Wild Plum Jam

Urban free-food harvesting is one of the most amazing things. It's fun, it puts delicious food in our bellies, and it actually is an act of urban cleanup as well, since usually these plants are cultivated for their decorative spring flowers without a single thought for the fruit that will fall all over the sidewalk in autumn.

These wild plums come from five trees that live at about 5700 feet on the west edge of the Denver metro. The fruit is big, juicy, and organic (I have asked three different landscapers, they don't spray anything on the property at all).

Enjoy this jam on an English muffin, ice cream, or a peanut butter sandwich. It is also outstanding on a pork roast or salmon, or as a base for homemade barbecue sauce for chicken (trust me -- add some ketchup, some brown sugar, and a splash of any vinegar you have, mix it together well, and brush it on ten minutes before the chicken is done -- delicious!!)

Ingredients:

Wild plums
cane sugar
Rocky Mountain spring water
hand-squeezed lemon juice
fruit pectin