Chocolate Raspberry Jam

It's a cold rainy day, my iPhone died and I have a good burn on my right hand. All the more reason to stay home and eat chocolate!

The original title for today's offering was, "Chocolate Raspberry Sunday Topper", which of course, you may certainly use this recipe for that purpose. However, we tweaked the original recipe, doubled the Cocoa, increased the lemon juice and added a nice chili powder (purely optional). This, my friends, leaves the original recipe in the dust. Now we have an honest to goodness, pass the spoons around, lick the jar clean, Chocolate Jam!

CHOCOLATE JAM!

Yes, I'll wait until your pulse slows down.

I know what you're thinking. You must be doing something right in order to have lived long enough to have chocolate for breakfast.

I know, it makes me happy too!

My little group of "Canning B's" (my Sept. 20 canning class) decided this would be delicious over a nice round of warm French Triple Cream Brie, with toasted brioche. I will let you decide.

Note: This recipe can be halved, and it can be put in glass jars and kept in the fridge for at least a 2-3 months if you choose NOT to can it. I promise you this, it will not last very long.

Chocolate Raspberry Jam

Makes: ( 6) 8oz. jars or (12) 4 oz. jars

1 cup sifted unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 Package (1.75 oz) regular powdered fruit pectin
4 1/2 cups Crushed red Raspberries (use frozen, or freeze fresh berries for higher Juice yield)
8 Tbl Lemon Juice (you must use bottled lemon juice, they do make an organic one)
6 3/4 cups granulated sugar
2-3 Tbl ground Pasilla chili powder (optional)

1. Prepare canner, jars, lids (if you've taken my class, you KNOW how to do this!)

2. In a medium bowl combine cocoa powder and pectin, stirring until evenly blended, set aside.

3. In a large stainless saucepan ( 2- 3 quarts), over low heat , combine crushed raspberries and lemon juice, whisk in pectin/cocoa mixture until pectin is dissolved. The mixture will look “muddy”. Raise heat to medium high and bring mixture to a boil, stir frequently. Next, add sugar all at once, stir and return to a full rolling boil (you may need to raise heat to high) for one full minute, stir constantly. Remove from heat and skim off foam. Add Pasilla powder at this time if using.

4. Ladle hot Jam in to hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles from the jar with a knife, and adjust head space, by adding more jam if needed. Wipe rim, center lid on jar and screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to fingertip tight.

5. Place jars in canner, ensuring they are completely covered with water, and place lid on pot. Bring water to a boil and process for 15 minutes (for Colorado) ; 10 minutes at Sea Level. Remove lid from canner, wait 5 minutes, then remove jars, cool 12-24 hours before moving. Label and store.

Enjoy,

Chef Deb T

Our Next Canning Classes:

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 10:00a -1:00p Fee: $55 p/p

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 10:00a -1:00p Fee: $55 p/p

Space is still available:

303.817.4313