MTNMAMA

MTNMAMA
The original MTNMAMA

Friday, September 13, 2013

Jam Up and Jelly Tight



I Be Jammin......

The past few weeks I have been making jam.  I LOVE making jam and am always trying out new flavor combinations.  So far I have made: Strawberry-Lemon Marmalade, Blueberry-Lemon Jam, Three-Citrus Marmalade and Black-n-Blueberry Jam.  
My favorite one is the one I am tasting at the time.  They are all SOOOOOOO good.  I just have to share the Three-Citrus Marmalade recipe because it probably is my very favorite.  It came from the recipe book....Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day.  I use this book a LOT!!!  Can't wait to try this on a hot slice of English Muffin Bread!!  YUM!!

Laura's Three-Citrus Marmalade



4 Navel Oranges
1 lemon
1/2 pink grapefruit
2 1/2 cups boiling water
1/8 tsp baking soda
5 1/2 cups sugar
1 box (1.75 ounces) Sure Jell Fruit pectin


1.  Using a vegetable peeler, remove the colored zest from the fruit and discard the white pith.  Chop the zest coarsely.
2.  Chop the fruit, discarding any seeds and reserving the juice.
3.  Place the zests, water, and baking soda into a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer another 10 minutes.


4.  Measure the sugar and set aside.  Do not reduce the sugar, or marmalade may not set properly.
5.  Stir the box of fruit pectin into the fruit mixture.  Bring to a full, rolling boil.
6.  Stir in the sugar quickly, return to a full rolling boil, and cook for 1 minute.  Remove from the heat and skim off any foam.
7.  Pour the hot marmalade into clean canning jars.  Process for 10 minutes in a water bath.  The marmalade can also be frozen, without canning for up to 1 year.



Extra marmalade in a jar for the cook to taste!!  Delish!!!  Tart, tangy, sweet and bitter....just the way a great marmalade should be!!

Laura's Three-Citrus Marmalade

4 Navel Oranges
1 lemon
1/2 pink grapefruit
2 1/2 cups boiling water
1/8 tsp baking soda
5 1/2 cups sugar
1 box (1.75 ounces) Sure Jell Fruit pectin

1.  Using a vegetable peeler, remove the colored zest from the fruit and discard the white pith.  Chop the zest coarsely.
2.  Chop the fruit, discarding any seeds and reserving the juice.
3.  Place the zests, water, and baking soda into a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer another 10 minutes
4.  Measure the sugar and set aside.  Do not reduce the sugar, or marmalade may not set properly.
5.  Stir the box of fruit pectin into the fruit mixture.  Bring to a full, rolling boil.
6.  Stir in the sugar quickly, return to a full rolling boil, and cook for 1 minute.  Remove from the heat and skim off any foam.
7.  Pour the hot marmalade into clean canning jars.  Process for 10 minutes in a water bath.  The marmalade can also be frozen, without canning for up to 1 year.



The beginning of Blueberry-Lemon Jam.  This was a Paula Deen recipe I found online.  I like it.  The lemon is subtle and comes at the end of the tasting experience.


Finished product!!  I put this jam in pint size jars!!   I tend to use what I have on hand!!  These jams are going to be pretty tasty this winter when the air is cold and the toast is warm!!


In honor of football season we will end with a "JAM" pyramid!!
Have fun in all you do......I do!!

Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Peanut Butter Extravaganza




Ready, set.....1,2,3 let's get cooking!!  It is September and to me that means it is "cooking season" and I am in full cooking mode.  Fall is the best time of the year....cool temps, crunchy leaves, wood smoke in the air, football, and tailgating food!!!   First up......

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies



Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter chips, chocolate chunks, Peanut Butter Cups and cocoa....is there anything better than Chocolate and Peanut Butter together?????  Not in my life there isn't.....so when I found this new cookie recipe I just had to try it asap!!!




While shopping at Sam's last week I picked up the newest Taste of Home Seasonal Tailgating Cookbook.  There are several recipes that I am going to try right away.  The first recipe to hit the mixer was this cookie.  Everyone and I do mean everyone that I shared this cookie with loved it!  






Ingredients:
1 cup butter softened
3/4 cup peanut butter (creamy)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup 2% milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup chocolate chunks
1 cup peanut butter chips
6 pkg (1 1/2 oz each) peanut butter cups, chopped

1.  In large bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg yolk, milk and vanilla.  Combine the flour, cocoa and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. 

2.  Stir in chips, chunks and peanut butter cups.

3.  Drop heaping teaspoons (I used my medium scoop)  onto an ungreased baking sheet.



4.  Position cookies about 2 inches apart.  The cookies don't spread a lot.


5.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until set.  Do not overbake.  



6.  Do not overbake.  Cool for 2 minutes before removing from the pans to wire cooling racks.  The cookies will be soft even after cooled.




7.  Store in airtight containers....if you have any left to store.


I shared my cookies with the service managers at the dealership where I was having my car serviced, my CPR students that afternoon,  friends that were leaving on a trip (snacks for the road) and another family with boys who all LOVED them!!
Maybe next batch I will share with YOU over a nice cold glass of milk in front of a warm fire waiting for fall to turn to winter!!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter softened
3/4 cup peanut butter (creamy)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup 2% milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup chocolate chunks
1 cup peanut butter chips
6 pkg (1 1/2 oz each) peanut butter cups, chopped

1.  In large bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg yolk, milk and vanilla.  Combine the flour, cocoa and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. 
2.  Stir in chips, chunks and peanut butter cups.
3.  Drop heaping teaspoons (I used my medium scoop)  onto an ungreased baking sheet.
4.  Position cookies about 2 inches apart.  The cookies don't spread a lot.
5.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until set.  Do not overbake. 
6.  Do not overbake.  Cool for 2 minutes before removing from the pans to wire cooling racks.  The cookies will be soft even after cooled.
7.  Store in airtight containers....if you have any left to store.

Happy Trails, 

Mtn Mama