My Jammin' Weekend

These little ruby beauties did not disappoint.

I followed a recipe I found on Pinterest.  You can check it out here.


I love preserves but they don't love me back.  Too much refined sugar.  I often have tasted fresh fruit and wondered what it would be like to save that taste in a jam.  When I look up recipes, I simply cannot get past the obscene amount of sugar.   Sometimes as much as 7 cups!  This recipe appealed to me and I decided to give it a try.  

Welch's 100% grape juice - no sugar added - recipe specifies white but couldn't find it, pectin for low or no sugar jam, and agave nectar.*  I use agave in many things calling for sugar and honey.  Half the carbs, better for the body to process and I like the flavor better than honey (blends in better).  


Recipe called for just two cups of strawberries, but next time I will double and perhaps triple the recipe.  I only made this much!  

Ten empty jars waiting to be filled.  Back to the berry farm next to Delicious Orchards in New Jersey.  

Then I saw this on the shelf in the supermarket, and I thought a biscuit would be a good 'surface" to taste test my jam.

I made half the recipe (for 1 1/2 eggs, I used 1 whole egg + two tablespoons egg substitute).  The entire recipe said it would make 10 biscuits, I made half the recipe  and got seven.    They were good, lighter than a regular wheat biscuit and almost tasting more like a popover.

xo


(*) = I only used about 1/4 cup agave and it was plenty sweet because the berries were so sweet.  I messed up by using maple flavor.  It is interesting.  Next time I will use plain.

A little "quickie"

 I realized today that my button image went missing from my sidebar.  Didn't have a clue as to "why".  I sent out an SOS to the lady who originally designed it for me.  She had cleaned out old photos from her PhotoBucket  account, not realizing that my button was among the things deleted.

Anyhow, she sent me a link to a tutorial that Susan did at Between Naps On The Porch.  I read it through and step by step followed the instructions and voila!  Success.  If I can do this,  believe me,  anyone can.


Only problem is, for the handful of followers who display my button on their sidebar,  you need to recopy the code again.  So sorry.  Right now you just have the words "Image Removed from PhotoBucket" appearing on your sidebar.


Here is the link to Susan's tutorial.  I may get inspired to create a new button of my own.  


http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-to-make-blog-button-with-grab-box.html

Hope your weekend is going well.  Mine is jammin'.  ;-)


xo

May Days

The month is gone and we welcome June.  May was busy as one of my very good friends, Marie, had two milestones.  I was fortunate to join her in celebrating both of them.


People say that "sixty is the new forty".  Uh,  jury is still out on that for me, but Marie's husband Bobby made sure she celebrated in style.

Bobby managed to pull off this surprise, even though 80 people were in on the secret.  The purple handbag was a chocolate cake covered in fondant. The shoe is all sugar and was the size of a real one.  The detail was amazing.  Watering can centerpieces were filled with pretty  flowers.  The favor (which is not clear), was a cake server in the shape of a shoe.


Marie also retired from the same bank I did.  We had a dinner in a local restaurant.   

Some flowers from the centerpieces.

So now, parties are over and back to the yard work.    Also trying my first attempt at making jam from the first berries of the season, and they were the sweetest I ever tasted.

I'll let you know how it turns out.


PicMonkey is pretty good.  Need to play around more with it.


Have a good weekend.  I'll be joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.


xo

A Crazy Morning

This is not really a post but more of a lament!  


I have tried to visit a couple of blogs that I have been following a long while and they follow me in return.  This morning, I could not access them as I received a pop up warning advising that these blogs contain content from "Shabby Blogs.com", a site known to contain malware.  


Is it just me, or is anyone else experiencing this today??  

Happy Memorial Day

The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree.  ~Thomas Campbell




I am laying low these past few days, I need to focus on improving energy level, while still weeding and cleaning and planting.  

Stone to be added to flower bed 

Also to be added to a flower bed

I did a very simple but colorful table for a 'virtual' Memorial Day lunch.

It has been a rainy and dreary week, and the sun came out later in the afternoon.  I am also having camera problems and I apologize for photos, some light, some dark.  

Everything on the table is from Christmas Tree Shop, except the oldie tablecloth I purchased unused on EBay.

The Coca Cola glasses were left in the cabinet when I moved into my previous house.  

I purchased a bunch of wildflowers at a farm stand in New Jersey.  I distributed them among the three bottles.  The sparkly thing on the end is something I need for a retirement dinner next week.  

I have never seen an iris this shade of purple.  I am not doing it justice.  I always associate iris with Memorial weekend  for some reason.

I also purchased my first sweet cherries of the season.  I adore fresh cherries, but I never eat maraschino or cherry pie, for that matter!

My virtual menu would include sliders, hot dogs with all the usual toppings, traditional cold salads like potato and macaroni, iced tea, fresh fruit and ice cream.  

I will take time to remember the real reason for this holiday.

While dusting my blinds I snapped the flag in the breeze

For my stateside friends, enjoy the three day weekend and be safe! 


I will be joining the following parties during the week

Seasonal Sundays
Blue Monday

Table Top Tuesday
Cozy Home Scenes

The Bunny Hop

Let's Dish

Tablescape Thursday

xo

Mom's Spiedini

A new food store opened up nearby about six months ago, and I finally made my way over there.  Unfortunately I did not bring my camera, but I will go back and take photos.  It is something to see.

I spotted these little beauties while perusing the extensive meat department.  And thanks to Diane at Simple Living blog, I learned that May is Mediterranean diet month.  A perfect excuse to break out the good evoo, squeeze some lemons, pour some wine....oops, I digress!

Now once my eyes say "yes",  my tummy rarely gives any opposition.  Veal is something I hardly ever buy or cook, yet we had lots of it when I was growing up.  It was always "veal parmigiana",  not chicken.  When the prices skyrocketed here, then we discovered chicken cutlets.

I have seen spiedini described as "skewers".  They are simply very thin slices of veal (or chicken) that are pounded until they are almost transparent.  Then you can  place a layer of seasoned breadcrumbs, or a thin slice of Italian ham (prosciutto) or even a fresh sage leaf, roll them up, secure with a toothpick and broil til done.  

For these six pieces, I used about a 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, a couple of tablespoons grated Pecorino cheese, dried oregano, black pepper, garlic powder (I am all out of fresh garlic, which would have been my first choice), all to taste, and one sun dried tomato cut in small pieces.  I always buy sun dried tomatoes plain, I like to add my own oil and seasonings fresh each time.   I added about a teaspoon or so of olive oil to moisten.

I really needed to secure with toothpicks

I lightly sprayed the foil with Pam and drizzled a little olive oil over the spiedini.


These cook very quickly so watch them carefully.

I like them with a squeeze of fresh lemon.  

Mmmm.  Time to say "ciao", while I finish my Sunday din din.  I'll see you during the week!


I will be showing up at the following linky parties.

On the Menu Monday

The Bunny Hop
Your Cozy Home Party

Wow Us Wednesdays

Foodie Fridays at Rattlebridge Farms

Foodie Friday at Simple Living with Diane Balch

xo

Monthly Note Card Party

May 16th is the third Wednesday of the month, and that means it is time to join Vee for her Note Card Party.  For this month, I chose four photos of favorite fruits that remind me of summer.

Sweet and juicy

Antioxidant goodness

A fragile fruit so eat them fast

Raspberries

We know tomatoes are considered a fruit!  

Please stop by and see all the wonderful photos shared by blogging friends.  To read the post where these photos were first featured, click here.


xo