Homemade Strawberry Jam Recipe

Side story: You may skip this and jump to the recipe when you are pressed with time.

I am no domestic goddess but almost every weekend, I cook and prepare foods lovingly for my kids and my fellow epicurean husband. 

Last Sunday, we spent a lazy day at home. My gas fired oven arrived the day before and I wanted to give it a try by grilling some vegetables, pork belly and salmon for dinner. 

I instructed the hubby to bring G along to the mall (he wanted to buy some stationary supply for his home office) so that I could cook in peace. 

As usual, G protested and declared he only wants Mama! He was throwing a tantrum so I didn't force him anymore to go with his dad. 

When his dad left...

"Mama, I want to make strawberry jam with you", he pleaded with puppy eyes. 

G is such a darling. Just that he throws tantrum every now and then, perfectly normal for a toddler.

And so we made some strawberry jam. How could I afford to say no? 

Have I told you before G is a certified strawberry monster?

I think I did.

Obviously, strawberry is one of the regular fruits we stock up at home. Yes, thank goodness we almost never run out of it otherwise I would have to run to the supermarket last minute.

The recipe:

Here's how G and I made fresh strawberry jam:

Ingredients:

• 1 pint fresh strawberries, cut into small pieces
• lemon juice
• sugar

Directions:

• dissolve sugar in a heated saucepan under slow fire
• add lemon juice and wait for the sugar to dissolve
• add the freshly cut strawberries and continue to cook for few minutes
• set aside to cool and serve with toasted bread

I let G cut the strawberries with a blunt bread knife. He watches I Can Cook on Cbeebies and wants to get involve whenever I cook or prepare food. I have a Junior Masterchef in the making!

After we cooked, I took photos for posterity. G was so happy and even commented my set up was pretty.

When I was done shooting, I let him spread the jam on the bread. Guess what he did next? Totally unexpected!

He delivered the strawberry jam sandwich to K who was studying in her room and said, "Happy Birthday, Ate (big sis)!" 

K celebrated her 13th birthday the day before. So sweet of G, 'no? I was deeply touched by his gesture that I went the extra mile to light a birthday candle, stuck it on the bread and we sang the happy birthday song to K. 

Afterwhich, both of them made a wish and blew the candle.

G also ate strawberry jam sandwich and declared it is yummy. 

A tantrum turned into one beautiful story. Life is really what you make it.