Its JAM SEASON in Cygnet.

Ok with the aroma of strawberry jam now absent from my house(OH boy it smelt so sweet and dreamy...YUMMO). I thought I would share this recipe for strawberry jam with you all to try or just read and imagine us enjoying it.
I was given a couple of kilo's of strawberries last weekend by a lovely new friend we met through cricket. I will tell you all the same as I told Marie...if you want to make jam buy yourself a $12 candy thermometer from a kitchen shop. It takes all the guess work and putting plates in the freezer and setting tests etc away from it. It makes jam making more fun than you think. Once you have jam making down pat then relishes and pickles are easy. First things first PUT ON YOUR APRON...the prettier the better...and put music on and enjoy yourself (grab a glass of wine if that's your fancy....or a lindt chocolate ball or ten...oh thats my fancy..)

STRAWBERRY JAM
2.1 kg hulled strawberries(approx 2.4 before hull)
1.6 kg warmed sugar
150ml lemon juice
150ml water

METHOD
Put all ingredients in heavy based saucepan & warm gently without boiling and stir with wooden spoon.

Increase heat slightly and without boiling stir for 10 minutes until sugar has dissolved. Increase heat and boil for ten minutes stirring often(PLEASE DONT LET IT CATCH) turn it down to a gentle simmer and start  skimming scum off top( there is a lot from strawberries are they are made up of a lot of liquid)

 check temperature with candy thermometer and simmer til it gets to about 105 - 106 degrees. this will take approximately 20 minutes

(times can vary between electric and gas cooking equipment also)
Take off the heat ( being very careful as jam does burn if you spill on your skin.)
 Pour into preheated sterilised jars. Put the lids on and invert them for 2 minutes. Turn them back over and let cool. Label and date. Store in a cool dark place for 6-12 months. Refrigerate after opening for up to 6 weeks.

I have also done a little experiment that worked very well so I can recommend it. Soak your strawberries in butterscotch schnapps for 2 days before you make the jam...DIVINE...  

Now employed....busy girl

 Paddington Check little girls apron. My first apron I sold

 One that I sold which I really loved and that was purple on the other side....no regrets...I will make myself another purple apron...I did make myself a non purple one ...Its the Wizard of Oz

My stall at Cygnet market.

Well I'm ashamed to say Ive been to busy with a new job and making aprons to sell that I have neglected my blog...but my very good friend Kath from TrailblazeHer is going great guns and getting so many visitors she amazes me with her strength and character and her ability to keep going when things are tough. You GO GIRL I am with you all the way. Ok so I got a job and its pretty much full time and Ive also done 2 markets with another coming up this sunday and Ive been selling my aprons. I have had a great start and sold 5 at the first market and 7 last time and 3 ordered from that market. Im very excited about this and have made some absolutely gorgeous little girls aprons and ladies as well as boys and mens(shown below with chefs hat...another new thing I'm making)

So hi ho hi ho its off to work I go...happy cooking all my lovely friends

Aprons, cute & frilly BUT practical....is there ever too many....how many make an obsession??

Wikipedia says:

An apron is an outer protective garment that covers primarily the front of the body. It may be worn for hygienic reasons as well as in order to protect clothes from wear and tear.

Ok I have a confession to make....I love aprons!! I think it may have started a really long time ago when I was little...ok lets not say a really long time ago but in years gone by....So in years gone by.... I watched as my Nan C  would head straight for the kitchen put on her pinny and start her day. This is, of course, if she didn't walk down to the local shop for her unsliced loaf  first. Oh the smell of that bread....Anyhow pinny on ready to go. If I was to "help" in the kitchen there were 2 small aprons or if there were more than 2 of us wanting to help then I seem to remember a  teatowel and pin came out. The thing we were mainly allowed to "help" with was scones....always tending to end up like little hard rocks from over kneading and Nans were that awesome scone that only old ladies seem to be able to make. I've become attached to wearing an apron. I enjoy wearing an apron  it makes me feel like I'm doing something.

This apron I picked up in Hobart City Mission Shop because it reminded me straight away of nan and her  scone making...and it was PURPLE!!

This is another of my CWA shop type pick ups...it was a whole 50c.

                                                                                                                                                               They really do save your clothes as they were intendedThis apron is one of my faves it was sent by a very dear friend when she lived in Canada. They apparently really know how to celebrate the holidays there and I love the whole Halloween experience.

Look at this georgeous fruit fabric that I made another apron from yesterday

I have a childrens apron that an old friend who lives in the UK sent my oldest son when he was about 2 or 3(he is now 22) its from Harrods

My other nana was english Nan B and she wore a shift sort of apron when she was "getting mucky" as she would say. That would usually be general housework but she was "saving her clothes" by wearing her shift/apron.

I have made a number of aprons and have found that I enjoy making them and this will be my creative outlet for a little while. I love that aprons of all sorts have come into vogue again...I really love some of the vintage ones I've seen

This one is double sided and is my favourite at the moment.....til I make another one!!