Jammin'

While blog hopping I found this curious recipe for jam on  Rose's site.  I am so unimpressed with the omnipresence of high fructose corn syrup I'd been wanting to make my own jam, but dreading the mess it makes.  Perfect!  Check it out...

I even made notes how I did it.  Serious jamming this is!

Fresh blackberries.  Still on sale so I used up about $3 of berries.

Everything goes into the bread maker.

The pouch of pectin was 3 ounces so I did a bit of measuring first.  Next time I'll probably just use the powdered kind.  Here is liquid pectin.

It came from this box...I think they just charge more because its liquid.  This box was almost $4 and it claims one pouch will set a quart of most fruits.  I had 2.5 cups and used almost a whole pouch.

Next I had to study the breadmaker instructions.  I found them online as my breadmaker was bought half price or more 15 years ago at a discount outlet for damaged and open box items.  I have another identical one someone gave me.

I opted for the quick bread selection.  I wish I had played with the controls first because it automatically sets to 30 minutes.

I punched a bunch of buttons and got it to "Quick" and hit start!

Lookin good!  After I realized I couldn't change the setting for it to bake longer I got out the other machine and figured it out.  Did a bit of synchroniziation and when this maker quit I grabbed the bucket and put it in the other maker to finish up.  Next time I'll just arrow up to 65 minutes and be done with it.  Hindsight, as you know......

I won't need jam until the wild berries ripen in July!  And yes I tasted it and it was very good!  I don't know how it will set up yet but it doesn't matter.  I'll eat it even if I have to sop it up with a biscuit!  I mean really, what self respecting Kentuckian doesn't sop up their plate anyway?

Thanks Rose!

This is On My Mind

Thanks to Rhonda over at down-to-earth my photo Friday submission is about birds.  I took a stroll one lunch hour and found some nests so I could watch and see what kind of birds came back this year.  Here are a couple....

And my favorite......

This little avian family was resourceful and trying to warn us about the cold winter to come I think!  They were shielded by plastic.

What Happened to Spring?

Spring! Oh Spring! Why hast thou departed?


It is nearly April and it is 36 degrees Fahrenheit at noon.  Sheese. It snowed the other morning and has been below freezing several nights.  This is Kentucky!  We should be well on our way to spring weather. The only good thing is I didn't have time to start my plants.  In this weather the seeds wouldn't sprout anyway.

Even though it is cold I went in search of some more signs of spring.

Funny that I've worked here for a long time and never followed the budding trees until I got a camera. 

The one above is still wearing his jacket.  Smart Bud.

I cannot remember what flower will emerge so I'm as curious as you.  I don't know what kind of tree it is either.  I think its all closed up just waiting for some warm weather. 

It is so cold and miserable the squirrels are hiding.  Brrrrrrrrr!

Blackberry Cobbler

I hit a sale at Kroger and I decided to dig out my favorite cobbler recipe.

This is THE eastern Kentucky cookbook to have.  I will have to do many more posts on this cookbook because the ladies that contributed lived through some tough times and could make good food out of virtually nothing or anything they had on hand.  Vinegar pie anyone?  But lets move on to the cobbler.

I like this recipe because the crust is nice and doughy yet crisp on top.  And it is easy to make.  Lets cream some butter and sugar.....

 
And don't forget the berries.  Hint, if you like your cobbler thick toss the berries in some flour first.  I want mine runny for the juice to go over ice cream.  Yum.

If you are going to cook from scratch.  I say use good ingredients.  No fake flavoring for me please.

After I mix up the dough I smear it over the berries.

Add the sugar.  I didn't use a whole cup.  Those mountain folk like their pies sweeter than I do.

Water goes over the top.

Pop it in the oven and wait for the house to smell wonderful.

I meant to get a shot with the ice cream and pie in a bowl, but I was happily eating blackberry cobbler and didn't want to waste a second lest the ice cream melt.  But it was a very pretty color I will say!

Happy Monday Everyone!

May your week be blessed with the simple pleasures of life.

Turkey Hunting

A couple of weeks ago a co worker came over into my area and announced a wild turkey was walking across the yard out in front of our building.  I snapped a quick shot of her out of the window.

That is her right above the red truck.  It was a cold windy day and I ran off leaving my co worker holding the screen we had removed from the window.  I heard him laughing as I rushed down the steps.

I ran across the parking lot and along the side of a building then stalked her  as she disappeared into the brush.

I got a couple of more shots off before she disappeared into the culvert.  Smart girl.  She wasn't crossing the interstate highway via the road!

That white concrete slab to the right of her is the headwall to a culvert that runs under I75.

Very unusual to see a wild turkey in the city like this.  I was thrilled!

I don't know why but the wild turkey population is on the rise here.  It always gives me hope when a native species makes a comeback.