Thursday, May 21, 2009

Strawberry-Rhubarb Citrus Jam and a Pole Vaulting Teenager



My kitchen has been shut down for the last couple of days. We had the final push for the remodel and I am happy to say things are almost done. I spent all day Tuesday on my hands and knees scrubbing my white tiled floor getting it ready for a reseal. I am not looking for sympathy here, but needless to say that wasn't a good thing to do for a girl who has to participate in a triathlon in a couple of weeks. I am sore where I didn't even know muscles existed!

Once again rhubarb mysteriously showed up on my doorstep! Rhubarb has a short shelf life so I had to work around the kitchen mess to create some Strawberry-Rhubarb Citrus Jam. I have to say it was a welcome break from the remodel.

Strawberry-Rhubarb Citrus Jam

2 cups crushed strawberries
2 cups chopped rhubarb
1 package powdered pectin
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon extract
4 1/2 cups sugar

(1) Combine strawberries, rhubarb, powdered pectin and lemon juice in a large pot. (2) Bring to a boil and stir frequently. (3) Add sugar, stirring until dissolved and return to a boil. Boil 4 minutes, stirring constantly. (4) Remove from heat and skim foam. Add lemon extract. (5) Put jam into hot jars leaving 1/4-inch head space. Adjust caps and process 10 minutes in a boiling water canner. (6) ENJOY!

This jam is sweet, tangy and unique. The combination of strawberries and rhubarb really work to create a wonderful jam. You can use Splenda in place of the sugar without much change in the taste of the jam. The only thing that you will miss is the calories which is OK because bathing suit season is upon us. You want to jazz up a boring peanut butter and jelly sandwich use Strawberry-Rhubarb Citrus Jam.

Peanut Butter and Strawberry-Rhubarb Citrus Jam Sandwich

2 slices of thick bread
Peanut Butter, your choice
Strawberry-Rhubarb Citrus Jam
1/2 banana, sliced thin

(1) Spread both slices of bread with a heaping amount of peanut butter and Strawberry-Rhubarb Citrus Jam. Top with banana slices. (2) ENJOY!

This sandwich is delicious. It is perfect for a lunch, a snack, a hike, a boat ride, or a picnic. You will not be disappointed with the tangy tart fresh taste of the jam.

Now, back to the remodel. After spending all day scrubbing my tile floor they came yesterday morning to seal it. That means nobody on the floor for twenty four hours. I have a very open kitchen to the rest of my house and two dogs and one teenage son (17 years old) who still lives at home. So after the floor was sealed, honey and myself went to great pains to block the entire kitchen from anybody (or dog) making the mistake and walking on the floor. I am here to tell you that our kitchen was as secure as Fort Knox! I have one very smart dog and one dog that is scared of her own shadow. My scared puppy ran and hid when we starting securing the entrances to our kitchen. My smart dog was curious but we said "no" and he accepted that and kept his distance for the entire twenty four hour dry period.

Now, on to my son Luke! Luke had left for school before the sealing took place. After the sealing, I was on my way to meet my husband (Kenny) at Ikea to pick up some new decorations for our kitchen.

So, Kenny says to me, "Do you think we should text Luke and tell him about the kitchen and not to walk on the floor?"

I responded, "No, he will know not to walk on the floor!" I mean come on! Every entrance to our kitchen has gates, couches, chairs or tables blocking the way!"

While we were at Ikea my cell phone rang. It was Luke saying he was home from school. When I told him not to walk in the kitchen my statement was met with a long bout of silence.

"You are standing on the kitchen floor right now, aren't you?"

"Yes, but I won't do it again," Luke says.

"Luke, didn't you see the entire kitchen was blocked off?"

"Sorry."

Sometimes the frustration level with teenagers will lead you to want to pull your hair out or drink! It just so happens that our Ikea is right by Kenny's favorite pizza, Unos. So, after Luke's "misstep" we decided to split a pizza and a pitcher of beer. By the time we were finished with our meal and beer we were prepared for any damage Luke had done to the kitchen floor. No harm done, everything was fine!

This morning we started to put our kitchen back together. I spend most of the time shaking my head about Luke finding his way into a kitchen that was as secure as Fort Knox. He literally had to pole vault over tables and chairs! To take a word from his vocabulary, "WHATEVER!"

Have a great day and a fun holiday weekend.

28 comments:

  1. Been through the remodelling. With kids.And dog and cats. It's - a wonder. The jam looks fabulous and rhubarb is everywhere. Gotta love spring!

