Jam - Strawberry and Blueberry!

On Friday we went to Costco and got a bunch of strawberries and blueberries (along with many other things); I decided since we had 4 lbs of blueberries and 8 lbs of strawberries we should make jam (I wanted to make sure it didn't go to waste). My mother came over and we made jam out of all the blueberries and half the strawberries. It didn't take as long as I thought it would and we managed to make a bunch of other stuff also.

The container the berries were in.

We used the recipe that comes in the box of pectin. We decided to do both jams at the same time so we could have a few mixed jars. Start the water canner by filling 1/2 full of water and bring to simmer. Sterilize the jars and put the lids in boiling water to sit (not on the heat).

Crushed Strawberries

For strawberry jam you need 6 cups crushed berries (about 4 lbs whole); for blueberry jam you need 6 1/2 cups crushed berries (about 4 lbs whole) and 1/2 cup water. Crush the berries leaving as big of chunks as you like in you jams (some like no chunks others like large chunks) and put into a big pan with water (blueberry jam only).

Crushed Strawberries with pectin in front; Crushed Blueberries with pectin in back

Measure the sugar out into a separate bowl; from the sugar in the bowl take 1/4 cup of it and put into another bowl with a box of no sugar pectin. Mix together well and add to the fruit or fruit and water in the pot. Bring mixture to a rolling boil on high heat stirring constantly.

Make sure your fruit & sugar measurements are exact!

Sugar measured out for both jams (strawberry - left; blueberry - right)

Stir in remainder of sugar quickly and return to a rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Ladle quickly into prepared jars leaving 1/8 inch head space. Process in water canner for 10 minutes.

15 - 1/2 pints cooling after canning (3 mixed, 7 blueberry, 5 strawberry)

Made 15 - 1/2 pints with another 3.5 - 1/2 pints left over (foam, crushed strawberry and blueberry jam) that I used for waffles.

Cost run down (not sure I'm doing this right):
15 - 1/2 pint jars (12 - 1/2 pint jar cost $4.53 + 9% sales tax = $4.94 or $0.42/jar) = $6.30
2 containers of Blueberries from Costco cost $7.99 x 2 = $15.98 ($4/lb or $2/cup)
1 container of Strawberries from Costco cost $6.49 = $6.49 ($1.63/lb or $0.82/cup)
8.5 cups of sugar (10 lbs sugar from Costco cost $4.75 = $0.48/lb or $0.24/cup) = $2.04
2 boxes of pectin from Winco cost $1.98 x 2 = $3.96

Total cost $34.77; made a total of 18.5 - 1/2 pints total. Price per jar is $1.88 not including labor, electric and water for canning process.