Jammin' Fruity Ideas

Do you can? Put up preserves? In my family it's a time-honored tradition to make jams, jellies, preserves, syrups and pie filling with all sorts of fruits. (We can veggies too but that's for another post!) My great grandmother and grandmother taught my mother [and me] to can and preserve and someday I hope to teach my future daughters-in-law how to do it too, if they don't already know how.

Canning is not only a practical way to store up your family's favorite fruits for winter use, but it's also a fun way to connect or re-connect with friends and extended family. There's nothing quite like sweating together over a boiling pot of jam to help bond peeps together. Get some friends or relatives together and save the fruit for later in the form of jams and jellies, using some of our simple free fruity recipes.

Oh and I threw in the blackberry smoothie recipe to help you cool off after a day of canning - enjoy!

Apple Jelly

Blueberry Jam

Blueberry Rhubarb Jam

Blackberry Smoothie

Date Jam

Head over to Alicia's Recipes to find many more autumn, harvest and fruit recipes! Connect with us on Facebook for more recipes shared from other food blogs and follow us on Pinterest for more foodie inspiration!

More Summer Snacks!

With long summer days and warm nights, it seems like the phrase "I want a snack please!" is a never ending, ever repeating sing-song loop playing in my head and in my kitchen! I'm sure they pause sometimes. I'm sure my little boys don't say it over and over and over again. But it sure feels like it.

In honor of snack attacks and cookie monsters everywhere (and in the spirit of being kind to other mommies like me) here's a short list of just a few of the yummy recipes to try from Alicia's.

Blackberry Bars

Peanut Butter Bars

Banana Pancakes

Blueberry Muffins

Black & White Cookies

With the time that's left in your summer, try some of our recipes and let us know which is your family's favorite! We'd love to hear from you.

Head over to Alicia's Recipes to find many more snack recipes for summer! Connect with us on Facebook for more recipes shared from other food blogs and follow us on Pinterest for more foodie inspiration!

Memorial Day Desserts

Memorial Day and its three-day weekend mark a special time to remember service men and women and our passed loved ones. It also marks the beginning of Summer (here in the Northern Hemisphere) and warmer weather. That means you may be getting some yummy invitations to backyard grilling parties, picnics or potlucks outdoors.

I've collected some delicious desserts that are fun, festive and easy to prepare in case you are attending a barbecue, planning a picnic or just staying home and relaxing with family and friends.

Patriotic Cake Balls

Flag Cake

Red Velvet Cake

Pineapple Cake

Blueberry Oat Muffins

Celebrate Memorial Day weekend by spending time with friends, family and good food. With one of our desserts to hand, sharing and eating will be a treat. Enjoy.

Be sure to head over to Alicia's Recipes to read our new articles or browse through many more delicious dishes. Connect with us on Facebook for more recipes shared from other food blogs and follow us on Pinterest for more foodie inspiration!

Promising Patriotic Desserts for Your 4th!

Flag Cake

Whether celebrating your 4th of July with a big barbecue, potluck, or just a few friendly faces - serving a patriotic dessert will add sparks to your Independence Day!

Red Velvet Cake

Feeling particularly patriotic? Try our Flag Cake recipe. It's loaded with delicious fruits and treats! Or go with a true red-blooded American dessert and use our Red Velvet Cake recipe.

Pineapple Cake

Perhaps a lighter dessert is in order if warm weather is expected. Our Pineapple Cake recipe is the perfect pastry for your patriotic affair - fruity, fluffy and fun!

Blueberry Oat Muffins

Maybe you need something tasty and blue to add to your 4th of July morning, or afternoon? Try our Blueberry Oat Muffins - they are great to grab and go as a quick morning snack or afternoon teaser!

Raspberry Cake

Red, white and delicious - our Raspberry Cake will not disappoint! Finish off your 4th with a creamy, tangy mouthful of freedom as you savor the tart and sweet summer night.

Celebrate Independence Day with one of our desserts on hand and your guests with have explosive compliments and applause! Enjoy. Connect with us on Facebook to share your favorite 4th of July dessert.

Is It Spring Yet?

Blackberry Breakfast Bars

Is it Spring yet?  In my neck of the woods, the weather can't decide if it's going to rain, snow, or be warm and gorgeous.  Whatever the weather, start your day off with Blackberry Breakfast Bars to get you in the mood for Spring!

