This spring of '06, I went strawberry picking and thought it was a good idea to try making
jam. Well, now I have the jam bug. I made 400 jars of jam in eight weeks my first season ...
strawberry, raspberry, strawberry-rhubarb, blueberry, blackberry, triple berry, peach, raspberry-peach, cherry, chocolate
raspberry, pear, pearadise marmalade, dutch apple pie, mango, spiced banana, hot pepper jelly, merlot wine jelly and
honey lemon marmalade!
The following year I added: cranberry-walnut, raspberry/mango/orange/hot pepper (a best seller,) carrot (for carrot festival,
but it still sold really well as a savory jam for appitizers,) watermelon, pineapple jelly, pineapple-rhubarb, plain rhubarb,
strawberry-pineapple, strawberry-banana, tropical trio (strawberry, banana and pineapple,) apple butter, raspberry-mango,
ginger-peach and 2 different jellys for meats (sage & cider, basil & pineapple) but those didn't go so well
...
No fruit is safe!
I think I am going to scale it down (flavor wise I mean,) and make only 25 different kinds, instead of 30+. People
seem a little confused when looking at too many different jars!
I am thinking about adding apple sauce to the biz as well, but am not sure if people will pay the price for home-made
apple sauce when they can get "Motts" for less than $3 for a large bottle. Then again - that high fructose corn syrup
is no good for you! And mine does not have any of those nasty artificial ingredients ... Let me know your thoughts!
| Mmm ... Strawberry Shortcake! |
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| ... not enough room to show all the jars of jam! |
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| ... here is half of the strawberries I picked this season ... this is a 15x12x3 pan! |
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| ... this is what 12 pints of blueberries looks like ... |
I have to admitt, that I have the horrible neuroses of thinking
"If it isn't made fresh, it isn't good enough!"
If you share in this mental malidy, then we may just get along great!
I love to spoil my loved ones, and as our lives get busier, and busier, it seems like people don't spend the time or energy
to put their whole selves into cooking a meal, or a sweet treat.
This is a horrible fate. The American world is setteling for
grocery store baked pies, and ready made rotissery chickens, which lack in flavor not only because they are made in masses,
but also because of the lack of appreciation for someone who took the time and LOVE to make them.
When someone makes something from "scratch" they put their whole
heart into it, and sure as God, it tastes better!
Try out some of these treats I have been spoiling my loved ones
with for years, or just moments ago. I promise to not let you down!
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