strawberry fig preserves

My mama just visited us for a week and we had a great time. As usual, the time felt a little too short for my liking, but we made the most of it. One of the things we did was make strawberry fig preserves. Our fig tree is loaded with figs and I have been making all sorts of fig goodies (fig newtons, fig and ginger jam (this one in particular is ridiculously good), and figpote to name a few). It has been a lot of fun as this is my first year cooking with figs.

We recently had a storm that knocked a bunch of figs off the tree and unfortunately those have started to ferment and the ants, wasps, bumblebees and honey bees were swarming all over the ground as we tried to pick figs off the tree. The good news is that we are pretty sure they were all drunk on the fermented fig juice since they were not evenly remotely phased by us walking all around and over them. It was crazy! We did get plenty off the tree and there are so many more that aren't ripe yet. So, I see figs continuing to permeate my near future.

You probably can read the recipe that my mama brought to me, but I will type it out just in case. This recipe is very simple and quick.

Strawberry Fig Preserves

(makes about 7 half-pint jars)

3 cups mashed figs

3 cups sugar

2 small packages strawberry jello

1 package Sure Jell

1. Mix all the ingredients in a pot.

2. Cook over low to medium heat for about 10 minutes.

3. Spoon into prepared jars. (I wash my jars, place them on a cookie sheet and place them in an oven at 275 degrees until I am ready to use them. For my lids, I place them in water and bring to a boil and then turn off and leave them in the water until they are needed. I have had great success with them sealing using this method.)

Here are some photos from our process...

{Fresh figs washed and stems removed}

{Mashed figs. I prefer the hand squishing method. It brings me a similar joy to that of Amelie placing her hand in the sack of grain. Have I ever mentioned that is my favorite movie?}

{Mama measuring the sugar}

{All the ingredients layered in my measuring bowl}

{Beautiful preserves ready to eat!}