[Val H]

Would I use both the jam sugar and pectin or is it one or the other.

One or the other - don't use both or you'll end up with a jam that is that set you can't spread it!

[SarahB]

Would I use both the jam sugar and pectin or is it one or the other.

Pectin gives the set, in acid conditions.  Jam sugar is ordinary sugar with pectin and a bit of citric acid already added.  Preserving sugar has no pectin in it - it's just a type of sugar that's supposed to give a clearer result.  Some fruits (citrus, apple, blackcurrant and others) have enough pectin that you don't have to add any. 

Strawberry is low pectin and low acid, so jam sugar is the easiest thing to use.  If you use ordinary sugar and powdered pectin (or a pectin stock), then adding a little bit of lemon juice will help to get a set.

[Livinhope]

Makes me wonder how my gran managed to make such good jam when the sugar came in blocks and has to be scraped like you did with salt.

[Livinhope]

VAL.

This definitely in the wrong place but.... on your site in the blueberry muffin recipe it says 2 heaped TABLESPOONS baking powder.  I this correct?

[Val H]

It's not my recipe but, given the other ingredients and the amount it makes, it would seem to be about right. Must admit to not having tried this recipe though.

[Livinhope]

Thank you.  We have some new blueberry bushes which are going to yield quite a bit of fruit and if I mess up their first year I will be muddered.

[Livinhope]

Maybe  not.... just rechecked the quantities and your site recipe is 30 oz flour as opposed to 11 ozs so its probably right

[gypsy]

Lots of us buy sugar either for preserving or making alcohol.  Can I ask that you post on here your cheap bargains in response to sugar?

At the moment Asda have 2 for £1.50 on 1kg packs of sugar, therefore 75p per kilo.  Anyone got anything cheaper?

Home Bargains 69p per kg

[Cazzy]

Farmfoods are doing Silver Spoon 2k for £1

Cheapest I've found yet and grown in the UK (East Anglia)

[Livinhope]

Here in the affluent (Huh) south we don't seem to have these shops and certainly not the bargains. 

[Elcie]

Farmfoods are doing Silver Spoon 2k for £1

Cheapest I've found yet and grown in the UK (East Anglia)

That is a brilliant deal, might have to pop there over the weekend and stock up!

[Paul Plots]

Here in the affluent (Huh) south we don't seem to have these shops and certainly not the bargains. 

Tis true.... often notice how many things are cleaper and easier to obtain up in the Smoke or even further beyond the Watford Gap 

[Livinhope]

Not really fair is it that  us peasants have to suffer for the few

[mumofstig]

Here in the affluent (Huh) south we don't seem to have these shops and certainly not the bargains. 

Tis true.... often notice how many things are cleaper and easier to obtain up in the Smoke or even further beyond the Watford Gap 

you must live in a posh area  that doesn't say a lot for Ashford, but we have a Wilkos a poundshop and one of those, can't remember name, shops that moved into the Woolworth's stores. So we do get bargains   

[Paul Plots]

Here in the affluent (Huh) south we don't seem to have these shops and certainly not the bargains. 

Tis true.... often notice how many things are cleaper and easier to obtain up in the Smoke or even further beyond the Watford Gap 

you must live in a posh area  that doesn't say a lot for Ashford, but we have a Wilkos a poundshop and one of those, can't remember name, shops that moved into the Woolworth's stores. So we do get bargains   

Posh area?    Not my bit of the town...  :blink: