Sweet Summer Strawberry Jam

Summer time is here and the strawberries are in full season!

It's time to make Mom Riese's Strawberry Jam!
(a.k.a Sure Jell Freezer Jam). I am just keeping the tradition alive and following the same recipe she made for years. Mike and his brothers grew up with this yummy homemade jam, and he still loves it just as much today. He does not have a sweet tooth, but he sure does when it comes to homemade jam! He is so simple to please and with Father's Day next Sunday, this sure makes a sweet,simple and in-expensive gift for him. (He knows he is getting it and excited to come back from his business trip to some home-made jam :)This also makes great little gifts to give away, even at Christmas- (since you can freeze this jam).
Sure Jell Strawberry Jam is easy to follow in as little as 30 minutes.
Strawberry Jam Ingredients
Makes;(5-6 small 8oz jars or 3 large ones):
* 2 containers of Strawberries (or 2 cups of finely chopped berries)
*3&1/2 Cups of Sugar
(recipe calls for 4C-but I do 3&1/2 & chop up another 1/2 cup berries)
(There are boxes of Sure jell for Low Sugar and No Sugar recipes).
*3/4 C.Water
*1 pkg of Sure Jell Pectin
Follow the directions for Fast and Quick Strawberry Jam
I love this recipe because, it will freeze up to 1 year.
What are some things you love to make that you only make in the summer time?
Can't wait for the jam to set and eat it on some good ol' toast in the morning :)

BBQ Chicken Pizza (Monday Meals)

We LOVE pizza and what family doesn't? I love Pizza even more when I know it is healthy!
Here is what we had last night for our Monday Meals dinner :)
(My battery was dead on our family camera-so my apologies-these are photos from my cell phone!)
BBQ Chicken Pizza was HUGE success with Parker. I am sure because it was called "PIZZA" he happily ate it!
Here is my long awaited secret! I have homemade Cal zones that everyone LOVES! It is the dough that is the key. This dough is used in our house for homemade pizza too! So here is my secret recipe below-but not everyone wants to slave over homemade dough! (The key is a Kitchen-Aid Mixer!)
It really makes the process easy and I love homemade dough-it is healthier!
I have made this dough since Mike and I were first married.
The crust calls for 2 & 1/2 Cups of All Purpose flour. I know that there is NOTHING nutritious about white flour. So, I experimented last night and used 1 cup of whole wheat flour and the dough raised and it tasted fabulously "healthy!"

I use the weight watchers BBQ Chicken Pizza recipe as the main recipe for this pizza.

• The only thing I do differently is I add beans on the pizza. I would love to use black beans, but Parker won't eat Black beans.
•  I cook the onion with my chicken
• Instead of buying the recommended crust I made mine.

 I think I will continue to make homemade wheat dough for this recipe.

I had a happy little helper last night. Anytime Parker sees me get out my grandmother's rolling pin he gets curious. I love this rolling pin.
There are sweet memories (or shall I say yummy pies), that were made with this rolling pin! My Grandma Clark was a fabulous cook and baker. I had 2 fabulous grandmothers and each one were excellent bakers. I think I may have inherited their love of baking and cooking from them :) Therefore, I am thrilled to have grandma's rolling pin. Thanks mom for passing it on to me :)

A special note: If you have a Kitchen-Aid Mixer this will be an easy and nutritious crust for homemade pizza! I LOVE my Kitchen-Aid Mixer. It is one of my sweetest possessions that I own. Mike got it for me our first Christmas after we were married. It is still the best gift he has ever gotten me! (I think!?) I use it at least 3-4 times a week. So, that is why my friends call me -"Jenny Crocker!"

