Hey
@Listlad, I think one thing that is a "negative" for many re: sweeteners is that it can continue to stimulate that "sweet tooth" that so many people struggle with.....the more sweetened things you consume, regardless of the sweetener, make you want to come back for more.....and some people are really adversely affected by sugar substitutes...you mentioned you have a small child - I would wonder if you would really want to be feeding him or her artificial sweeteners at such an early age? I am in no way being judgmental, but maybe something to consider...
I love strawberry jam, mixed berry jam, etc. I just use my potato masher and crush the fruit, put a bit of water with it, bring to a boil and then lower the heat so it simmers off the water and you end up with beautiful jam. It takes a bit of time, so be patient. One gets to enjoy the beautiful flavor of the fruits, not the sweetener!! Oh, and yes, a dash of lemon juice really perks it up. Sometimes I will make a slurry with water and almond or coconut flour if it's looking too thin and cook that in the berries (I do that for gravy too). I store it in the fridge and it seems to set up a bit more when cooled. Cheers/L