BLT Pasta Salad

Another way to get ready for Spring: celebrate an old favorite in a new way! This BLT Pasta Salad will help get you ready for garden weather and maybe even Spring cleaning...or not.

Buffalo Chicken Tacos

And just for fun (and because they look fresh and delicious) - how about our Buffalo Chicken Taco recipe for dinner?  Even if you are not a Spring "chicken" any more, this one will light up your taste-buds in a spicy new way!

Don't forget to enter our FREE monthly giveaway!  You could win a super fun Batter Bowl with Dispenser from KidSmartLiving.com!

More Christmas AM Ideas!

Let the countdown begin!  (No, I do not have all my shopping, wrapping, or baking done.) There are eight days until Christmas by my calendar, which means...you still have time to perfect your Christmas menu.  Are you in the keep-it-simple-sweetie (KISS) camp?  Or do you favor a more sophisticated approach to your holiday recipes?

Either way, here are a few recipes to get your holiday bake on...again!  If it isn't already very much on that is.  We've got plenty of tasty holiday recipes over at our site, in case your blow through our short list at the blog.  Please post a picture of your results if you do use one of our recipes, because we love to see what you've been shakin' and bakin'!

Blackberry Muffins

Breakfast Cookies

Egg (English) Muffins

New recipes added

Hi everyone! Just wanted to pop in and share with you some of the latest recipes that have been added to the Alicia's. There's also a giveaway this month for a microwave quesadilla maker, so be sure to enter (see end of post)!

New recipes:

Banana and Peanut Butter Pancakes
Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes
Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes
Blueberry-Bran Pancakes
Sweet Potato Pecan Waffles
Bartlett Harlequin Jam
Caramel Apple Pear Cobbler
Grilled Pears with Currants
Oatmeal Muffins
Spiced Pear Bread
Blackberry Muffins (pictured)
Crock Pot Sausage And Sweet Potatoes
Crock Pot Sausage Chowder
Crockpot Chili With Beans
Crockpot Taco Soup
Applesauce Pancakes
Impossibly Easy Italian Chicken Pie
Red Lobster Biscuits
Duck Cassoulet
Blackberry Breakfast Bars
Blackberry Crepes
Jeanie's Tomato Salsa
Chocolate Sauce

Enter our giveaway!

This month, enter to win this MiracleWare Microwave Quesadilla Maker & Tortilla Warmer.

Great for kids and dorms! Make quesadillas the easy and tidy way -- in the microwave! Our microwave quesadilla maker lets you pile on the fillings without worrying about flipping and making a mess on the stove.

Rules: Must be a legal U.S. resident, 18 years or older. You may enter once per day. Entries will be accepted through midnight, CST on August 15, 2010. Winner will be drawn at random and notified via email.  They will have 7 days to respond or an alternate winner will be drawn.

To enter, click here and fill out the form

Blueberry Bread

Today's recipe is...

Blueberry Bread

1-1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. margarine
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1/3 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1-1/2 c. blueberries

Cream together margarine, sugar, and eggs. Mix flour and baking powder. Mix dry ingredients with creamed mix alternating milk. Add vanilla and blueberries; lightly butter top of bread. Pour into greased and floured loaf pan. Bake 1 hour at 375 degrees.

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Blueberry Streusel Cobbler

Today's recipe is...

Blueberry Streusel Cobbler

1 pt. Blueberries
1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Condensed milk
2 tsp. grated lemon rind
1/4 c. plus two tbsp. cold butter
2 c. biscuit baking mix
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. chopped nuts

Combine berries, milk, and rind. In large bowl, cut butter or margarine into biscuit mix until crumbly. Add berry mixture. Spread in greased 9 inch square baking pan. Combine 1/2 cup biscuit mix and sugar. Cut in 2 tablespoons butter until crumbly. Add nuts. Sprinkle over cobbler. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with ice cream and blueberry sauce. Blueberry Sauce: In saucepan, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/2 cup water. Cook and stir until thickened. Add 1 pint blueberries. Cook and stir until hot. Serve over shortcake or cobbler.

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More you might like:
Cobbler recipes
Bisquick Recipes
Jello recipes