE-WALNUT CONSERVE

Steps:

• Bring 1 1/2 pounds seedless green grapes, 3/4 cup sugar, 4 wide strips orange zest, 1/4 cup raisins, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly and mashing the grapes against the side of the pan with a wooden spoon, until the mixture coats the spoon, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped walnuts. Fill sterilized jars, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace, then seal and process (see Cook's Note) for 15 minutes.

BERRY JAM

Steps:

• Toss berries and sugar together in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Let sit for at least 15 minutes and up to overnight, periodically tossing to coat and to dissolve the sugar. (This will help coax the juices out of the fruit.)
• Place a small plate in the refrigerator to chill. (You'll use this later.)
• Bring the fruit to a strong simmer over medium heat until the berries burst and the juices start to boil, about 15 minutes. If using a vanilla bean as an add-in, put it in the pot at this point.
• Increase the heat to medium-high. Cook the jam, at first stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon or spatula, then more frequently as the juices thicken. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated and the fruit has begun to break down, 40 to 50 minutes. How much it breaks down will depend on its type and ripeness: For example, strawberries are likely to retain more of their shape, while raspberries will break down almost entirely.
• As the jam cooks, the liquid will reduce, the sugars thicken and the natural pectins activate. You'll notice the liquid go from a rapid, rolling boil with smaller bubbles to a slow, thick, tarlike boil with larger bubbles: This is the stage at which it's most important to stir constantly along the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching and sticking. (Sugar is heavier than water and will concentrate there, increasing the chance that the fruit will burn.) It's also the stage at which splattering may occur, so take care in stirring.
• Once the jam reaches a slow, thick boil, add lemon juice and continue to cook, stirring constantly until the jam returns to its earlier consistency, about another 5 minutes. To test the consistency, spoon a bit of jam onto the chilled plate, return it to the refrigerator and chill for 2 minutes. Drag your finger through it: It should hold its shape on either side without appearing watery or runny. If it's not there yet, cook a few minutes more. (Note: Some fruit, like strawberries, contain more water and less natural pectin than say, a raspberry. This means the jam will never be quite as thick or gelled, but it will still be delicious).
• Remove from heat, and incorporate any of the add-ins listed (see notes). Pick out vanilla bean if you added it earlier. Divide jam between several 8-ounce canning jars, leaving 1/4-inch head space, and seal immediately. Can the jams (see our How to Make Jam guide for more instruction), or store in the refrigerator, using them within a couple of weeks.

FALL BERRY CONSERVE

Steps:

• combine cranberries, sugar, and Port in saucepan. bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissovles. reduce heat add orange and simmer until cranberries burst and mixture thickens, about 15 minutes. mix in dried cherries and pecans. cover tightly and refrigerate

BLUEBERRY CONSERVE

Steps:

• Bring water and sugar to a boil; add lemon, orange and raisins.
• Simmer 5 minutes.
• Stir in blueberries.
• Cook rapidly until thick, about 30 minutes.
• As mixture thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking.
• Ladle hot conserve into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace.
• Adjust two-piece caps.
• Process 15 minutes in a boiling-water canner.
• Remove from boiling-water.
• Cover with dry towel.
• Let stand until caps seal.
• Allow to cool completely before moving.