RECIPE: Vanilla Strawberry Jam AND Ball Fresh TECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker Review and Giveaway!

**This giveaway is now closed. See below for the winner!**

I was asked to try out one of the newest Ball brand canning products, the Fresh TECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker earlier this summer and since I have an affinity for mason jars, canning my lovely garden produce and, well, anything Ball brand I was in!

The Fresh TECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker allows anyone interested in creating their own jams and jellies the opportunity to do so in 30 minutes or less with the push of a button.  It is so rad and it really is THAT easy! Once your jam or jelly is made you can eat it right away, refrigerate it for up to 3 weeks, or you may can it to enjoy up to a year later!

I've got to tell you how much I really love this machine!  I'll be honest that I had seen it when it first came out and didn't get the point of it.  I mean how hard is it to make your jam on the stovetop?  Well, let me just tell you that it's not hard to make jam on your stovetop, really it's not.  But it is HOT! Whenever I can jam my kitchen becomes a hot mess, literally and figuratively.  It seems like the temperature rises to 100 degrees easily with one giant pot of boiling water plus another big pot with my strawberry jam cooking away that I need to stand near and stir so it gels up just right.  The Fresh TECH takes the heat right out of making jam.  Like a crockpot it heats up your jam or jelly but keeps the rest of your kitchen nice and cool, plus it stirs it for you so there is no need to stand around a hot stove mixing and stirring and on and on and on!  LOVE!!!

And the Fresh TECH machine is about the size of a standard crockpot and the pot portion comes away from the base for easy cleaning. There are only 4 parts to the machine, the base, the pot, the lid, and the stirring blade so its really easy to clean afterwards too!

When I received my Fresh TECH we had just gone strawberry picking so making jam was on my brain...and it was the perfect time to try out my new appliance :-)

I made some Vanilla Strawberry Jam and it rocked our socks off...it was sooo good!  Just think Strawberry Jam with a hint of vanilla...nom! Let me show you how I made it and how the Fresh TECH works!

Vanilla Strawberry Jam (makes 2 half pint canning jars)

.4 oz packet of Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin

1 1/3 cups washed and crushed strawberries

1/3 cup water

1/2 cup evaporated cane sugar, granulated sugar, sugar substitute, or honey

1/2 vanilla bean

1. Sprinkle packet of pectin evenly around the base of the Fresh TECH pot fitted with the stirrer.  

2. Add crushed strawberries evenly over the pectin (may add 1/2 tsp butter or margarine to the pot at this time to reduce foaming).

3. Press the JAM button.  The cook time will automatically default to 21 minutes.  Press ENTER.

4. Wait 4 minutes for the appliance to sound 4 short beeps indicating that it is time to add the sugar.  Add sugar gradually while the stirring blade continues to run.

5. Place lid over pot and let the Fresh TECH continue to stir the jam.  It will beep again once jam cooking is complete.

6. Press CANCEL, unplug the machine, and immediately remove the lid.

7. Remove the stirrer using a pot holder, the jam and inside of the machine will be very hot. You can skim foam at this time as well.

8. Preserve jam using method of your choice...refrigerate, freeze, or can.

Ok, so this is really easy peasy! 

A whole bowl of washed fresh strawberries...check!

Crush your berries until you have 1 1/3 cups of them and set aside.

Grab a packet of Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin!

And sprinkle it evenly over the base of the pot with the stirrer in place!

Then add the crushed strawberries over top...nice and evenly!

Start the Fresh TECH by pressing the JAM button. See how the 21 minutes pops up automatically?  Ok, now push ENTER. The machine will get hot and start cooking your jam, all the while stirring it ever so nicely.

While you are waiting for the machine to sound off 4 beeps to let you know it's ready for you to add in the sugar, slice a vanilla bean in half so you can see all that delicious caviar inside.

When the machine beeps, add in your 1/2 cup sugar and your opened vanilla bean half.

Place the lid on and let the Fresh TECH cook your jam while you go do something other than stand by your stove stirring a pot of jam, yahoo!

Ok, once the machine beeps again indicating it is done cooking your jam, Take the lid off and remove the hot stirrer carefully!

Then ladle your delicious, homemade Vanilla Strawberry Jam into two half-pint jars....Mmmm!

I placed mine in our refrigerator and they were both gone in 2 days flat!  This jam is seriously so dang good!

Ok, now who is interested in winning one of these babies?

Ball brand canning products if offering ONE of my lucky readers ONE Fresh TECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker as well as a coupon for a FREE case of Ball canning jars....woooohooo!

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter or CLICK HERE now!
**The winner is...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

XOXO,

** I have been compensated for this post. However, all opinions are truthful and my own.  This post contains paid links.