Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Here's a layout with the recipe for the jam I made. I can't remember where I found the recipe, if I find the link to it I'll link it up, but for now here's the recipe.



Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Ingredients:
4 cups rhubarb, thinly sliced
2 T. lemon juice
4 cups of fresh strawberries, sliced
10 cups of sugar
2 packages of fruit pectin

In large kettle combine all ingredients except sugar. Bring mixture to a full boil. Add sugar and keep stirring till sugar is fully dissolved. Return to boil and boil for one minute. Keep stirring. Remove from the burner and skim off the foam with a spoon.

Spoon the hot jam into hot pint or half-pint canning jars. I like to pour the jam into a glass 4-cup glass measuring cup first, then pour into jars, as this makes jam easier to pour into jars. Leave 1/4 inch of space at the top. Wipe jar rims clean and screw lids on firmly. Place the jars in boiling-water canner on high. When water begins to boil, set timer and boil for 5 minutes. Remove the jars from canner and cool on racks. Try not to disturb jam til it is cool. It may take several hours to set.

This should make about 12 half-pint jars


layout credits:

Designs by Sine template
Classic kit- Designs by Krista

2 new layouts




Designs by Sine template
Splash 'n Shine kit by LaWanna DesJardin
Peace and Quiet wordart by LaWanna DesJardin
font-Monotype Corsiva


Designs by Sine template
Macho Flowers kit by Merkeley Designs
font-Monotype Corsiva

Both of these layouts are of pictures from when the boys went camping last month, they had tons of fun!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Bagels



So, I've been on this...what would you call it? oh hell, I don't know what to call it. I've been on a kick I guess you could say, yeah we'll call it a kick, lol. I've been on this kick where I've been making things from scratch. I'm doing it for several reasons.
1- I like knowing what my family is eating, doing it this way there are no weird ingredients.
2- if I make it from scratch there isn't all that extra packaging, and it's actually cheaper most of the time.
and
3- I really enjoy it!
So I've done several things from scratch recently. I did Italian bread a month or so ago, and of course there were the donuts (I totally need to make some more of those!). And most recently I made homemade bagels. they came out totally yummy! and were super easy to make!
These are pictures of them fresh from the oven! and oh! oh! OH! are they good with my homemade jam on them!

Doing the Can-Can

Canning that is! So I'm totally new to canning. I've been researching it online for months and bought one of the "for Dummies" books about it. and a couple of weeks ago I gave it a shot. I went over to my mom's house to do it (our stove is one of those glass top ones, and the canning pot can't be used on it). So Our first day of canning we made Dill Pickles (we ended up with 9 quart sized jars, 7 of spears, and 2 of slices for burgers and such) and we made strawberry jam (11 8 ounce jars). The jam came out so good! I was so proud of us (my mama Vee helped). We're still waiting to taste the pickles, you have to let them sit so the flavor can soak in, we've got to wait for a couple more weeks for those.

Flash back to last Wednesday, we gave it another go. While searching for recipes before I came across a couple for strawberry rhubarb jam. Now I'd had never had rhubarb, I knew that I had heard of pie made from it though so I figured it must be pretty yummy, lol. So when we went to the farmers market the previous weekend I saw some great looking rhubarb, picked up some of that, and then we got some organic strawberries at the grocery store. Well this jam....let me tell you...whew! it is SOOOOOOOOOOO good. I have a new favorite! seriously! why don't they sell this kind in stores? I mean, it is such a wonderful combination! I'm eating some of it on toast as I sit here, and it is just fantabulous! We made 9 jars of the stuff and I have a feeling we're going to need to make more!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Too Precious

This is a picture of Aidan and Nanny, when he was 7 months old. This was taken during out first trip with him to NJ. We were at the 4th of July BBQ at Aunt Linda's. Aidan was such a good baby, he would pretty much sit with anyone, very easy going. And over the years I've always been so impressed with how well he adapts while on vacation, he remembers everyone's names, and always plays so nicely with Nanny. He's pretty special too, he's the first Great Grandbaby on the McB side of the family, and the second on the K side. Aidan's is very lucky to have 3 out of 4 great grandparents in his life, not to mention having the best Grammy and Grandpa in the whole world. He's a very loved little boy.
Any way...I've always loved this picture of Nanny and Aidan, it's just so sweet!

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Another Lost Tooth!

Aidan lost another tooth last night! seems like they're coming out almost as fast as they came in. I'll post a new picture of the gap-py grin in a bit.

ETA- added the photo, look at that gap! The first tooth that came out, was almost all the way in when the second one came out.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Perfectly Calm Layout


One of the waterfalls down in Turkey Run, Indiana. My hubby took this picture while camping with my little guy.


The word art is from the Oscraps' collab kit, O-Escape

Just Be layout




journaling:
with your crazy work schedule it’s not often we get a chance to goof around and relax, I’m so glad I caught us both with the camera enjoying a chance to just be...


Oscraps' oEscape Collab kit