getting myself into a jam

When I was a kid, during the late summer and early fall I’d go into my grandmother’s house and her kitchen would be steaming hot as she canned vegetables from my great-uncle’s garden. I never really thought it’s something I’d find myself doing, but lo and behold… once we became CSA members I quickly realized this would be a great skill to have. Lucky for me, I was chosen to host a Ball “Fresh Taste of Summer” House Party and today we’re going to be making blueberry-lime jam! I’m a little stunned how much sugar I have to use, though. Kind of makes me want to do an ab workout before making this tasty spread, but then I remember that you only use a little at a time. It’s not like someone is going to gobble the whole thing at once. I can’t wait to get started. Even if there is a lot of sugar, at least I know there are no preservatives or scary things in there!

party planning

I think I’m getting burnt out on party planning. Two big parties (Jake’s 1st communion and Laura’s 1st birthday) within a month of each other is a little much, especially since I want to make them different. I’ve come to appreciate the wonder of online printing for things like invitations, return address labels, and thank you notes. I have everything done for the 1st communion party, just ready to be mailed. I picked up some invites on clearance at Target for Laura’s party, but I’m not sure if I’ll use them this year or save them.

Menus are ironed out for both events, thankfully! For the communion party, I’m going to make a tray of either chicken marsala or lemon chicken and ask Drew’s aunt to make a pasta dish. I’ll add a salad and call it done. Also, we won’t get a cake for the communion party — we’re going to do mini eclairs and cream puffs for dessert instead. For Laura’s party, my mom is going to order this delicious chicken lasagna she got for my sister-in-law’s shower. I’ll add salad and some bread and of course the birthday cake. Figuring out the menu is always the most difficult thing, so at least with that done I can concentrate on other details.

holy smokes

So, Drew’s birthday is coming up soon. I have a couple ideas for small gifts, but I’d like to get him something a little different, too. He occasionally enjoys a cigar and I wonder if he’d like a box of Arturo Fuente. It’s not something he does all the time; in fact I don’t remember the last time he had a cigar. It’s been a few years. But it’s not something he’d expect.

I also recently found a recipe for strawberry-rhubarb meringue pie. Hello! Yes, I think I’ll be making that instead of a birthday cake. He loves rhubarb. I think the meringue would be a delicious variation.

Love This Time of Year!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and we certainly have a lot to be thankful for this year. We are going to my mother-in-law’s and I’ve been assigned with an appetizer/pre-dinner kind of food. Yesterday on Twitter someone mentioned something about pouring Hendrick’s gin (so yummy!) over a spoonful of pomegranate seeds. If I wasn’t pregnant, I would totally consider that as an amuse-bouche! I wish you could grow pomegranate trees here in New York. I love sucking on the seeds! I’ve been eating them since long before they became super popular for their health properties. They also make such a pretty addition to a holiday centerpiece or wreath.

But anyway, there will be no gin & pomegranate this year. Drew has requested Caprese skewers (I made these last Christmas and they were a huge hit). I will probably do that and something else. Drew’s aunt is making some fancy cheesecake for dessert, so I am excited about that too. I love cheesecake! Just a couple weeks to go!