Friday, February 1, 2013

Focus On Life 52 Photos - Week 5 ~ Capture A Heart

First of all, I would like to thank everyone for all of their heartfelt comments over the first 4 weeks of these prompts. I am diligently working my way through all of the posts that I have missed and commenting on each one as I think that is one of the best parts of being in a hop like this, getting to  know everyone on a deeper level, taking the time to really connect ( remember my word for the year?) I find there is so much more to be gained by doing so than simply fullfilling my prompt for the week.
I have also begun to respond to comments left here on this blog in the comment section as there are quite a few that come through as noreply comment @ blogger so you can read my responses right here instead of individual emails.

Now on to week 5, can it really be 5 weeks already???

 Sally's prompt for week 5 in her own words-

"Have you ever taken a moment to notice all the hearts that come into your life everyday? From candy hearts, patterns on clothes, a paper heart you make yourself or heart shaped spirals made from the ornate rod iron fencing that you may or may not have ever noticed on your walk around the neighborhood, hearts are hidding everywhere. This week pay attention to your surroundings, think outside the box and capture a heart! "

It is strawberry season in Florida where we are still visiting and something I love to do is make strawberry jam when they are at their peak of freshness.
Part of my word for the year to reconnect is to reconnect with ALL  things I love and canning is one of them and something I had gotten away from save for a few batches of jam here or there each year.

As I was hulling the strawberries for a batch this week, I pulled back the green leaves and was getting ready to cut when the sight of this heart stopped me in my tracks!
 So this is my found heart for this week.

You can click here to go see how everyone else captured a heart this week!

A lot of people who have never made homemade jam shy away thinking it is a lot of work but it is really very simple and very gratifying.
I personally use Sure Jell and Certo in my recipes and before the holidays discovered that if you go to www.kraftrecipes.com
and type sure jell or certo in the search box, no less than 179 recipes pop up.
Chocolate Raspberry Spread,   Wine Jelly,   Strawberry Pineapple,    Pineapple Jam, & Cherry Almond  all of which have gotten rave reviews.

 It doesn't take a lot of fancy equipment and supplies to make jam.
Start with firm fresh fruit when possible. For strawberries, wash and hull and drain in a colander. 
I use a blender but depending how fine you like the fruit in your jam, you can even just crush the fruit by hand. I like mine smooth with tiny bits of fruit, not large pieces.
Measure fruit and sugar, for this recipe it takes 5 cups of pureed fruit and 7 cups of sugar. I also made the lower sugar version which takes 6 cups of fruit and 4 cups of sugar.

 Dump the fruit in the stock pot, add a tablespoon of butter to reduce foaming, dump one box of sure jell in, stir and put on medium heat, stirring constantly until it starts to boil which only takes a couple of minutes.
 When it hits a boil, dump all the sugar in and stir rapidly to prevent scorching and continue to stir until it reaches a full rolling boil again. Stir for one full minute and then remove from heat.
Now what I haven't shown you here is that I have washed my jelly jars and placed them in a pan in the oven on 200* to stay hot until i am ready to fill them.  I also have a small pot of water on the stove  which when it came to a boil I turned the burner off and put the jar lids and bands in to sit until ready to use. I also have my pressure canner pot ( just because it is the largest one I have here, but you can even use another stock pot) filled with water on a simmer until ready on the back burner.
And since it is a rather quick process at this point, i don't have a photo of the funnel and filling the jars, but you just take your jars out of the oven and using the funnel, one by one fill the jars with the hot jam to within an 1/8" of the top, place a flat lid and a band on each jar, hand tighten and place in the water bath in your large pot.  Make sure the water is covering the tops of the jars by an inch or 2.
 Bring water to a boil and boil for 10 minutes, ( no lid) then remove jars and let cool on the counter.
As they cool you will hear the satisfying "POP" of the lids as they vacuum seal down.
The process is pretty much the same for each jam recipe, any variances will be in the ingredients.
It may seem complicated but the whole process only takes about a 1/2 hour start to finish ( once the fruit is hulled) I actually prefer to make several batches, even different ones once I have everything out and going. While the batch is in the water bath I clean up and gather the ingredients for the next batch and start over.
It is a great activity to do with kids as it goes quickly and they have something very tangible to enjoy at the end and feel a great sense of accomplishment.
 Shown L-R, strawberry pineapple,  regular strawberry and low sugar strawberry. You can tell the low sugar version is much more fruit dense and less sugar.
 This however is the full sugar version :) on a piece of sourdough toast
But the sweetest thing of all was being able to spend the time with my Mom in the kitchen, working together we made 6 batches in 4 hours.
Love you Mom.


