Have you been making homemade bread during lockdown? The next step and a fun thing to do with the kids is make homemade jam to go with it. Do you know that Kenya grows blueberries locally now? They aren't cheap yet (they are still about Kshs 300 per pannet), but when they come into season, you can find them for sometimes as little as Kshs 100 per pannet and they are really delicious. Raspberries and strawberries are your best bet for fresh berries right now. But you can also buy lots of frozen berries- Carrefour has a nice selection. Just defrost them before you start making the jam. Making jam is easy-peasy. Just follow these simple instructions: Heat a large, wide saucepan over medium heatAdd 450 grams of your favourite berriesAdd ½ cup of sugarAdd the juice of half a lemon (you can also include its zest)Throw in a pinch of saltIf you have one in the house, add a bay leaf. This sounds weird but it worksBring your mixture to a boil while stirring (takes about 20 minutes)Keep stirring until your jam looks jammy (ie the right consistency)Remove the bay leafAllow your mixture to cool and then pour it into some glass bottles. And remember, jam is not just for toast. Here are some ideas about how to eat your jam:

• On your ice cream
• Blend it into your glass of milk or a smoothie
• You can marinate meat in it
• On top of your pancakes (add whip cream too)
• Add it into your plain yoghurt
• Spread it between layers of sponge cake
• Make jam cookies
• Put a teaspoon of jam in your oatmeal in the morning
• Add to your chia seed pudding (for a breakfast or dessert)
• Or if you really want to be fancy, bake a small wheel of brie and dollop it on top.