Making Freezer Jam....Strawberry....

We returned from camping on Sunday evening, and when my boys came in the house squealing on Monday morning I didn't know what in the world was going on. I soon discovered that they were over the moon excited because we had hundreds of strawberries waiting for us to pick them!!!! This year is our first year to harvest "our own" strawberries and BOY WAS IT FUN!!!!!

These were the pickings we reaped on Monday! I also got another 1/3 of a bushel basket on Tuesday...can I just say how amazed I have been that these plants have given us so many strawberries in our first year. I really had NO IDEA we would get so many right off the bat! Even more fun....we are just getting started there are TONS more to ripen yet.

On Monday we cleaned and topped all the strawberries. Tuesday I went to making some freezer jam and six batches later this is the result! THIRTY 10oz. jars of yummy goodness. This morning I made another 3 batches of jam. We use our jam for more than just PB&J. We use is for ice cream topping, pancakes topping, strawberry milkshakes, and smoothies. Mmmmmmm.......

Okay so I have to tell you a story behind the jars. While camping we went to several garage sales last Friday. I came upon this sale....actually we should have missed it because Hubby was not feeling well and we were on the way back to the camp site and saw this sale sign. The boys talked him into stopping at "just one more".....so we turned around and went back. I didn't find anything at the sale and neither did anyone else....except several flats of jars that were marked FREE....I picked up almost 100 jars FOR FREE!!!!! Can you tell I was just a tiny bit excited..okay maybe too excited. Even though I was super excited about this find (and can I tell you the women at the sale was THRILLED I was taking them off her hands), I didn't know this would all turn into such a God thing.

Do you know what I mean about a GOD thing? I don't personally believe in "good luck". I believe in a BIG Creator who weaves such wonderful (and sometimes not so wonderful) things together. When we discovered our bounty of strawberries after returning home....God knew they would be there waiting for us. I did already have big freezer jam plastic containers I could use, so I didn't totally NEED these personal sized jars. God chose to bless me so I can in return bless others......Once I got the jars I couldn't stop thinking about all the fun things I could do with them. I was excited that these wonderful jars would make such great gifts to give homemade goodies in. I am so thankful for such a blessing. It may seem like something so trivial to some to make such a fuss over. I am all to happy to give God the glory for everything He does in my life, especially the small things.

My next strawberry adventure is canning strawberry pie filling. I have never did it before, but it sounds easy enough....I will keep you posted! 

I am curious what is your favorite flavor of jam? I think mine is strawberry...lucky for me I know where I can get some!


DANIELLE