Strawberry Jam Canning Session!

Saturday morning, I woke up early (7am), which is very uncharacteristic of me. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE sleep and sleeping in! Why the motivation, you ask? Strawberry picking! I decided to go to Lakeview Farms, pretty much the only place within 45 minutes where I could find (non-blackberry) berry picking. A couple girls from Yelp met me at my place at 7:30am and we headed off after enjoying some delicious bagels.

I had done extensive research on the farm before going, and decided to go that early so they wouldn't run out of berries. I also called the day before, which they said to do to make sure there was still picking. There was.

We finally were nearing the entrance and drive up, only to see a sign that says "Sorry, we are closed" in the entrance. WTF? We pulled over and called and they were already picked out! BUMMER. We had to turn around.

Now, I had my mind SET on making jam/preserves that day. So I cheated and bought some strawberries from a local produce stand and got started!

I wanted to go chemical free and sugar free, so I found a great recipe on the internet using agave nectar instead of sugar. Here is my ingredient list:

- 3lbs Strawberries
- 2-3Lemons
- 1/2 cup Agave Nectar
- Squirt of Honey
- 1 Apple



I also bought a water bath canner and many jars to preserve my stuff from this season in:



Here are the steps I took:

1. Sterilize five 1/2-pint jars by boiling them in a hot water bath for five minutes or so.
2. Wash and stem strawberries.
3. Put strawberries in a bowl.
4. Stir berries, lemon juice (start with 2 lemons, adjust to taste), agave nectar, and grated apple together in a pot over medium-high heat.
5. You can mash the mixture with a potato masher, but I decided to use my immersion blender to get it more liquified but still with some chunks.

6. Bring to a full, rolling boil and boil at least 10 minutes, or up to 15 minutes. Adjust sweetener to taste after 5 minutes and again after 10 minutes. To test for jelling, put a white plate in the freezer when you start cooking the jam; when ready to test, put a teaspoon of jam liquid on the plate, and return to freezer for one minute. You should be able to make a line in the jam with your finger that doesn't fill back in at all. Mine did after awhile but I don't mind a little liquid!
7. Remove a jar from the water, ladle hot fruit mixture into jar leaving 1/4" headspace, wipe threaded rim of jar clean, and attach lid and band. Repeat until all jars are full. I had EXACTLY enough to fill 5 half pint jars.

8. Process in a boiling water bath for 5-10 minutes. Leave undisturbed overnight or until completely cool.

9. TIP: Being a canning rookie, I wasn't sure if the seals were properly sealed when I pulled out the cans. After about 10 minutes, they all popped and were definitely concave!

New Obsession + My first Harvest!

New kitchen toys are finding their way to my cocina!

It's Ben's fault... he started it by surprising me back in March with an awesome new Kitchenaid mixer. The kind that mixes on its own, has many attachments, and has a bowl that comes with it. It's pretty much totally fabulous.

I've just added a couple more things to my kitchen repertoire. First, a food processor. My first goal: to make pesto with the abundant basil I have growing.

Second, a canning kit. Which leads me to my new obsession! CANNING! My next kitchen gadget will be a water bath canner. This weekend, I'm heading to Lakeview Farms to pick strawberries and raspberries. Then I'm having a canning party! Do I have much of an idea of what I'm doing? NOPERS! But I don't care. I'm gonna give it my best shot! Stay tuned for how it turned out...



On another note, yesterday I harvested my first item for consumption: lettuce! I made a delicious salad with it.

Home grown, organic lettuce. Plus some other stuff (not so organic or home grown!)

Paired with some Dr. Praeger's veggie burgers (the only ones that I will eat) and some Trader Joe's sweet potato fries (TO.DIE.FOR), it made the perfect warm weather meal!

These sweet potato fries are THE BOMB!

The garden is growing like mad - way bigger than in the last pictures even. I haven't complained about how much rain we've had because it's been beautiful for my garden. While weeding the other day, I realized that I have a small berry patch growing that I DIDN'T PLANT! Crazy. My squash is blossoming like mad and I even have fruit on one of the plant. Can't wait til the squash starts coming - we'll be up in our ears with it! Want some? Come on by!

Garden Update

My garden is finally in the ground!

I know it's been awhile since I updated but it's been busy. Some new things going on in my life are: my teaching assignment has changed (next year I'm at one school full time, YAY!), I started a gym regimen and got a personal trainer, and I've done a little traveling (Florida for pleasure, Columbia MO and Minneapolis for teaching related things).

Now, my energy is going towards gardening. It's been a slow go because the weather has been bad (2 weekends of tornadoes and big rains, and a couple weeks of fluctuating temperatures, some frost creating) but it looks like we're safe now!

