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Wednesday, November 15, 2017

FROG Jam and cats on the freezer

You know, I could start every post with the question, where do the days go? 


Shelby and Jimmy at the market in 2015


Shelby is sharing her recipe for "F.R.O.G. Jam"...


6 cups peeled, crushed figs
3 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
5 cups sugar
2 tbsp finely grated gingeroot
1 cup orange juice (1 lg. orange)
1/2 tsp butter (I don't use)

Mix figs, raspberries, sugar, gingeroot, and peel together in large pot
Cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 30-45 min.
Ladle into sterilized jars and cover with sterilized lids
Process in boiling water bath for 10 min.
Cool and store in cool, dark place for up to 6 months

Note: To test for doneness of jam, place a small plate in the freezer as you prepare the ingredients. When ready to test, remove dish and pour  a tablespoon of jam onto it. Return to freezer for 1 minute. Then draw your finger through the middle of the jam. If it separates, it's done. Will thicken as it cools.


At that last craft show Shelby and I did, the one at the church; the preacher pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Shelby's display of jams and jellies. Shelby puts out a small opened jar of each flavor, along with a pretty little dish of cream cheese, and a dish of wheat thins, for sampling the jellies, kind of like here at the market...


Anyhow, the preacher, a very tall, big, friendly, down to earth type man, proceeded to sample each of the jellies. After sampling the Frog jam, he stood up and said, "rriiivvit, rriiivvit", what's in the frog jam?" It was funny. We really liked both the preacher and his wife. Very nice friendly folks.


To Diane in Wisconsin; you asked if Shelby ever ships her jams and jellies. She does occasionally, but the cost of shipping is high. She shipped a few jars to a lady in New York, and the shipping cost was as much as what she paid for the jelly. The lady wanted them anyway, and paid the shipping cost. All I can say is, that must be some delicious jelly! :) and it really is.

As far as the baking, Shelby mostly sells cakes, but she does make banana nut bread and pumpkin bread, and in the summer time, strawberry bread.

Listen to this! Here's what Shelby had baking this morning when I called her...eight cakes, (the last of an order for twenty). Chocolate pound cake, coconut pound cake, fresh apple cake, carrot cake, and million dollar pound cake, there were eight different ones and I've already forgotten the other two. Plus, six loaves of banana nut bread. No way could I do all that. As mama used to say, "I'd rather dig stumps".

Better get busy, but first a few kitty cat pictures. We may have to invest in a bigger freezer...



and here! See why it's hard to get any sewing done at night...



Thank you for visiting

Love,
Henny

45 comments:

  1. Wow!!! Shelby needs to bottle up some of her energy . . . it would sell like hot cakes:) Her jams and jellies and pies oh my! Look amazing. Thank you for that tip in testing the jams. I do have a problem with mine jelling as well as I want. Please come visit and get in on my give-a-way and send your followers there if you want . . . the more the merrier. Happy Thanksgiving!
    Connie :)

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  2. Beautiful cat picture, especially of the big eyed tabby! Thanks for the recipe for FROG jam. I wish she would mail me a cake or two, they are beautiful! You both work way too hard but I am sure its the way you were brought up to work, work, work! Her cakes are lovely and I love your aprons and bonnets, sure wish I could make my way to your craft booth - I would love it and be sampling everything. Love this post - Terry

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  3. Never knew how to test the doneness of jam. Learned something new :-)

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  4. Such adorable cat photos! Thanks for sharing the recipe. I have a friend that grows figs too. Yum.

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  5. Wow that's a lot of baking going on at one time. And I think baking a 120 cookies is a lot!! : )
    Lovely shot of the kitties.

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  6. I did the Christmas jam with jalapeno today... tastes great and not too hot. Would like to do the frog jam but have a question. Does one use fresh or dried figs? I can't imagine peeling and crushing fresh ones.

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    1. Sorry it has taken me so long to reply...and I still don't know for sure. I will ask Shelby today. They have a huge fig tree, and I think she uses fresh figs and also freezes them for later use. Thank you. The Christmas jam with jalapenos sounds good!

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    2. Bettina, Shelby uses fresh figs and the frozen ones. She said she has never, nor will she ever, peel a bushel of figs! :) She was being funny, but she does not peel the figs. She cuts the figs in pieces. Hope this helps.

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    3. Thank you !!! Now to find fresh ones here in Missouri!

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  7. Mmmm...the FROG jam sounds delicious! Your sweet kitties are adorable...just making themselves at home like every good kitty should!

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  8. I understand about the 'hard getting any sewing done at night'... as I can't sit down and knit or crochet without a cat on my lap grabbing the yarn.

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  9. Wow! Shelby sure bakes up a storm. AND it all looks so wonderfully perfect!
    Thanks for the Frog jam recipe; we're not big fig fans so I don't think I'll try that one but I'm going to do what Bettina did and make the Christmas jam and add jalapeno!!
    I noticed Jimmie's red suspenders... they look very natty ( I hope that's a real word).

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  10. I can't imagine doing that much baking, but then I'm a lazy old soul. I have the same problem with my kitty.

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  11. Dumperoo is so much like our Tim, isn't he?
    Wow! That is a lot of baking and it all is gorgeous!
    I bought fruit spread today because I'm trying to cut back on sugar. It isn't the same. Ha! Frog jam sounds delish!
    I like that saying "I'd rather dig stumps!" I'm going to start saying it.

