I always think of August as my jam month, because blackberry is my favorite. I freeze both strawberries and raspberries as they ripen, and use them as well. As I'm munching my morning muffin with jam (made by a friend) I thought we might share some combinations that have worked well.

Peach, ginger, vanilla (real light on the extras) - this is my friend's and wow is it good
Blackberry with about a half cup of dark rum = Rumbleberry
Blueberry and raspberry = Blazberry
Raspberry with a stick of 70% cocoa added as the berries cook down
Peach and banana with some chopped maraschino cherries swirled in at the end

Good timing! Wondering what I could add to the peaches. Thanks!

You are adventurous. I always use straight strawberry or straight raspberry jam. Not that I would ever even THINK of making my own. I just buy mine in the store.

That surprises me Rita, with all the berries and produce you grow. Jam is so easy. I don't bother to process mine, and just check for any mold when I first crack the lid. Freezer jam is even easier, no cooking.

Arlene, my friend tells me she just puts a small chunk of peeled fresh ginger in with the peaches while they are cooking down, then removes it before filling the jars. She also says to go real light on the vanilla or it will overpower the peach. Try for a very subtle flavor with peach at the forefront.

Bonehead said:That surprises me Rita, with all the berries and produce you grow. Jam is so easy. I don't bother to process mine, and just check for any mold when I first crack the lid. Freezer jam is even easier, no cooking.

Too lazy I guess. I don't really like a complicated jam.

Rita, freezer jam is super easy! I personally think it tastes more like fresh fruit too.

Hey, you guys are expecting too much. I haven't even made refrigerator pickles and I have really wanted to do that for two years.

For me, I'm encouraging you cause I know I won't get around to it! Most likely!

Have you made freezer jam before?

Have you noticed how colorful we both are? Especially with the two posts one after another and all those reds and yellows in yummy veggies.

Yes, that's the only kind of jam I make anymore. We have a few berries that we don't eat so I have made some, mostly raspberry. It stays nice and bright color too! When you cook berries like strawberries, they darken. Not with freezer jam.

We are a colorful bunch, aren't we?

Ok, I will put freezer jam on my list of to do edibles from the garden along with refrigerator pickles and more tomato sauce and make more stewed tomatoes. It does sound yummy but I would not take any bets on my getting any of this done soon if I were you.

I really like my colorful veggie Avator and yours too Arlene. In fact yours was the inspiration for me to change mine.

My family's favorite is Peach and Raspberry. Peach Melba. I have to make a couple of batches every year or my husband gets testy. I like mixed berry, which for me is Blueberry, Strawberry, Raspberry and Blackberry all mixed together.

Oh the mixed berry sound good to me!

Melissa, when you make melba, do you just mix the peaches and raspberries together or layer it? I have raspberries as well and would like to do a melba.

I mix them together before cooking them down. The color is more red from the raspberries than peach colored, but the taste is out of this world. I use 3/4 peaches to 1/4 raspberries, if you want it more raspberrier (I don't think that's a word, but it works) do 2/3 peaches and 1/3 raspberries. Or I guess you could even do half and half, though I never have.

I rather like the idea of layering it also, that would be awful striking and your knife would naturally swirl them together. Would be a bit time consuming, but might be worth it.

I like the idea of layering. I think I'll give that a go!

I like raspberry jalapeno and strawberry jalapeno that we get at a farmers market. I have also tried other fruit jams with jalapeno added it give it a bit of a zing. So yummy! I am thinking of using jalapeno jam and just adding some of it to other fruit jams. I used to make jam but haven't in a long time since my DH doesn't care for jams.

Sounds good if you like jalapenos. I'm not particularly a fan so I'll pass.