Organic Strawberry Preserves

New rating from my husband and loving food critic: 5/5 stars for flavor and 4/5 for texture. The updated recipe and tweaked cooking technique yielded great benefit. Organic and pectin-free... I think our Bonne Maman days may be over. *wink*

Rising Sun

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

C. S. Lewis

Wheat Field with Rising Sun

Vincent van Gogh

Let the Sunshine In

spring cleaning back in april

we've retired the heavy winter blankets

and prepared the bed for light spring linens

letting the sunshine back in

to read and be inspired...

by france once more

with a french pastry (homemade brioche) always at hand *smile*

Reckless Abandonment & The Sweetness of Life

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."

Lao Tzu

There are days (many days lately) when I have the urge to throw caution to the wind and abandon my adult responsibilities. To start anew or to simply nurture the little pleasures that spring from my heart. Wishful thinking. It has been over two months since I last posted here and although time stood still here at 2000 Miles Away, that has not been the case at Lavender Hill.

We've had many celebrations of birthdays, graduation, friendships; there were singing, dancing, laughter and tears of joy. There's been hard work with the studies, at the job, at home, in the kitchen and in the garden. There's been countless prayers lifted and answered. My goal is bring you glimpses of these very soon as it is my desire to get back with you...

Lavender Hill produced its first strawberry preserves this spring! (I wish I could say that the strawberries came from our garden. Well, there are strawberries growing in garden but they're not quite ripe yet and there's not enough of them to harvest for canning.) It's my first attempt at making preserves and I have sworn to make preserves and jams with reckless abandon this spring and summer. Until my new journey begins, they will be my little jars filled with life's sweetness.

By the way, the preserves are still in the 'test kitchen' mode. As soon as I perfect the recipe, I promise to share the sweetness with you. ;) My husband and faithful food taster gave this first batch 4 out of 5 stars for flavor and 3 1/2 out of 5 for texture. Definitely room for improvement; I love the challenge. LOL! Special thanks to Ate Jenn for a wonderful day at the Eastern Market, where I purchased the glorious strawberries and to Becky who inspired me to preserve fruits and berries and showed me the tricks of the trade.