Cooking Tips for Summer Jam Recipes

Now as we are in the middle of summer it is a great time to use the fruits and vegetables available to your advantage. Markets are such a great way to go if you are able to do so, and also the grocery stores are filled with fresh local produce. As fruit  is in season it is less expensive now than say in the fall or winter months and therefore a perfect time to take advantage of jarring. When I say jarring I am talking about making home made jam. Using fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and even adding a hint of apple is a great way to take advantage of great local fruit and jar it for the  rest of the year. Using the ripest quality of fruit will really enhance any jam you decide to make. Jam is easy to make, using minimal ingredients and it is so much healthier making it by scratch than buying  in a grocery store. There are recipes everywhere online on how to prepare jam it is simple and easy to make.

Another hint that we have is if you have extra fruit that your not using in your jam recipe grab some freezer bags and freeze the  fruit. This will also last you through the months where fruit is much more expensive and why not freeze it when it is ripe and in season. We do this all the time with so many fruits and it will also save you money along the way.

Try out this simple recipe:

3 pints of strawberries

1/2 cup blueberries

1/2 cup raspberries

1 tablespoon of orange liquor

3 1/2 cups of sugar

Rinse fruit well before using and than cut strawberries in half’s or quarters. Please all fruit in a large pot and toss with sugar and liqueur. Bring to a bowl while stirring occasionally. A great tip to make sure your jam reaches the desired temperature is use a thermometer to make sure it is at 220 degrees. This takes around 35 to 40 minutes. After mixture is at the desired temperature turn off jam and let cool at room temperature over night.

Summer is almost over

The summer has flown by for us and all summer we have begun to start an online cooking course which will run in a 16 week program. We have been taping our dvds, and have outlined our step by step cooking course.
We think this course will be amazing and perfect for people just starting out in the kitchen with simple meals.
With the economy the way it is, we feel that the best way to save money is by eating in. It is not only healthier but will save you money each month. Our course will outline the 5 main ingredients you should have in your home at all times. With these key ingredients you can whip up any meat dish, seafood, pasta and vegetables.
We are really exciting to take our love for cooking to the next level and hope you will support us on our cooking course. As we are still in the works of finishing it up we will post more info when it is up and ready.
We would love to hear your comments or thoughts on what you would think and also if you or anyone you know would be interested in taking this 16 week course. We guarantee that you will be confident in the kitchen by the end of this course, be able to whip up simple delicious meals, and have the confidence you need to cook for a crowd!

Thanks,

Kristie Peever & Sydney Walsh