Strawberry Jalapeño Jelly

 

If I can, you can...

The dog days are not quite over! I tried a spicy and fruity summer recipe that is perfect for hot weekends, better spent indoors. Let's face it, it's flippin HOT outside, ya'll. Since my pickle post was so successful, I wanted to give another lesson on preserving sweet SUMMER:) Thanks so much for the sweet comments and emails. Please let me know if you get a chance to use this recipe!

I know I call this a recipe but I didn't realize CANNING was such a sport! I'm talkin' special pots, gadgets and devices.

I remember raiding my grandmother's garden and making blackberry jam with her when I was little...it was grand-daughter bliss and a memory I'll always remember.

Since I'm just a poor twenty-something girl living in an apartment, I rely on farmer's markets and the HEB fruit section for my fresh berries:) One day I'll be picking my own fruits and veggies from my own little garden...one day.

There are 4 simple steps in this process: Prepping + Cleaning + Cooking + Cooling.

*PS: I recommend watching a couple of YouTube videos to really understand the process of canning. 
  
 
 
 

 

 INSTRUCTIONS:

[Yield: 8 half-pint jars]
recipe acquired from food.com - click here to change yield

4 cups strawberries, crushed (discard stems and leaves)
1 cup jalapeno pepper (processed in food processer)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 (1 3/4 ounce) package powdered fruit pectin (Sure-Jell Premium yellow box I prefer using 1 1/2 packages because strawberries are runnier)
7 cups granulated sugar (yes this is the right amount...it's jelly!)
1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional aka MY SECRET TOUCH)
1/2 tsp. butter

1.  Place the crushed strawberries (do not chop in a food processor; the texture will be too fine and choppy), processed jalapeno pepper, lemon juice and pectin into a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan; stir in the sugar to dissolve. Rapidly bring to a boil over high heat (long, slow boiling destroys the pectin). Once at a full rolling boil, cook for 1 full minute. One half teaspoon butter may be added to keep down the foam, if desired. Letting this mixture sit for about 5 minutes discourages the fruit from separating.

2. Sterilize eight half pint canning jars with lids and rings, boiling for at least 5 minutes and kept hot.

3. Pack the jam into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings. Don't screw too tight...

4. Process 10 minutes in a boiling water canner. Remove the jars and place onto a cloth-covered or heat-resistance surface. (While cooling, I shake frequently to redistribute content.) Allow to cool overnight. Store in a cool, dark area.

I made a little label and added some personal touches to give as a gift...the more personal the better! Good luck and don't burn your tongue doing a taste test, trust me:)

 

Perfect Pesto Pasta

 

Happy Sunday,  friends! 

After a wonderful weekend spent with family (my rents came in town!) and friends I am pooped! In a good way of course... But I always feel like my weekends fly by. One of my favorite ways to spend Sundays involves the kitchen (and the couch when football season is here). This pasta dish is super easy and one of my favorite go-to's for something light but filling. It's always a crowd pleaser and it can be served warm or cold. I hope you guys enjoy!

Ingredients:
feeds: 4 hungry humans

• 2 sliced chicken breasts
• 8 oz. bowtie pasta (cooked)
• 1/4 c. chopped artichoke hearts
• 1/2 c. sliced sun-dried tomatoes
• 1/4 c. chopped kalamata olives (these add major zing!)
• 8 oz. pesto sauce
• 1 c. fresh basil leaves
• salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

This ingredient list is never set in stone. I'm always adding a few more sun dried tomatoes when no one is looking...and the kalamata olives are a bit strong so sometimes I skimp on those. If you want fresh tomatoes instead of sun dried, go for it!

Instructions:
Cut the chicken breasts into bite sized pieces. Saute in a shallow pan. In a separate pot, add the pesto sauce to your noodles and stir until evenly distributed. Fold in artichokes, olives and tomatoes and cooked chicken. Chop or tear your basil leaves into small pieces and top each dish as a finishing touch. Add salt and pepper to taste.

The pesto sauce gives the pasta that oily texture with a delicious flavor. I'm determined to whip out my food processor and make my own pesto sauce.. another day, another post! Thanks for reading:)

{This post is linked to the TWB weekly link party!}

My FIRST blogging conference

Thanks Ruche, for hooking us up with these adorable middy-rings !

@happyhust and @fashionisevo

My boyfriend is so supportive and kinda awesome <3

By the way, these ladies were as genuine as you could imagine. They can do no wrong!

Networking party...and I found an awesome quote from {Delightfully Tacky}

I hash tagged the crap out of #TXSC13 this weekend and this is why...:)

My brain (and body) are just now catching up with what I call an AWESOME WEEKEND! Texas Style Council hosted a conference last weekend for women bloggers, makers, entrepreneurs and an all around awesomely creative and talented bunch. This year's theme was {Summer School} and now I remember what school was like...not a lot of sleep, parties and early morning classes...phew! Although alternatively, I was jumping out of bed every morning ready to attend sessions taught by some of my blogger idols. It was amazing! Not to mention, my fellow peers were some of the sweetest gals ever:)

It may be nearly impossible to talk about all of the topics we touched on but these are a few bits of advice I loved:

•  Learning keeps us humble.
• Challenge yourself.
• Be specific about your goals.
• Make connections that are personal.
• Teaching = learning
• Happiness is a choice!
• Attend Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University
• Quit slackin' and make shit happen!
• Don't drink and blog.

After all of the hullabaloo, I'm only going to continue to improve my blog. I want to keep challenging myself to do things I may think I'm terrible at. After all, nothing about my life is perfect and I don't ever want to portray that. I DO believe in stepping out of comfort zones and I'm so grateful to have people in my life that support my shenanigans.

*SHOUT OUT to all of our sponsors and the amazing LuLu's for hosting our clothing swap. They hooked me up with my prom dress, I felt so lucky! I'm definitely planning on shopping with them and Ruche in the future...great prices too!

And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.

- Sylvia Plath

Motivation Monday {1}

Happy Monday!

I wanted to start a weekly post that encourages and inspires...because I think we all feel a little slow-movin' on Mondays.

This quote has given me so much patience and motivation when I feel discouraged. Heck ya, life is frustrating. The inevitability of rejection is a constant. So why fear it?  If I always got what I wanted, when I wanted it, life would be SO boring!  

We are living in a world of instant gratification and it makes me question my role in society as a consumer vs. a contributor. How am I contributing? Am I learning new things or staying stagnant because it's easier that way?

 

Is the idea of delayed gratification easy? No way! I believe that God's timing isn't always my timing and that I must trust in Him to let things fall into place when they are meant to. Meanwhile, working your butt off helps too:) 

Would it be worth your while to challenge yourself...at home? at work? physically? mentally?

I guarantee you won't regret the hard work. Okay, I'm done with my rant. Have a wonderful week, ya'll!

*BONUS song:)
Train – Bruises