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Country Kitchen:
Those Fascinating Jam & Jelly Glasses
By Mary Emma Allen
When we think of jams and jellies, either homemade or those purchased at
a
store, we seldom consider the containers. Nowadays, the jars may have
various shapes,
but generally are fairly standard in size and design unless a
manufacturer has a
commemorative one made for a special celebration..
The jars we use when making jams and jellies at home may have a slight
design
on the outside. However, most are plain and come in pint and half pint
sizes.
Jelly Jars of Yesteryear
That wasn’t the case in days ago. Although many jelly and jam jars were
plain
and utilitarian, others were containers to save and are sought by jar
collectors today.
These were made in fancy designs, some even created from blown glass.
As I explored the history of jelly glasses, I discovered that the first
jars made
expressly for jelly apparently appeared in the late 1600s. These
generally were designed
with a narrower bottom and wider top.
Some were made with designs in the glass. Thus if a cook inverted the
jam or
jelly onto a dish, an impression remained in the food.
Jelly Jar Manufacturers
Along with making canning jars, some manufacturers produced jars
specifically
for jams and jellies. These might be of blown glass in the 1800s, then
eventually with
patterns with names like Daisy, Clover, Rose of Sharon, Sugar Pear, and
Diamond
Panels. These resembled, a great deal, the Depression glassware of the
1920s and 1930s.
Some of these had handles, like cups, or long stems similar to goblets.
So when
you see single cups, glasses, and goblets, some may be for jams and
jellies, not
necessarily belonging to a set of dinnerware or glassware.
Before metal lids were made for jelly jars, cooks used what was on
hand...a
leather covering, a bladder stretched over the top, or paper soaked in
brandy and then tied
on tightly.
Explore the Realm of Jelly Jars
With the coming of summer’s jam and jelly season, you might want to
explore
the various jars for preserving these foods. However, since I’m a jar
collector, I’ve
discovered there are some I’m reluctant to put to use.
Instead I might fill them with buttons, marbles, and other colorful
collectibles. Or
I simply display the jars were they can be admired for themselves.
Jelly Uses
In days ago, jam and jelly had uses other than a spread on bread.
JAM & JELLY FILLING - Frequently, instead of using icing on cakes, cooks
spread jam and jelly between the layers of a cake and even over the top.
I can remember
my mother using a jam filling between layers of white cake, with icing
only the top.
If you wanted to get really fancy, slice the cake layers in half and
spread jam or
jelly between each layer. As a child, I thought this a very special
cake, especially when
Mother took time to make the fluffy 7 Minute Icing.
JAM FILLED COOKIES - Use your usual sugar cookie or rolled cookie
recipe.
Cut the cookies into rounds. Then spread your favorite jam or jelly over
a cookie. Place
another cookie round over the top and press the edges together. Bake as
usual.
For a fancy cookie, cut a small circle in the center of the top cookie
round before
laying it over the jam spread cookie.
JAM ON PANCAKES - Instead of syrup, we sometimes spread our pancakes
with
our favorite jam or jelly.
(C) 2002 Mary Emma Allen
About the Author
Mary Emma Allen has been writing her "Cooking Column" for newspapers
and online publications for 30 years and
has compiled a family cookbook. She’s currently compiling a
cookbook/story book,
"Tales From a Country Kitchen." Visit her web site for more cooking
articles. Contact her at me.allen@juno.com
The Country Kitchen Series
Window to the World
Mud Season Means Spring!
Memories at the Kitchen Table
The Pioneer Kitchen
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