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  12. I will be in the kitchen baking almost as much as Shelby! Church bake sale is this Sunday and I always over do it but it's for a good cause! That F.R.O.G. sounds amazing! Wish I could find fresh figs around here!

    Grace & Peace,
    Pam

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  13. diane in northern wisNovember 15, 2017 at 5:28 PM

    Hi Henny, If i'm still interested in buying a few things from Shelby, how do I go about getting in touch with her. Does she have a site on the internet? Or a phone number? Just wondering.

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    1. Diane, I'll find out from Shelby, the best way, and let you know. Thank you so much.

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    2. Diane, you can email Shelby at mckenziejam@aol.com

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    3. diane in northern wisNovember 17, 2017 at 4:57 PM

      Thanks a lot Henny! I'll do that.

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    4. Diane, I typed Shelby's email incorrectly...it is mckenziejam7@aol.com I'm so sorry!

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  14. wow just read the previous post too, how on earth does your friend get all that cooking done in a day???! WOW!!! that's amazing & they all sound delicious! she must really love what she does.
    the kitties are gorgeous! hahaha kitty wrap for the sewing machine! too cute!
    thanx for sharing

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  15. It just dawned on me how she came up with the name for the frog jam. So clever! I love it! She should put a little disclaimer on the jars saying "No frogs were harmed in the making of this jam".

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    1. You're right! I meant to post that...what each letter stood for. Thanks Vic.

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  16. Your kitties are SO cute! I'm amazed at Shelby's work - those jams are lovely. I must write down the recipe for FROG jam because we have a big fig tree, and that would be perfect to use the fruit up! I'm not wild about fig preserves alone, but with those other things ... Oh - I have some figs i froze in the freezer this summer! I might make some soon. Thank you SO much!

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  17. Shelby sounds a lot like my own sister. She too bakes every.single.day. She will be baking for many this Christmas. I'm a big jam lover and probably would have come home with a few of Shelby's jams. :)
    I love the cat family photos. I'm sure it isn't often you get all three in one place. Annie & Audrey are waving "hello". xo

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  18. Hi! Frog jam does not sound appetizing at all with that name! That is certainly a lot of baking that Shelby does. I wish I had half her energy! I agree you need a larger freezer for your cats! LOL Nancy

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  19. Ha, I would rather dig stumps. Ha, I love it.
    :-)
    Thank you for the recipe and the stories.
    Carla

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  20. I agree with Connie. Shelby needs to bottle up some of her energy! I feel so hungry just looking at all those delicious cakes and pies. I can't help wondering how many ovens she has.

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  21. Henny -- a question about the FROG jam. Do you use orange juice or orange peel? The ingredients list says juice, but the instructions seem to indicate the peel. Just wondering. Writing the recipe now and hoping to make this jam soon. Also, I have fresh figs that I froze. I can't imagine trying to peel those figs, so I will crush and use the whole fig. I hope that works!!

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    1. Hey M.K. I will check with my sister and let you know. I wondered about that too. Thank you.

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    2. Shelby uses the zest from one orange, and one cup of orange juice.

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    3. Thank you, Henny! That will help. I'm making the jam soon.

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  23. This frog Jam sounds amazing! Your sister must have a lot of energy to do so much in one day! Digging stumps also takes a lot of energy as we have lots of stumps in our yard and I have no energy to dig any of them haha!

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  24. That is one very busy lady :) phew! such energy is to be envied :)

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  25. Sounds like your sister must really be a good cook! Not sure if Frog Jam sounds too appetizing.

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  26. I enjoyed my visit here tonight. Happy Thanksgiving!
    Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage
    Laura

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  27. Wow, Shelby is amazing!!The Frog jam sounds interesting, might give that one a try. Will give my customers another name to ask about. My only jam that has a slightly 'odd' name is Cranky Mango. So I often get asked what makes the mango 'cranky'. So I tell them it is cranberries. I do have some figs in the freezer. The baking and the jam making Shelby does is so impressive! I don't have out samples of my jam, although sometimes I get asked. No room really, and my experience of samples is that too many people just see them as free food. They will sample with no interest in actually buying it. And I can't put out samples of all the flavours, which often number over 30, and no doubt they would want to taste the one I didn't have! I hope the preacher bought some jam after his feast ! ;-)
    Yep, time for a bigger freezer!

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  28. Thank you for sharing the recipe for the frog jam. I love the funny story about the preacher sampling the jellies.
    Yes, I have a vintage shop and the shipping is costly especially for glassware.
    I love the photo of all the baked goods!
    Shelby's cakes sound delicious!
    Wishing you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

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  29. Your cats are so cute. Rosie has to be right in the middle of whatever I'm doing, too. In fact I have to wait until she is sound asleep elsewhere and then be very careful not to rattle the tissue paper before I can cut out a pattern! If she spots it she makes a run dive and slide right through the middle of it.
    So nice of Shelby to share her jam recipe. I copied it to try after Christmas.

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  30. Some people just like to bake and your Shelby must be one of those people! My goodness she makes lots of different cakes that I have never heard of before.
    Yes you need a cat tree with a feeding station:)

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  31. Your sister is just like you...a hard worker. Her jams all look good, not to mention the baked goods! YUM!

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