Century Farmhouse Christmas Jam

Every Christmas I make a pot of cranberry jam. This recipe is one of my favorites as it is crafted with fruits that I don’t often include in jams and it also contains whiskey vanilla which adds a piquant touch of sweetness.

Lest you think all I do is add whiskey to every bit of my food, please know that that whiskey is actually a vanilla extract that I not only make, but use to flavor all kinds of foods. As a matter of fact, it is so easy to make that I have included the recipe below. It makes a great gift as well!

How to make Whiskey Vanilla:

Ingredients:

1 vanilla bean for every half-liter of whiskey (or other alcohol, such as vodka)

I like to make this in a canning jar, then decant to a pretty bottle when ready. You can make it right in the whiskey bottle if you'd like.

Split the vanilla bean(s) lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Place the bean(s) into the whiskey, replace the cover, and shake vigorously. Allow the bottle to sit on the counter - more to remind you to give it a good shake every day than anything else - and shake it daily for about three weeks. Decant to a pretty bottle. The vanilla makes a wonderful gift, and is used as you would use commercial vanilla extract in baking and cooking.

Ingredients :

2 lbs. cranberries

1 c. finely chopped dried figs

¼ c. finely chopped candied ginger

1/3 vanilla bean

1½ c. water

4½ c. sugar

1/3 c. whiskey vanilla (recipe below) or plain whiskey

Rinse the cranberries in a colander and sort them as you put them in a large, stainless pot removing soft or discolored berries. Add the figs and candied ginger and the vanilla bean (I just cut off part of the bean that has been soaking in the whiskey vanilla on my counter. If you use a bean straight from the tube, split the piece lengthwise and scrape out the seeds and add them to the pot too). Add the water, stir the fruit, and begin to heat on medium heat until the cranberries are splitting open and the fruit mixture begins to boil. Use the back of the spoon to press unopened cranberries to the sides of the pot to split them.

When the mixture is quite thick and has begun to boil, add the sugar all at once and stir until it is dissolved. Cook over medium heat until the jam is thick and shiny. Remove from the heat and stir in the whiskey vanilla. Allow the jam to steep for an hour or so.

While the jam is resting, begin to assemble the equipment needed to process the jam in pretty jars.

Reheat the jam to boiling. If it is particularly stiff, add about ¼ c. water and a splash or two of the whiskey, then stir to incorporate the liquids into the jam. Eventually you'll find that vanilla bean as you stir - remove it when you find it and discard it. When the jam has started to boil, pour it into hot jars and process in a hot water bath according to safe canning standards. Remove the jars from the water and allow to cool, then check the seals. Label and share as gifts or save to eat on Christmas Day. What a treat!