No Cook Strawberry Freezer Jam

I've always wanted to be one of those families who canned, froze and grew their own food. I'm happy to say...WE ARE ON OUR WAY!  Well...kind of:-)
As a family, we have decided to live a more frugal and self sustaining lifestyle and while we are only in the beginning stages, we are making awesome strides everyday.  We decided to share our first freezing/canning endeavor with you guys.  So here's the first of what we hope will be many frugally sustainable blog posts:-)

No Cook Strawberry Freezer Jam

Ingredients:  (we made a 1 gallon batch)

1 gallon washed, hulled & mashed strawberries

3 cups sugar

10 Tbsp Real Fruit Instant pectin

 -you can make a smaller batch using 1/2 gallon (about 2 c. mashed berries) * 1 1/2 c. sugar * 5 Tbsp instant pectin 

Directions:

Wash, hull, chop and mash berries in a good sized bowl 

 

In a separate bowl, mix sugar and pectin and then add to berry mixture and mix well

Now fill your jars.  We used the Ball 1/2 pint glass canning jars.  Make sure to leave about 1/2 inch space at the top once filled, to allow for expansion during freezing.  Once filled and sealed, let the jars "set-up" for about 30 mins. before placing in the freezer.  Jam will keep about 3 weeks in the fridge and for about 1 year in the freezer.

Finished product!  This batch filled about 8 1/2  of the 1/2 pint jars. 

*** Here's a gluten free version compliments of Michelle over at http://glutenfreefix.com/

• 1 12 oz bag of frozen strawberries
• 1 cup of water
• 1/4- 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
• http://glutenfreefix.com/homemade-strawberry-sauce/638/

Hope you guys found this post helpful.  Let me know if you give this recipe a try!


Be Blessed,
Kelly

 

Gluten Free Granola Bars

In our efforts (slowly but surely) to transition to gluten free eating,  I have come across many new and great tasting recipes. My plan is to start sharing many of those new recipes with you guys:-)
This is a recipe that I plan to try this weekend...Breakfast is always rushed in our  house, especially on the weekdays, so I'm hoping to make a big batch, so we can just "grab & go."

http://glutenfreefix.com/homemade-granola-bars/3235/

Michelle's blog has TONS of awesome recipes and like me, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and found herself having to rely on her own instincts and research to heal herself.  It's not an easy transition for us, by any means, but anything that is worth it takes effort.

Please feel free to share any of your own GF recipes, I am ALWAYS looking for new ones to try:-) 


Be Blessed,
Kelly

DIY Magnets

I have another DIY project for you guys!  This one has been on my radar for awhile, but I have only just gotten around to making them.  Here is what you'll need for this craft...

-Magnet buttons (I got them at Walmart)
-Modge Podge (I made mine using this recipe http://www.babblingsandmore.com/2011/10/homemade-mod-podge.html?m=1 )
-Paintbrush
-Clear decorative stones (I got mine for $1 at the Dollar Tree)
-Hot glue gun
-You will also need a pair of scissors and some magazines


Once you have found some designs in your magazines that you like, make sure to cut the design of your choice down to fit the back of the stones.
Then using your paintbrush and paint a small coating of the Modge Podge onto the back on the stone (don't worry, it will dry clear) and the place your design onto the back of the stone (design side facing the back of the stone)

When you've finished it should look something like this...

Once they have dried it's time to attach the magnets!

 After giving these babies a minute or two to dry, they are ready to hang and enjoy:-)

This was one of the easiest crafts I've done in a while and it was super fast from start to finish. Let me know if you guys give this a try and let me in on any craft ideas you have. I LOVE new projects!!!

-Kelly

  

DIY Spring Wreath

Spring is in the air here in the Edward's home and with that, for me, comes DIY craft time!!! I LOVE crafting and one of my favs is making my own wreaths for the holidays and special times of the year.  I thought it would be fun to give you guys a step by step tutorial on how to make our own.

First, these are the supplies that you will need

-several coordinating fabric patterns, cut into 3x3 squares
-a straw wreath (I get mine from JoAnn Fabrics and I leave the plastic on)
-a phillips head screwdriver
-a rorary cutter (or any sharp scissors, a rotary cutter just cuts my time in half)
-coordinating ribbon (for hanging)


After all your fabric squares are cut, you can begin adding the fabric to your wreath.  Place the fabric on your screwdriver (you can put the fabric on any way you like depending on what side of the fabric you want showing more)

 Just poke the fabric right down into the wreath (trust me, it will stay put:-))

Keep working the fabric all the way around your wreath until you have done an entire line.  I like to start in the direct middle of the wreath and do an entire line around, then work under that line and fill in, then work the top and fill in. After I'm finished, I add some matching ribbon for hanging.


Your finished product should look something like this....

 

I hope you guys find this tutorial helpful.  Let me know what your favorite spring crafts are!!!

-Kelly 

Love is in the Air

Valentines Day is soon approaching and with it comes TONS of crafty opportunities.  Below is a picture of a tulle covered wreath I made last year. Unfortunately, I don't have a tutorial with it, but I will be working on a similar style wreath soon and will link the video and/or post a tutorial with that one.  I would love to see what crafts you guys have been working on! Feel free to shoot me a picture and maybe we can swap ideas:-)

Here are a few other wreaths that I have worked on and given as gifts...

Happy Reading & Godspeed   -Kelly

First Tooth

Who doesn't remember those events in our lives that we carry with us even as adults? Those bittersweet childhood memories that we think back on and smile. Well....our baby had one of those today!!!! The Bubba lost his first tooth!!!! While this may not be an earth shattering event, it definitely hit Jason and I right smack in the heart. It's just another step towards the inevitable...OUR BABY BOY IS GROWING UP! Today was a big deal for us. It just reminded us that time goes by way too fast and babies only stay babies for so long. So with that being said, hug and kiss your little angels, squeeze every moment out of every second and thank God for everyday you have to hold them in your arms❤

Happy Reading & Godspeed

~Kelly

Homemade Soap Scum Remover

In my searches to find a soap scum/yucky mildew remover, I came across this one on Pinterest.  Totally simple to make and totally nontoxic, which is the goal of all the products I use around my home:-)


Here it is:

Homemade Soap Scum Remover
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 Dawn dish detergent (I use the Walmart brand)
1 squirt bottle ( I got mine from the Dollar Tree)
Measuring cup

Heat the vinegar in the microwave for about 80-90 seconds and then pour into a squirt bottle with the detergent and shake.

I like to let this mixture sit on the surface for about an hour or so, plus use a little elbow grease, (my OCD doesn't allow me to NOT SCRUB) but please remember to ventilate! The vinegar smell is potent!

I have to say that this is THE BEST tub cleaner I have ever used, the dirt and soap scum come off with so much ease. I would recommend it to anyone and what is better than a cleaner that works, with ingredients you probably already have around your house?

Let me know if you guys try it out and if so, how it works for you.  Sometimes these types of recipes take a tweaking or two:-)

Happy Reading & Godspeed!


-Kelly