Strawberry Freezer Jam

~Strawberry Freezer Jam~

Sweet juicy local Strawberries are just the best!  They also make a wonderful flavorful jam!  For a few decades now, I've been preparing Freezer Jams when the fresh local fruit is available.  This week 3 batches of Strawberry Freezer Jam found its spot on our dining room table to "do its thing" for the required 24 hour period.  My kitchen had this production line set up.  The strawberries had already been prepared. 

My fave containers to use are the Ziploc 1 cup containers.  The circular ones that Ziploc no longer sells.  So, during the year after we've enjoy a container of jam, each container is carefully washed/ dried & stored away for future Freezer Jams.

One day this week was Strawberry Freezer Jam Day!  The strawberries, sugar, Certo (liquid pectin) and Lemon Juice were placed on the counter- ready to use.  The Directions are located inside each box of Certo.

While preparing this Jam follow directions exactly!  I always reread the Directions and also reread my Helpful Hints.  One batch is prepared at a time!

We had been enjoying the very last container of Freezer Jam- Peach - that was prepared last year.  What great timing for our local strawberry season!  Now, our freezer has a new supply.

Do you prepare Freezer Jams?
They are so much tastier than the commercial brands of jams!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

      

Hearty Turkey Veggie Soup

Hearty Turkey Veggie Soup
Portions ready for the freezer!

Oh, it is a bit chillier in the AM these days!  It happens every October, but I'm never prepared for the sudden need to wear a jacket when taking the daily walk.  My Marigold & Zinnia seeds are stored away to plant next spring, so it's probably time to take out more of the long sleeved jerseys.  Thinking of those long sleeves brings the thought of a hearty soup at dinner time!  A soup that contains a few colorful veggies like tomatoes, spinach & carrots with rice.

Two years ago my large Dutch Oven would contain a yummy Sausage Soup.  Alas, that was 2 years ago.  Now, I'm keeping cholesterol in mind even more than before.  I've learned that my yummy Sausage Soup tastes mighty good when I substitute browned/ drained Ground Turkey for the browned/ drained Sausage!  Add more spices into the pot when this soup is simmering and it's oh so good!!!  So good, that yesterday I was searching for it in our freezer.  Well, that quick JG Take Out Meal was not to be seen on any freezer shelf.  Looks like Ground Turkey needs to be added to my grocery list!

Hearty Turkey Veggie Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Turkey
4 cans (14.5 ounces each) College Inn Light & Fat Free Chicken Broth
1 can (14- 20 ounces) Dice or Whole Tomatoes, drained
1 box (8- 10 ounces) chopped frozen Spinach, thawed
1 Cup White Rice, uncooked
1 lb. Baby Carrots (rinsed)
1 pkg. (10- 14 ounces) defrosted Green Beans- optional
1/4 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
3/4 teaspoon Paprika
1/4 teaspoon Basil
1/4 Teaspoon Oregano
1 Tablespoon dried Parsley

Method:

1. Brown Ground Turkey & drain.
2. Place in large pot or Dutch Oven.
3. Add remaining ingredients to pot.
4. Bring to a boil & reduce heat to simmer.
5. Simmer about 45- 60 minutes- until Rice has cooked.

Could this be any easier?  No!  Serve with a slice of Rye Bread.

After enjoying a bowl of this hearty soup at dinner, you'll notice there is a quantity left in the pot.  No problem here!  This soup freezes very well.  After the soup cools, I place 2 portions in freezer containers, date/ label.  Into the freezer they go.

There is nothing like searching for a quick dinner in my freezer on a cold day & finding this hearty soup.

***The Rice absorbs the liquid when the soup is cooling, so I add Chicken Broth when reheating to enjoy again.

***When reheating for 2 Servings-  I add almost 1 can (14- 20 ounces) of Chicken Broth into the sauce pot along with the soup.  It's yummy!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

    

Blueberries & Freezer Jam

Local Blueberry Season is here!

B-l-u-e-b-e-r-r-i-e-s!  Oh, yum!  It's the time of year when the local blue sweet pieces of fruit are ripe!  T'was a week of blueberries for me.

Our winter supply is now packed away in the freezer. 

Definitely Blueberry Freezer Jam was on my agenda, too.  On Wednesday afternoon 2 batches were prepared, separately.  The fresh Blueberries double rinsed under cool running water & drained, Certo, Sugar &  Lemon Juice were placed on my counter- ready to use.  The Ziploc Freezer Containers were washed & dried.  It was time to make the yummy homemade jam!  The directions are found inside each box of Certo.   Before I knew it, the containers were filled & the top was popped in place. 

