Strawberry Jam

Since Molly's first summer, which was our first summer in our home, we've made fresh strawberry jam.  It may not have turned out perfectly, but we finished it!  We're thankful for local farmers who grow these sweet berries, allowing them to ripen on the vine, which makes them taste like nothing you can buy in a store.  They're one of my favorite tastes of summer.

 

We set up a workstation in our kitchen for jam making.  It's supposed to cut down on total destruction and mess.  But this year, I had a little more help than I've had in the past ;)

 We wash the berries (while tasting some), take the stems off (while eating a few more), and then process them in a food processor for just a few pulses, until they're broken up, but not pureed.  We love having some chunky strawberry bites in our jam.  I have always used a basic recipe in my Grandmother's cookbook, but it's the same one that I found on the Sure-Jel package, and also here.  I will warn you, though, it calls for A LOT of sugar.  It's kind of a sickening amount of sugar.  And honestly, I prefer my jam a little less sweet, so we cut back.  And it's still delicious.

I've always stuck to the simpler freezer jam, but I found a few recipes that looked amazing on my search, including one by my favorite, Ina Garten.  I'm bookmarking that one- maybe next year I'll be more brave!

Strawberry Freezer Jam

 (I doubled this recipe, and got 10 jelly jars)

2 cups fresh, crushed strawberries

 4 cups sugar (we added about 2.5 cups)

1 package dry pectin (1.75 oz)

3/4 cup water

Wash and dry jelly jars (or your container of choice).

 

Crush berries until texture remains, and not pureed.  Add sugar to berries and allow to sit, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes. 

In a small saucepan, mix water and pectin.  Bring to a boil, and allow to boil for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Add pectin to berries, and stir throroughly, at least 3 minutes.

    Fill jelly jars 2/3 full with jam, apply lids, and allow to sit at room temperature for 24 hours.

Refridgerate for up to 3 weeks, or freeze for up to 1 year.

(ours doesn't last long!)

   

 

I hope you get a chance to make some jam, it's seriously super easy, and such a sweet taste of summer (that can be enjoyed even in the freezing temps of January!)

Happy Summer!

xx,

Lisa

More Mollyisms

Sitting at the table, it's lunch time.  Molly, you can't leave until we're all done.  "That's not fair!" (insert pouty lip face)

(The playroom is a mess, a huge mess).  Molly- look at this mess!  Let's clean it up before we go outside.  (walks over to me and touches my belly) "how's your baby doing, mummy?!"

2 of our 3 cats are playing.  "Boots!  That's enough! I said enough!  I'm going to put you in time out..."

(Leaving a fire at a friend's).  "Mummy, I had the most fun.  That's my favorite day ever."

Daddy comes home from work, and immediately grabs Molly and starts tickling.  She laughs, but after a few minutes "Daddy, no more!  Go to the farm!" 

5 minutes later.  "Daddy, can I go to the farm with you?  I can help you feed the cows!"

I'm making dinner.  "Mummy, look at this big mess.  You better start cleaning it up right now!"

10 seconds later, pushing a chair toward the sink.  "I can help do the dishes!  Bring me the dirty ones."

Molly, how was your day at Diane's? (the babysitter).  "Well, I peed my pants."

Molly, it's time to go home (we're at her cousins' house).  "I don't want to!  I want to stay here".  Come on, Molly- you can see them again tomorrow.  "No, I'm running away.  (starts running from me)  Here I go!"  (seriously, where did she learn this?!)

Lying in bed, it's story time before bed.  My tummy growls.  "Oh, Mummy, I hear your baby in there!  It's so cute!"

Is this baby a boy or a girl, Molly?!  "A girl.  No, wait, I know its a boy!"  (every time, it's different)



I really need to keep up on these posts- a 2.5 year old has so much to say!   She seriously has us laughing countless times each day.  And even though she's a little mirror to my grumpy, impatient side some days- I still see a sweet girl blossoming more and more.    I still can't believe she's going to be a big sister!  Ahhh.

Happy Monday.


xx,

Lisa

Our Little Seed, Week 7

I saved this blog post from week 7, and I just have to share, because now that the sickness is improving, it's so funny to relive it!  Can you believe I'm closing in on 18 weeks already?!  Sheesh.

Week 7.
Oh, you sweet baby.  I do thank God everyday that you're in there, developing and growing like crazy.  Unfortunately, I don't get too much time to think of you, particularly.  That's because I'm frantically searching and questioning every person I can think of about the possible treatments of morning sickness.  It's terribly named in our case, because it lasts ALL day.   The entire day.  I find myself waking through the night just to feel the nausea and sometimes, to dry heave.  So I guess it lasts all night too.  I was just wondering which time of the day is worst, and I can't decide.  They're all pretty bad.  When I'm working, I look back through my schedule and wonder how in the world I did it.  A minute feels like an hour at work.  And I've really had my share of smelly patients this week, too - making it so much worse.

But Molly is a total star, she doesn't show any sign of Mommy-neglect yet, despite my deepest efforts and subsequent failures to lift my head off the pillow while I'm home.  I haven't cooked a meal in days.  Daddy has pretty much been a single parent.  Yet she runs and gives me the biggest hug she can the second she sees me.  And says "you feel good, mummy?!" in the sweetest voice.  Then "the baby growing, Mummy?! The baby will get sooo big!"  She's about to become the best big sister.

Oh, and I can't stand the smell of anything- the air fresheners I picked out, the refrigerator, our sheets and towels, my clothes, and especially my car.  Everything makes me gag.  So I'm officially a mouth breather, at least for the next several weeks.

And I'm the worst eater ever these days- nothing sounds good, and then all of a sudden, I think of something and have to go get it as quick as possible!  Today, it's a Friday during Lent, and I had to have a BLT wrap from Sheetz with barbeque sauce and white cheddar popcorn.  As you can see, I'm slowing expanding in size each day.  And I am so excited to eat it, it tastes so good while I'm eating it, and then I feel horrible about fifteen minutes after.  Vicious cycle, I tell you.  Vicious.

But when all is said and done, and I'm home laying on the couch like a sloth because I don't have energy to lift my head, or when I have to pep talk myself through a brushing my teeth (using only Molly's kids toothpaste at this point) without gagging, or as I'm cleaning the toilet after yet another breakfast lost, I'm so very thankful that I'm getting this chance to be your Mommy.  God has entrusted me with another sweet child, and I could not be more grateful.   So please don't feel that me cursing the nausea has anything to do with you.  I'm just frustrated that I'm one of the lucky 50% of women that experience "morning sickness".   I'm forever glad that you're in there, little seed :)

xoxo,

Mommy.