FALL is Jam Making Season - and I love it!

Oh my gosh! Since the weather has cooled down here in Texas it has made so energetic. It's a miracle I survived this summer. I am so Happy it is Fall! I wish I could stay home and blog all day and cook and make stuff - but unless I win the lottery that's not gonna happen. But the other day I was in HEB (our local grocery store) and it was a sight to behold. Beautiful, luscious fruit. I was in love at first sight. I saw the peaches and had to get them, wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with them but I needed them in my life. I turned around and saw the strawberries - I was in heaven.  I had the weekend off and thought I need to can these or freeze these or something, but then I had a craving for peach jam. SOLD! I was in. Went to the isle where they keep their canning supplies and picked up a few jars, I have some but I really didn't want to spend my weekend going through a storage unit. I want fast and easy and these recipes for jam are that to a tee.

Last year my daughter and I made some strawberry jam for the fair, which she won 1st place with but I have to admit I couldn't even wait for the strawberry jam to set fully before I opened a jar. You can tell by the picture above that the strawberry jam is not quite set, but I had just made it about an hour below the picture- I couldn't wait. Bad Leah!  This batch was the best, I wonder if the weather has something to do it. Who cares it was fabulous. Of course we had to try the peach also, to die for, I will never buy store jam again when it's just so easy to make your own and when it tastes this darn good.

Each of the recipes are only 4 ingredients, and any of you out there that make jam regularly know the four. Its easy, fast and delicious. The peach recipe made 8 half pint jars and the strawberry recipe made 9 half pint jars, but I did use a lot of strawberries.

So here we go and I'm so excited to share these with you and hope you tell me if you happen to make these jams, please let me know.

PEACH JAM -it has the most beautiful color--YUM!


Ingredients:
I used 7 Large Peaches
2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
4 Tbsp Pectin - I used Ball Real Fruit Classic

4 1/2 C White Sugar

Optional - 1/4 tsp butter ( helps cut down the foam) less stirring equals less foam.


Items you will need;
Small mason jars with lids - this recipe yielded me 8 1/2 pint jars.
Large canning pot
Rack to fit inside pot (the pot and rack are usually sold together. Wal Mart’s a good place)
Jar lifter (to lift hot jars out of the water)
Large tongs

Magnetic wand (optional; to remove lids from simmering water)

1. The first thing I did was wash the jars in hot soapy water and then I put 9 jars on the canning rack and submerge them into the canning pot and let the water cover the jars and come to boil. Not so much to sterilize them, which it does but mainly to let the jars heat up before I put hot liquid in them. I don't want them to crack and have jam all over my counter and floor. Also start a small pan of water for the center lids and bring it to a simmer, too. The simmering of the center lids heats up the rubber seal and helps in the sealing process. If you see any damage to the center lids or jars please don't use and discard them.
2. Peel, remove the pit and dice up peaches. Easy way to peel is set the peaches in a pot of boiling water for three to five minutes and then run under cold water. They should peel pretty easy, if not set them back in the boiling water for another minute.
3. When I dice up the peaches I just put them in the enameled pot until I get all of them finished. By the time you are done you will see peach juice filling the pot-- YES!
4. Once I have all the peached diced and in the pot I turn the stove on medium high (more high then medium) heat and let it come to boil - not a raging boil but a bubbling boil. Does that make sense? I hope so. I also add 1 C Sugar, 2 Tbsp Lemon juice and the pectin and let it come to a boil for about 5 minutes stirring just so the bottom doesn't get scorched.
5. At 5 minutes I add the rest of the Sugar, stir it in and let it come back to a boil. At this point I let it boil for another 2 to 3 minutes. I want to make sure all the sugar has dissolved. I don't like to process to long because it seems to take out the color or dull the color, besides it's going to process in the bath canner anyway.
6. After the 2 to 3 minutes are up I shut off the temperature of the store and let the mixture set. BUT I don't let it set to long. I get my jars out of the boils bath and set them on the counter.
7. Once I have all my jars out of the canner, I get my funnel and start filling the jars leaving 1/4 in air space on top.
8. Wipe the lid of the jar with a damp cloth to make sure they are clean. Take the magnet and get 1 center lid out of the simmer pan and place it on top of the jar and screw on the ring lid.
9. Voilà. Now do the same to rest of the jars until all jars are filled.
10. Place jars into the bath canner and let it come to a boil. Since I live at sea level I did process mine for at least 5 minutes, I think I let them process for about 6 to 7 minutes. I pulled them all out and ping, ping, ping. They all sealed - it's a happy day! 

TIP:  1. I used an enamel cast iron 4 1/2 quart pot to cook the recipe. 2. If the fruit rises to the top - rotate the jars every 5 minutes until the jam begins to set.

