Simple Strawberry Jam

Simple Strawberry Jam

5 cups hulled mashed strawberries
7 cups sugar
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 49g package powdered fruit pectin

1. Place 8 or 9 8-ounce mason jars in a large hot water bath canner (or pot). Cover with water and bring to a simmer.
2. Simmer center lids in separate saucepan full of water.
3. Place mashed strawberries and lemon juice in a separate pot. Stir in pectin until dissolved. Bring strawberries to a strong boil.
4. Add sugar (measure beforehand so you can add it all at once), then return mixture to a full (violent) boil that can’t be stirred down. Boil hard for 1 minute 15 seconds.
5. Skim foam off the top.
6. Remove one jar at a time from the simmering water. Pour water back into the pot. Using a wide-mouth funnel, fill each jar with jam, being careful to keep the liquid/fruit ratio consistent. Fill jars so that they have 1/4-inch of space at the top.
7. Run a knife down the side of the jar to get rid of air bubbles.
8. Wipe rim of jar with a wet cloth to remove any residue or stickiness.
9. Remove center lid from simmering water and position it on top.
10. Put screw bands on jars, but do not overtighten!
11. Repeat with all jars, then place jars on canning rack and lower into the water.
12. Place lid on canner, then bring water to a full boil. Boil hard for 10 to 12 minutes.
13. Turn off heat and allow jars to remain in hot water for an addition five minutes.
14. Remove jars from water using a jar lifter, and allow them to sit undisturbed for 24 hours.
15. After 24 hours, remove screw bands and check the seal of the jars. Center lids should have no give whatsoever. If any seals are compromised, store those jars in the fridge.

Otherwise, fill your pantry with your newly canned goodness.

Enjoy!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/08/canning-101-and-strawberry-jam-part-1/

Quick Southern-Style Baked Beans recipe by Pam Anderson

Serves up to 18

8 slices bacon, halved

1 medium onion, cut into small dice

1/2 medium green pepper, cut into small dice

3 large cans (28 ounces each) pork and beans

3/4 cup barbecue sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup distilled or cider vinegar

2 teaspoons dry mustard or 2 tablespoons Dijon

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Fry bacon in large, deep sauté pan skillet until bacon has partially cooked and released about 1/4 cup drippings. Remove bacon from pan and drain on paper towels. Add onions and peppers to drippings in pan and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add beans and remaining ingredients bring to a simmer. (If skillet is not large enough, add beans and heat to a simmer then transfer to a large bowl and stir in remaining ingredients). Pour flavored beans into a greased 13-by 9-inch (or similar size) ovenproof pan. Top with bacon, then bake until beans are bubbly and sauce is the consistency of pancake syrup, about 2 hours. Let stand to thicken slightly and serve.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/08/the-best-baked-beans-ever/

The Best Oven-Roasted Ribs recipe by Pam Anderson

Serves 6 to 8

6 tablespoons brown sugar

6 tablespoons paprika

3 tablespoons ground black pepper

3 tablespoons garlic powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 slabs of pork spareribs or 4 slabs of baby-back ribs

9 tablespoons (1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon Dijon or yellow mustard

2 teaspoons liquid smoke (optional)

Heavy-duty foil

Your favorite barbecue sauce

1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and preheat the broiler. Mix sugar, paprika, pepper, garlic, and salt in a small bowl. Mix mustard and optional liquid smoke in a small bowl. Brush both sides of each slab with mustard, and then sprinkle both sides with the dry rub.

2. Line a large jelly-roll pan or other shallow roasting pan with a sheet of foil large enough to cover the oven floor (or one of racks if the electric coil is installed in the oven floor). There should be enough foil overhang on the pan so that all slabs fit. (If not, cut one of the slabs in half.)

