Afternoon activities for kids, making jam

A long time ago before the advent of celebrity chefs when the only cookery book I had was by Delia Smith I was struck by her saying that it is good for you to drop a  lobster into a pot of boiling water because it makes you realise that food is a cycle and that everything we eat should have been grown or walked. as I said it was a long time ago so I hope she'll forgive me if I've misquoted her.
I might have been rather over zealous with her advice with my daughter who was about five at the time. When I told her that the ham she was eating had come from a pig she dropped her knife and fork and stared at me in alarm. Her bottom lip wobbled and her eyes were enormous.
'This.. comes... from.. a little.. piggy?!' It was terrible I can tell you I felt a real heel.

I was reminded of this today, food and its' origins, when I told my grandson we were going to make strawberry jam.
He politely and firmly told me  that there was no need. His daddy and mummy bought theirs from a shop and they liked it very much.
I had already prepared the fruit and weighed out the sugar and set out all the equipment so I just calmly carried on.
 Of course being a naturally inquisitive little boy he was soon joining in and helping me to cut up the fruit and mix in the sugar.
He watched with interest throughout and when it was all in the jars he offered to paint a label.

Strawberry jam is one of the easiest to make as it requires little or no pectin, but as I was making it for a child and they need things to be done quickly we used the powder so we only needed to boil it for 3 minutes.
I hope you like it.

Strawberry jam

1 kg or 2 lbs washed strawberries, cut into small pieces
350g sugar
1 packet of pectin powder

Mix the sugar and the powder together.
Put the prepared strawberries in a large saucepan and add the sugar mixture.
Bring to the boil and let it bubble away for about 3 minutes.
you can test it by putting a small amount on a cold plate, if it sets it's ready.
Pour the jam into sterile jars and turn them upside down for 5 minutes. This part must be done by an adult obviously and the children kept well away.
Let it cool completely before opening.

Delicious on bread and butter, scones and cream, banana splits, jam tarts etc.

As I was going to Strawberry fair
Rifle rifle toddle idle idle
I  met a maiden bright and fair
Toddle eeee
Her eyes were blue and golden her hair
As she went on to Strawberry Fair.........

Just the sort of thing you might sing while making strawberry jam.

Strawberry families having fun

A home made label adds charm

Just a few ingredients and ready to go

Four friends