{Recipe} Carrot Cake Jam

Carrot Cake Jam

Have you guys heard about food swaps? Apparently they’re the cool new thing. People all over the country are whipping up delicious things in their kitchens (or growing them in their backyards) and then swapping for other tasty goods with like-minded individuals. So when our library director put a food swap on our calendar, I was really excited to participate! The only thing: I wanted to bring something a little bit different.

A few years ago I nabbed a Better Homes & Garden canning magazine. It had a recipe for carrot cake jam that I fully intended to make and enter in the Dutchess County Fair. I don’t know what happened, but I never got around to it. Until yesterday.

Now, before I share this recipe, be warned: there is a ton of sugar in it. But it’s jam. And that’s the way it goes. I did use no-sugar pectin so in theory I could have reduced how much I used, but I didn’t.

OK. So, the first thing you need to do is start your water bath and sterilize your canning jars, new lids, and bands.

Next, combine 1 peeled diced pear (I used my food processor to make the pieces really tiny and save time), 2 cups of shredded carrots, a 16 oz. can of crushed pineapple in 100% juice (NOT heavy syrup), lemon juice (when canning, use bottled because it has a consistent pH), cinnamon, and nutmeg in a pot and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring often.

Carrot Cake Jam

Then, take the pot off the heat and sprinkle your pectin over the mixture. Stir it in.

Carrot Cake Jam

Now add your sugar. Just look the other way and dump in 4 cups of white granulated sugar and 2 cups of brown sugar. (Remember, you’re not eating massive amounts of this! Although then again… you might want to.) Stir it all up again.

Carrot Cake Jam

And like magic… you have jam!

Carrot Cake Jam

Bring it back up to a rolling boil and stir constantly for one minute while it’s boiling. Next, take it off the heat and add 1 Tsp. vanilla and (optional) 1/4 c. flaked coconut or raising. Because I am a wild woman, I added both.

Then ladle the jam into your sterilized jars, add the lid, snug on the band, and process for 10 minutes in a water bath canner.

IMPORTANT: Remember that processing time starts when the water returns to a big, angry boil. It does not start when you just put the jars into the pot.

I like to slather some cream cheese on (preferably homemade) bread and top it with the jam. I think it would also benefit from a sprinkling of walnuts.

This jam has been taste-tested and approved by my two boys, ages 7 and 10, so you know it’s good!

 

Carrot Cake Jam
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Ingredients
2 c. shredded carrots (about 4 medium)
1 medium pear, finely chopped
1 15-oz. can of crushed pineapple packed in 100% juice
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 1 .75-oz package of pectin
4 c. granulated sugar
2 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. flaked coconut or raisins (optional)
Instructions
Combine carrots, pears, pineapple, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg is a large pot and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat, cover, and allow the mixture to simmer for 20 minutes, giving it a stir often.
Remove the pot from the heat and sprinkle the mixture with pectin. Stir until it dissolves.
Bring the mixture back to a boil, stirring constantly. Add the granulated sugar and brown sugar. Return to a rolling boil. Boil the mixture for 1 minute while constantly stirring. Remove from heat and skim off any foam with a metal spoon. Add vanilla and coconut/raisins.
Ladle the jam into hot, sterilized jars leaving 1/4″ headspace. Wipe the rims and adjust the lids. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the jars from the pot and allow to cool.
Notes
Don’t forget to check the seals later on — you don’t want to store anything that hasn’t been properly processed!
Adapted from Adapted from Better Homes & Gardens Canning magazine, Summer 2011
Adapted from Adapted from Better Homes & Gardens Canning magazine, Summer 2011
Pure Sugar http://puresugar.net/

 

 

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{Vlog} April Favorite Finds

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OK, kids — here we go! I have done a very (very) limited number of video posts (a.k.a. vlogs) in the past, but I feel like it’s time to shake up the old blog here and do something different and maybe try it again.

Inspired by my longtime bloggy friend Echo of Life’s Like This, I decided to give it a go. I’m linking up with MamaKat who does a weekly Vlogging Workshop and this week I’m talking about some of my favorite purchases from last month. Who knew I could ramble on about purses, wallets, and tea for so long?

So… what do you think. Love it? Hate it? Should I keep doing these? Am I just a big dork who gets overly excited about tea and candy? (The answer to that last question, of course, is yes… clearly.) Let me know what you think! And let me know if you bought anything super fun last month!

Resources:

1. Bag from Pick Your Plum {no longer available}
2. Wallet from Ebay seller
3. Lots of amazing teas and treats from Harney & Sons

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All Smiles Cookie Giveaway – 3 Winners!