On to Strawberry - YAY!

STRAWBEERY JAM - Oh the goodness!

6 1/2 C mashed Strawberries. - I used big containers.

4 Tbsp Lemon juice

6 Tbsp Pectin - Ball Real Fruit Classic

5 to 5 1/2 C White Sugar

Optional: 1/2 tsp butter to reduce foam - Less stirring for the strawberry jam.

1. Wash the strawberries, remove stem and mash the strawberries. Put mashed up strawberries in the pot with 1 C sugar, Pectin , Lemon juice and butter. Bring to a boil. Stir occasionally just to keep bottom from scorching.
2. Follow directions from the Peach recipe. I cooked and processed the strawberry the same as the peach.

I hope y'all enjoyed this jam making session. I had a ball making them and I will enjoy my fall and winter knowing I have a some goodness left of summer at home.

I hope you try them and they really are very, very good.

I think I'll start working on Halloween - Is it to soon? Humm

It's Official FALL has arrived.

Oh thank goodness Fall has finally arrived.  I didn't post yesterday we had a crappy day. Our best show heifer passed away. We were heartbroken and I just couldn't make myself get motivated about posting or even be inspired about any kind of decorating. We were out with her until midnight Thursday and about midnight we left her knowing that she may not make it. There was nothing we could do for her and it made us feel helpless. We hugged her and told her how much we loved her and left to let her rest in peace. I went to feed early Friday morning and I found her, I just could believe it. The whole day was just crappy, it rained all day and we had to wait on the man to come get her. We were in shock and sad all day. It is still hard to believe our girl is gone.
This morning I woke up and tried to get my mind off yesterday and decided to do what makes me happy and that is making things around me beautiful, so I did my official Fall table.
My daughter and I sat down and did the table square. We had a great time stenciling and painting and she and I did the table together, so it may be one of my favorite tables. This is a joint table.

We did a couple DIY's in this table. We started by using a square piece of canvas and stenciling Grateful and Thankful on the corners. We used acrylic paint and the stencils were from the Target Dollar Spot. These stencils are pretty good. I just sprayed a little adhesive on the back and ot sticked great to the canvas. I used an off white charger and some pumpkin colored plates I picked up at Kroger.  REALLY! These plate are so pretty. The little white plates are from Hobby Lobby and they have a pumpkin embossed in the middle, so cute. I doubled up on the napkins. The gold napkins I used on the bottom are from Pier 1 and the patterned napkins are from TJ Maxx. I tied the napkins with some twine and placed them on the plate with a pumpkin from Hobby Lobby. The candle holders are all DIY's. You know the one where you E6000 candlesticks to candle holders. Yes, to easy and so perfect.

We used a decorating idea  my mother used when I was younger by putting beans, split peas and popcorn in a vase and adding a candle. In this one I used a candle from the Dollar Terr and put the beans, peas and popcorn around the candle so it wouldn't melt into the beans and make a total mess. The can is from Hobby Lobby and holds a bunch of wheat I picked up at Pier 1.  I wrapped a leaf garland around the can and it hid the battery box for the string lights. The dark iron namecard holders are from Hobby Lobby and the glasses are from the Dollar Tree. The Hello Fall banner is from Target and it's really pretty. I can't wait to use this table and celebrate the entrance of Fall.
The table is so festive and colorful. It just says Fall to me.  I hope you are finding inspiration this Fall to used things around your home to incorporate in your entertaining. Use some of those old decorating ideas it seems to make the table more comforting knowing that some traditions are still around. My mom would have loved this table.
Hopefully this week I can post about some other areas in my apartment that we decorated. I have some great ideas going on and hope it stops raining to be able to finish my patio and front door. Thinking about a a cool morning breakfast on the patio with fresh coffee now that the sir is getting cooler. Thank goodness.
Have fun decorating your beautiful space and remember there are no rules it's your space make it beautiful.
Thanks y'all. See you tomorrow.

Fall Series: Tablescape #3

It's official - FALL is here! Today is the first day of Autumn and making the most of it. The pumpkin patches in my area are opening in the next few days and I'm already making plans for a visit. I am so glad this is my 4 day week at work. I have so much to do this weekend. I plan on decorating my front door area and finish my fall decorating. Well my fall decorating is basically done but why do I feel like I have to keep moving things around? The weather is cooling off and I am thrilled. Maybe this calls for a day of making peach jam, which is one of my favorites.
Well onto my third post in my Fall series. This table combines orange and purple, well maybe a lighter shade of purple, but love the combination.
I have two of these rod iron pumpkins, which I have had for years and never did find a place for them. But this year I was determined to use them either outside, which I may do with one of them or a centerpiece.  This is a picture of me trying to start my inspiration with one of the pumpkins but I didn't really care for it so I started over.

