Not-Too-Sweet Raspberry Jam

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole raspberries, fresh or frozen
• 2 cups applesauce
• 2 tsp bottled lemon juice
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 pkg Certo Light pectin powder
• ¼ tsp cooking oil (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine raspberries, applesauce and lemon juice in a heavy-bottomed pot. 
(The pot should be at least twice as deep as the contents to allow for a good rolling boil.)
2. Bring to a boil and stir until raspberries are broken into pieces.
3. Use a spoon to mash stubborn ones.
4. If you wish, press mixture through a mesh colander with the back of a spoon to remove some of the seeds.
5. Add sugar all at once; continue to boil until it is completely dissolved, stirring constantly.
6. Add pectin powder and boil gently for another 5 minutes.
7. Skim off any foam that forms on the surface, or add 
¼ tsp cooking oil to disperse the foam.
8. Using a metal spoon, do a gel test* to determine if the jam has reached the gel point. If not, continue to cook the jam at a low boil until the gel point is reached. Stir to prevent scorching.
9. Ladle hot jam into clean, hot canning jars.
10. Leave ½ inch of headspace between jam and rim of the jar.
11. Close jars, finger-tight.
12. Close all jars finger-tight and process in boiling-water-bath canner for 10 minutes for pints and 15 minutes for quarts.
13. Remove immediately and let stand until lids “pop” down.
14. After 24 hours, check seals by pressing on the tops of jars.
15. If any lids spring back when pressed down, they are not properly sealed.
16. Refrigerate any unsealed jars and use within 3 weeks.
17. Label your preserves, including date, and store in a cool place out of direct sunlight.
18. At this point, jar rings can be removed and reused.

Notes

*Gel Test for Jam: Chill 2 or 3 small plates in freezer. Remove jam from heat while doing the test. Place 1 tsp hot jam or jelly on plate and freeze for 1 minute. Remove from freezer. Surface should wrinkle when edge is pushed with finger. If not, continue cooking your jam or jelly, and repeat test every few minutes.