3. Broil the ribs, moving the pan around so that they evenly brown. Remove pan from oven, and then place the broiled ribs directly on the oven rack. Place the foil-lined pan on the oven floor (if oven is gas) or bottom oven rack (if oven is electric), making sure that foil covers the entire oven level. Roast ribs at 250 degrees until fork tender, 2 to 3 hours for spare ribs and 1 1/2 to 2 hours for baby backs.

5. If coating the ribs with barbecue sauce, remove foil-lined pan from oven, pouring off excess fat. Transfer ribs from oven rack to foil-lined pan, meat side down. Turn on broiler.

6. Brush ribs with half the sauce or glaze, return rack to oven and broil until glaze bubbles vigorously. Remove rack from oven, turn ribs over, brush with remaining glaze, return to oven and broil until glaze bubbles vigorously. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes, cut into individual ribs and serve.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/08/the-other-pam-anderson/

Pioneer Woman’s Coffee Cake Literally

CAKE
2 cups flour
2 cups white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) regular (salted) butter
3 tablespoons instant coffee (I used Folger’s Crystals)
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla

ICING
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) regular (salted) butter
1 pound powdered sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons instant coffee
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream (add as needed)

FOR THE CAKE

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two round baking pans.

Add 3 tablespoons to 1 cup boiling water. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix sugar, flour, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
In a separate bowl, add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla.

Combine above ingredients, then pour into pans. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until set.

Allow to cool completely.

Combine all icing ingredients, then ice cake. Chill for an hour before serving.

Yummy!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/08/coffee-cake-literally/

Red Pepper Risotto

8 cups chicken broth (low sodium if you’re buying it in the store)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
2 red bell peppers, diced
1 3/4 cup Arborio rice
3/4 cup dry white wine.
Salt to taste
4 to 6 ounces goat cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan (any combination of cheeses will do)
1/2 teaspoon Turmeric (optional)

Bring broth to a simmer in a medium pan. In a large skillet or dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium to medium-low heat. Add diced onions and cook until translucent, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add red peppers and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Add uncooked rice and stir for a minute or two, allowing it to be coated with the other ingredients.
Pour in wine and cook for a minute or two.
Now, start adding broth a cup to a cup and a half at a time, stirring gently and allowing each addition to absorb into the rice. Repeat for 25 to 30 minutes, or until rice is al dente. (You might not need to use all the broth.)
At the end, stir in a little more liquid and turn off heat. Stir in turmeric if desired.
Add cheeses and stir. Serve immediately!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/08/red-pepper-risotto/

Banana Bread

2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups PLUS 2 tablespoons sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe (overripe is good, too) bananas
4 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cups sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour bundt pan.

Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time, beating for a few seconds after each addition. Add mashed bananas and beat.
Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl.

Add dry ingredients and sour cream alternately to the mixing bowl. Beat well until all combined.

Pour into bundt pan and bake for 1 hour 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Invert on a cooling rack and allow cake to cool slightly before slicing and serving with softened butter.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/08/just-a-recipe-banana-bread/

Caramel Apple Sticky Buns

Rolls:

2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
4 cups flour
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons salt
Scant 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Heaping 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Caramel Topping:

1 stick regular/salted butter
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon dark brown corn syrup
2 tablespoons cream
2 tablespoons apple brandy OR apple juice (optional)

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and finely diced.

To make the dough: heat milk, oil, and sugar until warm (do not boil.) Allow to cool to lukewarm. Sprinkle in yeast and 4 cups flour. Stir gently and cover with a tea towel, allowing it to rise for 1 hour. After 1 hour, add remaining flour and dry ingredients. Set aside.

To make the caramel topping: add 1 stick butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, cream, and optional apple brandy or apple juice. Allow to melt over low heat until totally combined. Allow to boil for a few seconds, then remove from heat. Set aside.

To make the rolls: roll out half the dough into a large rectangle. Pour on half the melted butter, half the sugar, and half the cinnamon. Roll into a long roll, then slice into rolls.

