Friday, September 24, 2010

Homemade Strawberry Jam!!!

MMMMMMMMMMM......JAM!!!!
I never thought I could do it. My sister Angela came down to visit me and she told me we should make some. So we went to the store and bought sure jell. Then we went to costco and bought 1 large case of strawberries. That was the perfect ammout of strawberries for this fun project. Or you will need about 6 small cases at the regular grocery store.

YOU WILL NEED!!!
5 cups of smashed strawberries (I like to leave some chunks)
1 box of surejell (Located in the canning good at the market)
Directions are in the box of sure jell
 6 cups of sugar (I KNOW THATS A LOT)
8 canning jars 8oz each

FIRST: BOIL jars and lids to make sure they are clean.

Smash strwaberies in a large bowl, leave chunks, add surejell. Bring to a rolling boil for 1 minute ( this is when you are constantly stirring and it is boiling while you are stirring) then add your sugar bring back to a rolling boil for another minute. Remove from heat. It should be really runny like soup. Scrape off the bubbles from the top. Pour jam into jars using a large canning funnle. Fill almost full, Clean the tops of the jars before you put the lids on. Turn jars upside down and let cool overnight. To check if they are done the lid should not make a pooing sound. If it does make a popping sound something went wrong.

You dont have to put jam into the fridge because you boiled them. Go ahead and put them in your pantry for food storage. Or give them as a gift!!!

ENJOY!!! AMY~KINS

Homemade White Bread!!!

 The Second Rise (Ready to bake)
This was the first time I ever tried to make homemade bread. It was actually really fun! It tasted great!
Here is how I did it.
INGREDIANTS:
2 Packages (1/4 ounce each) active Dry Yeast. Or (1 TBS)
2-1/2 Cups warm water (110 to 115 degrees)
1/2 Cup of nonfat Dry Milk powder
1/2 cup of veggi oil
2 TBS Sugar
1 TBS Salt
8-1/2 to 9 cups of all purpose flour (sifted)
NOTE: I used half white flour and half wheat flower

START: In a large mixing bowl dissolve yeast into a 1/2 of warm water. Add the milk powder,oil,sugar,salt and 3 cups of flour. Beat together for about 3 minutes until smooth and pasty. Then add the remaining flour to form a soft dough. You dont have to use all of the flour. Save some for the counter top.
NEXT: Turn dough onto a floured surface and Knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes. Place back into clean bowl with a little veggie oil to cover the dough so it doesn't dry out. Let rise for about 1 to about 1-1/2 hours until doubled in size.
NEXT:
Punch dough down. Devide in half, shape into loaves. (When shapping loaves I roll each ball into a 12x8inch rectangle. You will hear bubbles popping. Then roll dough up and pinch the seam.) Place dough into 2 greased 9-in x 5- in x 3-in loaf pans seam down. Let rise for a second time for about an hour or until doubled in size.
NEXT: Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or until golden brown on top. Mine is usually done around 27 minutes. To check to see if its done. Using an OVEN MIT tkae bread out of pan and tap the bottom of the bread it should make a hollow sound.
NEXT: Brush the top of bread with a little butter to make crust soft.
NEXT: ENJOY!!! I like to put my Homemade stawberry Jam on mine!!!
You can also freeze bread if you cant eat it fast. When ready to use just take it out of the freezer to thaw out.



ENJOY!!!! AMY~KINS!!!

How the Spice Advice by Amy got started!

SPICE ADVICE

Moving to Arizona was quite the adventure for me and my husband! Leaving family and friends behind us. So I decided to keep busy by trying new things like "Cooking." I have found such a LOVE for it! So I decided to blog about all the fun recipes I discover and tell you what I think about them. If they were easy, hard, fun, or dumb. I don't expect everything to come out perfect because I am still leaning myself, but I am excited to share all of my fun adventures with you! Maybe you will try some of my recipes for your family. Then tell me what you think about it. 

One other thing I will add to my blog are crafts I make as well. 

Send me some of your Ideas and together we can have fun!!!


HAVE FUN!!!!