TGIF

Summer is coming to an end, and an easy way to remind yourself of its sweetness is a slather of this strawberry spread on a winter morning! If you're lucky enough to have a local strawberry patch near-by, you'll really appreciate it all the more after using your fresh picked berries in this recipe. If you happen to be local to Greensboro, I'd highly recommend Rudd Farm's summer berries, they're absolutely decadent!

Ingredients:

3 cups hulled RIPE strawberries (about 3 pints)
3/4 cup water or fruit juice of choice
1 box SURE.JELL For Less or No Sugar Needed Recipes Premium Fruit Pectin
1/2 cup Splenda (or just plain, granulated sugar if you'd like)
1 tsp unsalted butter (optional)

Drections:

BRING boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain jars well before filling.

STEM and crush strawberries thoroughly, one layer at a time. (Crushing the berries by hand, with a potato masher, significantly improves the overall taste of this jam!) Measure exactly 3 cups prepared fruit into 6- or 8-quart pot. Stir in water. Gradually add pectin, stirring until well blended.

BRING mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. You made add butter to reduce foaming. Remove from heat. Stir in the Splenda or granulated sugar. Skim off any excess foam with metal spoon.

LADLE immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/8 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with 2-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 minutes. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middle of lid with finger. (If lid springs back, lid is not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.) This recipe makes about 3, 1 cup jars.

SODLERING 101:

I've found, by trial and error, that our creativity is only limited to our knowledge of the particular medium we're attempting to express. Here are two handy soldering tutorial for those of you who aren't "in-the-know" already: Soldering 101, and the Basic Soldering Guide.

There are a few things on sale at ARTicles this week, so check out the Summer Sale section this week!

Have a safe weekend everyone, and if you happen to get into some crafty craftiness this weekend-send us a picture of what you've created! We'll post it in on the site!