Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Dandelion Jelly Recipe

Dandelion Jelly has a wonderful honey flavor. I used lemon extract which gave it a nice citrus like flavor. It was a big hit at Easter dinner on the dinner rolls. Also good on cream cheese and English muffins or crackers. 

As requested, here's the recipe. Enjoy!

Dandelion Jelly
Donna Bohaty of Rockford Illinois
2 cups dandelion blossoms
4 cups water
1 pkg (1 3/4 oz) powdered fruit pectin
5 1/2 cups sugar
2 Tbsp orange or lemon extract

1. In a large saucepan, bring dandelion blossoms and water to a boil; boil 4 minutes.
2. Line a strainer or colander with four layers of cheesecloth or one coffee filter; place over bowl. Place dandelion mixture in prepared strainer. Strain mixture, reserving 3 cups liquid. Discard blossoms. (at this point, the liquid is a rather unappealing pond-water color. Just so you know...)
3. In a Dutch oven, combine pectin and reserved dandelion liquid. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar; return to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
4. Remove from heat; add extract. Skim off foam. Ladle hot liquid into hot sterilized half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight.
5. Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 5 minutes. Remove jars and cool.
Yield: about 6 half-pints.

This recipe is from the Country Woman magazine. My Mother-In-Law passes the magazine on to me... it's full of great ideas and inspiring stories about independent women doing fabulous things on/off the land. This edition also had a recipe for Dandelion Soup, Dandelion Salad and Dandelion Potato Salad. 

Monday, April 21, 2014

When Life Gives You Dandelions...

 .... make Dandelion Jelly! This is the first time I've made it, and it's really surprisingly delicious!
 Of course I had to tangle up a label:

 Here's last Friday's tangle before and after color. I love the colors.
 Saturday's tangle below:
 and adding color to my chicken's eggs for Easter.
 Progress is being made on the barnlette:

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Not Quite The Same

 I tried my hand at white on black Zentangle. meh.
 Brown on Sepia Zentangle. Yes.
 I etched, cut, riveted, dimpled some heart pendants.
 ...and made a Confirmation Bracelet.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Zentangle. It's Yoga For Your Brain

 A few weeks ago I started doing Zentangle every day. I can't believe how much better my brain is feeling now. Every morning I sit at my desk and learn two or three new tangles and then create a Zentangle tile. 
Above is today's tile... I added some color with watercolor pencils.








 Below is one of the first tiles I did. Above is done using a template and then filling it in.
As soon as I can get in, I plan on attending a Zentangle Seminar and getting certified to teach. Honestly - it's the only yoga I could ever teach and it is so good for the brain! 

Today Is The Day. One Beam.

 There it is. Jimmy is putting up the first beam of our new little barnlette which will house my studio!
 More pieces I've been working on...
 Some for Judy the Hooker.
 Broken Souvenir Plate Pendants
 Some for the Red Path Gallery.
 Some repurposed pieces.
 More nudies in keyholes...

Ooh La La