mason jar Archives • Page 3 of 3 • New Nostalgia

Onion Pepper Relish Recipe

I am a huge fan of Harry & David’s Onion Pepper Relish, (just not a fan of the price!) so when I saw a recipe for it at Skip To My Lou, I knew I had to try it! Oh boy, am I glad I did. I could not believe how similar it tasted to Harry & David’s, I actually think it is slightly better! It is sweet relish with a bit of a spicy bite. I served it to a group of my girlfriends last night and it got rave reviews!

Onion Pepper Relish

36 oz canned diced tomatoes, drained (I used 2 1/2 14.5 oz cans)

3 bell peppers, seeds and ribs removed (I used one green, one yellow, and one orange)

3 cups sugar (I used pure cane sugar called Rapadura, it keeps your blood sugar levels from spiking!)

1 Tablespoon salt

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

3 jalapeno peppers, seeds and ribs removed

11/2 medium onions

1 cup white vinegar

1 small box powdered pectin (1.75 oz, found in canning supplies of most stores)

Chop all vegetables. This is the hardest part of the whole recipe, the rest is a breeze. A food processor makes the chopping go much quicker.

Mix everything together, except for pectin, in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about one hour. Add the pectin and let boil for 1 minute.

Pour relish into half pint jars, leaving about 1/2 inch room. Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 2 months. Or, if you are into canning, this would be the ideal recipe!

I love to serve it dumped over a block of cream cheese surrounded by pita chips or crackers. You can also mix the cream cheese and relish together to make a creamy dip.

This would make a great gift, just attach a tag with serving directions on it.

This post is linked to:
Show Off Your Stuff @ Fireflies & Jellybeans
Make It From Scratch
Its A Hodgepodge Friday @ Its a HodgePodge LIfe
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
Designs By Gollum
Food On Fridays @Ann Kroeker. Writer.

FUN/DIY/ Mothers Day/ Valentine's Day

A Gift Of Love In A Jar

This is a fast, fun way to tell someone how much you love them.

Supplies:

1 jar

1 lid

Fun Paper

Ribbon

Glue Gun

Embellishments

A Tag

~Cut a circle out of paper (I used a circle cutter, love that thing!) Glue it to the top of the jar.
~Cut strips of paper, write reasons why you love the one you are giving it to. (could do memories and make it a memory jar, too)
~Put the paper in the jar, screw on the lid and tie it with a ribbon.
~Add an embellishment, if desired.
~Add a tag

This makes a great Mother’s Day Gift, and would also make a great Valentines Gift! My little girl helped me make one for her Grandma for Mother’s Day, then surprised me by making one for me all by herself! Here is what she had to say on her strips of paper..
I love you because:
“You take me on dates”
“You made us art bags”
“You let us have guinea pigs”
“The look on your face at the pool”–huh??:)
“You created charts for us”
“You take us on picnics”
“You started rocks” (our new behavior system)
“You clean the kitchen”
“You got my bed fixed”
“My birthday party”
“You let us eat hot dogs from the grill sometimes”
“You made a garden”
“You let us move to (the city we live in)”
Awww, so sweet! She even put a fuzzy baby chic in my jar that would tweet whenever I shook the jar 🙂

FUN/DIY

Homemade Scented Gel Paints

I found this idea linked on a blog called Scribbit, who found it on a blog called In A Nutshell (and that, my friends, is why I love blogland!)

My girls thought it was great fun to make these, and I loved how fast, easy and cheap it was! Think about how much gel paint costs, just for those itty bitty bottles! This made quite a bit of paint. Oh, I just got an idea…how about mixing some glitter into these? Star shaped glitter into the blue? Now that would be special–scented and glittery!
I think these would make a great little gift, each jar tied with a bow, set in a basket with paint brushes, stencils and a pad of paper. Too cute..

Scented Gel Paints
1/2 c. Cornstarch
21/4 c. Cold Water
Food Coloring (we used the new “neon” colors by McCormick)
Flavoring extracts (we used vanilla, almond, peppermint and maple)
4 Small Heat Proof Jars (preferably little wide mouth Mason Jars)

Add cornstarch to a medium sized sauce pan. Whisk in water and turn heat to high. Whisk constantly being sure to get into the corners. When all the paint base has come to a gel like consistency, immediately remove from heat. (this happens very quickly once it is hot, watch carefully. Ours were almost too thick because I did not take it off the heat quickly enough). Let cool a couple of minutes, then divide evenly into 4 heat proof jars, being careful as it is still hot!

Now is the time to add your food coloring (I used 5 drops of McCormick Neon! colors in each jar.
Add 1/8 tsp of your flavoring extract of choice to each jar. Mix vigorously with a spoon until your paints are evenly colored.

*These paints will stain, so keep child’s clothes and work surfaces covered.
Enjoy!

This post is linked to

30 Minute Blog Challenge @ SteadyMom

FUN/DIY/ HOME/ Homemaking/ Organizing

Pantry Organization

There is nothing like a well organized pantry! I personally think that having a well organized pantry (and refrigerator and freezer) is KEY to saving money on groceries. You can clip coupons all you want, but if the food you buy ends up getting stale and expired while hiding out in a messy pantry, those coupons are meaningless and your money is wasted.

The jars in the above picture are so great! I believe you can get them at target. I use mason jars, they are half the price of these jars, and now come with silver lids. They are so helpful in keeping food air-tight and on display. My food peers at me through the glass, giving me all kinds of ideas and inspiration to create with their contents. They can’t hide as easily when in a mason jar!

A project that I am planning on asking my now retired Dad to help me with, is hanging shelves on a very blank wall in my kitchen. I want them to hold rows of beautiful jars filled with seeds, pastas, beans, lentils, corn meal, etc. Can’t you just see them lined up so pretty with all their beautiful shades of color, creating art and storage at the same time? Ahhhhh.

Here is a photo that inspires me. The black shelves are exactly what I want, but instead of jars of cupcake sprinkles, mine would be…well, what I said above.:)

Here is the blank wall in my kitchen that I am talking about. Won’t that look nice? Won’t it? (psst…Dad… when can we start?)

Maybe, just maybe–someday–my pantry will look like this. Isn’t that just pantry heaven?

I don’t know if I will ever get into canning, but the old-fashioned part of me sure would love to! I would like join a community garden this coming summer- there is one just a block from us, which is great because our back yard is tiny and all shade. Depending on how successful our harvest will be, I just might get to experience canning! If not, maybe I’ll find a good deal on peaches and at least can those.:)

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