Habanero Apricot Jelly

                                                      Recipe by 
Janet Eckhoff, Woodland, CA

Zonoma Rates:    5 out of 5

3 1/2 lbs fresh apricots,6 tablespoons bottle lemon juice
,habeneros, seeded and finely chopped, 
1 package (1 3/4 oz) powdered fruit pectin,
7 cups sugar (oops, I think I only used 6!)

1. Pit and chop apricots; place in Dutch oven. Stir in lemon juice. Place habaneros in a blender; add small amount of apricot mixture. Cover and process until smooth. Return to the pan.

2. Stir in pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Stir in the sugar; return to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

3. Remove from heat; skim off foam. Ladle hot mixture into hot sterilized half-pint jars, leaving 1/4 in headspace. Wipe rims and adjust lids. Process for 5 minutes in bath canner.

The recipe said for best results to let processed the jam stand at room temperature for 2 weeks to set up but we dug into it almost immediately and ate almost a whole jar! Try it with Neufchatel cheese on cracked wheat crackers for a special treat or even as a side to a hearty beef stew. For the record, this recipe was so easy and so good that I have since researched growing apricots here and am planting new trees in the spring. 

Credits: 
I found this recipe in the Taste of Home August 27th, 2012 edition. This edition is dedicated to preserving and canning and has a LOT of yummy recipes. I highly recommend it!

Whatcha-Got Stew

My children and I have a summer tradition. At the end of the month, when money gets tight, we fix a giant pot of “Whatcha-Got Stew”. The kids go out to the garden and find the last of the carrots or onions or cabbages- whatever they can find in the overgrown, weedy mess of a late season garden and then come running inside to share what they found. It usually isn’t much- a carrot here, half a small red onion that escaped the early harvest there. If we’re lucky, they even find a potato or some self-sown spinach. While they’re outside, I’m digging through the bottom of the freezer looking for a little bit of meat- and I do mean a little! Whatever we find, we throw in the stew pot and then the boys take turns tasting and seasoning while I make noodle bits.  We never fail to have enough for the family on the nights we do this and, even better, it’s never the same. 

If I can take the small offerings of my children and turn them into a tasty, filling meal- how much more can God take our small offerings and turn them into something amazing? This is what it is to be part of his grand story of redemption- to bring God what we have, to say, “Here I am with my little bit. Now, what’s the plan? I’m in.” So next time he asks you do something scary with the little you have, remember Whatcha-Got Stew and take a chance. God takes what we have and fills us –and those around us- up. I don’t know how, He just does.