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Jam Making Party

We all grew up in the kitchen along side my Mother, washing and mashing fruit.  Fitting lids to the proper jars.  It was a Summer Activity.  She would make a day out it.  Making jam.  I have fond memories of it.  We always had jam.  Our deep freeze was filled with all sorts of different flavors.  It was a staple in our home.  A few weeks ago, we gathered at my house.  All of of the lovely ladies in my family that live close by.  We made jam.  It was a blast.  There is something wonderful about being together.  In a short amount of time filled with laughter and chatter, we made 13 bathes of jam.  I think.  We kind of lost count.  But we filled approximately 100 jars.  Each of us brought something, strawberries, sugar, pectin.  We gathered and worked and it was wonderful.  Oh and we ate too.  We all brought yummy breakfast food as well.  Jayme even made a bunch of yummy homemade rolls to sample the jam on.  Yum.  For the first batch we mashed the strawberries.  Then I said, “Um, I have a Vita-mixer.”  That was much easier.  Just make sure not to puree.  But then Jake wanted to help so we set him up to mash some more. We used MCP pectin and Sure-Jell.  MCP is what my Mom used all growing up so it is what we are use to.  However, it is not sold everywhere.  Sure-Jell is what is in my grocery store so I usually use that.  Difference?  Sure Jell sets up a bit more jellier.  I know that’s not a word but it describes it just fine.  MCP uses Karo Syrup.  So make sure you buy that if you are using MCP.  Both are delicious.  My sis-in-law in Washington just sent me some pectin made by Ball.  That apparently doesn’t call for as much sugar.  I will have to try that out soon and let you know how it turns out.We had lots of little helpers around too.We had so many batches going at a time, we had to label the pots so we would know which batches needed what at what time.  It worked out for the most part.

Things to remember……Always add lemon.  Even if the recipe doesn’t call for it.

If the jam doesn’t set just right and seems runny, just laugh and call it ice cream topping.

Read and reread the directions and try to read it at least once when you are not in middle of conversation.  Although that may be tough at times.  But then again, if you get the order of the directions wrong, it will still turn out.  It’s fruit and sugar for goodness sakes.  It’s going to taste good.

When making jam, invite people you love over.  It is way more fun to make jam when your kitchen is filled with fun people.  If your family doesn’t live close, then invite neighbors.  Many hands make for light work.  I told them as they left that I actually just tricked them all into coming and making me jam.  We all came with empty bottles and left with them filled.  It was a good day.

Tammy - April 4, 2013 - 4:55 pm

Love this recipe! We are just finishing up last year’s batch and getting ready to make this years! :)

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Be Nice

If you say this over and over, it actually makes you happier.  It was quite therapeutic typing it over and over again.  I am trying to remember this…. when I am stressed…when I am hungry or just grouchy…when I am helping children with homework.  Maybe I should print it up and hang it.  Maybe I should imprint it on the inside of my eyelids….or on the inside of my kids eyelids.  Oh, I’m just kidding.  But really, Be nicer than you feel.  My new motto.

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Homemade Honey Butter

This is a great after school snack and it is a fun way to get the kids involved in the kitchen.

Mix 2/3 cup heavy cream with 3-4 tablespoons honey.  Seal lid on tight of container and shake!  Make sure you choose a container that has room for the cream to expand.

Get your kids to dance around with it, jump up and down or whatever they like.  Shake it up.  Keep shaking until a butter forms.  I like to do mine until it is a thick heavy cream and then I put it into the  refrigerator to chill.

Serve on warmed tortilla with a bit of salsa.  Yum, that’s my favorite.  Of course, it is also delicious on biscuits or toast.

You could also get a bit more creative and add additional ingredients.  We made a batch and added 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

I would also like to try to add some orange zest to a future batch.  Have fun and remember to get the kids involved.

I leave you now with some funny pictures of Max shaking it up.

 

Tammy - April 4, 2013 - 4:53 pm

What a great idea! It sounds so yummy. I am definitely doing this with the kids!

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Focaccia Bread

 

What you need…

4 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

2 cups warm water

1 tablespoon sugar

5 cups flour plus some for work surface

2 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt

olive oil

2 teaspoons freshly chopped rosemary

For dipping:

Olive oil and Balsamic Vinegar

In small bowl mix yeast, water, sugar.  Let stand for about 10 minutes.  It should look foamy.

In large bowl, stir together 5 cups of the flour and 1 & 1/2 teaspoons salt.  Form a pit in the middle.  This will allow you to pour in wet ingredients without it over flowing.    Pour the yeast mixture into the bowl along with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.

Stir with wooden spoon.  Then the fun part comes, time to knead.  For some reason, I love to knead dough.  I find it therapeutic. Sprinkle a bit of flour on work surface and knead dough for 5-10 minutes.  The dough should feel smooth.  If it feels too sticky, sprinkle with flour and knead in.  Form dough into a ball.  Place back in bowl.  Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons olive oil on dough and roll around to coat the entire ball.  Cover with wet towel and let raise until it doubles in size about 35-45 minutes.

At that time, punch the dough back down.  Cover again and let raise for another 35 minutes.

Grease a Jelly roll pan with olive oil.

On lightly floured work surface, stretch dough out to the size of the pan.  Place dough in pan.  Cover with plastic wrap.  Let raise again for 15 minutes.  Preheat oven to 425 Degrees.

Now comes the fun part.  Call the kids in and have them help you poke holes in the dough.  You will be making the pits with your finger pokes.  Doing so while singing the Hokey Pokey makes it enjoyable.

Sprinkle 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste.  Drizzle about 4 tablespoons Olive Oil.

Bake for 22 minutes.  Piper says to serve piping hot!

Serve with Olive oil mixture.  I use the olive oil and balsamic vinegar from Williams Sonoma for dipping.  It is shown in the top picture with bread.  What  I like to do is pour oil in a deep dish plate.  Drizzle some balsamic vinegar and add freshly ground pepper.  Dip hot bread into mixture.  Watch bread disappear.  

 

Sharon Rasmussen - March 8, 2013 - 10:22 pm

Yum. Looks like fun–and delicious.

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Making your own Magnet Scrabble Board : DIY

Saturday, we made our own Magnet Scrabble Board.  It was so easy, I could hardly call it a craft.  It was more like a quick assembly. This is how we did it.

We used a magnet board we already had.  We ordered wooden scrabble tiles found here.  And magnet dots here.  The magnet dots are like stickers.  Just peel and stick onto tiles.  As you can imagine, this could get tedious.  I recruited many hands to help me.  We got it done fast.  We decided to keep it at the top of our stairs.  Leaning against the wall so it is at a low enough level for all to reach.  I loved that every time I went up the stairs yesterday, I found someone else playing with it.  My thought was that each time a person passed it they could add a new word.  It would be an ongoing family game of Scrabble.  Evan calls it “Words with Family.”    However, yesterday Max showed his skills by playing a whole game himself and using all but two tiles.  So of course the challenge is on for someone to use every single tile.  I also love that Piper can go up and try and spell the words she know.  Hopefully it makes her want to spell more and more.  

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