strawberries

strawberries, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

strawberries and rhubarb, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Rhubarb jams

Rhubarb jams, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

I chose 2 different recipes for rhubarb jam. The classic is the same ingredients as for the strawberry rhubarb pie. The second one was flavored with vanilla and Earl Grey tea. Both of the recipes come from Marisa McClellan's "Food in Jars"

If you love rhubarb and have some time to preserving some for later try these recipes:
Rhubarb jam, with strawberries and oranges:
6 cups chopped rhubarb (2.5 lbs)
4 cups chopped strawberries(2 dry pints)
Zest and juice of 2 oranges
5 cups sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 (3oz) packets liquid pectin
Bring all ingredients except pectin to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer 15-20 minutes until the rhubarb breaks down. Add the pectin and bring to high heat letting the jam boil for 5 minutes. Pour into sterilized jars and process in boiling water bath 10 minutes

Vanilla-rhubarb jam- with Earl Grey (bergamot)

8 cups chopped rhubarb (3 lbs)
4 cups sugar
1 cup Earl Grey tea (double strength)
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
juice of 1 lemon
pinch of salt
1 (3oz) packet liquid pectin
Bring rhubarb, sugar and tea to boil.
Add vanilla bean and seeds, lemon juice and salt and let bubble 15-20 minutes.
Add the liquid pectin and bring to boil. Let boil 3-4 minutes. Pour into sterilized jars. Process in boiling water bath 10 minutes

Strawberry Grand Marnier ice cream with fraise de bois

Strawberry Grand Marnier ice cream with fraise de bois, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Here is the classic strawberry ice cream with fresh berries and a twist...orange:
Creme Anglais base:
4 egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup milk
2 cups cream
1 tsp vanilla or 1/2 vanilla beans, cut open and steeped in the milk
Strawberry sauce:
3 cups strawberries
1 cup sugar...or to taste
1 tsp orange zest
2 Tbs Grand Marnier
Fresh strawberries

Prepare your ice cream base and cool. Sauce: Stovetop combine hulled and quartered strawberries and sugar and reduce until thick. Add orange zest and Grand Marnier and cool.
When both the base and sauce are cool combine and pour into ice cream maker. Top with fresh strawberries.
Happy ice cream month!

Orange and strawberry blossoms

IMG_0182, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

The blossoms on the orange tree are starting and sun seeking strawberries are beginning to form

morning breakfast

strawberries on a napkin, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Strawberries are fresh at the Farmers' markets again (well, actually they are fresh year round in southern California). Early in the season the are larger and sweeter. Yum. This morning I washed a few to add to my oatmeal and yogurt and placed them on a plaid napkin. I picked up my sketchbook instead of eating breakfast. It's the everyday things that inspire me to paint. Now that the sketch is dry, the strawberries are in my tummy.