Strawberry and Raspberry Jam

Bainbridge Island in the summertime. I can’t help but chant: “Buried in berries, what a jam jamboree!” Jamberry is a book that the toddler and I read and reread. It’s one of our favorites and also an exuberant (and rhyming) description of just how very many berries there are available here in the summertime. Oh,…

Plum Butter in a Slow Cooker

We were suspicious that our plum tree would not bear fruit this year, so last year I made enough plum jam to get us through two seasons. So when I was surprised by another bumper crop of plums, I had to think of a way to use them up. This recipe for blueberry butter inspired me…

Kitchen Scraps

It’s fall! We’ve been doing a lot of preserving lately and our pantry is satisfyingly filling up with glass jars of delicious fruits and veggies. I’ve been relying on the National Center for Home Food Preservation website and recommend it to anyone who is looking to begin a canning project. So far, we’ve canned: pears…

How to Make Plum Jam

We’re lucky to have a plum tree that provides an ample harvest every two years. The last time it was ‘fruitful,’ I wasn’t prepared at all and wound up making way too many plum cakes. This year, I was ready. I did my research, gathered my jars, and made jam. A whole lot of it….