Plum Jam

Plum Jam Recipe (No Peel, No Pectin!)

A wonderful use for all of our plums
From: Natasha's Kitchen – https://natashaskitchen.com/plum-jam-recipe-no-peel-no-pectin/
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: jam
Cost: $7-$12 using homegrown plums

Equipment

  • 8 pint-sized jars with lids. I purchased them at Walmart.
  • Large Stock Pot (20Qt+) with Rack (or purchase a canner)
  • Jar lifter to safely transfer the jars (We use tongs)

Ingredients

  • 12 lbs sweet ripe plums rinsed
  • 4 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 8 pint-sized jars with lids.

Instructions

  • Place pitted and halved plums into the mixing bowl & drizzle with 4 1/2 cups of sugar. Stir plums until all coated with sugar. Let them sit for 1 hour then transfer the mixture into a large cooking pot.
  • Bring it to a boil uncovered, stirring occasionally. Boil until the mixture is bubbling uniformly. Simmer for 10 minutes then turn off the heat. Cool to room temperature.
  • Repeat step 2 a total of FOUR times. Last time bringing it to a boil at the lower temperature, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
  • To Sterilize Your Jars:
  • Start by washing your jars and lids with warm water and soap then let them dry in the oven at 215 for about 20 min or until completely dry. Boil the lids 5 min.
  • Filling and processing your jam:
  • Transfer your boiling hot jam to the jars using a glass measuring cup and a funnel (least messy method) leaving about 1/2″ space.
  • Screw the lids on enough to keep a tight seal in place but don’t over-tighten them since air bubbles need to be able to escape.
  • Place packed cans into the canning pot and cover with 1-2 inches of water. Bring to a boil and process 15 minutes. Remove from the pot and leave at room temperature undisturbed for 12-24 hours. You may hear a pop when the jars fully seal. After 24 hours, check that the seal has formed by pushing down on the center of the lid – it should not move at all. If the seal does not form, refrigerate jam and enjoy within 3 months.

Notes

Nutrition Facts
Plum Jam Recipe (No Peel, No Pectin!)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 74
% Daily Value*
Potassium 106mg3%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Sugar 17g19%
Vitamin A 235IU5%
Vitamin C 6.4mg8%
Calcium 4mg0%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Disclosure
Recipe updated in 2019 to reflect new canning standards. Previously we used the oven method: screw the lids on enough to keep a tight seal in place but don’t over-tighten them since air bubbles need to be able to escape and place in the oven at 350˚F for 15 min then carefully remove from oven, flip upside down and let cool to room temperature.
Signs of Spoiled Canned Food:
With any type of canning, we follow this advice: “When in doubt, throw it out”
Discard and do not eat or taste any canned food if you notice any of the following:
the jar is leaking, bulging, or swollen
the jar looks damaged, cracked, or abnormal
the jar spurts foam or liquid upon opening
the canned food is discolored, moldy, mushy, slimy, or smells bad
Natasha Kravchuk

Lemon Bars

LEMON BARS

Another longtime favorite, based on a recipe of Grandma Jackie's
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baking, bar cookies, desserts

Ingredients

INGREDIENTS FOR CRUST:

  • 2 cups sifted flour
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup butter

INGREDIENTS FOR FILLING:

  • 4 beaten eggs
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice fresh is best
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup flour

Instructions

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CRUST:

  • Sift together flour and sugar.
  • Cut in butter until mixture is lumpy.
  • Press into 9×13 oblong pan and bake 15-20 minutes (until golden brown).

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING:

  • Beat eggs, sugar and lemon juice together. After sifting flour and baking powder together, stir it into egg mixture.
  • Pour over crust and put back into oven for 25-35 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with powdered sugar (though a sieve or sifter).
  • Cool and cut into bars.

