Freezing Blueberries and Blueberry Freezer Jam

Suddenly, it was blueberry season!  Oh, you know what that means.  You know the ole' saying- when the fresh local juicy blueberries are ready, purchase a large quantity to freeze and also to prepare Blueberry Freezer Jam!  That was on my agenda the middle of last week.

On Blueberry Day 1- A large quantity were triple rinsed in cold water, drained in a colander and then packaged in freezer bags.

Packaged, labelled & ready
to be placed on our freezer!

 On Blueberry Day 2- That was Blueberry Freezer Jam Day!  This year I prepared 2 batches- each batch was prepared separately.  All of the clean utensils, freezer containers and ingredients were taken out and I started in.  CERTO is the pectin I use- it is a liquid pectin.  The directions are in the CERTO box.  Follow directions exactly!  No shortcuts here! 

After Freezer Jams are prepared and placed in the containers with the lids snapped on and labelled, the containers sit on a table undisturbed for 24 hours.  Then, they are placed in the freezer until needed.  Taking a container out and placing in the fridge is easy enough and it is ready to enjoy on toast, English Muffins or as an addition to plain Yummy Yogurt.

Blueberry Freezer Jam
sitting on the table undisturbed for 24 hours!

It's amazing how time just flies by!  I had intended to post this last week.  The week just went in a flash!  We have also been enjoying fresh local blueberries in cereal, in fruit salads and yes, there was baking going on, too.  That is for other posts.  :)

Enjoy the local fresh fruit!
Yummy!

    

Yikes!!

2019

A big contrast from this winter!  It's a hot day today!  The New Guinea Impatiens are hinting and we did quench their thirst.  They are now in the shade and we are indoors!  Phew!! 

Stay cool my friends!!

Freezing Strawberries + Freezer Jam

Yummy Strawberries!

Summer is here and suddenly it was time to purchase the local, yummy, juicy strawberries!  It's a tradition!  The already freshly picked quarts were purchased and after they arrived home it was time to prep/ freeze most of them to enjoy during the colder months here in Massachusetts.  Fresh local strawberries taste just sooo goood!!  Even the prepped local strawberries that are taken out of our freezer and defrosted.  There is something great about eating just ripe fruit.  Yum!!

To Freeze Strawberries:  Each berry was checked and the tops were cut off.  A triple rinse with cold water and draining them was the next step.  I like to cut the larger strawberries in halves or thirds before freezing. 

2 Cups of prepared fruit were placed in each freezer bag.  (Adding a little sugar to each bag is optional.)  Then, the bags were labeled and into our large freezer they went.  Oh, definitely there was a taste test and some strawberries are in our fridge ready to eat!

Strawberry Freezer Jam
Yes, the containers are recycled every year. :)

On Strawberry Day 2- three batches of Strawberry Freezer Jam were prepared.  We are not really partial to the commercial jams/ jellies/ preserves that are sold in supermarkets.  Making Freezer Jams has been another tradition of mine for over 40 years.  WoW!  It is that long.

After following the directions found in the CERTO package, the containers then sat on our dining room table undisturbed for 24 hours.  After the 24 hour time period they also found their place in our freezer.  Yum!

Our local, fresh, ripe, juicy Strawberries make their appearance in the fields once a year.  It's great to take the time to purchase them and then prep them to enjoy for the next 11 months.  Until there are no more found in our freezer, that is.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

The First Daylily!

Suddenly it happens!  It's always during the first week of July and it was today!  The first Daylily in our yard has blossomed.  This year it was a bright orange flower in our back perennial garden.  The plant has survived harsh cold winters and hot humid summers for over 39 years.  It does quite well here in New England.

There is another blossom and also more stems with blossoms.  We will be seeing orange on quite a few beautiful summer days.

Enjoy!

      

Wishing you-

A happy
and
a safe
4th of July!!!

Enjoy!

 

June Flowers!

It's the last day of June and there is so much color in our yard!  Yellow Stella de Oro Daylilies, red Roses, purple Petunias and light pink Citronella (Mosquito Plant) flowers.  Yes, even the Citronella (lower right corner) is blossoming!  We have 3 plants on our deck.  They sure do help keeping the mosquitoes from visiting us when we are sitting on our deck.   Every year we have 3 pots of these Mosquito Plants on our deck.

We are enjoying this last day of June!

Free Fun Fridays!

FREE FUN FRIDAYS
Schedule

Coming soon!  Beginning this Friday!  FREE FUN FRIDAYS!!!   That's tomorrow!!


It's a great program for anyone living in, vacationing in or driving through Massachusetts this summer.  It's offered by the Highland Street Foundation!  Beginning on Friday- June 28 and then on every Friday this summer through Friday- August 30 there are specific venues with free admission in Massachusetts.  Summer is here, but that does not put a halt on the learning process.  

If you have an opportunity to visit one, two, three or more of these great places, do so.  Adults and children will all be welcomed to enjoy their day at any of these great venues!  Zoos, history and art museums, music and hobbies are all represented with these choices.

Some of my favorite places to visit that are included on this list this summer are:

Norman Rockwell Museum

The Mount:  Edith Wharton's Home

Springfield Museums
5 museums on the campus including The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum  

Old Sturbridge Village

 
There are so many more great places to visit! 
For the complete list visit The Highland Street Foundation's Free Fun Fridays!

This is a wonderful program for visitors of all ages!!!  Have FuN!!!

Thank You Highland Street Foundation!

Enjoy!