I'm asked all the time what's the difference between a jam and a jelly. Fair question.
If you had a spectrum of spread based on their thickness:
1. Jelly would be at one end. It is made with only juice.
2. Marmalade is the next thickest spread. It is basically a jelly in which citrus rind or small pieces of fruit are suspended. Think of grapefruit marmalade, orange marmalade, etc.
3. Curds are creamy spreads made from juice and butter. I love, love, love lemon curd. I use it as a filling for cakes.
4. Butter is the next thickest. It is pureed fruit. Think pumpkin butter.
5. Next comes a jam. Jams are made of crushed fruit.
6. Following a jam is a preserve. Preserves are made from chunks or slices of fruit. After cooking a preserve, it may retain some chunkiness, or the fruit may cook down to a smoother spread, much like a jam.
7. Finally, you have a conserve. This spread must contain a citrus, a nut or raisin (or both), and at least one other fruit. This spread is definately chunky.
There are other varieties of spread that folks in other countries might add to this list, but this is pretty complete for the U.S.

I love your explanation! It made me hungry just reading it, and makes me worry that my nut trees won't produce enough for me to make a conserve with them. I usually dread the first frost but this will give me something to look forward to whenever it hits!
Posted by L on August 31, 2010 at 01:04 AM EDT #
Thank you both for your enthusiastic comments! Simply made my day!
Posted by Sonya - The Jam and Jelly Lady on August 31, 2010 at 09:10 PM EDT #
Great! I've always wanted to know this!!
I was wondering, could I get permission to repost this on my own blog (with proper credit given, of course)?
Posted by Felice Forby on September 11, 2010 at 06:44 PM EDT #
Yes - feel free to pass it on Felice. Thanks for the credit. Do you mind listing our website on the credit: www.jamandjellylady.com?
Posted by Sonya - The Jam and Jelly Lady on September 15, 2010 at 09:42 AM EDT #