Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Valentine's Day!

It's Valentine's Day and that means.... I've been "pop-free" for 2 years!


A few weeks ago, I spotted 100% juice at the grocery store and thought "that might make a nice jelly". Then, my son and I came down with pretty bad colds and it got put off. I finally made it yesterday.

I bought Knudsen 100% Black Cherry juice and followed the directions for lower sugar (classic pectin) sweet cherry jelly on the Ball Site's pectin calculator. I made 4 half pints. It was quick and easy. The black cherry jelly tastes like crushed Bing cherries. I used it on toast this morning and in thumbprint cookies this afternoon. Yummy!




 
The cookies were made with a Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix I found in the pantry. They spread quite a bit more than I expected...

I did a few with marshmallows and chocolate chips, a few with caramel apple jam and then black cherry jelly with chocolate chips.

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Last week, I made Cloud Dough for Connor. It's a recipe I've seen on numerous blogs, 8 cups flour mixed with 1 cup baby oil. It is silky, soft and moldable. I set up a few toys on the basement floor so Connor could play down there while I folded clothes. He loved it!!