63 comments:

  1. First of all, I love the heart you found in your strawberry! My mom and dad lived in Florida fir 25 years ( mom is with me now). I LOVED visiting during one of Florida's two strawberry seasons! I have not canned in years, but my mouth is now watering from your pictures, and I can almost taste that jam! Yum!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh you'll have to do it again! It felt good for me to get back into it too and you're right, it really is so good when it's fresh! I wish I could live here, it has so much to offer and you can't beat the sunny days!

      Delete
  2. Well, your special strawberry is great, but as far as I am concerned they are all capturing my heart!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's funny, i couldn't eat that one! Sorry to say it stayed on the counter and shriveled into a lonely death :)

      Delete
  3. I love strawberries and so does my daughter. We have never made jam, but I know she would love to help. I am glad you got to work with your mother. It sounds like a great afternoon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We used to go picking when my children were younger and I always let them make a batch each and they would carry a jar into school the next day. I now am on to making it with the grandkids and it's always the same gratified feeling when they beam proudly at what they accomplished. You and your daughter would have fun!

      Delete
  4. Wonderful photographs! You ALMOST had me wanting to make jam...me!! The one who doesn't cook! Looks scrumptious...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh go ahead, stretch a little,you can do it, it's fun and the results taste so good!

      Delete
  5. Oh, yum! I love strawberry jam! It's my favorite. Yes, Plant City strawberries are in. What a perfect heart and how apropos that you should find a heart while reconnecting with something you've missed doing. And time spent with Mom--priceless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cynthia that's exactly where we got them! I love the storage units all lined up with the fruits and veggies and driving around asking the prices and loading up! I took a few pictures this last time but wasn't sure how well it would go over so i asked before each one. Got a shot last week of a truck load of green peppers!Are you near there? The fields are alive with pickers!

      Delete
  6. My canning season won't hit for quite a few months yet but your jam looks gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Patty, it won't for me in Virginia either, only because I am visiting in Florida right now can I do it although some of the jam recipes used fruit available all the time. Thanks for visiting.

      Delete
  7. Your pictures remind me of my very first taste of homemade strawberry jam last summer! Yum! Looks like strawberries contain a lot more love than we ever thought! =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, your right, I'm just so glad i saw it before i cut the top right off!

      Delete
  8. Laura, great post, so glad you got to spend time with your mom making jam, yum!!
    I love it when you find what you are looking for when you least expect to. I hope you are enjoing the Florida sunshine, it is freezing here today!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sandi! To me that is what makes it so nice here, the sun shines everyday! My daughter gives me updates on the weather back home and I really hate to go back to it, mostly the gray, so depressing! We leave in a few days to head home and leave all this abundance. It is a gift to be able to spend time with my parents, we all have fun together!

      Delete
  9. Laura, so there you are! Still in Florida! Boy these pictures are really making my mouth water. Your strawberry jam looks so scrumptious! Just look at all of those strawberries! Brings back memories of when I was first married and we were living in Monterey, CA. As you may know, strawberries are a huge part of Monterey Co's crops. Those were the days, when it was just Randy and I making our strawberry jam. :-)
    The surprising heart you found this week is just fantastic - so glad you noticed it and snapped a picture!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really is as good as it looks too Cindy, especially when it's fresh like this but I guess you probably know that! Didn't you make some last year with the boys too? I can just see jam covered smiles now! We are still here but heading home in a few days, hate to leave :(

      Delete
  10. Another strawberry heart! I love it! Homemade jams and jellies are the absolute best. Good for you for connecting with something you love, and doing it with someone so special.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Annette, I know but don't you just love Lola's so plump and a perfect heart shape? I like homemade too, especially knowing what went into it, love :)

      Delete
  11. I have never made jam ..thanks for showing the steps. Love the strawberry heart!
    jenni

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Jenni once you make your first batch you'll be hooked! I joked a few weeks ago when I was making all the holiday jams that it was so much fun, if something stood still long enough I just might make jam out of it! I loved finding all those cool new recipes! Give it a try!

