Deluxe blackberry jam

[chloeg]

I have picked at least 10 pounds of blackberries already this year, in west wales, and have been experimenting with making jam. I find that 4 and a half pound of fruit, mashed in a pan on full heat, and then adding 2 pounds of sugar, works well. Allow it to cook for half an hour and test for a set. You can make it even more fancy by adding cardamon pods - fish these out when the jam is done or someone will get an unexpected mouthfull - mixed spice, or my favourite, infusing a vanilla pod with the berries. You can intensify the flavour by opening up the pod, scraping out the black seeds inside and adding it to the jam. It comes out a gorgeous dark purple colour, so save your prettiest jars for it. I find brown parcel paper makes a good label, which is thin enough to stick on with P stick type glues.