Well then, that must have been my problem because I did double the recipe!! I didn't realize you couldn't! I know you're not supposed to fool around with amounts in recipes so you keep the acid ratio correct, but where this was just strawberries and sugar and nothing else in the recipe I figured it was ok! I guess not! And I measured out 4 quarts of whole strawberries. The recipe was 2 quarts of strawberries and 6 cups of sugar. It didn't say to cut them or mash them before measuring - in fact (I'm remembering off the top of my head here as I don't have the book with me) it said to crush the strawberries one layer at a time and then to mix with the sugar, so it sounded to me like you measured the whole strawberries, then crushed them and that's what I did. I'm not going to fuss with what I already made - as I said, it won't go to waste as hubby will use it as pancake topping - we've even been known to plop a spoonful of jam in a bowl of oatmeal, so this stuff will work for that as well. But I'm glad I spoke up because for future adventures in jam, I wouldn't have known any of this and would probably have given up on it if I kept failing! And I thought it was weird that the jam recipe that used the pectin used an extra cup of sugar from the one without pectin. I've learned so much from just this thread - thanks so much guys! I want to take my next adventure into the realm of peaches! Peach jam sounds yummy and if I fail again, hubby does like peaches, so he'll have more pancake topping than he knows what to do with lol!! Lisa

I have millions of apples, too. Instead of canning apples for pies, I freeze those in pie-size portions. Putting Food By suggested freezing them using a pie plate as a form, so the frozen disc fits in the crust, but I wasn't so good at that. For canning dessert slices, I use Pomona Pectin at half the recommended rate, and it thickens the low-sugar juice just a bit. Alternatively, add no thickener and thicken the apples with cornstarch when you make your pie. I can applesauce, dessert slices and apple jelly made from "nectar" from peelings and cores(yum!), but not apples for pies. We also dry some of our apples, and freeze lot of frozen chunks for making juice or wine in the winter. Plus we give a lot away!

It may be that the old apple is a Baldwin type. When I planted my apple trees a few years ago, I chose types that had a high resistance to diseases, as well as remaining firm when they were partially cooked or baked. Red Free, and Williams Pride are the two I chose. Right now, McCoun apples are in stores and these also hold up very well to cooking. If your making apple pie jam, use fresh apple cider for the added liquid as opposed to water. Add the chopped apple bits about a minute or two before you start filling the jars with the boiling jam. In most cases the apple bits will float in the jars, so flipping the jars over a few times before the jam sets up, will help to suspend the apple bits. Macs, get very mushy, and even Granny Smith also get quite mushy once they get heated. If your making an apple jam, use several different types of apples, from Fuji, Delicious, to Cortlands and others. The more the merrier!

Why would you make that in a crock pot? it cooks in 50 minutes in the oven....and comes out with a crisp crust.....why would you want to cook it in a crock pot? Peel the apples, cut them up and put them into a bowl of water which had cups water to 2 T lemon juice added.... When they are all cut up, drain and put into a plastic bag and refrigerate. Mix the topping and refrigerate. Leave the butter and 2 eggs on the counter all day. When you are ready to cook, turn the oven on, grease your pie dish, toss the apples with the spices. Mix the milk, butter, sugar eggs and bisquick...pour apples into pie plate, pour on top the batter...and top with the strusel. Put into the oven to bake while yous et the table.