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One Hundred Dollars a Month

I am your typical housewife living in high maintenance suburbia. I have a handsome husband, 2 kids and a flock of pet chickens. I try and feed my family with $100 a month. With the help of coupons, gardening and bartering I am able to squeeze the most out of our grocery budget and still manage to have a little fun along the way.

Blueberry Vanilla Chia Seed Jam

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Blueberry Vanilla Chia Seed Jam

My online buddy Heather from Massachusetts whipped up a batch of  no-sugar blueberry vanilla chia jam and it turned out oh so good she wanted me to share the recipe with you.  And who can blame her, chia seeds are just plain cool. In fact Chia Seeds are so cool right now, that if they get anymore mainstream she may just have to stop using them. She’s a hipster that one!

girl with blueberries

No pectin? No sugar? Yep, it turns out the the natural fiber found in blueberries and these seeds act like pectin. So pectin needed. Chia seeds {which have the texture of strawberry seeds and swell a little} create the right jam texture. The honey and vanilla highlight the blueberry flavor…. OOoohh so yummy.

blueberries

Ingredients

2 cups fresh blueberries
1/4 cup honey {Great Lakes is my favorite brand}
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup + 2 tsp Chia Seeds {buy Chia Seeds online}
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Blueberry Vanilla Chia Seed Jam recipe

Directions

Blend all ingredients and pour into a bowl to gel {about 15 minutes}. Stir, then pack into containers and store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator {up to 1 week}.

Blueberry Vanilla Chia Seed Jam recipe

Heather also says you can freeze this jam {up to 1 year} or follow the directions below and can your jam. It’s up to you. She did it all! 🙂

canning jam outdoors

Canning Directions

Bring a boiling-water canner, 3/4 full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.

Blend all ingredients and pour into a bowl to gel {about 15 minutes}. Stir, then ladle immediately into 1/2 pint jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands on. Place jars on elevated rack in a canner. Lower rack into canner. {Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.} Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 min. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After the jars have cooled, check the seals by pressing middles of lids with finger. If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.


See More of my Canning Recipes HERE

Looking for a few more awesome canning recipes? Check out Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving. Amazon has it currently in stock and ready to ship.

Need a canner? I used the Granite Ware 11-1/2 Quart Covered Preserving Canner with Rack. And if you need a tool kit, I use one similar to this one.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Strawberry Kiwi Jam Recipe

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Strawberry Kiwi Jam Recipe

A giant thank you to One Hundred Dollars a Month reader Melanie who suggested I make a batch of strawberry kiwi jam with all those free kiwis I picked up from Mr. Produce Guy last week. Yumm a licious is how I would describe this jam.

What are you waiting for? Go make some!

strawberry kiwi jam

weck canning jar

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Strawberry Kiwi Jam Recipe

Author Mavis Butterfield

Ingredients

  • 6 cups fresh strawberries
  • 3 medium kiwi fruit , peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped crystallized ginger
  • 1 package {1-3/4 ounces} powdered fruit pectin
  • 5 cups sugar

Instructions

  1. Bring a boiling-water canner, 3/4 full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.
  2. Place the strawberries in 8 quart stock pot, mash and add kiwi, lemon juice, pectin and ginger. Bring to boil on high heat.
  3. Slowly stir the sugar. Bring to full rolling boil {a boil that doesn’t stop bubbling when stirred} on high heat, stirring constantly.
  4. Ladle immediately into prepared jars {I used Weck jars}, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads, cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands on {if using traditional jars, if using Weck jars wipe rims, add rubber gaskets and glass lid and clamp on both sides}. Place jars on elevated rack in a canner. Lower rack into canner. {Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.} Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 min. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After the jars have cooled, check the seals by pressing middles of lids with finger. If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.

 

canning cupboard

Looking for a few more canning recipes?

Search my Full List of Canning Recipes

Want to start canning, but don’t know where to start?  Here’s a guide to help you get started.

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Blueberry Jam with Mint

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I spotted this recipe for blueberry jam with mint last winter and have been waiting until I had enough blueberries to make a batch. Well yesterday was my lucky day!!!

This jam is the kind of thing you’d find in a specialty food store {like Oakville Grocery in Napa, California} for $15 a jar. Yumm a licous does not even begin to describe it.

blueberries

Ingredients

2 pounds fresh blueberries
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 6-inch sprigs of mint

Directions

Bring a boiling-water canner, 3/4 full with water, to simmer. Wash jars {I used wide mouth pint jars} and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.

Combine the blueberries and water in a 5-quart nonreactive pan. Cover and bring to a boil then reduce the heat a fast simmer and cook uncovered, for 10 minutes.

Stir in the lemon juice and sugar. Bring the mixture to a slow boil and let it cook for about 5 to 8 minutes, or until the mixture coats the back of a metal spoon.

Now for the exciting part! Pour the berry mixture into a 2-quart, heat-resistant, glass bowl {I used a giant mixing bowl}. Tie the mint sprigs together with bakers twine and place them in the jam. Slowly submerge the mint and and gently crush it along the sides of the container of the glass bowl to release the oils. Let the crushed mint steep for about 5 minutes.

Remove and throw away the mint, and then ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands on. Place jars on elevated rack in a canner. Lower rack into canner. {Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.}

Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 min. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After the jars have cooled, check the seals by pressing middles of lids with finger. If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary. Yields 3 pints or 6 1/2 pints.

See More of my Canning Recipes HERE

Looking for a few more awesome canning recipes? Check out Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving. Amazon has it currently in stock and ready to ship.

Need a canner? I used the Granite Ware 11-1/2 Quart Covered Preserving Canner with Rack. And if you need a tool kit, I use one similar to this one.

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

My Own Labels – Custom Canning Labels As Low As $.15 Each!

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custom canning labels

Calling all home canning enthusiasts…

If you’re thinking about giving away homemade jams, jellies, or your famous pickles this year and are looking for some uber cute canning labels, you’ll want to check out My Own Labels.

my own labels

The My Own Labs website is easy to use and you can create any sort of customized canning labels, gift tags, or any other type of label you can dream up in just minutes.

Pretty awesome if you ask me!

Head on over to My Own Labels to check out all the cool designs.

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Mavis Butterfield Etsy