Then, each container was labelled/ dated including the time it was placed in the plastic Ziploc Freezer Container.  The 2 batches of Blueberry Freezer Jam sat on our dining room table making themselves for the 24 hour wait period.  After 24 hours, into the freezer each container was placed.

If you are interested in Blueberry Freezer Jam, click here for my Helpful Hints!  Homemade Jams & Jellies taste so much better than the commercial brands!

Do you prep/ freeze local fresh Blueberries to use the remainder of the year?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

   

~Tupperware~

Always being used!

Thanks Earl Tupper!  Great idea you had- molding the plastic into shapes that I'd find so useful in my kitchen.  From measuring cups to my rolling pin my Tupperware has been used for 40+ years.  That was my thought this AM when I read the online Mass Moments.  This is an interesting site that shares a tidbit of Massachusetts history, every day.  It always begins- "On this day..."

Today's tidbit was "Tupperware Inventor Born July 28, 1907".         

Probably not a day goes by that I do not use one of my yellow or orange measuring cups.  I do have 2 complete sets, but inside my flour container is an orange 1/4 measuring cup.  The yellow one is in my sugar container.  The containers?  Oh, literally for decades I've used large Tupperware containers with lids.  That all began the year we returned home from a great week at the Cape (Cape Cod) in the summer & found those pesty ants walking on the kitchen counter & also inside my beautiful sugar canister.  What a yucky mess!  It caused a big cleaning project!  The beautiful ceramic canisters that I had made in Ceramics were stored away.  Still are stored.

The Tupperware story is interesting.  With Brownie Wise's help Tupperware Home Parties became the way to sell.  She had the background & personality.  For the entire story, click here.   

Do you have these colorful measuring cups, too?  Many of mine are in my dish rack today- I've been baking.

Enjoy the tidbit of history!

~Eggplant Meat Sauce~

Eggplant Meat Sauce
served over Barilla PLUS Penne

It has been a quick Saturday!  Oh sure, it has 24 hours like every day has.  Not too sure where the daytime hours went.  O.K., maybe watching the Boston College Basketball game on ESPN today did take a couple of hours this afternoon!  :)  The snow falling outside reminded me that we are in the winter season.  It's been a relaxing Saturday!  This is when the Ziploc Freezer containers filled with ready made dinners come in so handy.  "What's for dinner?" can be answered by a trip to the freezer.  Today there was no need to spend a large amount of time in my kitchen.  It was a defrost, reheat & eat kind of day!

Eggplant Meat Sauce served over Barilla PLUS Penne was so yummy!  The date labelled on the container of the sauce was August 5, 2013.  During this past August's heat, my Slow Cooker was put to work often containing fresh local veggies.  Dinners were packed away in our large freezer for an evening such as tonight.  The recipe is below:
     
Eggplant Meat Sauce

Ingredients:

(1) Green Pepper, cut into chunks
(1) lb. Ground Beef - Brown in skillet, removes fat
(1) large Eggplant - Cut into slices. Cut each slice in 6 pieces.
(1) small Zucchini - Cut in slices.
Dehydrated Onion, Parsley - as desired
Fresh Spinach - if desired
(1) can Tomatoes - can be whole & cut in quarters or diced
About 28 oz. Tomato Sauce
(1) 6 oz. can Tomato Paste
1/4 teaspoon each Garlic Powder, Oregano, Basil

 Method:

1. Spray Slow Cooker pot with PAM.
2. Brown Ground Beef in skillet.
3. Wash Green Pepper, cut into chunks & place in Slow Cooker's pot.
4. Add browned Ground Beef.
5. Add Eggplant pieces & sliced Zucchini.
6. Add Onions & Parsley. 
7. Cover with Spinach, if desired.
8. Add drained cut/diced Tomatoes.
9. In small bowl mix Tomato Paste with Tomato Sauce until smooth.
10. Add Tomato Sauce/Paste to pot.
11. Add Garlic Powder, Oregano & Basil.
12. Cover with lid.
13. Cook on High (#5) Setting for 4 hours.
14. Serve over Pasta of choice.

This recipe is a keeper to be used again next summer!  It's great to prepare when there is an abundance of fresh local veggies available.  An added plus is that this sauce freezes very well.   

Enjoy!

Yummy!