So, here is the long awaited secret recipe for my homemade pizza dough!
Jenn's Homemade Pizza Crust
2&1/2 -3 Cups of All-Purpose Flour
*(or 1 Cup of Whole Wheat flour and 1&1/2 -2 Cups of All-Purpose)
1TBSP Sugar
1tsp salt
2 tsp Mrs. Dash (Garlic & Herb Seasoning) (MY SECRET)
1pkg Rapid Rise Yeast
3TBSP Olive Oil
1 Cup very warm water (about 120 degrees)
Directions:

• In large mixing bowl, mix 1 cup of flour, sugar, seasoning, salt and yeast.
• Add oil and warm water. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes, scraping bowl frequently.
• Stir in enough remaining flour until dough is soft and leaves the sides of the bowl.
• Place dough on lightly floured surface.
• Knead 5 minutes or until the dough is smooth and springy.
• Cover loosely with plastic with plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Prepare crust in 2 pans for thin crust or 1 large sheet pan for thicker crust.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 7 minutes
• Add sauce and toppings and bake for additional 7-10 minutes or until crust is lightly brown on edges.

(I did add green peppers to this-Parker doesn't mind them:)
• ENJOY

Feel free to join us on the Monday Meals adventure! What did your family have for dinner last night?
Sign up here to share and gain some great recipes.
http://www.linkytools.com/basic_link_entry_form.aspx?id=30590


Jenn :)

A "Lemonicious" Pesto Chicken Sauce (Monday Meals)

It's time for another Monday Meals recipe! I can't wait to see what is cooking in your kitchen.


Who wants to turn on the oven in 95 degree heat? NOT ME! It has been to HOT to even want to attempt to cook-but we have to eat! So, lately I am doing quick meals on the stove or we are grilling.
I love the look of fresh lemons, I love the smell of fresh lemons and I love the added zing they give to an entree'! Every time I see lemons, I think of my grandma's homemade Lemon Meringue Pie! It reminds me of summer.
When I started teaching at NCCS, I ran across a recipe for a homemade Lemon Chicken Pasta on the back of a pasta box! It took time to make (and I don't have that valuable time right now).
I am so excited that I can still make my Lemon Chicken Pasta with a new friend~ Knorr Pesto Mix! They have a recipe almost identical to the one I used to make. This is a great meal to take to a family too! It is a great pasta dish that most families love. (And of course you can make it 10 different ways with all the kinds of pasta out there! LOL).
Knorr's Pesto Sauce takes 20 minutes total. I love that I can doctor up the sauce (with vegetables) and it tastes just like my homemade recipe. There is something about fresh smelling lemons in homecooked food!
I need to mention one special thing; this is a great sauce if you can not have marina. I could not have anything acidic or tomato based while I was strictly nursing Kaden. (This recipe only has 2 TBSP so the lemon is not overpowering). Kaden had/has a sensitive stomach and it was SO hard to find things that I could eat with out it bothering him. This did not bother him!

Here is the recipe from Knorr for Lemon Pesto Chicken Sauce!

This meal only costs about $10.00 to make for a family of 4. (If you can get the chicken breasts on sale.)

• I took advantage of buying the Pasta (when it was BOGO free)!

• I used Rigatoni noodles and Parker LOVED them.

• I added sugar snap peas and he ate ALL of it!

I forgot to get a final photo-but here is the sauce cooking away.

Next time you see those yummy lemons grab two for this awesome meal!

I hope you get a chance to make it soon.

Food for thought:

1. Lemon juice applied to the the skin can prevent sunburns!

2. Lemons can help store memory and recall information! (WOW!)

I read some very interesting facts about the power of the lemon. Check it out Lemon Facts


OK...So I have to post some "Summer time" photos! I am busy and don't have all this time to post a ton of entries so here are two recents of  the boys! So far the sunblock is working great. May have to try the lemons some time!

Want to join us on the Monday Meals?

Feel free to sign up here and learn more how you can participate!

Monday Meals-(Join me!)

“What should I make for dinner?”

“Mom, what are we having for dinner?”
 Does this sound familiar?
I find myself asking what I should make for dinner more then 1 or 2 times a week. I do not want to be so busy that I can not have time to cook and plan for the family. I have so many yummy meals that I make on a regular basis-but I am always looking for fast ones; i.e.:crock-pot meals, 5 ingredients or less, child loved (and nutritious), or just simple ones.
Many of you know that cooking is a passion of mine. I enjoy it in deed-but finding that "time" is much harder now that we have two kids . I really enjoy the breaks when we  do get to eat out! However, eating out on a regular basis adds up really fast and depletes our "eating out fund" FAST! We are a budgeting family. I plan my meals around the weekly  store sales. Occassionally,we can do better to eat out IF it is at Mike's favorite restaurant; Costco = $1.50 Hot Dog Combo Dinner! LOL-But for my kind of "eating out" and more healthy (ok maybe not so healthy but a break for me), it is usually Maggiano's or Cheesecake Factory!
So, we choose to save those restaurants for special occasions.

