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Strawberry Freezer Jam
From first to fourth grade we lived in a small town with a population just under a thousand people. It was one of those small towns where everyone makes it their business to know everything about everyone else, especially the older people with so much time and so little to do.
We, of course, lived next to one of those people, a sweet little old lady with way too much time on her hands; Mrs. Martens.
During our time in this particular house my Mom tried to plant a row of bushes between our houses for a little privacy, oddly enough, the bushes never grew, my Mom said that she thought Mrs. Martens had poisoned them. Haha, little old ladies . . .
My Grandma lived just down the street from us and years after we had moved from that little town I remember her telling my Mom one day that she would set her alarm for 5am every morning, just to turn her light on, and then went back to bed. If she did not, Mrs. Martens would phone her and ask why she wasn’t awake yet.
Other than potentially poisoning bushes and spying on my Grandma (and probably the rest of the street) I know one other thing Mrs. Martens did: make strawberry jam. The absolute best strawberry jam I had ever tasted. I loved hearing that Mrs. Martens had come by and dropped some off for us. I remember slathering that sticky red jam on buns and after I had eaten every piece I would lick my plate clean so as to not waste that precious jam.
We recently had new neighbors move in and yesterday I prepared a jar of strawberry jam to deliver to them.
It only seems right (but don’t worry, I don’t plan on poisoning any of their bushes).
Do any recipes remind you of neighbors you’ve had in the past?
Linking up with Elah Tree, Sweet Lavender Bake Shoppe and Good Food Fridays and Oh Simple Thoughts.
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28 Comments
Chelsea
This seems simple enough that I may be able to make it! So excited to try it!
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
It really is Chelsea, I was kind of shocked, I thought it making jam should be a really hard process but it really wasn’t!
Ursula
You brought your neighbour jam?? You’re the nicest person ever and can you move next door to me? This looks amazing and I especially love the bright red colour. Colourful food always tastes better don’t you think!? 🙂
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
I definitely did bring it to them! I’m thinking I should make this a tradition with all new neighbors, so if we ever move out by you I’ll bring some over. 🙂
Christina Main
OK 1. I loved the story behind this!!! Like, LOVED! and 2. I LOVE me some goooooood jam! This looks great! Thanks for linking up!
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
Thanks Christina!
Amy Hodgdon
I LOVE this photography! This recipe sounds amazing!
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
Thanks so much Amy!
Caitlin
I love the little story you shared about Mrs. Martens… she sounds like quite the character! I pinned this recipe to make after I go strawberry picking soon, it looks amazing 🙂
PS – Your food photography skills are looking so stellar! They look straight out of a magazine.
Beka Johnson
^I agree with you Caitlin! Good pics, girl!
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
Thanks Beka!
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
Thanks so much Caitlin!
Beka Johnson
You have me drooling for strawberry jam! That looks so good.
ha ha about your neighbor! Did you ever get to visit with her later in life and tell her your story of how you thought she poisoned the bush?
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
Haha, no, we never did get to chat about the bush, but that would have been funny!
Rachel Walker
Oh my gracious, I’m in love with this post. I’ve never even THOUGHT to make my own, but my goodness, how amazing does that look? I am going to have to whip this up soon…I could eat it from the spoon!
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
It is honestly, SO easy! And you are right, it does taste amazing straight from the spoon (not that I’ve tried that or anything . . . okay, yes I have).
Kaitlin Rose
I love freezer jam but have never made it! So excited to try it!!
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
Definitely give it a try, it was so easy!
Martha Kate Stratton
My grandmother always had freezer jam at her house from her best friend. I’ll definitely have to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing this!!
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
Oh that’s so sweet! It’s a super easy recipe, I hope you give it a try!
Lindsey Prescott
Who doesn’t like jam?!! LOVE IT! Can’t wait to try! 🙂
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
No one in their right mind, that’s for sure! 🙂
Felecia Efriann
I always wanted to learn how to make jam! it so vibrant red, excited to make this!
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
It was one thing I always wanted to do too, I really loved how easy it was (it almost seemed wrong for it to taste so good with so little effort).
Becca Davis
I love the color of this jam…it looks so tasty!
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
I know! It makes me excited to try some other jams!
Natasha Red
Love this! Your pictures are gorgeous and this recipe seems so easy. I’ve been wanting to make my own jam but I thought it was hard! I’m excited to try this 🙂
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing
I know! I always thought it was hard too!