To assemble: Spray 9-inch cake pan with cooking spray. Pour in half the caramel topping. Sprinkle dice apple over the top, then arrange sliced rolls all over the pan. Allow to rise for 20 to 30 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, covered in foil for the first 25 minutes.

(Repeat with other half of dough if desired, or save dough in the fridge for another use.)

Invert on a cake pedestal or serving plate. Rolls will be very hot at first; allow to cool slightly before serving.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/08/caramel-apple-sticky-buns/

Fresh Corn & Avocado Salsa

4 ears of sweet corn
1/2 red onion, diced
2 very firm avocados, diced
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
1/2 hot chili pepper, seeded and finely diced
Juice of 1 lime
Plenty of chopped cilantro
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)

Slice kernels off the corn, and combine it with all remaining ingredients in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate before serving.

Enjoy!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/08/fresh-corn-avocado-salsa/

Coq au Vin

1 whole cut up fryer chicken (this is a whole chicken the butcher has cut into pieces.)
4 slices bacon, cut into small pieces
1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 cup roughly chopped carrots, washed and unpeeled
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter
1 pound sliced white mushrooms
2 cups Burgundy wine
1 pound pasta (egg noodles or fettuccine)
2 tablespoons butter
Fresh minced parsley
Salt and Pepper to taste

Sautee bacon pieces in a large skillet over medium low heat until fat is rendered. Remove bacon from the skillet and set aside. Increase heat to medium.
Salt fat site of chicken pieces, then place chicken, fat side down, in skillet and cook in bacon grease until both sides are nice and golden brown. Remove from pan and set aside in a 2-quart baking dish, skin side up.
Saute onions, carrots and garlic in bacon grease until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. Remove from grease with slotted spoon and set aside.
In a separate skillet, saute mushrooms in 2 tablespoons butter until golden, about 3 minutes. Set aside.
Layer half of the bacon pieces, carrot/onion mixture, and mushrooms in pan with chicken.
Drain grease from the large skillet, then place over medium heat. Pour in 2 cups Burgundy wine, using a wire whisk to scrape loose all the burned/brown bits. Lightly salt liquid and allow to cook for 3 minutes. Pour over chicken and vegetables. Cover and bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 1/2 hours.
Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and toss with 2 tablespoons butter.
Serve chicken in a pasta bowl with noodles, sprinkling minced parsley over the top. Spoon juice from baking dish over the top of everything.

Delicious!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/08/coq-au-vin/

Shortbread/Shortcake Cookies

2 sticks, plus 2 tablespoons regular (salted) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
Scant 1 cup corn starch

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Cream butter and sugar together. Sift in flour and cornstarch and blend together using a pastry cutter until the ingredients all come together. (If mixture seems excessively dry, cut in 1 more tablespoon of butter—but only if you really need it.

Form dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate 20 minutes.

Roll onto a lightly floured surface and cut into rounds. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a baking mat.

Bake for 20 minutes. Do not allow shortbread to brown; the edges should have the faintest golden tinge.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/08/shortbread-cookies/

Stuffed Mushrooms, Baby

24 ounces white button mushrooms, washed and stems removed and finely chopped
1/3 pound hot breakfast sausage (or Italian sausage)
1/2 medium onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
8 ounces cream cheese
1 egg yolk
3/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/3 cup dry white wine
Salt and pepper to taste

Brown and crumble sausage. Set aside on a plate to cool.
Add onions and garlic to the same skillet; cook for 2 minutes over medium low heat.
Pour in wine to deglaze pan, allow liquid to evaporate.
Add in chopped mushroom stems, stir to cook for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set mixture aside on a plate to cool.
In a bowl, combine cream cheese and egg yolk. Stir together with Parmesan cheese.
Add cooled sausage and cooled mushroom stems. Stir mixture together and refrigerate for a short time to firm up.
Smear mixture into the cavity of each mushroom, creating a sizable mound over the top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool at least ten minutes before serving; the stuffed mushrooms taste better when not piping hot.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/08/stuffed-mushrooms-baby/