Cookie Cutter Display

Cookie Cutter Display

     An old cupboard from the 1800's I use to display my cookie cutters and other fun things. I like using old candy jars for my cookie and pie cutters. If you don't have old jars just go buy one and they work just as well.  Candy jars look nice and keep the cookie cutters available and easy to see.  The two mixers at the top one from my Grandmother and another a find at an antique store.

     Many years ago I heard if you have a memory of something and don't have that particular object from your family, you can always get that object even though it isn't the original and it will bring back the same memories.

Apricot Jam Recipe

Putting Wax on raspberry jam.

Apricot Jam
I like my apricots ripe, you get a sweeter creamier jam. Wash your apricots and pit. Cut out any bad or spoiled spots and give to your chickens if you have them. Grind apricots slightly in your grinder, I prefer having small chunks of apricot in my jam so don't puree.
Wash your jars and lids, put the jars into a water bath on the stove to sterilize In a separate pan put your screw on jar rings and bands, simmer on low heat to sterilize them also. If you want to put wax on the top of your jam, I put paraffin in a double boiler, be very careful with the wax and never put hot wax directly on the stove to heat as it will get hot and start on fire. Read the instructions on the wax label before using. Caution: Wax will ignite if overheated or exposed to open flame. To avoid danger and to preserve the quality of the wax, always melt over water - preferably in a double boiler. Also if you put hot wax in water it will explode. Make sure you read all the caution labels on the wax before heating. Put your apricots in a large pan with 1/4 cup of lemon juice and I use 1 package of Ball fruit Jell Pectin per 5 cups of apricot. You can buy this at any grocery store, Wal-Mart or K-mart.
Bring your apricots to a boil (the instructions are inside of the ball pectin). Bring your jam to a boil that can't be stirred down. When jam comes to a boil add your sugar. Have your sugar ready so you can pour and stir sugar in. The recipe calls for 7 cups of sugar which is too sweet for me, I put in about 5 cups of sugar, which is enough to make a sweet jam, but not too much. I also like my jam a little runny, I don't like it set up like cement. I use my apricot jam in many of my recipes, and on toast muffins and apricot syrup on pancakes. I also think a softer apricot jam tastes better. You can do what you want as this is your jam. Just make sure you get it hot enough to kill the bacteria before putting in your jars.After it comes to a boil, stir it on medium heat (while it is boiling) until when you hold up your wooden spoon it slowly drips off, I think it resembles a bad case of cellulite (that is the best description I can give you), until it thickens to the consistency you want. Remember that when it cools it will thicken more.
The recipe in the ball pectin says stir for one minute after you bring it to a boil that can't be stirred down, but since I don't put in as much sugar I stir it longer on a medium heat until I feel it is the consistency I like.
When our jam is done turn off and ladle into hot jars. Buy yourself a canning funnel, it is worth the couple of dollars you'll spend on it and saves precious jam and easy clean up spills. Remove funnel before putting on wax.I put about 3 tablespoons of wax on top and then wipe with a clean wet cloth around the rim to make sure it seals well. Make sure your lids and rings have been sterilized. I use a small pan of boiling water with a lid on it and let it boil on low while I am making my jam.. Put lid and rim on your jar and tighten. I use ball or kerr canning lids only, they are a good quality lid. Cover jars with a clean towel.
Let set for 24 hours before you wash and label them. I like to label the lid instead of the jar, it is much easier to throw away a lid then scrub off a canning jar label when you get ready to use it next year. When you reuse your bottles you don't have to wash off the labels. Always label what your jam is and the year so you can rotate your fruit. You can put your name on it if you like to give as gifts.
I recommend you check with your ball canning book or your local extension agency for times on all your canning recipes, also be sure and use a steam-pressure canner for your vegetables, this is a must for safety!
Always check your ball canning book for times and safety tips. Time may vary with your location so you should also check with your state extension agency for exact times. They also have canning books available for not very much, at least they do in our state.

Caution: Wax will ignite if overheated or exposed to open flame. To avoid danger and to preserve the quality of the wax, always check instructions on the wax you buy. Never put wax in pan directly over heat, preferably use a double boiler.

Never throw hot or burning wax in water, it will explode! I repeat,

NEVER THROW HOT OR BURNING WAX IN WATER, IT WILL EXPLODE!!!


I always wear aprons when canning, be careful when canning, it can be a fun experience, but you don't want to get burnt.
Never throw hot or burning wax in water, it will explode! I repeat,
NEVER THROW HOT OR BURNING WAX IN WATER, IT WILL EXPLODE!!!

Pint Jars ready for Jam
I like to sterilize my pints in water. You have to be careful not to burn yourself, always use safety when canning.Some people use a dishwasher, but I like to sterilize my pint jars in water before putting the jam in.

Garden Table

Country girl with her garden table. The salad table is in addition to a large garden, it is perfect for lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens.
Below are directions for building the planting table.

The garden table is 33 inches wide by 58 inches long, you will need the following tools and materials:
Untreated framing lumber: two 10-foot-long two-by-fours and two 12-foot-long two-by-fours
2 1/2-inch galvanized deck screws
3/8-inch staples
1 pound of 1-inch roofing nails
3-by-5-foot roll of aluminum window screening
3-by-5-foot roll of 1/2-inch mesh hardware cloth (galvanized wire mesh; comes in a roll)
Handsaw
Hammer
Tape measure
Square
Tin snips
Staple gun
Drill

Garden Table How-To Make It:

1. Make the frame by taking two 58-inch two-by-fours and attaching them to two 30-inch two-by-fours with galvanized screws. The two interior cross pieces are attached 18 3/4-inches from each end of the long piece, making three equal sections.
2. Staple window screen on the outside bottom of the frame.
3. Center the hardware cloth over the window screen; pull it taught and staple to the frame bottom.
4. Nail roofing nails around the frame for added support.

5. If you want the additional braces at the bottom and sides you will need extra 2 x 4's to brace it like in the picture.

Soil: The best growing medium is 50 percent soilless mix and 50 percent high-quality compost. The commercial soilless mix usually contains peat, perlite, and vermiculite, but new organic soilless mixes contain coir (shredded coconut fibers) and rice hulls. Work water into the soilless mixes to get them moistened. Then, combine the soilless mix evenly with the compost and fill the frame to the top -- it will settle some, and that's fine.

You may find this cute apron at www.stitchthrutime.com

Country Apron girl in her yellow salt & pepper apron enjoying the flowers of summer. You can find this and many other old fashioned aprons at www.stitchthrutime.com

Country Apron Girl

Just a little note for country and city girls who love aprons, you know you are not alone!

We'll start with just a fun apron and expand them as we go along.

One of my favorite is the 1940 apron from http://www.stitchthrutime.com/ It comes in many different materials, but one of my favorite is the 1940 in red polka dot. Retro aprons are back, this one has the red polka dot and red gingham together in a fun apron that I like to wear in the kitchen.