Good morning. Today I am going to add a post from 2016! I know many of you were not here then. I think I had just a handful of followers then. I was still pretty new to this blogging thing. It sure has been a fun ride. I have learned so much from all of you.
A lot has changed in life over the years - my goodness. Much has changed - yet much is the same.
This is what our trees still look like. All dormant and empty! Blue skies give the backdrop beauty and if you click on the picture to enlarge - you will see dead center a little squirrel sunning itself! Yes, the trees and earth may still look blah and dead - but they are full of life. There are squirrels and birds that thrive in these trees, the skies and the sun give hope to warmer days. Flowers popping up through the ground here and there - give great hope to what is to come in a few weeks.
Just like nature - we all go through seasons in life.
Some seasons are happier than others - but in some way they are all beautiful and we learn so much from each of them. It may not seem so at the time - but we do learn and we continue to grow.
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Here is a post from early on. The many uses of jellies and jams. It isn't just for peanut butter anymore!
I hope it gives you a few ideas on ways to use this basic item in a new way. It is fun to learn new uses for things. Maybe, just maybe, it will help stretch the budget a little.
I always have many jars of homemade jelly around - I know some of you do as well.
ENJOY!
Thursday, February 18, 2016
MANY USES OF JELLY
Jelly and jams have many uses other than the traditional peanut butter sandwich! If you are anything like me, you have LOTS of jelly and jam on hand. I make several types each year and other than for gift giving, we just don't it that much.
I have decided to get busy and start using up some of the older jars, so I don't feel so bad about making new. I just can't let things go to waste, and many things get made into jelly easily.
Here is a few non-traditional uses;
This year I want to make sure nothing goes to waste and I want to get creative.
I have decided to get busy and start using up some of the older jars, so I don't feel so bad about making new. I just can't let things go to waste, and many things get made into jelly easily.
Here is a few non-traditional uses;
- thumb print cookies or molasses cookies (I always put a dab of jelly in center)
- oat bar cookies
- make a flavored vinaigrette for salads (they can be expensive to buy)
- I make flavored homemade ice cream with jam (raspberry is a favorite)
- If it doesn't set right - it's called syrup at my house. Jelly can also be melted down for syrup.
- use in making BBQ sauce or chili sauce
- add between the layers of a layer cake for a fun surprise
- add to smoothies
- stir in cottage cheese (the Cottage Doublers are pricey at the store)
- Jelly rolls
- mix with cream cheese to serve with crackers or chips.
- top a cheese cake (melt and cover cheesecake with a thin layer of jelly)
- mix in yogurt (buy cheap plain yogurt and make your own flavors)
- Make little individual pies with leftover pit crust (we loved these as a kid)
- Place a spoonful in the middle of muffins or cupcakes before baking. Fun surprise!
- Sweeten hot tea (yum - flavored tea)
- Dollop some in your hot oatmeal.
- Use as an ingredient in sweet breads (just adjust liquids a bit)
- Give as gifts
- use as a meat glaze - apricot, apple, orange, pear, mint or jalapeno are all good on pork or lamb
- Mix a little in pancake/waffle mix. Makes them flavored.
- And of course on sandwiches, toast, biscuits, etc.
This year I want to make sure nothing goes to waste and I want to get creative.
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It seems that seven years later - the sentiment of not wasting and using up what we have it still very relevant!!! Maybe even more so now!
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Celebrate each and every day you are given. In sadness and joy - each day is still a gift.
Look toward your family and friends, your pets, nature, the blue skies, the thought of what promises we will have in a few weeks with Spring, and the knowledge that God loves you.
Whatever you are going through at the moment - hope still prevails and love is shared.
Have a blessed day.
Well if anyone has any ideas for using up apple butter I would be really pleased. I made a batch up, having never tasted it but reading a lot about it and I don't like it! It's like baby food to me.
ReplyDeleteOh no! Hot apple butter over fried biscuits (scones) is a favorite of mine. You could add some to sweet breads and muffins for additional flavor. Add to oatmeal. Apples and pork are good together. Hopefully some others will have a lot more ideas for you.
DeleteSu, it sounds crazy, but you can use that for soup! Yes, indeed. Either creamed butternut squash soup or creamed carrot soup (curried) uses apples. Saute your veggies with some sliced celery, onion and red bell pepper (I've used roasted red peppers before), sprinkle in some curry powder, add your apple butter and chicken broth (or water with a little salt), bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until all veggies are tender, then turn off the burner and puree. You can add milk of you like at this point. --Elise
DeleteOh now, I really like that idea! Thank you, it would never have crossed my mind.
