Ok...ROAD TRIP!

Last week I had the pleasure of spending time with my 85 year old Grandma, my Mom and my Aunt.  We went to Port Orange, Florida. It was a wonderful, relaxing, fun time. We live close but the four of us haven't been on a vacation like that EVER!
The weather was nice. A few showers here and there on two days but they cleared off quickly and the sun was back out. Lots of things planned to see and do.  Each day, something fun!
While in Port Orange, I wanted to stop at the local farmers market to meet a canning friend of mine. Well, it was a good thing and a bad thing. Good thing: I LOVED meeting Jennifer and exchanging jams.  BAD thing: all the beautiful produce and the low, low prices and I live in Ohio!!!  Seedless watermelon, no smaller than a nice sized bowling ball 50 CENTS and 75 cents. Cantaloupes $1. Baskets of peppers, potatoes, zucchini, etc for $1 at one stand. I was like a kid in a candy store with cavities, meaning no canner, no jars, no way to transport all this glorious produce home 5 days later to Ohio. The markets I have been to have no way compared to this one.  So many vendors. So many different kinds of produce and fruits. Every piece calling my name! LOL
So, my mind is racing as to what would be the "perfect" time next year to load up my car with my canner, jars, etc and head to my aunt's house.  I would arrive on Tuesday. Go to the market on Wednesday.  And dive into a canning frenzy!  This is "normal" to think this way, is it not? It sounds perfectly sane in my mind!  

April Showers

Good Evening All,
Rain, rain here tonight. Love the sound of rain on the roof.  It lets my mind drift off in other directions.  Of course, all those directions end back up at one place...canning.  I wish, in one way, that it was easy to do and fast to finish, but then...it wouldn't be worth doing or worth eating. 
 
Since I have been at home doing this as my "job/profession" now for 4 months, I keep saying to myself on the days I feel like I've been ran over with a truck..."This is what you wanted remember?"  And it is what I wanted and still do.
I still have a few different recipes (ok....a lot) to give a try and some great ideas, with help from friends, for grilling jams and jellies this summer. It just never stops!  I have become quite popular around my local area now.  Word of mouth is really get out and many people are finding my flavors delightful and I sure do appreciate the support. 
I think that is why I enjoy it so.  Fun to create a new flavor, try it on something and realize how good it is and then I want to share with everyone so they can serve it to their family and friends. 

Until next time....enjoy life.  Smile, laugh, love.  It all comes and goes so quickly.

A delightful jelly I made with apple peels and cherry juice.

Hello and Happy 2014!

Good Evening! 
As this new year started, I gave up my employment outside of the home and have began Joyful Jars as my full time occupation. It is exciting!! 
Lots of new changes for me.  I will NOT compromise the flavor or quality of my wonderful tasting jams but I have decided to go to smooth jars and I have found a logo that I LOVE! So, I will be incorporating it on my labels and marketing etc.
 
I started out the New Year in a new spot.  Country Bits in Cambridge has a nice selection of Joyful Jars for you to purchase.  I have received many kind words and new customers via that store in just the short time I have been there.  
Also, the Locals North End Market in Cambridge is doing quite well. They have a great staff and great lady behind the food counter, Lori, that is inventing new menu items almost daily it seems! Lots of good breakfast foods also.

The deli at the Caldwell Food Center in Caldwell is also incorporating my original recipe, Wrangler Jelly, in the lunch menu.  They have even tried it on steak hoagies and it was a huge hit! 

So, look for the new labels soon!

P.S.  In yesterday's mail I received the letter stating that Joyful Jars was approved to become a partner in Ohio Proud.  A program that serves local business in our great state. When you purchase local products, you not only support that business, you help support the economy of Ohio.

 

Some new recipes for the Holidays!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve! :) 

I have been busy in the kitchen tonight preparing for Christmas Eve fun.  One dip I wanted to try is a tweaked version of something I saw at the store.  Bloody Mary Shrimp Dip. 

I used one block of soft cream cheese and a half cup of mayo.  I combined those until smooth with a spoon.  I then added a 4 oz jar of my original recipe Bloody Mary Jelly.  Again, combine until smooth.  Add one 7oz can of shrimp, that has been drained, rinsed, drained and then chopped.  I used my Pampered Chef Hand Chopper.  Gently fold the shrimp into the dip.  Chill overnight or 24 hours.

I also have Sausage Balls prepped and ready for the oven.  A nice pork roast with kraut and hot dogs in the crockpot on low.  I have hamburger thawing to make a huge dish of Taco Bake, it doesn't last long around here! And finally I will make another new recipe tweaked with Joyful Jars.

I am using a package of little smokies and a roll of crescents.  I will baste some of the smokies with Hot Berry Mango-ilow and then wrap in a small version of a regular crescent.  The others I will bake as is and use Beer Bomb Butter as a dipping sauce for the smokie rolls.

I hope you all enjoy your Christmas with family and friends and pleasant memories of Christmas's past.  It is a bittersweet time when loved ones are gone and we grow older but remember with a smile and love in your heart. 

Merry Christmas to you all!

Getting Ready for 2014

Merry Christmas!

As of January 1, 2014 Joyful Jars is my FULL TIME occupation. I am "stepping out in Faith". I never dreamed 16 months ago, I would be doing this. God has laid this in my lap and I have to pursue it to the best of my ability. So thank you all from the bottom of my heart for a your support, encouragement, ideas, creative recipes and friendship. Be ready for more tantalizing tastes to come...my mind is spinning with thoughts !

Hot Berry Mang-ilow!

New to my line of jalapeno jams...specially named for one of my friends....
HOT BERRY MANG-ILOW!  Strawberry-mango-jalapeno jam.  It has a heat to it but it calms down with the cream cheese.  More on this later...gotta run!

Jack-o-lantern smiling bright
Witches flying in the night
Ghosts and goblins, cats and bats
Witches with their funny hats
A full moon can't be beat
As we go out to Trick or Treat

 

Remember how fun it was to go trick or treating? Picking out the best costume.  Walking thru fallen leaves on the streets of the little town close to where I grew up. (It could have actually been a "Disney movie" town, as it was founded in the early 1800's.) Passing children from school. Meeting at the firehouse after the siren went off for the night of treating to end. Those were the days when you would receive apples, homemade popcorn balls and "regular size" candy bars!  Flash forward a few decades and I was helping MY daughter pick out her costume.  We drove into a bigger town where she went to school.  She would take her time and not run down the street, like the others, just to get candy.  She even would go up the hill and down the street to those "out of the way" houses, where elderly men and women would anxiously wait to see if a little trick or treat-er would stop by.  Ahhh...memories.

 

I love creating and this time of year is fun to make SODA POP JELLIES.  Yes, they are made from soda pop.  Yes, soda pop is already sweet enough, that is why I reduce the sugar in every recipe! It is so fun to create names and labels for them.  I took the pictures in my back yard on a knob of ground. I loved using the witches hand to "grab" the goodies!

 

Sometimes, you just have to be a little "childish" and have some fun in the kitchen!  If you haven't tried soda pop jelly, you might want to.  I have found some flavors such as root beer and crème soda to keep their taste the best! 

 

Happy Haunting!!!!