I realized how many flower beds I have. WHOA. Lots of planting to do. I'm focusing on planting perennials in many of them for lower maintenance future Springs and then fruits and veggies in a couple places. Ben and I spent quite a bit of time raking all of the twigs and branches that fell during the winter. Ben got our new lawn mower up and running. It's awesome! It's called the Fiskars Momentum. It's made by Fiskars, which makes scissors. It's a reel mower- so not electric or gas. It appealed to us because of our "green" ideas and Ben thought he could use his muscle to propel it. He really likes it and it does a great job so far! I figure that it saves the environment and will only need some money put in each year or so to sharpen the blades, instead of the money we'd spend on gas or electric power.

My first projects were the bed in the front, in which I planted marigolds, and the large back bed by the pond. I have always wanted lilacs, so I bought two bushes to put there plus 3 little flowering bushes called magic carpet spirea.





We also have a lot of roses blooming. They were blooming when we moved in so I would imagine that they bloom all summer!



I ended up planting some of the things that I originally mentioned but the list is longer and more different! Ben's dad built me a raised bed, and I planted several things there, along with around the perimeter (he also brought his roto tiller and tilled it all!). I also expanded to inside the fence and have plans on tilling a little more later this season or maybe next year to make more space.





This is what I planted:

-Tomatoes (4 varieties)
-Green beans
-Lettuce (2 varieties)
-Broccoli
-Cauliflower
-Sweet red peppers
-Brussels sprouts
-Melon (canteloupe)
-Summer squash
-Zucchini
-Butternut squash
-Acorn squash
-Summer medley squash (comes in yellow, green, orange)
-Sweet lightening - an "in between" summer and winter squash
-Raspberries
-Strawberries (2 varieties)

I'm going to have A LOT of squash!



I also have many herbs:

-Rosemary (2 varieties)
-Mint (didn't plant it- it was there and is invading!)
-Lemon thyme
-Chives
-Sage
-Chamomile
-Oregano
-Summer Savory
-Parsley
-Basil - loads of it!
-Dill

I know I'm missing something here!

Just got a food processor and canning supplies, so I plan on being busy this summer. I will blog more as I do it- will have more time then!

Catching up/New Creations

I've been so busy lately that I haven't updated the blog. Between my second teaching job, finals, giving two big presentations at a conference in Minneapolis and starting a garden, I have just started trying some new things in the kitchen. Look for the garden update later this week.

Since I am starting a garden, I need to be able to prepare the veggies I'm growing to my liking. One thing I'm attempting is Brussels sprouts. I've really only eaten them about 3 times in my life, all being deliciously prepared. Two times Ron made them on special occasions and the other time I had them at Niche (for non STLers, it's a very upscale restaurant that is very "hot" right now). Don't ask me why I decided to grow them. Just sounded interesting. Anyhow, I bought some and prepared them and now they are my new favorite veggie! Ben also gives them 5 stars and even asks for more. I definitely think they get a bad rep. Anyhow, my first try at them, I just sauteed them with some butter until they were nice and caramelized. I also made squash (summer and zucchini) risotto with barley instead of rice, which worked out really well. I know I need to work on my presentation, but here is my finished product:



Tonight I decided to make risotto again since it turned out so well the first time. This time I put broccoli and Brussels sprouts in it.



While I was chopping veggies, I noticed that my dog Ruby was nowhere to be seen. Whenever I'm cooking and she isn't there, I know she is getting into SOMETHING. So I walk into the living room and realize that she is playing with something green. And she doesn't have a green toy. Hmmm. Turned out that she really likes broccoli!



Making the risotto was the second thing I thought to make. The first thing was beer bread, which my friend Brooke gave me a recipe for a month or so ago. I had asked for it because she made it at Mardi Gras 2009 and I remember it being delicious. I was a little nervous that I wouldn't like it as much considering things usually seem to taste better when tipsy, which I was when I had it at Brooke's. Anyhow, I followed the directions and this is what I came up with:



The bread was warm and soft and delicious! The whole meal looked like this and was freaking awesome.

Fighting with Food

I'm on a diet.. for the first time in my life.

My mom says I've had a lot of "firsts" lately, which is true. This one is the biggest bitch though. It stems from me being tired of being overweight, wanting to be healthier, and wanting to be more active. And from encouragement from certain family members and boyfriends. But I truly want those things - so I joined Weight Watchers. And I'm going to join a gym.

I wasn't going to blog about this at first, feeling a little embarrassed about the whole weight thing. But now I don't care - it's obvious to anyone that I have major poundage to lose. So that's what I'm going to do.

My plan: doing Weight Watchers for a bit.. I lost 5lb in the first week, woo. Learning how to control what I eat better and portion it out. Then continue the "food conscious" attitude by myself. Join a gym, work out many times a week, and ride my bike on Grant's Trail a lot when the weather gets nicer.

I want to lose 40-50 pounds in 2010. It might be a lofty goal, but I want to achieve it. And I'm going to work REALLY HARD to do it.