Notes

Makes 20 squares
Preheat oven to 350° F

Lindy’s Cheesecake

LINDY’S CHEESECAKE

This classic New York recipe is famous from Guys & Dolls — and Grandma Jackie
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baking, cakes, desserts

Ingredients

INGREDIENTS FOR CRUST:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup soft butter
  • 1 egg yolk

INGREDIENTS FOR FILLING:

  • 5 8 ounce packages of soft cream cheese
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
  • 5 medium eggs
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1/2 cups heavy cream

Instructions

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COOKIE CRUST:

  • Mix flour, sugar, lemon rind, and vanilla.
  • Cut in butter and egg yolk.
  • Shape into base. Chill one hour.
  • Roll out 1/ 3 dough in to a 9 1/2 inch circle. Place on bottom of 9 inch spring form pan. Bake about 10 minutes until golden. Cool.
  • Grease side of spring form; roll rest of dough into 15 x 4 rectangle. Cut in half. Use to cover sides of pan, patching when necessary.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING:

  • Increase oven temperature to 500° F
  • Beat cheese until fluffy. Combine sugar, vanilla, orange rind, flour, salt, and lemon rind. Slowly add to cheese, beating until smooth. Add eggs and yolks one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in cream.
  • Turn into lined pan.
  • Bake at 500° F for 12 minutes or until dough is golden.
  • Reduce heat to 200° F; bake one hour.
  • Cool on rack away from drafts.
  • Refrigerate – preferably 24 hours before serving.
  • Cover with fresh berries just before serving.

Notes

Serves 16
Preheat oven to 400° F

Chocolate-dipped Strawberries

DIPPED STRAWBERRIES

A simple, elegant dessert
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, French
Keyword: desserts, fruit

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces of bittersweet chocolate
  • 32 strawberries

Instructions

  • Melt chocolate in a double boiler over barely simmering water.
  • Dip strawberries
  • Place on foil- or wax-paper-lined tray and chill in refrigerator.

Apple Pie

Perfect Apple Pie

A quick apple pie recipe using a pre-made crust
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baking, desserts, fruit, pies

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 box Pillsbury™ refrigerated pie crusts softened as directed on box

Filling

  • 6 cups thinly sliced peeled apples (6 medium)
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg SAVE $
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 425°F. Place 1 pie crust in ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate. Press firmly against side and bottom.
  • In large bowl, gently mix filling ingredients; spoon into crust-lined pie plate. Top with second crust. Wrap excess top crust under bottom crust edge, pressing edges together to seal; flute. Cut slits or shapes in several places in top crust.
  • Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until apples are tender and crust is golden brown. Cover edge of crust with 2- to 3-inch wide strips of foil after first 15 to 20 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning. Cool on cooling rack at least 2 hours before serving.
  • Let the pie cool for at least 2 hours before cutting into it. The filling will thicken as it cools, making it easier to slice.

Expert Tips

  • The flour tossed with the fresh apples turns their juices into a thickened, spiced sauce during baking. Mix it with the sugar and spices before tossing the mixture with the apples.
  • Two (21-oz.) cans more fruit apple pie filling can be used if you’re short on time.
  • To make Caramel-Pecan Apple Pie: right after removing the pie from the oven, drizzle with 1/3 cup caramel ice cream topping. Sprinkle with 2 to 4 tablespoons chopped pecans.
  • To freeze Baked Pie: Assemble and bake pie as directed in recipe. Cool completely. Wrap pie tightly with plastic wrap. Place pie in a 2-gallon freezer storage bag; seal. Freeze up to 4 months. To reheat, thaw pie in refrigerator overnight. Remove bag and plastic wrap. Cover with foil, bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until warm.

Notes

Prep
30 MIN
Total
3 HR 0 MIN
Ingredients
8
Servings
8

Fruit Jelly

Fruit Jelly

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: jelly, preserves

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds of fruit
  • Water as needed
  • 3 cups of sugar

Instructions

  • Wash fruit thoroughly and diced. Place fruit in a large, heavy-bottomed pan. If the fruit is soft, crush it a little and add just enough water to prevent burning. If it is hard, add water and cover. Cook over low heat until juice flows freely, 3 to 15 minutes, depending on the fruit. Strain through a colander. Pour the juice into a damp jelly bag or through several layers of damp cheesecloth draped over a bowl so the juice will drip through. Allow an hour or more to juice the fruit.
  • Pour 4 cups of fruit juice at a time into a large stock pot. Boil for five minutes and add sugar, allowing 3/4 cup sugar for each cup of juice. Boil until the mixture jells, 10 to 30 minutes depending on the type of fruit. Using a candy thermometer, jelly should register 8° higher than the boiling point of water to assure the proper jell. Skim off foam and pour the jelly into hot, sterilized jars. Seal immediately. Cool the jars in an upright position and store in a cool, dry place.

Notes

Makes about four cups