OK.
I am addicted to ordering online!
I admit it.
I love when packages arrive because it is just like Christmas in April, or May or June or….you get the drift.
And last week, I received this beautiful ceramic strawberry candle basket and when I opened the lid….
Oh-My-Gosh!!!!!
The scent of fresh strawberries slowly wafted up and I was dreaming of Strawberry Fields.
Miles and miles of bright green leaved strawberry plants dotted with bright red strawberries.
I love to take my little basket and go to those pick your own strawberry fields.
There is something about the early morning picking with the dew still on the rows and rows of fresh strawberry plants that instill memories that last a lifetime.
I wish you could smell this candle!
I hadn’t even lit it and I was thinking of strawberry everything.
I have grown my own strawberries and that is what I want to talk about today.
I like to plant my strawberries in a strawberry jar…because it is pretty…. but is not really conducive to a plentiful crop.
Soooo I like to make strawberry preserves…one day at a time…sorta.
It only takes a few berries to whip up a small portion of strawberry preserves and my grandmother’s recipe never fails.
Picture this.
Do you ever sit down to breakfast and as you are looking at your jar of store bought jelly or jams… think or dream of homemade jams or jellies like grandma used to make?
I am a dreamer…but you already know that. 😉
I have a solution to this in my recipes for peach and strawberry preserves.
Wait…not peach and strawberry, but Peach Preserves and Strawberry Preserves.
Just like my Grandma used to make.
Easy and quick…of course.
This doesn’t take all day to put up, nor does it take a bushel of peaches or a tub of strawberries. You make just as much as you need.
If that means 10-15 strawberries…that works too.
You can adjust the sugar in both recipes to your own liking.
My liking is I like to live dangerously.
I like to add the recommended amount of sugar.
But that is me…..
Now about the candle.
It comes in four pieces….the bright red strawberry top, the mint green strawberry basket, plus two candles, each with 4 wicks.
Now, how precious is that?
And this beautiful candle sitting in a ceramic strawberry basket is adorable. It is called Farmstand Strawberries and is made by Harry Slatkin and I got it on QVC.
Do you make your own preserves?
If not, try one of the recipes below, and let me know what you think.
Have a great and Blessed Day!
- 3 cups of strawberries, cut into pieces.
- 1/4 cup of water
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 Tablespoon pectin
- wash, stem and cut strawberries into pieces or slices
- Put in a pan with the water
- Bring to a boil
- Turn heat down and let boil gently for about 15-20 minutes
- Add the sugar and the pectin
- Boil for 20 more minutes
- Pour into a sterilized jar(s) and seal with a lid.
- After cooling, store in fridge.
- You can sterilize an old jelly jar or any other jar with a lid, by putting in your dishwasher. You are making such a small amount that it will not be stored for months and will be gone before you know it.
- I have regular little mason jelly jars that come with the two piece lid but it is not a necessity.
- Sugar can be adjusted to your own taste...more sugar or less sugar.
- Pectin comes in a little box that looks like a jello box if you are not familiar. It also comes in larger containers.
- 2 Peaches peeled and chopped into small pieces.
- Sugar, depends on how many cups of peaches you have
- For each cup of peaches you will use 1 cup of sugar.
- Wash, peel and chop peaches and put into a pan without water.
- Cook for about 20 minutes until thick.
- Pour into sterilized jars and seal.
- Sterilize jars and lids by putting through the dishwasher. You may use any jelly jars you have or use mason jars with 2 piece lids. If you make small batches, they will be used before you know it.
- My grandmother used to put those little plastic toppers that look like a shower cap with elastic in them as lids.
Ross says
Hi Kari
You are turning into a shopaholic for our benefit 😂
Lovely they the candle delivered the scent as well as the look. So often the scent can be a disappointment.. my latest candle promised “scents of the sea shore”… not sure what I was expecting but I can’t recognise the scent.
Love the preserve recipes and I might try the peach recipe when the stores have them in season.
Hugs from across the pond xx
Kari says
You are right, I might have to have an intervention. LOL
I have to admit…many candle fragrances just don’t do it for me either. But this one….wowser! I feel like I got more than my money’s worth. 🙂