Saturday, October 16, 2010

from garden to table


I cannot tell a lie, those strawberries are not actually from my garden.  However, I did choose them very carefully all by myself at the Farmer's Market.  If I could go to the Farmer's Market every day, just to pick up and sniff and gentle squeeze each piece of produce, I would.  I don't always know what to do with the food I bring home but luckily I am exceedingly fond of cookbooks and cooking magazines.  I'm far from a pro in the kitchen, we eat very simply in my house most nights, but occasionally something will make me roll up my sleeves and put on my apron and get to it.

Every summer growing up, my grandmother would pack me, my sister and my cousins in the car and we'd go strawberry picking.  Then, while we played endless games of hide-and-seek outside, she made jars of freezer jam.  My cousin called it yummy jam.  That was its name.  Last year my mother brought me a jar from home and this year I was determined to make some myself.  I love freezer jam - you don't cook the fruit - because even after you've thawed it, it still has the taste and smell of fresh strawberries.

I could quite happily exist on freshly baked bread and jam, alternated with honey fresh from the hive.  Don't you just want to dip a spoon into that golden honey in Superdewa's photo?  Close your eyes and savour every last drop?  Mmmmmmm.

What food makes you sigh with contentment?
One (of my many) favourite food blogs:  orangette

cheers,
mosey

honey flare
honey flare by SuperDewa

12 comments:

superdewa said...

Thank you for sharing my photo, Mosey! Your jam looks delicious. We make canned strawberry jam. Next year maybe I'll try it in the freezer. I get so excited by old-fashioned local foods.

Tammy Lee Bradley said...

My mom and I used to can the veggies and fruit from our garden but I had never heard of freezer jam. I will definitely have to try it. Lovely photos. :)

Anonymous said...

we make fresh jam every year, kind of a traditional thing in our family now. My favorite is strawberry because of it's aroma each time a jar is opened. Wonderful jam photo, brings back memories of early summer picnics.

Jamie said...

My mom just visited and left me stocked with yummy homemade jam and salsa made from stuff from her garden and made with love. How lucky am I?

Maureen said...

fabulous photos, both of them.
Now that autumn is here, and the days are cooler, it's time to bake bread again. I so love the smell & there is nothing better than fresh baked bread, warm from the oven with real butter slathered all over it.
♥ maureen

GailO said...

When I was younger I made jam all the time...I don't remember why I stopped!...I will definitely have to get back to it again!

These photos are luscious enough to eat!

Kirstin said...

There's something about making your own jam, isn't there? We made some over the summer, so that we could take jam sandwiches on adventures! And such a beautiful honey pic too.

Christy said...

I have never before been tempted to make my own jam...but now I'm dying to! Gorgeous photos and thank you for the rumble in my belly!

Anika said...

What a nice grandmother memory to have. I have never heard of freezer jam...will definitely have to look that up. Looks yummy!!

April said...

I LOVE freezer jam! I made some this summer with fresh picked raspberries and omg, I could eat it by the spoonful :)

Suki said...

beautiful pictures. Reading this just makes me crave strawberry jam.

Denise | Chez Danisse said...

Okay, I want the berries, the jam, and the honey! All so enticing. Any chance you'd be willing to share your freezer jam technique?

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