Today the temperature is 25 degrees Fahrenheit in the early afternoon. Too cold for Oklahoma! It has been cold all weekend. This cold weather has been perfect for wearing hoodies. I have completed many baking projects while inside. I made candy for my mother’s Valentine Day party at her senior apartment complex. I also dehydrated…
Canning
Drambuie Surprise Jam
It is so hot here I do not want to go out and pick any fruit that may be surviving this drought. I put up some strawberries in the freezer back in May. Pulled them out and decided to make a special concoction. Here is the recipe. Drambuie Surprise Jam 12 Cups cleaned…
Jammin’ in the Winter
If you are not lucky enough to live in a part of the country that has perpetual harvests of fresh fruits and vegetables, you need to read this! Where I live, our fruit and vegetable harvest begins in May and ends in October, for the most part. That leaves 6 full months without anything to…
Buying Back My Childhood
Wire Bale Canning Jars Every week I try to score something special for my canning obsession and this week I did very well! When I was a kid, my nana had some of those wonderful wire-bale mason jars that are so popular now but I was too anxious to ‘get off the farm’ to appreciate…
What canning equipment do I need?
When friends decide they want to start canning, they do not want to put much money into it incase they do not enjoy it. They often ask me what equipment they really need. I decided to put together a list of items I always have ready in my Rubbermaid canning containers. I keep most everything in…
Canning Tips & Tricks
Here are a few tips & tricks for making jam, jelly, marmalade, conserves, pickles, vegetables or anything else you want to “put up”. This is by no means a complete volume but questions that I get asked all the time when a friend is trying to can. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate…
The difference between Jam, Jelly, Marmalade, & Conserves
When I first started canning, I often wondered what the difference between jelly, jam, marmalade was. Then, I was introduced to the term conserve and could not figure out what the heck that was and how it fit into my sweet biscuit topping world! I searched the internet and found most information to be less…
How do I get rid of the seeds in jam?
Many people love jam, but hate the seeds associated with blackberry and raspberry jam. I feel the same way and if you are making any in the near future, I have a trick that will help you out. Let’s take blackberries: That jam tastes so good…….but the seeds involved will get stuck in your teeth…
Apricot Jam and Jelly Recipe
After I finished the marmalade, I used 6 cups of apricot puree I prepared yesterday and made some great apricot jam. Oddly, it looks a great deal like the apricot orange marmalade I made earlier unless you look closely. I wasn’t able to discern it very well with the camera, sorry. Then, with the juice I poured…
Orange and Apricot Marmalade Recipe
Whew! The weekend is finally winding down. I’ve had a roast and potatoes in the slow cooker all day and I’m looking forward to eating and watching the next-to-the-last football game of the year. This weekend, I had 4 quart bags of frozen summer apricots, 7 oranges, and 2 lemons to make as much jam/jelly/marmalade as I…