      Delete
  12. Those luscious red strawberries make my mouth water and then the picture of the jam taken with the light behind - wow great picture! I used to make all kinds of jam but somewhere along the way I stopped. Your step by step process really brought back memories though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Katherine, that's what happened to me too, got too busy and all those things we loved to do we stop finding time for, it's sad. The shot of the jams in the sunlight is my favorite too!

      Delete
  13. you're reminding me of summer, which seems such a long, long way away here in windy england... *sigh*
    nothing better than homemade strawberry jam - yum :)
    great post!
    no. 26

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're so right Claire! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you get some warmer weather your way soon! We have to go home to Virginia in a few days and it's cold and dreary winter there too!

      Delete
  14. Love your strawberry heart. My mouth is watering. We are hoping to turn some of our frozen raspberries into jelly this weekend but we won't be wearing shorts or going barefoot!! Wicked cold up here in the northeast. I love to read about warm weather and totally enjoyed your post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mary, you should look at that chocolate raspberry spread recipe, I used fresh raspberries when I made it and it was delish! Raspberry is my all time favorite jam!

      Delete
  15. YUM - can't beat the full sugar version with a stick! Love your story and the image and the photo of your mom. How sweet - no pun intended. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lori, you're right about the jam but when you start to realize there's more sugar than fruit in there it makes you stop and think for a moment, but ONLY a moment, then i ate the toast! =)

      Delete
  16. Good find! The strawberry jam sounds really tasty! My mother-in-law makes it once in a while and we put it on our waffles-so good! Love the photo of your mom too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kathleen! I have never tried it on waffles but that is a great idea, after all, we have at times put fresh strawberries on the belgian waffles, why didn't we think of the jam? I'll bet the kids will love it too, thanks for that idea!

      Delete
  17. How lovely to spend time with your mom that way! My grandmother used to can - my favorite were her bread and butter pickles (pickles she grew in the backyard). I wish I had spent the time to learn how she did it. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean, there are so many things I wished I was old enough to have asked and learned from my great grandmothers too. Passing these skills and recipes on are so important I think. Maybe you could try to find a recipe and give it a go in her honor anyway!

      Delete
  18. Great pictures, the reds are so vibrant and beautiful! And your results look SO. DELICIOUS. I'm tempted to try myself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it would be a great project for you Elisabeth, especially with your daughter (son too if he's interested). I always did it with the kids after we would go to a local farm and pick the strawberries ourselves, lots of fun memories!

      Delete
  19. Yummy, dear friend! I miss strawberry season in Southern Louisiana - but not the heat that came after. We have plenty of ice here in Frederick now. . .and the strawberries in the store just don't cut it! Great photo of the "heart." Enjoy your Mom!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Carol, I do enjoy spending time together. Last night while my husband and Dad played cards, Mom and i made an old family recipe for dinnerthat we haven't had for years, and sat together and enjoyed it. these times are priceless and so important to me, I savor each one! Why don't you join this challenge?

      Delete
  20. Awesome strawberry heart :) Love how you broke it down on how to make jam - and I love the pics you included (especially of your mom)! What an awesome way to spend your time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, I was hoping to make it sound simple so as to get some people to try it that have never made it before. Once you try you'll be hooked!

      Delete
  21. Laura, you're an inspiration: last year, when we had the strawberry season here, in the great North :), I bought some strawberries with the full intent to make jam... then... I went into the 'tomorrow' mode and never made it. I will this year, promise! Now I have your recipe too, and the easy step-by-step procedure. I used to make vegetable spreads with my mom before the winter, looong time ago, and I love those memories. Enjoy your 'hearts' and the wonderful time with your mom!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Alicia, you do realize because of this 52 week challenge that i will be around to hold you to that promise don't you =) As you said, it does make for great family memories!Hope you get the chance to do it!

      Delete
  22. What a great post and a great tutorial. Not something I can do on the boat or with my very strict diet though. Unless there is a way to make it without sugar and without an oven? Anyway...enjoyed the post! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually Mary, the pink box of sure jell that I used for the low sugar version, has recipes in it for a no sugar version too! As for the oven, it's not necessary to keep the jars in the oven to stay hot, as long as they are washed well you can have them in hot water or just have sent them through a hot rinse to sterilize as a precaution. Thanks for visiting and commenting! Are you on a houseboat?

