Bring on the Busy Time of Year!

Table set up June 2014 at Farmer's Market

It is upon us...YES Farmer's Market Season!! After the long months of chilly weather and no fresh produce here in SE Ohio, it is finally time to meet and greet again.  I will attend the market held in Dover, http://www.tvffm.org/ It is each Wednesday, starting June 3, from 3 to 7.  A wonderful market filled with only home produced vendors.  Everything from delicious vegetables to homemade pies; grass fed beef to home canned bbq sauce; take and bake pizza crust to Biscotti!  And of course some home produced gourmet jams! ;) Even live music, home made ice cream, gourmet food trucks!  This market has it all! 

At whatever event I am attending, I love meeting the new people. Taking the time to discuss the flavors I have on the table, letting them sample and giving ideas on how to use.  Yes, I am a people person.  All the long hours in the kitchen, I find myself talking in my mind a lot.  I carry on quite lengthy conversations! LOL  It isn't easy being the one woman show but all it takes is one compliment from a "stranger".  The one that takes the second to acknowledge my hard work and to say "Hey, I really love your jam" or "My family loves to use your jam on (fill in the blank)".  Knowing that I provide a quality, delicious product for others to enjoy in their homes is an awesome feeling. 

I have a passion for creating jams and jellies.  I focus on jams because I prefer chunks of fruit smothering my crunchy peanut butter sandwiches.  Oh my goodness, in my minds eye I see now a freshly baked, butter biscuit with a nice piece of strawberry or a whole crushed blueberry intermingling with melting butter. OR ahh even better, blackberries spooned across the scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, reminding me of the joys of summer.  After a few days "off", I find myself looking forward to the feeling of accomplishment while hand crushing the berries, mixing in the sugar and pectin and cooking until just right to jar.  And then anxiously anticipating the "pings" of the lids, as they cool on the counter.

One of my favorites...Carrot Cake Jam
ready for the canner.

 So, if you are looking for an adventure, stop by your local farmer's market and meet great individuals that have a passion for what they are growing/raising/producing/selling.  You will be so glad you did.

Back to Jamming & a Bit of Baking!

After a one month "break/vacation/Holiday/sickness" time, the kitchen was calling me! I was actually looking forward to creating again. I went to the store room and pulled out the canner and kettle for the first time in 2015.  First jam of the year was Sweet Cherry Jam.  Sounded so good to hear the jars "ping" sealed, that I decided to make up some Apple Jelly.  So, yes, the kitchen is back to its old self...boxes, buckets, recipe books, measuring spoons and cups strewed about, but it feels "right".  Tomorrow brings a couple of other flavors, Carrot Cake and Winter Sunshine.

Since the ol creative juices were already flowing, I decided to create another simple, easy recipe. Apple Buttermilk Biscuits!  So easy but scrumptious.  A tube of big biscuits, apple jam (I used my Bits of Country Jam), glaze.  First, spray your muffin tin.  Pat the biscuits down a bit to become thinner. Place in the muffin cups.  Add a spoonful of apple jam or any good quality jam or preserves.  Bake for 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Pop them out of the pan and onto a cool cookie sheet.  Glaze with cream cheese icing that has been thinned with a touch of water and warmed in the microwave. Enjoy!  Be creative!