My New Toy!

I got a new toy.

I've acquired some new cooking utensils and gadgets in the last month to make cooking more efficient and do some cool things. My latest addition is an immersion blender, which is basically a little gadget that you stick into (aka "immerse") into the bowl/pot you have food in to blend it up. It's very low maintenance, easy to clean and use. And only cost around $30.

So Ben and I have eaten like toothless old people this weekend! I pureed and blended the crap out of our food, using any excuse to use my new gadget. Saturday night, I made a sort of root vegetable soup with squash, yams and parsnips. It was ok, but I honestly wasn't the hugest fan. The best part about it was using my new toy.



I also made apple crisp, which was much yummier. The last time I made an apple dish (applesauce), Ben commented how good it would be to put some vanilla ice cream on top. So I granted his wish this time, stopping at Oberweis for some delicious vanilla to top off the crisp.



Last night (Sunday), I decided to make a Pair of Purees - potato puree and butternut squash puree. Both were quite yummy! I also made applesauce - this time, I didn't have to spend forever cutting them up. Just let them bake and then blend them up with the new gadget. The consistency was perfect- just like real applesauce. Yum!! Served all three with some asparagus. Delicious!

We don't have all the answers

Ben and I just finished watching Bill Maher's documentary "Religulous." We went directly into watching the State of the Union address (me) and playing computer games (him) so we didn't really discuss the points in the movie, and I won't be surprised if we don't. Although now I feel a little inclined to bring it up, but only because I'm thinking about it. Religion is a big issue in a lot of relationships, but in ours, it's been a total non-issue throughout. I know people who have broken off relationships because of religious differences that couldn't be overcome or major compromises that had to be made because of it. All I have to say is "Thank GOD I don't have to deal with that!"

If I even believe in such a being.

Religion isn't something I know a whole lot about or care to talk or debate about. I might just be a huge contradiction when it comes to being religious. I think it's pretty routine to associate religion with one's attendance to services at a religious institution. My church life went like this: Baptized in the Catholic church because my grandparents (Catholic) threatened to disown me if I wasn't; even though I am not and have never been Catholic. Started going to church - Methodist (like my mom was raised) when I was young. Was very involved in music at church all the way up to high school graduation, therefore attending church often. In the end of this time, I questioned religion a lot but enjoyed the music, so continued on. I actually met one of my best friends as a middle schooler questioning my beliefs in youth group - she was too. In college, I was not into church except for a short try at a church close to campus, hoping to meet some new friends (it didn't work- they were very cliquey). When I moved back to St. Louis, I immediately went back to my old church, becoming very involved again in music. People who go to church, if reading this, might be surprised about my questioning my beliefs, considering I'm pretty well known in the church for being active in it.

Which brings me to my beliefs. Let me explain: I have no idea what they are. I don't really enjoy listening to sermons or prayers or scripture. The service I go to has a sermon and a little of the other stuff, but mostly is music. That is the reason I am attracted to it. When I sing, I feel wonderful. I could go as far as to say I feel the spirit inside me. What spirit, I don't know. I like to think of it as my grandma being with me. I know I believe in spirituality. I'd like to believe in a better place for the afterlife and for those people to be with us in spirit. Sure, that works for me. The other stuff, more fundamental, more, well, religious stuff.. I dunno.

I'm one of those in between people, but I like going to church (most of the time - when the sermon is 40 minutes long, I question it!) I actually suspect others who attend my service are in between believers like me, but of course, no one would talk about it openly.

Which brings me to the idea of religion within relationships. Ben is pretty anti-church, although I've managed to get him to church several times to watch me perform in different capacities. He just doesn't feel comfortable there. Which is fine with me. Though I like it when he comes and watches me because it makes me feel good to look out and see him supporting me. We very rarely talk about religion. Although I don't consider him an atheist - because I know he has some spirituality in him outside of organized religion. We have many common interests but we also have some unique interests that the other doesn't share. I think that is important in a relationship, because being your own person helps you really feel secure in who you are as an individual rather than a couple.

I have always scorned couples who couldn't do anything without each other. Ben and I spend much of our time together, but are free to do our own thing if we want. I wouldn't have a problem with him hanging out with his buddies without me. Ditto for him. I remember in grad school, when I had a friend who got married and had to ask her husband if she wanted to do ANYTHING on her own. Really ask his permission! She had to stay home and make his sandwich for lunch because he couldn't/wouldn't do it for himself, or transfer his laundry to the dryer for the same reason. Ridiculous. I never want to be that person- I want to be my own, to have my own free thoughts and actions. And I want him also to be able to freely think, disagree with me if needed, have his own thing to do. If religion is one of these things, no problem. I can't exactly preach my beliefs when I don't even know what they are!

So no, I don't really know what I believe. What I do know: church brings me something positive in my life, so I'll keep going as long as I get good feelings from it.