Back to Thimbleberries

Surprise! My granddaughter had this shipped to me and what a surprise gift! I didn't know it was available! Just today I took pictures of the 3 cuttings I made last week from the large bushes here and now I shall have a taste!

Product Details

The Copper Country of Upper Michigan is well-known for our beloved thimbleberries that only grow in the woods along the old railroad grades and logging roads of the northern parts of the U.P. Thimbleberry jam has a robust, rich flavor that is a old-time family favorite on toast or muffins. Try it drizzled on top of your favorite baked bars or as a topping on some fresh vanilla ice cream. You'll love it! This Wild Thimbleberry Jam does not have any added Pectin, additives or fillers.

• Brand: UP Foods
• Measurement: 9 ounces (255 grams)
• Country: Sourced in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Made in U.P. of Michigan
  
  

To the Farm Market

It was a nice ride through the countryside and the parking lot was full when we arrived. Of course we got corn, and a cantaloupe plus one large tomato. I wandered around the parking lot and enjoyed the flowers that are so very fitting for a farm market atmosphere. There were many sunflowers growing along the fence but only in one area were they large and in bloom; there are many more to mature. The cosmos flowers are all around as are the zinnias. Inside, I noticed many freshly pulled large onions, cabbage heads - already stripped of outer leaves and ready to use - cucumbers galore and peaches too. I plan to wait for the Loring freestone peaches which come in at the end or the month. In my opinion they are the VERY best! I now have a dehydrator that was a Christmas gift from a daughter and I plan to use it very soon. 

My brother visited and brought some of his homemade peach and wild blackberry jams. WOW are they tasty! He called me to say he had many ripe berries and wanted to know if I would like some. I had to turn him down. I just don't can anymore and wasn't in the mood to make freezer jam, either. No seeds in the blackberry as I requested. Yes, I have special requests once in a while. 

The pictures of the teasel at the end here, show the bands of flowerets as I took a ride on the golf cart to cut off two more. I thought they were interesting. 

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Peachy in February

I used some of my homemade peach freezer jam this morning. I have done this before and remembered how really tasty they were.  I used a small can of crescent roll dough with a teaspoon of jam dolloped on the dough and rolled each up (any way I could) sprinkled a tiny bit of sugar on top and then baked all on parchment paper for 15 minutes. My brother stopped in and had a couple. We had a couple and there are four left!!! They will be gone today.

Before

After

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Peach Pastry Perfect

I took my peach freezer jam, spread it onto a pastry sheet, rolled it up and baked it. WOW! Sooooo GOOD! (Soooo bad too!)

Since the middle of the "loaf" wasn't baked as thoroughly as I like, I sliced it and re-baked the slices. Now it is PERFECT!!

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I love to have experiments turn out well.

Jam

Guess what kind?

This is freezer jam and I only made a small batch with three peaches. I combined an old recipe and a new one. It tastes good and I'm waiting for it to set now. 

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If it doesn't *set as much as I hope, we'll just use it for sauce over pound cake, waffles, ice cream.

Wish I had a dehydrator...maybe next year. I intend to dry some slices my old way - on a screen over the arms of a chair. That's how I do some of the apples.

*Hey! It set just fine and is delicious!

Peach Freezer Jam

Makes 5 to 6   8-ounce jars

5 Ball® Plastic (8 oz) Freezer Jars or 8 oz half pint glass jars with lids and bands. (I use ZipLoc 8 oz. Plastic Cups with lids.) 

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups of ripe, fresh crushed peaches (that have been peeled and pitted) (I mash with potato masher)

1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar

3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 package (1.59 ounces) of Ball Instant Fruit Pectin

  (5 T. powder)

DIRECTIONS:

COMBINE prepared fruit with lemon juice in a large bowl. Add sugar, mixing thoroughly. Let stand 10 minutes.

Gradually stir in bag or (5 T- one at a time) of pectin (be sure not to get clumps). Once the pectin is combined, stir the mixture constantly for three minutes.

Ladle into clean jam jars, seal with lids and rims. Leave 1/2 inch for expansion. Let stand for 30 minutes.

You can enjoy immediately or place in the freezer. The jam will be good for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator (if it lasts that long!) or it will last up to one year in the freezer.

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