Homemade Raspberry Jam

Who is up for some homemade raspberry jam?  When I learned how to make jam with Ball's Instant Fruit Pectin (sometimes labelled "No Cook Freezer Jam"), it changed my life.  All you need is one envelope of instant fruit pectin, 1 1/2 cups of sugar and four cups of crushed fresh fruit and you can make 5 (8 oz) jars of jam.  In less than 30 minutes, you measure, stir and fill the jars.  Read the directions, but it is that easy!  It will keep in the refrigerator for 3 weeks and can be frozen for up to one year.  Can you say Christmas presents? 

I can't think of anyone who wouldn't love toast spread with raspberry jam on a cold Winter morning.  Or how about a crisp cracker topped with a sliver of white cheddar and a dollop of bright red jam. Yum! 

In a few easy steps, you can preserve the delights of Summer 2011.  Come on, you know you want to.

Fresh Raspberries

Do I really need to say any more? This picture is worth a thousand words and should have you checking your calendar to see if you can sneak over to the farmer's market tomorrow morning. Fresh produce locally grown. Come on, you know you want to.

(Raspberries might not be ready near you yet, but aren't these gorgeous? And won't you be happy when they are available like this? It's Summer!)

A Tisket a Tasket

I've decided to try my hand at embroidery again. I was about 8 when I first learned to cross stitch. I would mark a design in pencil on a flour sack square and then stitch over it with DMC floss. 

I vividly remember making a square for my brother with the outline of a sailboat on it. Lately, I've been seeing embroidered dishtowels in antique stores and I want to try some of those pretty stitches myself! 

Yesterday, I drew this basket of raspberries with a disappearing ink pen and stitched the berries by making lots of french knots. I am really happy with it. Dishtowels here I come!