Showing posts with label fruit spreads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fruit spreads. Show all posts

Saturday, March 20, 2021

Blueberry/Ginger/Bacardi Rum Jam: We Be Jammin'!

Today's feature is brought to you by an awesome sale on blueberries at our local Walmart. 12 oz. containers were on sale for $1 each.  This afforded me the opportunity to make a plethora of fruited goodies, namely jam.  I'd never made blueberry jam before and figured it was high time.  Following a successful venture with strawberries, creating a Mixed Berry Sake Jam w/Cardamom, a big hit with me and my family.  The recipe is super easy and relatively maintenance free, using my Ninja Foodi® and I was able to gift some of my family and friends their own special homemade goodies, it makes me feel good!  It pays to catch these impressive sales at local supermarkets and maximize on its benefits by canning and preserving for later.  With times as unpredictable as they are these days, every little bit helps, every deliciously sweet, fruity and spreadable bite!  I used Bacardi Rum for this recipe, but feel free to choose the brand of your own personal desire, I like to stick with the classics when cooking with alcohol. Don't worry, only the subtle spiced notes remain, not the booziness, so you can create memories that you can share with your kids after eating, unabashed and without the shame that sometimes comes along with a story starting with Bacardi Rum! Cheers!


 I'm by no means opposed to sugar and I know and respect its place in canning. I do however, feel that wonderful canned jams and jellies can be achieved with optimal yet reduced amounts.  This recipe provides a delightful and fruit forward spread and you will never miss the extra sugar! Try a heaping spoonful in your cottage cheese for a real treat or with the usual suspects like toast, English muffins or yeast rolls.  Breakfast, lunch or dinner, this JAM ROCKS!

Recipe:
8 -12 oz. containers of fresh blueberries, rinsed, picked through and examined for defectives
5 3/4 c. pure cane sugar
8 whole green cardamom pods
Juice and peel (without pith or white part) of 1 lemon
1 tsp. kosher salt or to taste
1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
1 shot bottle of Bacardi Rum 1 1/2 oz.
2 boxes fruit pectin, optional
Instructions:
Place all ingredients except vanilla extract in the Foodi on the warm setting and allow the fruit to macerate and marry for 5 hours.  Doing so will break the berries down slowly and help them keep their form, concentrating the delicious flavors and 'becoming' with little effort.  Stir periodically.
Once the berries have given up their liquids and are fragrance forward, turn the setting to  sear/saute and bring the berries up to gentle simmer.
Remove the cardamom pods!
Once the berries have reached your desired consistency, turn off the heat and add the pectin mixed with a little water.  
If you choose not to use the pectin, simply simmer the berries down until visibly reduced and it is a bit thicker in the vessel.  It will continue to thicken naturally as it cools and sets.
Stir until fully dissolved and transfer to hot sterilized jars.
Add the lids and place the jars on the counter to seal naturally over the course of the next day.
You will be able to tell if they have sealed, by the indentation in the top lid, it will be concave. 
Label and date your finished gems, I like to adorn the gifting ones with butcher's twine for a personal touch, but feel free to omit or decorate as desired.   
Your jam is ready to be stored or gifted, I did both.
Makes 12 -1/2 pint jars, plus some to enjoy now, just place the remainder in a clean and airtight jar with a lid.
Refrigerate for longest shelf life and best flavor.  Keep in mind, this version has about half the sugar as the regular versions, so it may be more susceptible to losing freshness faster after opening, not that it will hang around though, as my young teens say "It's Bussin"!, which translates to delicious!


Sunday, August 18, 2019

Ninja Foodi Sensei: Prosciutto Wrapped Brie w/ Raspberry Chipotle Fruit Spread

This recipe  was a cinch using my Ninja Foodi and the results are in...Fantastic!  You will obviously have to be a fan of ripened cheese and Italian Style ham, but I don't think that will be a problem.  I used a store bought specialty fruit spread from Sam's Choice, which completed the circle with it's sweet and heat, pairing nicely with the creamy textures of the Brie and the saltiness of the prosciutto.
I used items from my herb garden and garden as garnitures for a bright and colorful presentation.  This recipe pairs well with warm, crusty breads, crackers, crudites and fruit.  Don't forget the wine! Prep is a cinch and the rest is smooth creamy, crispy and delicious history.

Recipe:
1 wheel of Brie
1 pkg. 3 oz.  Prosciutto or 6 slices
olive oil for brushing

Instructions:

Arrange slices of prosciutto in an overlapping fashion.
First, imagine the work area is a clock.
 Start with a piece at 12 o' clock, then place the second piece at 6, overlapping the bottom half of slice with the other.
Continue by adding a slice facing 3 o clock, the another at 9.
The last two pieces are to be added midway between the 12 and 9, then add the remaining slice between the 3 and 6.
Center wheel of cheese over the portion of the ham 'clock' where they all overlap.
Begin to fold the slices in, starting with the 12 o'clock, this way the flap is secured under the other slices and keeps the wheel from oozing cheese or the slices from peeling away, compromising its presentation.
If there are spots where the cheese is not covered, simply tear off small portions of the flaps to cover it completely.
Brush the wheel with olive oil and place in the Ninja Foodi on the rack.
Press the crisper button and set temperature to 400*F.
Set timer for 5 minute increments.
Check after each 5 minutes to see how the crisping is going.
The exterior should be crisped by the time the 15 minutes is up.
Let stand for several minutes before handling and use caution.
Arrange as desired and cut out a small section ro release the cheese.
Use a small sharp knife to cut portions of the prosciutto and cheese together.
Serve with crackers, warm breads, crudites and freshly cut fruits.
Serves Many.