3 Winks Design

Pineapple Kiwi Jam

7/1/2022

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Sometimes it is a lot of fun to try something new. I had a chance to get kiwi, pineapple and limes from our local produce wholesalers and I jumped at the chance to try some Pineapple Kiwi Jam. It has a twist of lime in it as well, so I used all of the things and the jam came out great!

I've gotten pretty brave about trying new combinations of jam over the years. You have to be careful in order to get a jammy set. But the great thing about jam is pancake syrup and ice cream toppings are what you get when it doesn't gel just right, so it is still a win! Lately, I've been having a lot of success with the set though and I can share a few tips with you.

Jam Setting Tips

Measure your fruit carefully so that it is in proportion to the amount of pectin you are using. I find that 1 box of powdered pectin can handle about 5 or 6 cups of mashed fruit, depending on the variety, and I will explain why more thoroughly below.
Some fruit is higher in natural pectin than others. Citrus and apples are two of the better ones. Kiwi has some pectin, but pineapple has none and will actually break down the pectin proteins. That is why it is important to add pectin to this recipe. Also, I added lime zest which, being citrus, helps as well.
Be sure that you put in enough sugar for the type of pectin you are using. There is regular pectin and low sugar pectin. Read the directions to know how much sugar you need. Sugar enhances the work of pectin by attracting water molecules away from the pectin, allowing the pectin to do its thickening thing. When you use a regular box of pectin, you will probably be shocked at the large amount of sugar needed in jam. Low sugar pectin requires less sugar because it has the addition of calcium in it that replaces some of the sugar.
When using powdered pectin, mix it into your fruit first and bring that mixture to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. A full rolling boil is one that cannot be stirred down as it boils and you stir it. Stir it constantly for that 1 minute. I have never in my life used liquid pectin, and I hear that the directions for it may be different from these. So, if you prefer liquid pectin, let me know if it is a different process.
When the fruit and pectin have boiled for 1 minute, pour in the sugar all at once. Stir it in thoroughly and once again bring the mixture to a boil. When it reaches a full rolling boil, allow it to boil for 6 or 7 minutes, stirring constantly.
The jam will thicken as it cools, but before you turn off the heat, you can test it by dropping a bit onto a cold spoon and see if it begins to thicken. When it seems like it is thickening a bit, turn off the heat. Mind you, it will be extremely hot and runny, so don't panic.

Jam is really very easy to make, I love to make it and to enjoy some toast and jam every so often, or in a delicious peanut butter sandwich. Oh! And these jam muffins, SO YUMMY! I hope you will be brave enough to try jam making on your own!
This Pineapple Kiwi Jam was pretty quick to make. My recipe uses 12 kiwi, peeled and chopped. That probably took the longest, but wasn't that bad at all. And, because I have a pineapple peeler, corer, slicer, the pineapple came together in a snap!
Save as much juice as you can from the pineapple to add to the flavor.
I used my lime zester and lime squeezer for the limes of course.
And, to make my jam not quite so chunky, I used an immersion blender.

Okay! Here is the recipe! I hope you enjoy it!

Kiwi Pineapple Jam

Oh! Don't forget to click on this picture to get these cute labels!

*Keep an eye out! We will soon be publishing an e-book of our favorite and original jam recipes!

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Summer Food to Cool You off!

6/28/2022

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This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Thanks for your support!

When you live in one of the hottest places in the country, you learn ways to keep cool in the long, blistering summer months. One of those ways is to enjoy foods and drink drinks that will cool you down. Here is a round-up of some of our cool favs!

Cool Beverages for a hot summer, including an Orange Julius copycat recipe! Staying hydrated is one of the most important things to do to be cool!

Use your crock pot, instant pot and air fryer to make some recipes that won't heat up the house!

Hot Cocoa Bombs are still good around a campfire up in the cool mountain air, but down here in the hot valley, these ice cream bombs are way more appealing!

Alicia shared this refreshing slushie drink! Watermelon is a great way to cool down!

Summer salads are healthy and refreshing! These watermelon stars add to the appeal!

My grandkids and I made these delicious cookie ice cream sandwiches together and they were a hit! Much less expensive than the ones you buy in the store and a fun way to cook with kids.

2 Amazingly "Kool" things to do with Kool-Aid that are fun to do with kids as well as delicious! Make no churn homemade ice cream and candy dots. The coconut lime ice cream is my favorite!

Snow Cones! I even give you the recipe for your own syrup! What a great way to stay hydrated!

My personal all time favorite is the Root Beer Float!

There you have it! Great ways to have a cool summer! Stay cool yourself and enjoy!

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Banana Muffin adventures

6/24/2022

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This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking them, we will be compensated, but there is no additional cost to you. All opinions expressed are our own. Thank you for your support.

A week ago, my husband and I went up to spend some time with some of our grandchildren. Since we have decided to do a weekly "Cooking with Kids" post through the summer, I thought this would be a perfect time to cook with these younger kids and have my husband video the event. It was a blast! Unfortunately, the camera stopped working correctly for my husband as he filmed. Mainly user error, but at any rate, we didn't get the entire process on film. But, my grandchildren are so cute that I had to put together this little video to show you how much fun it is to cook with kids.

Teaching kids to cook is a self esteem builder, it is a great skill for them to learn, it is math practice, it gives them confidence, it is science, the list goes on. Most of all, I just love the times I spent cooking with my own children and now my grandchildren.

Speaking of confidence, my two oldest granddaughters are gaining so much confidence when it comes to baking that they are inventing their own recipes! You will remember Jayda who taught you how to make Brookies on this post. She and her older sister called me the other day to show me that they had created their own ginger cookie/cake concoction and they were chowing down on it sitting on the floor of their bedroom as they talked about boys! LOL It made me happy to see two sisters getting along and having fun together baking and talking. We all know that making food together builds ties.

Looks pretty good, girls!

I hope that you are making cooking and baking memories with your kids and/or grandkids! We will have more videos and recipes to inspire you as the summer progresses!

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How I'm Using my food saver

6/20/2022

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I have a new toy in my kitchen! Many of you may have already had one for years, but I recently purchased a Food Saver after waffling about getting one for a long time! I have been having so much fun with this thing!

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Pineapple Kiwi Jam

Summer Food to Cool You off!

Banana Muffin adventures

How I'm Using my food saver

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