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38 weeks until Christmas

 




I have an update on the taste testing of the trial size jar of Christmas Jam.  It's delicious!  However, when I spread it out on the sourdough toast, it appeared more like jelly than jam.  I do plan to look for a recipe to can this myself, and reduced sugar if I can find one.   Sharing the label in case anyone has a recipe to can jam similar to these ingredients.

Note:  After drafting this post, I read most recipes state that you puree the fruit, hence the jelly-like spread.  

Does anyone have a tried and true recipe with such ingredients?  I do not see a "Ball" recipe in my books at home. 


It seems as if every new store we visit on any getaway trips, or day trips is selling Christmas decorations.  Maybe I am just noticing it this year?  Maybe. However, even though it's now March, I am finding that the stores are not reducing the prices on the Christmas related items.




I bought myself a new pair of Christmas earrings - hot cocoa cups with a candy cane.  Made in the USA.




Books I borrowed from the library, that are related to Christmas.  I may have found at least one new recipe to try.

I read this Christmas themed book in my book stash.

Homemade gift idea:
Homemade Vanilla Extract.  I gifted this one year and it was well accepted, as it's a useful item.

Grow extra in your summer herb garden, and gift dried herbs in recycled jars for gifts.  Attach recipes to use the herbs with.  One year I gifted rosemary, and another year I gifted sage.  Sage is great for cooking, but can also be used to make a medicinal tea for soothing a sore throat.



Let's talk peanut butter fudge.  I want to make it this year, and the only recipe in the books I have borrowed (so far) use marshmallow in the it.  Is that the normal ingredient?  I am looking for a fudge that ends up with a soft, creamy fudge, with good peanut butter flavor.  Anyone have a good recipe?  I have my Mom's, but it's a skillet recipe, and ends up a dry fudge.

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Comments

Betsy said…
I think I missed something in my absence about Christmas! Ha! I have noticed the same thing about decorations out all of the time. I really like your new earrings, they're super fun.
Blessings,
Betsy
March 31, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Pioneer Woman at Heart said…
Betsy, I have noticed that all of the new stores to us, have a section for Christmas items (tree ornaments etc). Glad it's not just me ha ha! I wish they had them discounted in price however.
April 1, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Marilyn in SW MO said…
I have made Spiced Christmas Jam using the recipe found on another blog. It is delicious, however, it does use a whole bunch of sugar. You are very clever at adjusting recipes so it is possible you could adjust this using less or even no sugar. Here is a link to it. www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/spiced-christmas-jam/
April 1, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Pioneer Woman at Heart said…
Marilyn in SW MO, thank you so much. I think that is very close to the flavoring of the sample one we tried. Thank you.
April 2, 2025 at 6:54 AM
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