 I went to Hobby Lobby when they had all their floral 50% off and picked up a few orange roses and hydrangeas and some kind of lavender looking faux stems, I also added a bunch of orange and gold peonies from Michael's. I'm not a floral designer by no means but I just started putting them in the pumpkin and the colors looked so good together I kept going.  I just piled a bunch of Spanish moss from the dollar tree on the bottom, strung some string lights through it and called it good. Oh and I did fill in empty spots with mini pumpkins, it added a surprise in the arrangement when you look at it sitting at the table.

As far as rod iron I had purchases a couple smaller ones from Pier 1 last year that I used on each side of the table with tea lights, along with my two tea light holders from the Dollar Tree.  Lights and foliage I think make a table and really set the atmosphere and mood.

The dinnerware is one of my new purchases this year.  It is the Nantucket pattern from World Market and just love it. My everyday dishes are a beautiful stoneware color but white really set this combo off. I also purchased the napkins from World Market and they do have quite the collection of table linens reasonably price - you go World Market. The salt and pepper shakers and little pumpkin soup bowls are a purchase from Pier 1 a couple years ago and I actually bought 5 bowls incase I broke one in the future. I looked this year and Pier 1 no longer has this scroll pattern but they do have the pumpkin soup bowls without the scroll. They are beautiful as well. They only other simple touch I made was adding a piece of rust burlap to the top of each plate so the pumpkin bowl could sit on it.

 I love the little pumpkin bowls and when I am not using them on my table I line them up on my mantle and use as candle holders - dual purpose decorating. I try to shop what I have to fill areas and change areas around, I think that's the fun of decorating it doesn't always have to stay the same.

The rust placemats are also from Pier 1 and they were the perfect color for this fall and will use them a bunch this year. The glasses are from the Dollar Tree and actually pretty good quality. So there you have my orange and purple tablescape. It was pretty easy and I used a lot of what I already had in my home. This table just makes me want to go to a pumpkin patch.
TIP: Don't worry about not being a floral expert just put it together and play with it. The secret is to remember if you like it everyone else will too.  Have fun with your decorating and designing, take risks and let your creativity works its magic. 
My wish for you is to have fun this Autumn season and try new things and mix things together that may not match - who cares that it doesn't follow the rules because to me there are no rules in decorating. Do what inspires you and what makes you happy.


HOORAY it's Autumn.  Follow my blog to stay posted on tomorrows post. Happy pumpkin picking.

Fall Series Tablescape #2

Happy Wednesday y'all.  Having the best time putting these tablescapes together.  I only wish I had a larger table to fill it with more Fall.  lol. Living in a one bedroom apartment doesn't leave me much room so I try to keep my dining table area beautiful and change it weekly.  This week has been emotional and I think this weekend will be a restful one - I hope. We had a heifer get stuck in a pond and so I had to leave work drive and hour home and found out there was nothing I could do and I really think the heifer didn't want to get out.  We had heat alerts for the day and in some places it got up to 110degrees F. OH MY!  I don't blame the little heifer trying to stay cool.  My daughter went out to check on her about 4 and she was still there- breathing, head above water just chilling but I was getting very concerned about her not having fresh water to drink and not being able to eat. So with the help of an old farmer we got her out. It was not a pretty sight but she got up stood up and rushed to the barn for her evening meal--hooray crisis averted.  I slept much better Monday night. Anyway on to more fall decorating.  As in the previous post again I have to say Bravo to Target. They are making entertaining and decorating very easy this year. This table I used Navy and White and just thought it was beautiful. It added a coolness to the area and with matching pillows it was very inviting and comforting. I wanted to spend all morning there drinking my coffee and thinking of snowy days and changing fall leaves. I just loved it and I will use this table again this fall. For the items on the table the twig mats are from World Market, they were a little longer for my table so I cut them down a little. Again my everyday dishes from Pier 1 in the Spice Route pattern in the Sesame color, oh and by the way I went into Pier 1 the other day and it seems they don't carry this color anymore, well at least my store but it is still available online or maybe in a different store.  I am lucky that I have 4 Pier 1 stores close to me, heaven.

 On top of the dinner plate I placed a Navy blue plate that I picked up at my local grocery store (Kroger's) and last fall they had these 4 for a 1$ so yes I picked the blue, red, yellow and green. For $1 you bet. The gingham napkins, galvanized napkin rings, place cards and pillows are from the Target dollar spot - WHAT? yes they even had matching pillows. The glasses and the 2 tea lite holders are from the Dollar Tree. My daughter and I went T J Maxx a couple weeks ago and I purchases 2 of these lanterns which were $12.99 each, which I thought was a great deal, along with the filler and little mini white pumpkins, the larger mini pumpkins I purchased at Wal-Mart with a can of white spray paint. The center burlap is just a roll of burlap I used to make a circle in the middle of the table to place the lantern. The orange berry garland is from Michael's and the string lights are from Jo-Ann's Fabric. 

