Strawberries!

It’s June and definitely Strawberry season! Hmm, perhaps I should clarify this a bit – the end of June is approaching and the local fresh Strawberry season will be coming to a close soon. Every year, as far back as I can remember, I have prepared and then placed fresh Strawberries in the freezer. While growing up it was a tradition of summer. My sister & I would help our mom with the Strawberries detail. Then, came the Blueberries.

(File Photo)

Knowing how much my family enjoys Strawberries on Oatmeal Pancakes, ice cream, or in fruit salads throughout the year, Meadowbrook Farm in East Longmeadow was my destination on Monday morning. An overflowing 8-quart container plus two additional quarts were purchased.

Most of these delicious, juicy, fragrant, red berries were placed in Ziploc Freezer Bags. However, first the tops were removed. The berries were double washed in cold water, sliced and then packaged and dated.

Today was the day for Strawberry Freezer Jam. Certo, Lemon Juice, Sugar and 1-cup freezer containers are also needed. Freezer Jam is great! The directions are located inside a box of Certo.

After getting the 2 batches completed, the containers will sit undisturbed for 24 hours on my Dining Room table. Tomorrow after the 24 hours pass, they will be placed in the freezer.  June has been a very busy month, but the desired trip to Meadowbrook Farm for Strawberries was made. Nothing compares to fresh local fruit or produce!

Now, I will also be able to bake Strawberry Banana Bread, again!

Do you purchase local fresh fruit?  Do you make Freezer Jam?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Is There Any Yogurt?

It’s the first week in January, already! The decorations have been packed away for next year. Oh, these mornings are so brisk! Wearing boots whenever heading outside is definitely a must. It is chilly outdoors, but … winter in New England is so pretty! When it is snowing outside I still enjoy catching an individual snowflake on my glove or mitten and then looking at its design - that is until it melts.

This first week of the New Year reminds me of a few things that need to be finished. My first goal is to replenish the fridge. Then, I need to finish the fleece jacket that has been patiently waiting on my sewing machine cabinet. Then …

That empty fridge still beckons me. My Hubby & I enjoy eating Yogurt most days at lunchtime. This afternoon my two Donvier Yogurt Makers were set to work. Later today, sixteen containers of creamy white delicious yogurt will find their places on the top shelf in our fridge. Eating Yummy Yogurt (click here) flavored with Freezer Jam (click here)will bring back memories of this past summer’s sunny, hot days. Ah, New England!

Do you enjoy eating Yogurt? My favorite flavors are Peach and Strawberry. What are yours? Do you have a Yogurt Maker?

Just Peachie!

This morning the fragrant inviting aroma of peaches filled our kitchen. Two separate batches of Peach Freezer Jam were made. Tomorrow (after the 24-hour time period that Freezer Jam requires), the containers will be placed and stored in our freezer. Now, our supply of Strawberry, Blueberry and Peach Freezer Jam has been prepared. We will be enjoying these colorful delicious jams all year.

After making the jam there were six juicy peaches left. Now, that was an invitation to bake a scrumptious dessert. The mouth-watering peaches would make an appetizing Peachie Crisp. The ingredients and method for Peachie Crisp are similar to Apple Crisp, except that peaches are used rather than apples.

***I also remove the skins from the peaches using the following method: Place each peach in simmering water for about 35 seconds. Remove from the hot water and cool. The skins will peel off with no waste.

Then, I followed my Apple Crisp recipe and used about ¼ Cup of Craisins. (The 1-cup Ziploc container in my fridge containing the dried Craisins soaking in apple juice comes in handy.) I also used a little less brown sugar.

After the dessert was baked and cooled, it was placed in our fridge. Cold Peachie Crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! That is a GREAT dessert! Bake it and try it. You will like it!

Yummy!

Strawberry Freezer Jam

This afternoon the second batch of Strawberry Freezer Jam (click on bolded words) was prepared. The mission is now complete! Another seven labelled Ziploc freezer containers of the delicious jam is now sitting on our table. It will remain there undisturbed for 24 hours. Then, I will place it in our freezer to be enjoyed all year. The Blueberry Freezer Jam and the Peach Freezer Jam will be prepared when those fruits are in season. The packages of Certo, Ziploc containers and sugar are waiting to be used. Summer is here!

Strawberry Season

Around lunchtime today my husband & I decided to drive to the local strawberry fields to purchase some quarts of strawberries. We would prepare and freeze them to enjoy later this year. There are times when every day aches encourage an individual to seek another method of undertaking a mission. The mission was placing prepared bags of strawberries in our freezer and making freezer jam tomorrow. All year we enjoy defrosted strawberries as a topping on Awesome Oatmeal Pancakes or Strawberry Freezer Jam on toast or with Yummy Yogurt. A supply of strawberries was needed, but purchasing the red, ripened, fresh fruit was a better option for us than picking the berries ourselves.

At Meadowbrook Farm in East Longmeadow, MA we purchased an overflowing 8-quart container for $28. Individual quarts were also available for $4.50/quart. Later this afternoon after some prep work, eleven Ziploc packages containing the newly picked, fragrant, luscious berries were placed on the top shelf of our freezer. Tomorrow, the first batch of Strawberry Freezer Jam will be prepared. Next week we will return to Meadowbrook Farm to purchase another flat of the fresh, red, juicy, delicious strawberries. Yes, we also enjoy eating them, now. Summer is here!