Damsons make superb jam, one of the best. It is an old-fashioned fruit, which isn’t so often used commercially for preserving. The bold and traditional

Makes about 2½ cups   INGREDIENTS 1 pound plums, halved and stoned 2 cups warmed sugar   INSTRUCTIONS Place the plums in a pan with

Let’s face it, strawberry jam is the real classic. This fragile fruit isn’t a great keeper, so for the best jam, capture the fruit at

Gooseberries and strawberries make a good partnership as the higher pectin levels found in gooseberries offset the lower levels in the strawberries. Makes about 5

Some people like jam with lots of seeds in it; some don’t. With raspberry jam you have a choice. If you love the flavor of

White currants are another fruit with a lovely tart flavor, which makes them just perfect for jam making. This jam, with its additional chili kick,

This combination seems so French to me. With its softer, syrupy set, this preserve might be eaten as a dessert, perhaps with unsweetened whipped cream.

This jam contains slightly less sugar than most, resulting in a softer set, and the apricots are left in big chunks. Because of this, it

Makes about 4¾ cups   INGREDIENTS 4 pints blackberries 1 star anise 3 cloves 1 small cinnamon stick 4 nectarines (approx. ½ pound when skinned

Makes about 3¾ cups   INGREDIENTS 4 pints blackberries 1 star anise 3 cloves 1 small cinnamon stick juice of 2 lemons 3 cups warmed