New Blog Name

Hi Guys!  I changed the blog name and domain.  You should be automatically redirected, but if you're not, please head to:

www.chickensinmykitchen.com

Thanks!

Shannon

How to Make The Best Jam Ever

This is the best (and easiest) strawberry jam I've ever made.    Making around twenty 8 oz jars took me less than one hour, from start to finish, including taking pictures and stopping to nurse the baby.  You can do this!  And it is so worth it.

Here's what you need (this will make about five 8 oz jars):

4 lbs fresh strawberries ($.99 at Aldi this week).  I like to pick containers with larger berries, because then the cutting goes faster.

1 box of instant fruit pectin (I use Ball brand, located in the baking aisle of the Walmart.  One box has enough pectin to make double this recipe)

1 1/2 cups of white sugar or Splenda

Kitchen Equipment: jars or tupperware to freeze jam in, big bowl, spoon, food processor or potato masher, knife and cutting board.  I personally like to use canning jars, because they make me feel all domestic and connected to all the farm wives in the past, but anything you have will work.  Ball canning jars are for sale everywhere, and should cost you less than $10 for 12.  They are worth the investment.  I use them for everything, from freezing and canning to flower vases and decorative jars.  (They are reusable, don't throw them away!)

Ready to make some jelly?  Here we go!

Step 1: Get your jars or containers ready.

Step 2: Rinse your strawberries.

Step 3: Cut the green tops off the berries.  I push the knife vertically into the top of the berry and cut around in a circle, instead of just chopping the top off horizontally, because that way you get any green core that may be hiding inside the berry.  (You'll want to cut out any bruised spots as well ).

Step 4: In your big bowl, mix one packet of instant fruit pectin with 1 1/2 cups of white sugar or Splenda.

Step 5: Using either a food processor or a potato masher, crush your strawberries to the consistency you like best.  If you like your jam very smooth, crush the berries into almost a puree.  We like some texture to ours, so we leave chunks (see picture).  If you use a food processor, use the pulse button instead of the regular full speed button, in order to preserve some texture.  Whether you crush them by hand or process them, I could only effectively crush about 1 lb at a time.  Any more than that was a mess.  Dump your crushed berries into a bowl or measuring cup as you work.  You should have about four cups of crushed berries when you're finished.

(Note: In the past, I have attempted to use a KitchenAid Stand Mixer to crush the berries, which worked okay, but it was an enormous mess.  I don't suggest it unless your berries are very ripe).

Step 6: Mix your crushed berries into your bowl of sugar and pectin.  Stir for three minutes, or slightly more.







Step 7: Fill your jars.  Wipe the sides and tops of any stray jam, then screw lids on.  Let them stand for about 30 minutes.  Freeze or refrigerate.  These keep in the freezer for one year (I would say longer), or the refrigerator for about three weeks.  You can expect the consistency to be thinner than a cooked jam-that is normal.  Considering that my kids eat this like soup, that works out just fine for me.

And.....voila!  You just made healthy and delicious strawberry jam!  Isn't the color just amazing?  Could that have been any easier?!  Jars of this make great gifts for a hostess or a new mom.  And I can pretty guarantee this will impress the man in your life with your banging domestic skills.

Every spring when strawberries are in season, I try to freeze enough to last all year.  I haven't succeeded yet.

And just for fun, a price breakdown:
Strawberries $4
Pectin $2.32/2 since you only use one packet: $1.16
Sugar: about $.25

So the price per batch is $5.41, for five 8 oz jars, or about $1.08/jar, which comes out to about $.13/oz.    The regular price of 12 oz of Smucker's Strawberry Jam at Walmart is $1.99, or $.16/oz.  (Price would be much higher at our tiny town grocery store).  This is a huge win-win: not only is your jam healthier, made with in-season fruit, and WAY more delicious than store jam, it is cheaper too!  If you live out in the boonies like me, it is also a nice to bonus to have to have jars all ready to go in the freezer, because we inevitably use the end of our jelly just before weekend guests come, and then have nothing to serve with toast.

Happy Jelly-Making!

Printable (this recipe is right on the box of pectin, if you'd rather save paper):
Here's what you need (this will make about five 8 oz jars):

4 lbs fresh strawberries

1 box of instant fruit pectin

1 1/2 cups of white sugar or Splenda

Step 1:  Get your jars or containers ready.

Step 2:  Rinse your strawberries.

Step 3:  Cut the green tops off the berries.  (You'll want to cut out any bruised spots as well )

Step 4:  In your big bowl, mix one packet of instant fruit pectin with 1 1/2 cups of white sugar or Splenda.

Step 5:  Using either a food processor or a potato masher, crush your strawberries to the consistency you like best.  Dump your crushed berries into a bowl or measuring cup as you work.  You should have about four cups of crushed berries when you're finished.

Step 6:  Mix your crushed berries into your bowl of sugar and pectin.  Stir for three minutes, or slightly more.

Step 7:  Fill your jars.  Wipe the sides and tops of any stray jam, then screw lids on.  Let them stand for about 30 minutes.  Freeze or refrigerate.

Anatomy of a Frugal Failure

Follow with me here as I explain EXACTLY how to save money by shopping around for the best deals.

Realize that Amelia needs new Crocs for the summer; somehow, out of the twenty pairs we own, none are her size.

Remember reading about a great deal on a money-saving blog, can't remember which one. Google it.

Find the deal-Zulily-$14-and they have the color she wants, orange. Score! Get all the way to end of checkout and realize that with shipping and taxes, they cost almost the same as regular price ($22 v $24) at any website. Maybe there is a coupon code. Retailmenot. No codes.

Surely I can do better than that. Go to several other websites to see if they have orange Crocs for a good price. All prices on orange are the same ($24). Search coupon codes for each site to find the best deals, including shipping. If you sign-up for emails from Crocs, they will send you a code for 20% off. Done.

Call Amelia over to the computer to ask which of the two shades of orange she prefers. She then notices the only other pair of shoes that come in orange, a pair of sandals, full-price, of course ($34). She really likes those better. I think they are a lot cuter too. Hmm. Maybe she can wear them as dress shoes and for church as well, thereby saving money by only needing one pair of summer shoes.

So: $34-20% off = $27.20 + shipping

Not too bad, for a pair of shoes that should really count as TWO pairs, since she can wear them for play and church.

In the midst of this, Olivia hears us online shopping (the only kind we do out here in the country), and comes over. I remember that she also needs new Crocs for this summer. She spots the same pair of sandals, loves them too. No interest in the $24 pair. Of course. I was planning on buying her generics whenever I saw them cheap (Dollar Store, $5). But wait! It says down there that if you buy two pairs of shoes from Crocs, you get free shipping! Second pair into the cart.

So $34 x 2 = $68

$68-20% off coupon = $54.40

$54.40 (actually spent) - $22 (price of original deal considered) - $5 (price planned on for Olivia's shoes) = $27.40

And that's how today is the day in which I lost $27.40 by shopping around for the best price.