      Delete
  23. Hearts are every where, even in strawberries. Love your tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh, I love strawberries...my old landlord spends winters in Florida and he used to bring up crates of these about this time of year...I miss him...and them so much! Isn't it wonderful canning with a parent? I always learn so much from my father when we can together...except for his (not) so brilliant idea about putting red hot cinnamon candy in some pear preserves...we had a great laugh about that awful product...looks like you had a brilliant time and I hope to be able to use this nice recipe this year too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Stacie! It really is wonderful spending time with my parents, we will miss them when we head home this week. As for your Dad's pear recipe, he wasn't too far off the mark...when you make spiced apple rings, you use the cinnamon red hot candies for the flavor and color, I was surprised to find that out too!

      Delete
  25. I used to buy banana jam from a company I found at a craft show and they went out of business Thank You for pointing out those recipes! I have been dying to try this and banana would be perfect! Love the berry!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My granddaughter LOVES bananas and when I found the banana butter recipe I knew we had to try it, it has a perfect banana taste, like the baby food sort of, she had a ball making it. Then after making the banana nut bread jam too I found another recipe online called monkey butter, which has bananas, pineapple and coconut in it which I made with my grandson who has the nickname monkey man because he loved to hang upside down when he was a baby. That stuff is delish!If you want that recipe, let me know, I'll send it along!

      Delete
  26. Oh my, I am in Florida too, now you have me planning on heading over to the local Pick-your-own to get my supply!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's one of my favorite things about being down here Marlene, all the fresh fruits and veggies at the markets! We head over to Plant City to the wholesale market to buy boxes of stuff to take home with us too, love that place! We also did good last week at Webster, got a whole flat for $6.00!! Have fun!

      Delete
  27. Your strawberry is wonderful! I would love to make jam and love looking at your beautiful strawberry jam with the sunlight coming through. Wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Courtney, You should give it a try, you'd be surprised how easy it is and how delicious compared to store bought! As for the photos, the jars are my favorite too, love all the colors that came through in the shot!

      Delete
  28. Hi Laura,
    The strawberry heart is just the icing on the cake for this post. Thank you for sharing how to make jam. I love fresh caned jam and jellies. My Mom used to can all the time when I was a child, but in her later years she has gotten away from canning. I think I will give this a try. I wonder if you can use Trvia (stevia) in a batch instead of sugar. I will have to look for some receipes on this.
    Therese

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I use stevia myself, not sure about using it in jams, will have to check on that too, but I do know that the pink box of sure jell that I used for the low sugar recipe has a no sugar recipe in it as well. I would imagine adding stevia to the no sugar one might work, hhmmm will have to try that!

      Delete
  29. That strawberry heart looks like a real heart! Great that you could connect to something you had kept off for long.. Your mom looks so lovable!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Oh yes, you can frame that 'Tree' photo! :) Or if ever you come to Michigan, in one of your travels most welcome to see that tree, I can take you there! :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. You have definitely have made me want to make some strawberry jam now! I live in Florida and fortunate to have these wonderful strawberries but I have been too chicken to try to make some jam. Thank you for sharing the recipe! My kids are going to love it. They have been wanting me to do this for awhile. The strawberry heart is precious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad I could inspire you to give it a try! It really isn't hard. Just get all your supplies ready to go so they are handy when you need them as it is a pretty quick process. You will love the taste of the homemade compared to store bought and never go back! Let me know how you make out. the recipe is in the sure jell box as well with step by step instructions. Good Luck!

      Delete
  32. I think this has to be my favorite post from this week!

    I fell in love with your photo of the strawberry, then you enticed me in even further with your stories of making jelly. I haven't made jelly since I was a child (and I don't remember our using a blender), but you make it look like such fun, I'm tempted to drag out the boxes of mason jars stored away in our basement and get started. :)

    Thank you for such a wonderful post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Karen! I'm happy to have reminded you of childhood memories! You should drag those jars out and give it a try, it really is fun, especially with kids, they get such a feeling of accomplishment and once you have all the supplies ready to go it's a quick process so it holds their attention. Sure jell makes it pretty fail safe I think and the recipe and process are listed in there too. Good Luck!

      Delete
  33. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts with Thumbnails