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It’s that time of year again when there are so many gift-giving occasions — Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, First Communions, Confirmations, Teacher and Bus Driver Appreciation days, Graduations, the last day of school. . . Just to, ahem, name a few. Wouldn’t it be great to surprise someone with a unique gift that will stand out from the rest? I’ve teamed up with Cookie Gift Baskets and a few other awesome bloggers to give away an “All Smiles” cookie gift that will surely put a smile on anyone’s face.

Three winners will be chosen at random to win one of four different cookie gifts (valued at up to $47). The choices are All Smiles Cookie Pot, the Smiley Face Planter, the Happy Faces Cookie Pail, or the  Happy Faces Cookie Gift Box. They are all so cute and filled with yummy treats — I’d have a hard time choosing!

Giveaway Rules Overview (click here for the official rules)

Use the Rafflecopter widget to enter the contest.  A comment on this post is the only mandatory entry, but you once you do that, other entry options will become available.

Please note: When a winner is selected, their entry will be reviewed to make sure they completed the given entry task. This makes it fair for everyone. 

Three winners will be chosen at random and may choose one of the four designs shown. Make sure you provide a valid e-mail address, so we can contact you if you are one of the winners. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another replacement winner will be chosen.

This giveaway ends at midnight EST on May 12, 2013. The sweepstakes winners will be announced by May 19, 2013.

Eligibility requirements

Giveaway sweepstakes is open to U.S. residents in the continental states (e.g. lower 48) and only to those 18 years old or older.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, guys!

Disclaimer: This is not a product review. I am participating in a shared giveaway.

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Morning at the Lake

Saturday at the lake

This morning Jake and his Boy Scout troop participated in the 43rd annual Wappinger Creek Water Derby. He went through a swim test and canoe training to help him prepare and he was psyched! After a filling breakfast of buttered toast and ham and egg scramble, D. dropped him off at the location where he meets for Boy Scouts and he was on his own. It’s hard to “let go” but so good for everyone at the same time.

Jake had an amazing experience (and is wiped out, understandably), but it was so much fun for  him. While he was off at the derby, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to take our brand-new canoe for its maiden voyage. (Yes, after seeing all the scouts having a ball in the canoes, and not being able to jump in himself, D. bought one as a birthday present to himself.)

We headed down to Landsman Kill here in Rhinebeck and it was absolutely perfect! I can’t believe more people (especially those who live right there) weren’t out on the lake). The temperature was just right for spending some time out on the water.

Saturday at the lake

Saturday at the lake

Saturday at the lake

After rowing around the lake twice, we had a picnic lunch and called the outing a success. Next time we will probably go for longer, but considering it has been many (many!) years since I last canoed, this was a perfect way to ease back into it.

As Drew loaded the canoe back onto the Subaru (oh yes — now I totally feel like part of the club, driving around with a canoe strapped to the roof of our Forester, LOL…), Noah tossed rocks into the lake while Laura picked some flowers.

Saturday at the lake

Saturday at the lake

It was such a great start to the weekend. But now I need to make a salad and get the pizzas on the grill. Drew and Jake set up the big movie screen, and we have cupcakes and wine and tea and coffee, and… I’m just so looking forward to this fun, relaxing family night. I hope the same for you!

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Well Hello There

Whoa, I hadn’t realized how long it’s been since I last blogged! Time flies, right? Well let’s just jump right back in, shall we?

Things are going well here on my end. The last couple weeks were just busy, busy… The concert I was helping plan was held on Saturday and it was (at least in my opinion), a success. Unfortunate that more parents didn’t attend (after all, it’s a fundraiser for all the 5th grade students), but that didn’t really surprise any of us. Those of us who did volunteer, donate, participate, and attend, however, had a great time! Drew played a few songs, and then closed out his set by playing a duet with Jake. How great were they? (Warning: there is a loud cheer from this mama at the beginning of the video).

There was a silent auction as part of the fundraiser, too, and we won a trumpet for Noah and I totally treated myself to a wonderful basket of Harney & Sons tea and goodies.

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Saturday was ALSO Drew’s 40th birthday, so it was extra fun :-) We gave him a Vintage 1973 t-shirt, a copy of This is 40, and a gift certificate to his favorite music shop so he can get a pair of best shure headphones or whatever else he likes.

Sunday we drove down to have brunch at Crabtree’s Kittle House with Drew’s family. His brother and sister-in-law drove up from NC for the occasion, so we all really enjoyed catching up.

