Most Delicious Strawberry Jam

In the gloom and cold of the day, we went to the Farmer's Market in Jacksonville Florida, something that my husband and I both enjoy.  I bought the sweetest strawberries that I have ever tasted and I just heard that the strawberry production is down in Florida.  What?

I also bought beautiful yellow lemons, vine ripe tomatoes, sweet onions, and . . .

Ingredients for the Strawberry Jam:

Four (4) dry pint baskets of ripe, washed, hulled, and chopped Strawberries
Five (5) cups of granulated sugar
Juice of one lemon, plus finely chopped rind of 1/2 a lemon

Combine sugar and strawberries in large pot and set aside for about 2 hours.  Stir occasionally.

Slowly bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.  Add a tablespoon of margarine to reduce foaming.

Add lemon juice and rind, bring to a boil, and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Here is the tricky part for me:  The jam is now supposed to be ready but it is runny.  I let it simmer for an additional 20 - 35 minutes and spot checked now and then for jelling by dipping up a teaspoon of the jam to see if it would form a thin "skin" and drip somewhat slow.  If it does, it is "done".  Now, that is being scientific!

I filled my clean jars, sealed them with hot melted wax, and put the tops on them.  That is it for me.

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