Last but not least the burlap charger placemats were a DIY.  I simply traced a charger on a piece of foam board, cut it out with an exacto knife and mod podged burlap down on top of it. I trimmed the burlap on the bottom and hot glued the edges the down. It's easy and a cute way to have any charger you want for the season.  My next DIY is with canvas. Oh the possibilities.
I hope you like this table it is so far one of my favorites.  Many more to come this season having to much fun to stop now.
Use your creativity and stay inspired.
Have a great Wednesday.

🍁🍂🍁 Fall Series Begins: Tablescape #1 🍁🍂🍁

Finally the weather is cooling off - Hooray! I am so excited to write today it seems my creative juices are overloading my brain the last few weeks.  Funny how this time year makes me more creative and all I want to do is DIYs and decorate.  I'll try to post most of them on here.  I have been experimenting with different table settings and kind of like what I have put together.  I have to say BRAVO to Target and their dollar spot - but I think I may have been sucked into the dollar spot trap.  It seems like my brain keep saying, "Oh it's just a dollar", but by the time I go through the register I've spent thirty or forty dollars.  But I do have to say they have made setting up a table for fall pretty darn easy, with a few creative touches.  I actually think that many of the stores have stepped up their game this year, I found so many cute things. I have purchased more from Pier1, World Market and Target then in the past few years and love it all.  I have always had a thing for fabric napkins, they just seem to dress up a table and make it a little more formal or just fancy and they make a table look finished.  Is that a correct statement?  Not sure, but I do love fabric napkins.  I'm so impressed when I go somewhere and the table has a beautiful setting or has flowers, it's so welcoming and I appreciate the effort, it makes me feel important. I think it's the though that goes into the preparation and creativeness of the host or hostess to put out the effort to  make me feel welcome.


Anyway this Series is to share a few of the tablescapes, decorating ideas and maybe a few good recipes.  They were so easy and I'll try to list everything I used.  This first one I feel is so traditional, using oranges and yellows but it turned out great. 

How cute is this? This table really puts me in the mood for Fall.  I guess this one was my inspiration. I love how the Fall colors fill the table.  The "Thankful and Grateful" plate are from the Target dollar spot along with the orange napkins. I used my everyday dishes, which is the Spice Route collection, the salt and peeper shakers and basket weave placement chargers which all are from Pier one, love these dishes, the metal pitcher is from Jo-Ann fabrics and filled it up with a ton of faux foliage from Michael's. The Happy Fall sign and berry sprays are from Hobby lobby and the scarecrow people and glasses are from the Dollar Tree.  All in all it turned out cute and pretty cheap to put together.  Once I did this setting I was definitely in the mood for fall.


I hope to see again soon when I continue the series on my seasonal décor.  Get creative, stay inspired and have a great season.

FALL is here and I welcome it with both arms.

Oh my Gosh, I can't believe it is finally here.  FALL that is. This summer has been just brutal and now that it is September I am evicting Summer.  Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.  I have tried a lot of things this summer to try and keep from having sweat run down my back but here in Texas, or I should say on the Gulf Coast, the humidity has been horrible.  My hair is a frizz ball, I look like I am getting jaundice because I can't stay in the sun for more than a few minutes before it feels like my skin is burning off.  I HAVE HAD IT!  Welcome Fall you are here to save me.  Funny thing is I went to my storage the other day trying to rummage through Rubbermaid tubs and trunks of holiday décor to pull out fall items and yes the outside temperature was in the 90's. But, what was funny was while I was in the storage unit, and no it is not climate controlled, sweat was rolling down my face  and it didn't seem to bother me as much.  I thought maybe it was me just thinking of cooler weather, sweaters, apple cider and bonfires.  It has been a few days since the storage unit but the weather has become cooler and I for one am enjoying it.  Yes I can walk outside to go to work in the morning and my glasses don't fog up - hooray.
Although it is not officially Fall until the 22nd I don't care it is here and I am bringing it in with bells and whistles. I don't think I have ever decorated for Fall like I am this year.  So to begin I am starting my blog with a Fall series.  I hope you stay with me I am going to do many different things and have so many great ideas. I can't wait to show you all the cool things I'm doing this fall or take you with me to the places I go.  So make sure to follow me this season and we will have a great time.  I will be posting regularly so stayed tuned.  HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!