DeleteMmmmmm that sounds very yummy! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYes, January and February are our bleak months for sure. Just the hope of spring and summer brings happiness to me.
Great ideas for using jams and jellies! Of course there is always the grape jelly and barbeque sauce for little smokies! An oldie but a goodie. I used to make a lot of grape jelly when my girls were small. We lived in a turn of the century house that had a big grape arbor in the backyard along with two cherry trees.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful day so we will attack the sweet gum balls in the yard. Enjoy this gorgeous sunshine!
That's a favorite, Donna. And I remember those gum balls in the yard from my childhood. --Elise
DeleteIt is a pretty sunny day, but breezy and chilly. Those gumball trees are sure messy.
DeleteYes, very good in a BBQ sauce. Any kind of berry will work. So many ways to use a simple ingredient.
Like you mentioned, I like to use it in muffins and in yogurt to flavor both of them. And if I have a sweet tooth, a piece of toast with jelly hits the spot.
ReplyDeleteSame here - some late afternoons I want a snack and toast and jelly hit the spot!
DeleteIt is wonderful on yogurt - shoot, those fancy yogurts cost a small fortune - make it yourself!
Great ideas
ReplyDeleteI make a sweet and sour sauce with either apple or grape jelly.
1/2 cup jelly
2 tblsp soy sauce
1 tblsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup vinegar
The chickadees love sweet and sour sauce with chicken nuggets.
Ellie
Central Az
Sounds yummy, Ellie! I'll have to give that a try! --Elise
DeleteEllie that sounds very good. Would have never thought of that combo. I will hhave to try that! Thanks.
DeleteGreat ideas, Cheryl! The crock pot mixed berry jam I made last week has to be finished within 3-4 weeks or frozen. We use sugar free maple syrup, but when I have low sugar jam (my batch only used 1/2 c. sugar), I like to spread it over French Toast or pancakes. LOVE the idea of sweet & sour sauce. Even a BBQ type meat glaze. --Elise
ReplyDeleteP.S. BIL is due this afternoon with a big U Haul truck to unload at his storage units. He was up until 4 am yesterday loading and arrived in Phoenix last night, trying to get in and out before the next winter storm. It arrived early. Rain now, turning to snow. He's driving mountain roads to get here. Prayers appreciated.
DeleteThat is low sugar jam!
DeleteI love jelly/jam on pancakes and waffles.
Prayers being said for BIL. Hope his travels are safe. I sure hope he gets it all unloaded and out before the worst hits.
The recipe is about 4 lbs. of berries, 2 T. lemon juice, and 1/2 c. sugar. Mix all that together in your crock pot (I use cp liners) and let it sit about 30 minutes. I added a finely diced, sweet apple, turned the crock pot onto low and cooked 8 hours. You can remove some liquid if it's too runny and add 1 T. cornstarch, whisk and add back to the pot. Wait until it cools a bit to transfer into jars.
DeleteBIL made it in and out before snow! He'll be back w/another U Haul load in 7-10 days, and soon will be here to stay.
--Elise
Wonderful ideas. I like to use jams over baked brie, especially peach and raspberry. You can add seasonings/spices to make it savory, and stir it into cream cheese to use as a cracker spread. If you have leftover pie crust, re-roll it into squares or circles and spoon in a little jam to make a ravioli-type filled sweet, pop tart, or fold-over.
ReplyDeleteYep - I have done many a jelly over cream cheese - with crackers a delightful appetizer. Mom used to make those little pie crust yummies! So good.
DeleteI bet that is good over baked brie.
Oh I wish I could have jams and jellies.. They are so good. : ) Great ideas you have!
ReplyDeleteJust a recent report: We went yesterday on a mission to a feedstore to find another hen, this one is 8 months old, so hopefullly the little lone hen will have a friend with her. The new little hen is a sweet little thing. We also went to another feedstore and bought ten little chicks. I'm still very upset about our loss of our little pets but at least we'll have a path to normalcy (somewhat) in the meantime.
Take care now, trying to just lift my eyes upward.
Have a sweet and blessed day, the lone hen is named Henrietta and the new hen we named Sweetie. Our trees look very much like yours btw, kinda strange this time of year...
I am so happy you got another hen to keep her company. Baby chicks too! Such a sad loss - but I guess nature does its thing sometimes - as much as it angers us.
DeleteThere is a hierarchy in the animal world - I hate that sweet babies get lost in that!
I hope all do well and thrive.
My trees always look like that this time of year. I did notice yesterday a very few buds starting to appear!
Not anonymous above, it's Amelia.
