Made with honey, maple syrup, lemon, and strawberries, this jam is delicious and sweet!
Ingredients
3 pints (heaping 4 C) strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped
1 1/3 C honey
1/3 C maple syrup
1/4 C lemon juice
zest from 1 small lemon
Instructions
Put a plate in the freezer. Combine berries, lemon zest, honey, and syrup in a large pot. Mash with a potato masher. Bring to a rapid boil (spoon stirring is unable to stop the bubbling) and boil, stirring often, for 3-5 minutes.
Reduce to medium heat and simmer for 20 minutes (or until jam is to desired thickness – to test put a small amount on the chilled plate to cool quickly and check thickness), stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice.
Let it stand for 5 minutes. Ladle into clean half pint jars, leaving about 1/2 inch of space at the top. Wipe any jam from the lip of the jar and place lid on. Let stand for 15-30 minutes and then place in the refrigerator. Cool completely and then place in the freezer.
I know that some people hate peas. But, I am not one of them. I mentioned in my post last week that I didn’t like frozen peas as a kid. Now, I can’t get enough of them – in any form.
I love peas.
I love sugar snap peas with bacon and pasta. I’m also crazy about them raw. Pea tendrils? Have you ever tried them? So good with a fried egg on top! Snow peas in Stir Fry are amazing. I wish I was eating that right now (with some tofu or chicken, some bean sprouts and carrots, and a nice slightly sweet sauce…). Frozen peas in Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup is one of my favorites.
But now, I have a new love. Pasta + ricotta + ham + carrots + chard + garlic + ENGLISH PEAS = Love love love this meal. Topped with some basil and parmesan cheese… oh boy! (Husband’s response last night after his first bite: “Wow!”)
And it’s good cold, as a pasta salad. Maybe with some German or Italian sausage? How about alongside a Burger? Or with a few other delicious salads?
Why am I coming up with all these meal ideas, I’m not even hungry!
Or I wasn’t…
After I finished filming and taking photos, I stood at my little Ikea island and picked pasta and ricotta out of the bowl and ate it. Someone’s gotta clean up.
1 heaping C (about 40 pods) English peas (shelled)
2 carrots, in long thin ribbons (use a vegetable peeler)
1 bulb green garlic and the green part (just the edible part), minced
3/4 t to 1 t salt
pinch cayenne
pepper, to taste
1/2 to 1 t fresh thyme
1/4 C water
1-2 T lemon juice
3/4 C ham, cooked and thinly sliced
2-3 C chard, roughly chopped
10 oz. ricotta cheese
parmesan cheese (for topping), grated
basil, chopped (for topping)
Instructions
Cook pasta in salted water.
While pasta cooks, heat skillet, and add oil. Add English peas through thyme. Cook over medium or medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add water. Cook 8 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
Add lemon juice, ham, and chard. Cook for 5 minutes (or until ham is heated through and chard is wilted), tossing occasionally with tongs. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Toss cooked pasta with ricotta and a pinch of salt.
Serve pasta topped with veggies and some parmesan and basil.
It’s a little warm today. 102 degrees F. Not cool. (Pun intended.)
I needed a little coffee break today before I even started with work. No reason why, just kinda felt like it.
You could also invite over your best girlfriend, or let the kids take a nap or play in the sprinkler while you sit in the shade and have a sip… Take a moment for yourself today.
Since summer is apparently here, Iced Coffee seems like a good plan. I make mine without ice, so it doesn’t get watered down. It just takes a tiny bit of planning ahead (or accidentally making extra coffee in the morning and letting it chill in the fridge until you’re ready for a treat in the afternoon).
All you’ll need are coffee beans, a place to brew them, and something sweet and maybe creamy to stir in. I think French vanilla ice cream would be a yummy idea but, I’m just as happy with milk and sugar. My Mom suggested maple syrup as a nice option. That’s the way I’m taking it today along with a splash of vanilla extract and some milk. I like the idea of adding some caramel sauce. And, hey, if you like bourbon, you could add a smidge of that too… The possibilities are pretty limitless.
sugar (or maple syrup, simple syrup, honey) (optional, for serving)
vanilla extract (optional, for serving)
caramel sauce (optional, for serving)
vanilla ice cream (optional, for serving)
Instructions
(Instructions are for French Press - you can also use a regular coffee maker and make it like you normally would.) One minute after water comes to a boil, pour over beans. Stir and let stand for 4-5 minutes.
Gently depress plunger. Pour coffee into a pitcher. If using any sort of granulated sugar, stir in (this is optional - it will dissolve in the hot coffee better than when it's cold). Refrigerate until cold.
I wonder if I can think of 32 (interesting) things that I’ve learned over the years…
1. God is good.
2. My husband is the best man I know.
3. My family is amazing.
4. Dogs are weird and funny creatures.
5. Until you are one, you can’t possibly imagine the love your aunts and uncles have for you.
6. Siblings and cousins make even better friends.
7. You never know how a friendship will start, so be on the lookout. It could be something as simple as an offer of a yellow jellybean from another 5 year old neighbor.
8. It’s important to take in the moments that seem simple and insignificant. Doing the dishes together, watching the Red Sox game, walking the dog.
9. The grass will always be greener on the other side, so appreciate where you are and what you have.
10. Being together is better than having lots of money and wishing you’d spent more time together.
11. Learning to cook is a good idea. Cooking and gardening can be therapeutic.
12. A good picture takes patience.
13. It’s ok to be an introvert.
14. Laughter is essential and can be healing to the soul.
15. Getting a ring from the right man makes all the tears shed in heartbreaks past worth it.
16. Beauty can be found in the darkest, most obscure, even mundane places, and can take your breath away.
17. It’s good to write on paper and read a real, physical book once in a while.
18. Face to face time is valuable, but so is hanging out on the couch and watching TV together.
19. A walk can be the best way to clear your mind.
20. Husbands are great best friends.
21. It’s important to be nice. Remember to say thank you when Husband takes out the trash.
22. Walking through the city streets when there’s a break from the traffic and all you can hear are your footsteps and the dog’s can transform a concrete sidewalk into a serene path.
23. Vacations are essential. Even if they are just closing the blinds and lounging around all weekend, escaping from the world with your favorite person and best dog.
24. Gossipping and complaining isn’t becoming.
25. Success shouldn’t be defined by other’s opinions of what it looks like.
26. Sometimes it’s easier to communicate by writing than talking.
27. Cooking is a form of art.
28. Working at marriage is always worth the effort.
29. If you need to laugh, give the dog a bowl of peanut butter.
30. Parents are as smart as they say they are.
31. Grandparents should be cherished. Always.
32. Growing older is a good thing. But don’t rush the process.
I hope that wasn’t too corny. But, to borrow some words from The Holiday, maybe you like corny. Maybe you need more corny in your life.
It is good to celebrate. So that’s what we’re going to do today! I know I’m going to be spoiled by Husband. And I think we will have more ice cream.
