Raspberry Jam with Beadmaker

I am making jam again; this time it is raspberry. I made this in the breadmaker, and it is so easy. It has become my favorite way to make jam. 

Raspberry jam is perfect for adding to cheesecake.

The set on this jam is just perfect!

Raspberry Jam in Breadmaker

Yields: 6 cups

6 cups raspberries

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice (used bottled)

2 tablespoons fruit pectin 

In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients. Pour into bread pan. Start breadmaker. Place your breadmaker on the jam function and start machine. This takes about 1 hour 20 minutes to cook and then let it cool for one hour in the bread pan on the counter. Then transfer into storage containers. Some of mine went into the fridge and some was frozen. Stores in the refrigerator 3 weeks and in the freezer for one year.

*I have a Hamilton Beach  breadmaker and I got the instructions out of the instruction manual that came with the machine.

Enjoy!

In Victory,

Sherry

Summer Zinnias

Here is a bouquet of some of my favorite zinnias this year.

strawflower

There are also a few strawflowers I grew for drying. 

I placed the bouquet in the cottage corner by some recent thrift store finds. Yes, I found Mason Cash mixing bowls at the thrift store!

In Victory,

Sherry

Strawberry Jam with Breadmaker

 

I have tried several times to make strawberry jam. On the stovetop, I usually make strawberry sauce or strawberry concrete. At some point, I decided to give making strawberry jam in my bread maker a try. If at first you don't succeed try, try again....eh?  

It worked so well this time! I made three batches in one day and they were all perfect! 

I have a Hamilton Beach  breadmaker and I got the instructions out of the instruction manual that came with the machine. The machine had a jam setting, so it takes the guesswork out of how to set the machine. The recipe was adapted with less pectin than called for to get these results. 

Strawberry Jam in Breadmaker

Yields: 6 cups

6 cups strawberries, capped and chopped into to small pieces

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice (used bottled)

2 tablespoons fruit pectin (I used standard pectin and low sugar, both did well.)

In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients. Pour into bread pan. Start breadmaker. Place your breadmaker on the jam function and start machine. This takes about 1 1/2 hours to cook and then let it cool for one hour in the bread pan on the counter. Then transfer into storage containers. Some of mine went into the fridge and some was frozen. Stores in the refrigerator 3 weeks and in the freezer for one year.

This jam turned out so well! I am forever hooked on making strawberry jam in the bread maker. I ended up with 18 cups of jam. While the breadmaker was cooking through the cycle I capped and chopped up the rest of the strawberries for the next batch and froze some of them for pies or desserts later. I had 35 pounds of strawberries to put up this day. 

Enjoy!

In Victory,

Sherry

Happy Birthday America!

 
Happy 250th Birthday America! 

May God bless America! 

In Victory,

Sherry

A Pink Bouquet

Many flowers are in bloom, so I went to the garden and made a bouquet.

I probably don't do this enough, but with new varieties this year I wanted to try them in a bouquet.

I had some spent violas that were ready to come out of the pot for summer, and when I pulled the violas on one side of the pot, I found this. 

When I gasped and saw them, they did this! Needless to say, I put the violas back and left them alone. I have seen the mother bird back at the nest feeding them, so they are safe for now. 

In  Victory,

Sherry

Drying Flowers

I have always wanted to try drying flowers. This year I grew several varieties I could try that out with.  

The plant shelf my husband put in for me has been a really great addition to the yard. The planters were mostly water-saving and the rain comes off of the shed and waters them. I haven't had to water them much. They are also thriving and growing several of my drying flowers.

Now that I have a potting shed, I also have a place to dry the flowers.

Here I am drying oryla and strawflower.

The garden shed continues to be a favorite prop and staging place. 

The Lady of Shalot rose blooming. I need to catch some of these in the bud stage to dry also. 

In Victory,
Sherry