ReplyDeleteMy grandma had a firm belief that no meal was finished unless a sweet was eaten. Sometimes we had real dessert, but on those days we didn't she would take a small piece of tortilla and spread a little jam on it. That sufficed!
ReplyDeleteI don't have the recipe in front of me, but I make a sweet and spicy kielbasa dish that uses peach jam. It's mixed with canned diced tomatoes, chili powder, and jam. Add sliced kielbasa and it's served on rice. It's delicious!!
Warm days before we go back to the freezer. Prediction of 73° tomorrow!! Then the 30s on Thursday.
I like your grandma's way of thinking!
DeleteThat sounds pretty tasty.
Same here next couple days in the 60's and then 30's on Friday. Those cold days only last a very short time now and then back to decent temps.
Wish I lived near you. Black Currant is my favorite and I don't find it in stores, nor do I ever see black currants for sale.
ReplyDeleteThat Lattice snack sound wonderful! :)
MaryB in NC
My mom always made sweet and sour meatballs using a bottle of chili sauce and a jar of grape jelly. They were sure good served over rice. She also made stuffed biscotti. The dough was rolled out into a rectangle and spread with melted butter, strawberry or apricot jam or preserves, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and topped with raisins. Then the whole thing was rolled up and placed on a cookie sheet and sliced half way through and baked. Cookie
ReplyDeleteYes, the meatballs are so good that way! A favorite!
DeleteOh yum the biscotti sounds heavenly.
These sound wonderful! I have meatballs in the freezer to use up...plan to do the jelly and chili sauce recipe. I think you had it in a post recently, Cheryl--I took a pic of it.
ReplyDeleteI am needing ideas for evaporated milk. I have 4 cans expired. Best by date is 09/2022. I rarely use it...bought for emergencies.
I use evap. milk to make homemade ice cream instead of cream. I also use it baking. Make fudge. Use in any creamy soup. Use it instead of milk in any recipe. You can put the can in a pan of water or crockpot and 'cook' to make caramel. (I would have to look up times) - it is wonderful tasting!! I have used it well after a year past date and it was fine. If you keep in a cool spot it should be good for a long while.
DeleteIsn't it sweetened evaporated milk that makes caramel, Cheryl? For ordinary evaporated milk, unless the can has bulged at top or bottom, or is badly dented, it should be fine. I use it for baked mac-n-cheese, quiche, cheesecake, pumpkin pie, scalloped potatoes, etc. Mix 1 to 1 with water for coffee creamer.
DeleteI love jelly and jam on pancakes!
ReplyDeleteME TOO!!!!!! Yum
DeleteI forgot to say that I grew cayenne peppers to make hot pepper jelly and sold it. I loved it with cream cheese on crackers. Many a snack was a Wheat Thin cracker with a smear of cream cheese and a dollop of hot pepper jelly. I think this is my favorite snack ever. When I sold these in town, I, of course, bought new jars. When I quit making hot pepper jelly, I had dozens of new jars, 8- and 4-ounce jars, plus I had money, too. Some batches, I made with the seeds in and colored that red. The milder, but still hot, jelly pepper. It was a fun enterprise.
DeleteHot pepper jelly with cream cheese on crackers is delicious!
DeleteOne Christmas I gave little jars of green and red hot pepper jelly as gifts. If you leave jalapenos on the vine awhile longer they turn red. So I made some jelly in each color. Most people have to be convinced that the cracker, cream cheese, hot pepper combo is a winner. After they try it, they like it.
DeleteEllie
Central Az
How did you make it, Ellie?
DeleteI used to make hot pepper jelly too. G liked it a lot with cream cheese on crackers. Always a great appetizer for a get together as well.
DeleteI have even used plum jam to make a plum sauce for dipping chicken strips in.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Mmmmm - sound so good. You gals always make me hungry even when I have just eaten!!!!
DeleteI use apricot jam with red chili flakes on chicken wings, I was given the recipe by someone years ago, she called it sticky chicken. You can adjust the amount of pepper flakes to your liking.
ReplyDeleteI love applesauce on biscuits or toast. Apple butter the same way. Apple butter around here is so expensive and I have never tried to make my own like my Mom.
Not a jam/jelly, but if you have left over biscuits and want something different. Split them, put a generous amount of butter and broil till crispy. Make a pot of good hot chocolate, and dip the biscuits in the hot chocolate. This was a special treat my Mom made for us.
The sticky chicken sounds quite tasty. I love apple butter on hot biscuits! Fried biscuits even better. I think it is good on toast as well.
DeleteMmmmm - that sounds like a very tasty treat. Never heard of having them that way - but it sure sounds good.