Devils and Black Pepper Strawberry Jam

You really never do know what is about to come out of someone’s mouth.

I was on a consult month and had just gotten a new patient. Now, I will admit that the feisty patients are some of my favorites- they really break up the day and are by far the most memorable.

This lady was FEISTY. I walked in and was immediately informed that she was doing things her way (as she always had, thank you very much). She also had an opinion on pretty much everyone.

Including, when we came back to formally round, my medical student.

At this point in time, I had a medical student with a very full beard. Which he liked to stroke as a nervous habit when he wasn’t talking.

That was what my patient picked up on immediately.

Attending: So, my dear, we would recommend…

Patient (interrupting): Oh, you a kinky devil, aren’t you?

Attending (shocked): Excuse me???

Patient (pointing at my medical student): You there, with the beard. You a kinky devil. You like stroking that beard. Man, you KINKY. You are so KINKY. STROKE that beard.

Medical student (shocked, but still nervously stroking his beard): Uhm, I don’t quite know what to say…

Patient (knowingly): Oh, you don’t need to say anything, you kinky devil.

Needless to say, we didn’t make him see that patient on a daily basis.

Devilish Strawberry and Black Pepper Jam

Black Pepper Strawberry Jam

for the spicy side in you

Ingredients

  • 4 c strawberries, hulled and mashed (I used about 2 packages of fresh strawberries)
  • 7 c white sugar
  • 1 pouch liquid pectin
  • 2 tbsp black pepper, ground

How-to

  1. Prepare water bath canner with eight washed pint jars, rings, and lids.
  2. In your largest pot, mix together strawberries and sugar.
  3. Place strawberries and sugar over high heat and bring to a rolling boil (a boil you can’t stir down), stirring often (this easily can boil over the edge, so don’t walk away).
  4. Add liquid pectin all at once (it helps to cut the top off and have the container waiting upright in a drinking glass).
  5. Bring jam back to a rolling boil.
  6. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, then turn off heat. Stir in black pepper. Add more to taste, if desired.
  7. Ladle jam into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch at the top. Wipe off rims then place on lids and rings.
  8. Place jars in water bath canner, bring water back to a boil, and process for 10 minutes.
  9. Remove jars and let cool for 12-24 hours. If jars not sealed within 24 hours, place in fridge and eat within a week.

44 thoughts on “Devils and Black Pepper Strawberry Jam

  1. This looks good! I always love the combination of something with a bit of heat, and sweet. I put pepper on cantaloupe (as my grandmother did), and Alton Brown recommends a bit of fresh ground pepper on vanilla bean ice cream.

    (It’s ‘feisty’ not ‘fiesty’, BTW)

    1. Yeah I realized that afterwards- forgot to hit spell check and I’m a bit tired this morning…

      I also like sweet and heat! The gelato shop around the corner from me does a black pepper banana gelato I’m dying to try!

  2. good recipe. As far as the story, if that was a joke, it was a good one, but since it was truth, it is so cute and adorable

    1. I solemnly swear it’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

      1. I believe you !!!

  3. It’s always fun to read your stories, and I’m betting a new one pops up every day. As for the jam, I like the idea of adding pepper. Good Maine strawberries will soon be in season, and I can do this in the next batch of jam.

    1. I’m finally on a schedule where I can blog more often, so hopefully more posts this week!

  4. Interesting combination! I will have to try this!

  5. That was hilarious! As a pediatrician, kids also say the wildest things! Loved it

  6. That was hilarious. Being a pediatrician, kids say the wildest things too! Loved it!

    1. Haha I’m pretty sure I have included many of the crazy things I’ve said in earlier posts 🙂

  7. I hope to be as awesome as her when I’m her age.

  8. That’s a great story and that story, I can imagine that a day or two after it happened you laughed so hard.

  9. You know you’re good when your audience reads your story – which is meant to complement a recipe – and appreciates the story so much that they forget to read the recipe! LOL. That’s exactly what happened AGAIN to me with your post. As you know, I still think of you as the “Queen of the Lede.” You always lede with something so strong, I want to keep reading. Nice work, great story. Oh, ya, and I’m sure the recipe is great too.

    1. Aww, thanks so much! Thankfully my life has calmed down a bit again so I can get back to blogging!

  10. Reblogged this on Richmond is a Hard Road to Travel and commented:
    This story made me laugh. Maybe The Husband should grow a beard after all. Well, not during the Air Force rotations at least. Also, maybe I’ll take advantage of 3 lbs./$5 strawberries at Food Lion after the final(!) test.

  11. Not sure I would have ever combined strawberries and black pepper!? Pretty kinky combo…haha. Marie

  12. That’s too funny! Very kinky indeed 🙂

  13. Loved the story…something my Aunt Millie would have said…”We all need an Aunt Millie”…
    and definitely trying the Black Pepper Strawberry Jam…
    Your recipe???

      1. yes…I was asking if you came up with this recipe…

      2. I had strawberries with pepper as a dessert in a restaurant once, so I just updated my jam recipe thinking it would be a good fit!

  14. njoyed this post soo much:)

  15. The recipe post is nice and fantastic one. Thanks. CLickDrink Recipes

  16. Oh man, well matched story and recipe! Love your writing.

  17. I know you’ve been nominated for the very inspiring blogger award before, but I’m doing it again anyway: http://sincerelykaterz.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/freedom-of-speech/

  18. I’d like to try this with a lot less sugar. Do you think it would work properly?

  19. Introduction made by story and combination of sweet and hot …lovely 🙂

Give me your thoughts!

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