Sweets

Marshmallows on a Stick: Last Minute Valentine Goodies

February 13, 2012

Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday of the year. I love love. If you’re looking for a last minute fun project for your kids, or some goodies for their classrooms, give me an hour and I’ll give you some sweet marshmallow pops. I got this idea from a book my mom got me for Christmas, [...]

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Canned Cranberry Curd

January 19, 2012
canned cranberry curd

Warning: This is the sweetest little jar of curd you ever did taste. It is highly addictive. Especially when a dollop is plopped atop a gingersnap. SNAP! That’s some good curd!  My good friend Valerie and I had planned a canning get together with our other good friends, Grace and Akemi. This was during the [...]

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Apple Wedges in Cinnamon Red Hot Syrup

November 30, 2011
Apple wedges in cinnamon red hot syrup

Here’s a great gift for the holidays. It gives pizazz to pork, adds a spicy kick to your ice cream, heck, you can happily spend an afternoon eating it straight from the jar. My kids do. Believe me. They do. I’m kinda pissed about that because I had to make a second, unexpected batch. I [...]

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Easy Canned Applesauce Tutorial

November 17, 2011
Image credit: EarthTimes.com

Except for the fact that I would be losing out on the SEO factor, I would have titled this post: Easy Peazy Apple Squeezy. Because that’s a way cuter title, right? I used to be of the mind that there was really no need to can applesauce. Apples grow abundantly here in the Bay Area. [...]

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Canning Grape Juice (the simple way)

August 11, 2011
canned grape juice with whole grapes

Earlier in the year, when the fruit trees were dormant, I hired a fruit tree expert to come and discuss my mini orchard with me, as well as prune my trees. I was given some bad news. Essentially I had annihilated my apple tree as well as my grapevine. I was told neither would produce very [...]

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Plum Pie Filling

August 2, 2011
Canned plum pie filling

I had the immense luck to come into entirely too many plums. And not just any plum….satsuma plums. You know when you’re at the Farmer’s Market and you see plums, and you’re like, “I hope those are the plums that are red inside”? And then you bite into it and it’s yellow inside. You’re not [...]

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Apricot Jam

July 27, 2011
canned apricot jam

I really regretted not canning apricots last year. They’re so versatile, an especially good ingredient with chicken. And anything that makes a good chicken dish ingredient, is something I feel I need a lot  of. Like a lot, a lot of. Also, my mother-in-law makes these delicious apricot horns – a family recipe I’ve been [...]

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Canned Strawberry Preserves

July 15, 2011
canned strawberry preserves

Strawberry preserves are a versatile classic. And more attractive than a homemade jam, what with all the chunks of strawberries and the fact that preserves tend to foam less than jams and jellies. And about this time of year, when the more delicate berries come to full ripeness, the cost of strawberries seems like a [...]

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Peach Blueberry Pie for Pie Day!

July 5, 2011
Blueberry Peach Pie

I’ve always fancied myself more a cook than a baker, but I find myself surprised by the confidence I’ve gained from many an hour stirring sweet fruits and sugars until they’ve merged to form the perfect jam. I love fruit.  And making jams and jellies has only increased my desire to find other fun ways [...]

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Canned Loquat Butter

April 28, 2011
canned loquat butter

I just met you, loquat, and yet…I….I…I… I LOVE YOU! Is it too soon to say? Maybe it is, considering you only stay ripe and juicy for a month, maybe a little longer. We’ve just met, our season together will be a short one, but let’s savor the sweetness while we can. Wait! Did someone [...]

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