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  2. Remodeling is no fun at all! Unfortunately it's the only way to get from here to there :). I love the jam recipe.

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  3. hahahha! oh my goodness; you are a great mother for being so calm after a day of laborious scrubbing!

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  4. I would love to try Strawberry rhubarb jam!

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  5. My hubby still (a little boy inside those men) loves his PB&J, so this would go over well in our house! I feel your remodeling pains, if I was there I would help you clean...

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  6. My mouth was watering as soon as I started reading the recipe and thinking about what it would be totally fabulous on.

    LOL about Luke. What else can you. It's all history now. Pizza and beer can soothe a lot of woe.

    You did great!

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  7. hahahahahaah....Welcome to my world Gin!
    I have a huge classroom with plenty of space for the students to spread out...sometimes when I partition areas off where I don't want student to go...I still find them squeezing past to get to me..."UM, EXCUSE ME, where are you going?" I get..."no where" Grrrrrrr. 19 more days Gin...give me the strength!

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  8. What a lovely jam! I've never made homemade jam before and you make it look so easy!

    My younger brother would have lept over the barriers too when he was a teenager... :)

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  9. lmao - my brother would've done the same thing...he would've assumed my parents wanted to keep the dogs out, but not him :)

    Your jam looks great!

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  10. great post and wow I love your jam, great combinaton of flavours oh teenagers i have a way to go yet, shes 9 months but i know it comes fast!!

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  11. Your jam looks amazing...send some my way!! And LOL...kids, huh?! Gotta luv 'em. Beer & pizza sound like a good way to "cool off" :)

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  12. Hiya Ginger,

    The dog obeys better than the almost 18-year-old! I love how you tied that all together. Can't stop laughing omg......

    The jam looks wonderful, and being from you I am certain it is. But still, I can't stop giggling!

    I hope your muscles recover soon from all that work!

    Laura

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  13. I love that other people can make jam and make it sound so easy! Yours looks great

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  14. Your jam sounds absolutely wonderful, Homemade is always so superioir in taste..

    Hang in there with the remodel, Im sure it will all be worth it!

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  15. Strawberry and Rhubarb jam is my absolute favorite! How wonderful to make a homemade one! Sounds really excellent!

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  16. Seriously, scrubbing the floor is such a work out!! Hope your muscles go back to normal soon! In the mean time, this jam looks absolutely delicious. Way to use that rhubarb!

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  17. What a day! I am not looking forward to my sous chefs becoming teenagers. #1 (3years old) already says, "whatever mom" to me....WHAT?

    Your jam looks divine.

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  18. Congratulations on your new kitchen.... you're going to be so happy when the reno is finally complete! Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment. Hope to see you again! Happy holiday weekend to you!

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  19. I swear that every time I clean my floors it is like radar for my family to show up and track across the floor. I have one of those Shark steam vacs now and it dries instantly but it is like a fly to honey. Out comes the steam vac and here comes the world wanting to come into the kitchen. Can't wait to see your kitchen redo. Since I love to bake and cook I have to say that I have never done the Jam thing. Not sure why? It looks good and could use a dolop on my toast right about now:) Enjoy your weekend.
    Joyce

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  20. Great looking jam! And very cute story :-) Bet they kitchen will look great! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  21. Mine aren't even teenagers yet and sometimes they drive me to drink! :0)

    Sounds like you've been super busy!

    The jam looks delicious. I bought canning jars at the store today. I can't wait to make jam too!

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  22. I might just try this. I would love to make my own jams but am put off by the sanitary preparations of the jars and lids. I would like to just make enough to keep in a bowl for a week or two.
    The recipe looks great and the phots make it look so thick, chunky and delicious

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  23. I do feel for you and all the continuous scrubbing you will be doing until your remodel is complete. I am very impressed that you had time to make this jam and how fantastic looking it turned out!

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  24. Thanks for dropping by my blog.

    Strawberry and rhubarb are two fruits that just belong together. This looks too scrumptious for words. Wish some rhubarb would mysteriously appear on my doorstep. I do grow it, but somedays the back of the garden seems so far away...

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  25. These two are a perfect marriage. Your jam is gorgeous. Remodeling the kitchen can be a nightmare; glad you are getting through it so well.
    Sam

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  26. ...p.s., Gin...I left something for you at my place- come pick it up :D

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  27. Thanks for visiting our site! My parents used to make their own jam when I was a kid. . . This recipe looks awesome!

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  28. This jam looks delicous! I love all the different flavors in there! And thanks for visiting my blog!

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