Strawberry Preserves do not need pectin to be thick You can have thick, sweet, and fruity Strawberry Preserves with just 3 ingredients: Fresh Strawberries, Sugar, and Lemon Juice. Why not use pectin? If you prefer to use pectin, then I'm not here to tell what to do. But - there are a few reasons to try this method. Making Strawberry Preserves with pectin requires more sugar. Using pectin to thicken jams and preserves involves a chemical process that needs a certain percentage of sugar to ... Read More about Strawberry Preserves {No Pectin Recipe}
Fruit
Fruit and Nut Oat Bars
Fruit and Nut Oat Bars are an easy, wholesome treat I am not going to claim that these Fruit and Nut Oat Bars are exactly health food. But, they are definitely better than a lot of snacks you could have. They have plenty of fiber, some good nutrition from the fruit and nuts, and they are fairly low in refined sugar. And, did I forget to mention how yummy they are? Very yummy, as you will see when you make them yourself. These are bars, not biscotti Yes - they do look a bit like biscotti. In ... Read More about Fruit and Nut Oat Bars
How to Freeze Rhubarb
Freezing is the best way to preserve fresh rhubarb for baking If you love rhubarb as much as I do, this is one post you will want to hang onto. How to freeze rhubarb is a handy thing to know, and so simple to do. Why I love rhubarb My favorite thing about rhubarb is how it leaps out of the ground in the spring and by the second week of May, you can begin your first harvest. It is a definite sign of a season we so look forward to, here in Upstate NY. It is low maintenance. Keep it ... Read More about How to Freeze Rhubarb
Berry Blast Almond Smoothie
Berry Blast Almond Smoothie makes a healthy breakfast I admit that breakfast has always been a struggle for me. Even when I was a kid, my mom had to force me to eat anything at all. I still feel the same way, and because I do intermittent fasting, I still don't eat very early in the day. That's where I appreciate this Berry Blast Almond Smoothie. I am always happy to have something that tastes like a fruity milkshake, you know? Protein for breakfast is a good idea But, probably just ... Read More about Berry Blast Almond Smoothie
Easy Rhubarb Cake
Easy Rhubarb Cake is a family favorite It is rhubarb time here in the Northeast. I think everyone around us grew up eating rhubarb because it grows like a weed here. I should note that it is definitely NOT a weed. You have to plant it. But every old house in our small towns and every farm out in the country seemed to have had a nice patch of it against some corner or another. Easy Rhubarb Cake is an easy choice when we have lots of rhubarb. Rhubarb is very tart - not really edible all on ... Read More about Easy Rhubarb Cake
Double Chocolate Banana Bread
Double Chocolate Banana Bread is double-delicious I have to admit right here at the start that I am not a big fan of bananas in general—not eaten out of hand at least. But if you combine them with a couple of kinds of chocolate and bake them up in a decadent, moist quick bread? Yes please - give me all the Double Chocolate Banana Bread that you've got! The "Muffin Method" As is the case with most quick breads, this bread uses what we learned back in Home Ec class as, "The Muffin Method" of ... Read More about Double Chocolate Banana Bread
Apple Pie Bars
Apple Pie Bars are great for a crowd It is not too late to find great tasting apples in the supermarket. If you are getting ready for a family get-together or neighborhood pot-puck, Apple Pie Bars are the way to go. This recipe makes a large batch, and serves a lot of people. It's a little fiddly because of the layers, but not at all difficult. What kind of apples are best for Apple Pie Bars? Sometimes, in other recipes, the variety of apples can make a big difference. In Molasses ... Read More about Apple Pie Bars
Easy Citrus Jam
Easy Citrus Jam brings in the sunshine Our winter has not been bad at all this year. For people who like to work with seasonal ingredients though, February in the Northeast can be a challenge. But Easy Citrus Jam fixes that! We can't grow citrus fruit outdoors ever up here in the Northern states, so this is one case where we have to rely on the seasonality of ingredients from other regions. I make no apologies for enjoying citrus fruit in the winter. It helps a person feel ... Read More about Easy Citrus Jam
Fresh Apple Cake
Fresh Apple Flavor in a super-easy cake This Fresh Apple Cake is a recipe that I have made dozens of times over the years. It is fruity, has nice spice and it's ready very quickly. I first ran across this idea a very long time ago, when I was feeding a baby at lunchtime, and watching the news at noon. [it was my chance to find out what was going on in the world!] It came from the guy who had recipes on all the noon news shows at the time - Chef somebody or other. I've tweaked this a ... Read More about Fresh Apple Cake
Chai Pear Scones
Every season has its treasures. Pears are right up there at the top of the fall list for me. And you can add these Chai Pear Scones to the blessings of the season. Tender, flaky scones with sweet bits of pear and lovely warm spices, similar to the blend you find in chai tea. Pears, though flavorful on their own, really benefit from the boost these warm spicy notes add to these scones. What pears to use? I used a Bosc-type pear, but any pear you have will be great. Generally speaking, ... Read More about Chai Pear Scones
Homemade Apple Sauce
The Basics Series - Homemade Apple Sauce Homemade Apple Sauce is one of the first things I remember helping with when I was a kid. Both my Mom and grandmother made applesauce. Often they did it together, and, as the kids it was often our job to squish the apples through the old-fashioned Chinois with the wooden pestle. I don't know what has become of the chinois, but I still have Grandma's pestle. It's handy for all sorts of percussive tasks in the kitchen. Because of that, I admit it is a ... Read More about Homemade Apple Sauce
Chablis Pear Crisp
Crisps are fall's best! I must say, right here at the start - I like pears better than apples. I'm not really sure why, but raw, or cooked somehow, pears always win. In baking, pears are just sublime, and after trying them in this Chablis Pear Crisp, I think you will agree. Fruit Crisps are the bomb! The addition of the wine was inspired by the idea that pears are often poached in wine. That's a fine idea, and one I'm definitely in favor of. But, I wanted a little something more - more ... Read More about Chablis Pear Crisp