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This week has been pretty low-key now that those big events are done and over with. Well, until about 6:50 this morning, that is. Drew was just heading out the door to work when the phone rang. Ugh, it was the school messenger service alerting us that the bus drivers went on strike. The poor middle and high school kids were already at the bus stops waiting! A neighbor and I worked out morning transportation because both of our sons had an early morning program and then our 2nd graders of course had to get to school too. So we divided up the kids so we weren’t going back and forth a bunch of times. Yeah, so it was not exactly a relaxing morning!

Let’s see, what else. . .

I’ve been doing a little baking:::

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And a little crochet:::

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And a little knitting, too:::

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I also was lucky enough to win a soy candle in a tea cup from Dagmar’s Home as a UBP13 prize! It’s so pretty, I just love it! Goes quite well with all the Harney goodies, don’t you think?

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I’m looking forward to the weekend. Jake and his Boy Scout troop are participating in a canoe derby on Saturday morning (fun!!!) and then I think my parents might visit on Sunday (yay!!!) and the weather is supposed to be nice to top it all off!

Hope all is well with you and I really don’t plan to be away so long again!

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A Lovely Day

a lovely day

Finally we had a taste of spring! I took full advantage of the sunshine and mild temperatures. I flung open all the windows, dug out my flip-flops, and spent as much time as possible outside.

I’d been waiting for a day like this so I could wash my curtains and hang them out to dry (oh, how I miss my clothesline in the cold weather). They were plenty dusty from the winter. Tomorrow I’ll have to iron everything, but… that’s OK.

a lovely day

Laura and I ate our lunch outside on the deck. I can’t wait to make this a regular occurrence!

a lovely day

And of course there was plenty of play time, soaking in the sun. We went from the swing set to the driveway and back and forth about a million times.

a lovely day

Although I had so many chores I wanted to do, it was hard not to indulge my little cutie. Judging from the long-range forecast this is the last super-nice day we’ll have for a while. Tomorrow will still be OK for the most part, but then rain, and then it cools off again.

a lovely day

a lovely day

Nope, I’ll be keeping flannel sheets on the bed for a while longer (even though I am so ready to stash them in the linen closet until next fall). Ah, spring in the Northeast is a finicky thing!

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Crazy Monday

Just thought I’d take a minute and drop in to say hello! This week is already off to a busy start. There are just so many activities going on! Though, once next Saturday passes and this school fundraiser I’m working on is done with… well, let’s just say I’ll be a whole lot more relaxed.

Since my mind is going in a million directions, I figured that today I’d link up with Happy Homemaker Monday.

The weather…..
Well that’s one thing — finally some lovely spring-like weather! Today I actually went outside in jeans and a tee-shirt. I was still a little chilly and could have used a sweater, but… I was too excited about temps in the 60s.

Right now I am….
Slummin’ it in yoga pants and getting ready to make a cup of tea, grab a little something sweet, and call it a night. I am beat!

Thinking….
About this fundraiser just being over with already. ;-)

On my reading pile….
I’m currently reading Carriers by Patrick Lynch and browsing through The Amish Family Cookbook by Jerry and Tina Eicher. Gotta say… I’m a little disappointed in the cookbook. I don’t know, I just figured the recipes would be a little more wholesome, but there’s an awful lot of canned soup and Velveeta. Even one of the chili recipes calls for “a packet of chili seasoning” instead of their own mix. There are still a few recipes that I’d like to try, though.

On my TV…..
Nothing really. Last night we watched Super 8 which was so, so good. Not really feeling up to starting any new shows, so I think it’ll just be reruns on Netflix of shows I’ve already seen.

Blog hopping (newly discovered blog)….
I’ve been discovering so many fun new blogs thanks to UPB13 — impossible to list them all!

On the menu for this week….
Sunday: Leftovers
Monday: Mushroom Swiss burgers, pasta salad, broccoli
Tuesday: Chicken enchilada soup, baked taquitos, garden salad
Wednesday: Meat sauce over whole wheat pasta, salad
Thursday: Pizza, salad
Friday: Leftovers or sandwiches
Saturday: Chicken picatta, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, salad

On my to do list….
I actually crossed off quite a few things, but lots of e-mails and phone calls and running around still have to be done.

In the craft basket….
Lacy knit doily (it’s actually a dishcloth pattern, but I’m not going to use it that way, rebel that I am!)

Looking forward to this week….
Friday night — it’s knit night at the library, and though I’m actually working, it will still be fun to see everyone!

Looking around the house….
There are still toys that should be put away, but… I’ll deal with it tomorrow.

From the camera….
What I did while making dinner: noting “to dos” and menu ideas in the planner, as well as things I need to remember.

busy week ahead

Hope your week is off to a great start!

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