Therefore, I am choosing to cook a special meal each Monday for the family. God has been challenging me to find joy in the good and "challenging" days as a S.A.H.M. I always find joy at the end of a rough day if I have had a successful family meal! I don’t always feel happy about throwing something together in 3 minutes or tossing that Digorno Pizza in! BUT, some days it is for my sanity! God has allowed me to stay home and be a mom to my sweet boys. I care about what they are eating and I really want to make sure it is nutritious. I know that Monday is a good day for me to prepare a yummy meal. I have Sunday’s to prep if needed. We usually don’t have an event on Mondays and we always have fun as a family. Parker eats much better when we both sit and eat with him. So, we strive to do this 5-6 times a week. Sometimes, Mike’s work schedule doesn’t always allow but he works really hard to be here for it.
So, I am challenging you to take part in my journey with Monday Meals! Maybe you can not commit to cook a special meal for the family on Monday, but you can make a special meal another night. Maybe you actually do it  two or even three times each week. Choose one of those weekly meals to share about. I know that you may not get a chance to post something each week, but try it for a few weeks.  I have a sweet tooth so, do not hesitate to post about the dessert you may have had for "Monday Meals" in stead!   I am always looking for awesome recipes in this department too!

Here is all you have to do:
 1. Post about Monday Meals on your blog-sometime during that week.

• Does not have to be on Monday-but you can call it Monday  Meals so that so we all know what you are referring to.
• If you would link it back to my blog I would appreciate it! :) WINK!
• I want to see those recipe

2. Share what you made?

• please share the recipe or the website that you got it from.
• photos are not necessary-but a perk
• You may want to post a special reason why you made that meal? 
• i.e.;family favorite, chicken was on sale, you wanted a $10.00 meal or less, you accidentally created the meal-because you were out of something the recipe called for!

3. What family discussions did you have during the meal?


4. Was it a success or flop?

• (I have had a few of those moments and I am sure I will have MANY more.)

5. Sign up on this link Monday Meals with your blog to let me know that you are participating.

• This may not go anywhere
• I will give it 3 weeks

Tonight, I get to share the story with Parker about this special meal we are having;
HoBo Dinners
(Click on the “Hobo Dinners” to see the actual recipe). 


1. I chose this meal because I had it as a little girl.
2. I was always so excited to see if we got cheese on our burgers!

3. It was also a "cool" way for our food to be cooked;we didn't focus on the fact that we had "vegetables" on our plate!

4. (Having a nearly 3 year old-I have to find special ways to get veggies in his body!)
5. It is SUMMER tme and this can also go on the grill for 30 min.

During dinner Parker, was not so sure what to think at first. He got ALL excited about dinner being served this way!~ Then he wouldn't eat it. So, he and daddy played a game to see how much he could really eat. He ate it! I am sure that the cupcakes for dessert were a great motivator too! Mike, said he liked it and I would say overall it was a success! We had ketchup for Parker to dip his burger in. :)


I hope to hear of some more great meals from you!
 Remember,you do not have to do it every week and I am not expecting any gourmet meals!  I would just love to see us spending more time as families at OUR dinner tables and not always at a restaurant.


Jenn :)


Here are few photos of my preparations ~and it only took me 15 minutes. YEAH!

Homemade marinade:

• 
  
  1 C Ketchup
• 
  
  1/4 C Worcestire sauce,
• 
  
  3 TBS Olive oil,
• 
  
  2 TBS Brown Sugar

                                  (After cutting up veggies and preparing the meat,
                                  I pour the marinade on the top.
                                   (sit these in fridge for 3-4 hours)

Tah -Da! Dinner is ready!