Blueberry-Applesauce

It's been a very fortunate summer for me,

because people have been extremely generous with their homegrown produce. 

I've had crates of apples and pears, 

so I've been making applesauce and pear-sauce.

But I wondered what other flavors I could make...

Thank goodness for Pinterest,

because I had pinned many different versions. :)

I love the different ideas from The Yummy Life! 

Since I had been gifted blueberries too,

it was an easy decision...

Blueberry-Applesauce!

Modified recipe from The Yummy Life

http://www.theyummylife.com/recipes/338

Ingredients:

- 4 lbs. apples (use apples that are already sweet)

- 2 cups blueberries 

- 1/2 cup sugar (you can omit, but my apples were a bit too tart)

- 1/2 cup water

- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice

- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract 

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients into a large stockpot.

2. Heat on medium height until the liquid begins to boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. 

Stir every 15 minutes for about an hour.

3. Bring the apples/pears to a simmer and cook down until it has the correct "saucy" consistency. 

I use a potato masher to get the consistency that I like.

4. Canning: Fill sterilized pint jars to 1/2-inch headspace, 

then process in a water-bath canner for 25 minutes.

My house smells amazing and I just love hearing the pop, pop, pop of the jars sealing.  

Though this process took me all morning, the process was easy and the reward is great. 

 I can't wait to share these lovely jars with those I love.

Seriously! Look at the color!

Simple beauty. 

Happy Canning!

Capturing Summer

I don't garden myself.

I've tried and had success and failure.

Hardening is not my joy, the products of the garden are.

I love the food it produces and wish that I enjoyed it, but that's not going to happen.

I'm just sticking to what I enjoy, 

producing a beautiful and tasty product from the hard work of others! Ha!

I love to can.

I love everything about the process.

And it truly is a process.

For some (many) it seems monotonous,

But it's not to me.

I love looking at the beautiful jars lined up on my table.

I love the magical "pop" that tells you it's sealed correctly.

Pop, pop, pop!

That music to my ears.

I love the color or the fruit or vegetable.

I don't even really like beats, but they are one of my favorite foods to pickle.

The color is so vibrant and natural.

If someone can't appreciate nature and it's stunning beauty,

then none of this makes any sense.

Seriously, look at how pretty these are!

Canning creates a beautiful product,

and captures a little bit of summer for later.

I love opening a jar in the middle of winter and smelling the fresh berries.

For that moment it's not raining, or chilly,

it's summer again.

How fabulous is that?!

I've been canning like crazy.

So far I've canned the following jams;

Strawberry

Raspberry

Marionberry

Boysenberry

Triple Berry (raspberry, marionberry, boysenberry)

Blackberry

Blueberry-Lime

Apple Butter

Flavors that are coming soon;

Spicy Plum

Peach

Huckleberry

Pear

Cherry

Man, that's a lot of jam!

But mostly it's a lot of summer captured for use later.

And that makes me really happy. 

Happy Canning,

Lori

I love baking cups!

I love finding new cute baking items.

Surprise, surprise!

Okay, not surprising at all.

I've been eyeing these cups for awhile,

 but I found them to be a bit spendy for my fundraising. 

I like to keep expenses low so that I can donate more money.

My favorite baking cups were from Simply Baked

$6.95 for 20 baking cups.

http://www.simplybaked.us/product/baking-cups-large/

Not only are they designs simple,

but the cups were sturdy enough to handle my butter cake recipe 

and not have butter splotches leaking through.

And yes, that can be a problem.

My butter cake is light,

but it also has butter, so it can be greasy on the edges.

With a cake, I trim that off,

that's not an option for a cupcake.

So I always use thick cups.

Is $6.95 worth it?

Urg! 

Not really...

Until I found them at Home Goods for $2.95! 

Man, I love Home Goods.

What?! Over half off the original price,

and cute designs

Happy Girl Dancing!

So not only could my cupcakes taste amazing,

but they're even more adorable. :)

Check out these lemon-blueberry cupcakes...

No muffin tins needed, just place them on a cookie sheet.

You can really fit a lot in one batch this way...it's amazing!

Yummmmm!

Add vanilla buttercream and sugar crystals, 

and they are pretty perfect.

Don't you think?

So if you want cute baking cups, but are nervous about the price,

just check out your local Home Goods Store.

Maybe you'll be lucky like me and find them for a great price.

Happy Baking!