Strawberries, Jam, Salad

Bought 8 quarts of local strawberries from some Amish Yesterday... 

So today I made Strawberry Jam for the first time.

 They smell so good

 Yummy Strawberry Jam... 

I'll be making more next week

 First picking of the season from the garden

~ Brian and I enjoyed this wonderful salad with dinner... Garden fresh leaf lettuce, real bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, green onions, chopped walnuts, fresh sliced strawberries & dressing all mixed in a bowl together. This will be a keeper recipe in my kitchen while the lettuce is growing in our garden, makes me happy, happy. So easy, fresh and good for you!

Salad Dressing: (original dressing recipe H-E-R-E)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. dijon-style mustard
2-3 Tbsp. honey
salt
freshly ground black pepper
Preparation:

In a small bowl whisk all ingredients to combine or put all ingredients in a jar and shake to combine. Use immediately or keep, covered and chilled, up to one week.

*** Dont forget to stop by Our Little Farm to see whats new, click H-E-R-E

Banana Jam

 I got this recipe from a friend a few weeks ago. I made 9 1/2 pints of jam.

Put ‎5 cups of mushed bananas, 6 cups sugar, 1 box sure jell in a pot cook till dissolved, can in water bath for 15 min....done!

‎

Gettin my Jam on........

Wish yall could smell these nectarines they smell sooo good.

...Nectarine Jam...
2 pints

3 pints of caramel pear & 3 pints of nectarine/pear jam

...Pearsauce...

12 pints & 6 1/2 pints

On the pearsauce I just clean, peal, slice the pears & add them to my crockpot with some lemon juice, alittle sugar & cinnamon, sometimes nutmeg or some other spice. Cover; cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours (or on High 4 to 5 hours). Mash with a potato masher to reach the consistency you prefer. Then put in clean, sterile jars & can in a waterbath for 15 mins. (pints) I like to eat pearsauce (or applesauce) mixed in my oatmeal.

Caramel Pear Jam
(original recipe is for apples... An Apple A day from The Stray Needle )

6 cups peeled, cored chopped pears (I took a stick blender to them in the pot after they cooked a bit)
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups brown sugar
3 cups white sugar
1 package powdered pectin

Heat the pears, water, lemon and cinnamon on medium heat about 20 minutes or until soft. Add pectin bring to a boil, add sugar and bring back to a boil for 1 minute. Ladle into sterilized jars and water bath for 15 minutes on pints. Taste like apple pie to me :)

Tomorrow I'm makin pear butter