The Cottage Smallholder

Oh Lord, don't apologise, I really appreciate your help and know how difficult it is because making jams and chutneys - as I have discovered is all about look, and taste and texture.

I have taken it off heat and added 1 1/2 tablespoons of the dreaded Certo. There is a bit of skin forming on the jam so I am going to try another saucer test and if still too runny then I'll boil again. I do hate potting it all up and then having to empty it out to reboil and would rather phaff around a bit this way first.

I'm not really sure what pineapple jam should look like myself  but I'm fairly sure they would not thank me if it was too runny (young kids and runny jam do not mix).

Thanks anyway Val - nice to have someone to winge to. I'm still trying to find time to have a go at my lemon marmalade

Thanks everyone.

 I think on this occasion I'll just have to resort to the Certo. I even used half jam sugar and half granulated - maybe next time (if there is a next time) I'll use all jam sugar.

It is just about the stickiest jam I have ever made

I just hope the little ankle biters like it

Yes I did add water as per this recipe.

After mincing the flesh of the fruit measure it and add 500ml of water for every 500mls of fruit. I had 600 mls of fruit but still only added 500mls of water because I was a bit worried it might be too liquidy. However, I did add juice of 1 1/2 lemons as well.

Do you think it might have been too much water?

I have potted it up and have 4 jars of jam (just checked them and it has set fine!!) They were outside and the temperature has really dropped in last hour so hope it was ok to put them out there to cool. 

I used 1 large pineapple and one medium size.

Hopefully, I wont have to do this too often as it was really messy.

That sounds really interesting - would love to know how it turns out. I think you are on to a winner if you can find a liquer that takes away some of the sweetness. I added a bit more lemon juice - as I do with most of my jams that are for our own use because I dont like them over sweet.

The children next door consume quite a lot of jam and their parents like my jam because they know it doesn't have any nasties in it - which is why I was concerned about the Certo. I will tell them I had to add a little bit to the mix but I dont think they will mind. It will still be a lot better than the commercially produced stuff they have to rely on. I put the fruit in a blender because they prefer it smooth to chunky and that was only recipe I knew about. I will make a note of yours though - just in case I get tempted again.

The pineapples were £1 each, so quite good value. I think they often have them cheaper in Lidl's or Aldi but I had no time to pop there to look so got mine from local Waitrose.

Good Luck with your recipe, it does sound yummy.

Ha ha ...Mel, if thats the only one that made you go  then I am very envious indeed. Making jams and chutneys and jellies has been a real adventure for me. I am totally hooked but have had so many days of  and  and  and finally  that sometimes I think I must be truly useless.

I never realised how little confidence I had in my own skills until I started making jams etc. I am a little bit OCD and hate muddling through so everything has to go right and according to recipes  or I get all flustered and panic.

Well I am learning fast that you have to have a bit of instinct and faith in yourself and now I have a pantry with shelves laden with my efforts and the fact that 'most ' of them turned out as they should have is really satisfying (we wont talk about the nightmare that was meant to be beetroot jelly ).

My pineapple jam efforts worked out well in the end although I'm waiting to hear from the harshest critics of all (the children next door who it was made for). At least it did set in the end so that was something of a triumph. I'm just trying to lure them away from it onto something easier and more enjoyable to make now.

Hi Martin " thanks for info, that's really interesting.

I suffer with a very poor digestion and even a glass of water can make me burp (sorry, not sure if there is a nicer way to put that). Funny thing is, my mother did as well and we all used to giggle when she burped but now I realise just how annoying and often embarrassing it can be. I wonder if eating pineapple could aid digestion?

Edited to say: Chris...yoohoo, how did your pineapple jam turnout?