Recipe: Blackberry, blackcurrant or strawberry jam

It couldn’t be easier to make homemade jam and yet the majority of us buy it at supermarkets. Here’s how to make your own

Makes 1 large jar

Ingredients:

600g (2½ cups) blackberries or blackcurrants or strawberries

4 tbsp chia seeds

1 tsp maple syrup to sweeten (if fruit is not sweet enough)

Method:

• Wash the fruit in a sieve under a running tap. Shake, then add to a saucepan.

• Place over a medium to low heat and gently warm the berries. They will release plenty of liquid.

• Turn the heat down to a simmer and allow the berries to cook until soft, then use a fork to mash until really smooth.

• Stir in the chia seeds and taste for sweetness. If necessary, add a little amount of maple syrup to sweeten.

• Store in a jar in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze in ice-cube trays to use as needed.

This recipe first appeared in the 2019 April edition of Irish Country Magazine. It is from The Baby- Friendly Family Cookbook by Aileen Cox Blundell, published by Gill Books.