Rhubarb Orange Jam

We pause this sewing blog for canning season. . . 

Just kidding, but I did want to share with you an amazing recipe that I tried out yesterday.  I had my second harvest of rhubarb ready to harvest.  Usually I chop any extra up, put them in quart sized bags, and freeze for the winter.  I have plenty of that already in the freezer, so I figured I would try something new, and boy am I glad I did!

You will need:

2-3 lbs. rhubarb

3 oranges

1 lemon

1 package powdered pectin

6 cups sugar

1/2 tsp butter (optional)

canning jars, lids, and bands

hot water canner

Begin by dicing  7  1/2 cups of rhubarb.

Next, you will need 2 or 3 oranges, and one lemon.

Squeeze juice from oranges and lemon until you reach 1 cup.

Scrape the white insides off the skin of 1/2 of an orange, and dice up.

Put Rhubarb, Orange skin, and juice in a saucepan and cover.  Simmer until tender.

Meanwhile, measure 6 cups of sugar into a bowl and set aside.

Once tender, add 1 package powdered pectin to rhubarb mixture.  Stir until well combined.  Bring to a boil.

Add Sugar.

Add 1/2 tsp. butter (optional), to help reduce foam.

Return to a boil (stirring constantly).  Boil for 1 minute.

Remove from heat, and off skim any foam.

That's better.  I usually put the foam in a small container for the kids to sample on toast.  They really love to be my official taste testers, and there is nothing wrong with the foam, it just doesn't can up real well.

Fill hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space.  Wipe rims of jars.

Fit Jars with lids and bands.

Process 15 minutes in a boiling water canner.

Enjoy!  Each batch will make about 8 half pints.

Thanks for coming by!  Please feel free to ask any questions, I will do my best to answer!

~Corrie

Tuesday Tip - Become Scrap-Inspired

Yesterday afternoon, I took some much needed time in my sewing room.  I am on a mission to use up some of my scraps.

With a little inspiration from Red Pepper Quilts , I have begun making some quarter log cabin squares.  They are super fun, and I am having a great time pulling out different fabrics, and remembering what I made for whom with each one. 

I am not sure yet how I am going to lay this quilt out.  As usual, there are many different options, but that's all part of the fun!

I am going to make four of each color combination and go from there.  I will be sure to keep you posted on my progress, I hope you will jump into your scrap bin as well, it's a good summer project that can be left and came back to as needed.

I must say that I gave myself a head start by cutting my scraps as I went in the past. I have always cut them into a couple different size strips and squares.  They are finally coming in handy, and I am thanking myself for taking the time to do this earlier.

I am using 3.5" squares in the center, with 1.5" strips.

I hope you are all enjoying your summer as much as I am, and finding a way to stay in front of that machine we all love so much!  

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, and if you would like to sew along with me, please do, and share some of your progress!

~Corrie

Scraps

  I guess it is better late than never right.  I started this scrap quilt thanks to a little inspiration from crazy mom quilts - Scrap Vortex.  Unfortunately, I have not been in my sewing room near as much as I like to be.  I am having a hard time finding the balance between kids, and summer activities, and sewing.  Today, however, I was able to sneak away, and finish two quilt tops, this being one of them.  Now I have the bug to use up even more of my scraps, I believe that I need to organize colors a lot better, but I do enjoy the down home feeling of this quilt.