Jammin'

Fall is here, the leaves have changed and I'm feeling more domestic than normal. I think because I have been gone for so much of the summer, I'm wanting to be at home and get back to the basics. SO I had this urge to make jam. This is something I use to do every summer with strawberries when the picking was abundant. Well, most berries have gone by, except at BJ's (which is a wholesale club) where they had large containers of raspberries. I had gotten some just to enjoy with yogurt, but then when I had the idea to make jam, I rushed back and bought more. (3 containers)
Let me tell you my house smells heavenly!!


I went to our local store and bought canning jars and pectin. I do the pectin method and water bath processing with my jars. That way the jars are sterile and sealed well.
Our local store in town is called Dan and Whit's and their motto is "If we don't have it, you don't need it". It's so funny, but it's true, they have everything. People come from all over and have to go to D&W's. I'll take a picture of the place sometime and show you!!

So I got my supplies and got busy, making a sticky mess too!
Four cups of crushed raspberries
61/2 cups of sugar
1/2 teaspoon butter (to cut down on foam)
Added a squirt of fresh lemon juice and grated lemon rind
Brought all of this to a rolling boil
Then added packet of pectin and stirred for one minute
Then took off the boiler and poured into clean jam jars
Wiped jar rims free of any jam and put seals and lids on
Processed jars in boiling water for ten minutes
Removed jars and listened for the pops
Then I knew the process was a success!!

Failed to mention, I bought fresh apple cider doughnuts to have this weekend with the jam.
Some of my supplies, couldn't find my old canning supplies, it's been awhile....

                                          Yummy 4 cups of crushed raspberries, beautiful color!

                                           Sugar added and lots of stirring

                                           A tad of lemon zest and juice

                                           Poured and ready to process

                             In the pot, they all fit but one, so had to process the last one separate.

                                                      And they all POPPED :  )

              I couldn't wait, in fact I had it almost finished before I remembered to take a photo!

                                                               DELICIOUS, if I do say



Well, that was so fun and I feel like I accomplished something also.

And to top it off, I heard the UPS truck and my new book came

Take a look

Oh, I'm so excited to have a cup of tea and enjoy this beautiful book. I'll let you know how it is.



Hope you enjoyed my fall nesting homeyness. I wish I could share a spoonful with all of you.



Look what else I found at D&W's

                                                     Vintage Blue Ball Jars


I just love them. Don't know what I'm going to do with them, but I'm sure I will find many storage uses.

Thanks for visiting me here. I love sharing my doings with all of you and I especially like to visit all of you too.

xoRobin

MOM

My dear sweet mom passed away September 16th and now is in a better place with my dad and her beloved Tommy! She will be deeply missed and fondly and lovingly remembered.

It's been a long summer with many long stays in Pennsylvania with mom, my brother and sister in law. We all worked together and made mom's time as peaceful and loving as possible. Her first stroke was June 10, which left her paralyzed on her right side and her second massive stroke was on September 10th. Hospice is such a wonderful organization. I can't say enough about them.


I'm home now and have so much love in my heart for my mom, I will be carrying this with me until my time.

I've missed all my friends I've made on my blog and I hope to continue to make more. I look forward to catching up on everyone else's blogs and life.

Thanks for visiting as always and I'll be back soon.

xoRobin