in my kitchen is an ENTIRE cabinet of empty jars. both the greek and alethea are constantly asking me why i have this dire need to save empty jars and lids. i don't really have legitimate answers, so i usually make this kinda scary creepy hand raised like im going to grab your soul movement, while also pivoting into a crouching position, and yell, "BECAUSE IM GREEN".

it usually takes them each a second to stop blinking, and then they shrug it off like.... --------> that $#@@* is N U T S.

but now i have the perfect reasoning to my madness. CANDY APPLE JELLY.

i came across this recipe in a magazine while in line waiting for my call to the register. i (almost) shrieked out loud with glee.

CANDY APPLE JELLY?

i love to cook, but am not a very avid baker, or.... jelly maker/jelliest/jelly person. i've never made it.

but how could you not read this recipe and WANT TO GO MAKE JELLY?




All you need apparently:

Ingredients

• 4 cups apple juice
• 1/2 cup red-hot candies
• 1 package (1-3/4 ounces) powdered fruit pectin
• 4-1/2 cups sugar

Directions

• In a large saucepan, combine the apple juice, candies and pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar; return to a full rolling boil. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Remove from the heat; skim off any foam and discard any undissolved candies. Carefully ladle hot mixture into hot sterilized half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles, wipe rims and adjust lids. Process for 5 minutes in a boiling-water canner. Yield: about 6 half-pints.

 i can not wait for alethea to be home again, so we can fill my unused and heartfelt saved jars "with rosy pink lovely blush and spread cheer from breads to bagels and muffins"!!!

if you don't like candy apples, you might want to tell me now, because if i am able to figure out what a boiling water canner is, you are all getting a jar for christmas!


See the full recipe page here.

my brownie troop is great! (have i ever told you this?)

i have 13, 7 year olds that have yet to stop surprising me with their hearts, compassion, and eagerness to go out and do the right thing.

at our recent brownie troop meeting, we spoke about what the holidays mean to them.

some of their reactions were:
"PRESENTS"
"family vacation"
"PRESENTS"
"PRESENTS"
"turkey"
"yummy food"
"PRESENTS"

when i told them about those who are not as blessed during the cold months, and that some children and adults out there have no thanksgiving and christmas, their eyes were filled with empathy and compassion that melted my heart.

i offered them up two service projects as a way for them to give back to the community during the holiday season,  that they could pick from.  

One Warm Coat, is a great service project that brings warm coats to those in need.

the other service project they got to choose from, From Kids To Kids. this project gets girl scouts to collect and raise toys for abused children.  get it? FROM kids TO kids.... so sweet!

the girls lulled it all over, and in unison (without hesitation) they chanted "BOTH OF THEM".

so, i am the kind of gal who gets choked up during those commercials of hungry children, or anything that has sentimental motivational music playing in the background. but THIS moment, is my favorite one yet since being the Brownie Troop 32889 Leader. and it sure was a tear jerker.

SO.......... if any of you readers have unwanted, unsued coats that are still wearable (and warmable) in ALL sizes.... send me a note and let some really heartfelt Brownies donate it this holiday season.... :D

i hope everyone had an awesome labor day weekend. luckily for me, alley-cat was home. even though she spent the ENTIRE weekend at grandmother's house, we still got to hang out a little bit.

she enjoyed her first week of school as a 2nd grader. i can't believe how big she has gotten! 2nd Grader?! i dont care what anyone says, it does make me feel aged... like fine wine. heehee.

isn't she just the cutest?

last week was also a huge deal, on the same day that alethea started 2nd grade, one of my betsies gave birth to her very first baby. a beautiful girl named Allegra! i am a very proud godmother to say the least!

friday alley-cat, Total MayHem Designs, and Jim Dandy's carpooled down to the very last Street Market in San Jose. this was the third STRT Market Jim Dandy's has done this year. i am sad to see the summer coming to an end, as i was really starting to enjoy them. i definitely hope to join them again next summer (if they will have me). the entire event is put on by this awesome gallery Anno Domini. one of the owners, Cherri, really truly does kick ass (in real life!). if you are ever in the area, you should defo stop by and say, "yo yo yo! jim dandy's sent us!", or just go in and admire what's going on in there. ;p

for those who don't know, Total MayHem Designs, is a new store opened up by my little teeny tiny youngish yet mature and crazy sister MayBird. she took this apron idea me and amanda pants had, and has flown the coop. she is now designing aprons for vendors, bartenders, waitresses, gardeners, teachers, senior citizens, housespouses, etc.

while her shop is still under development, maybe you want to stop by to add her as a favorite to show your support , or send her a little nudge of "hell yeah!" (and tell her to hurry up and upload some listings already!!)...

maybird you rock too!

saturday the greek and i went to see inglorious basterds with my favorite couple. it was a great movie, and i highly recommend it. i was super tired though, from all the crazy driving, bart riding, etc with the bay bridge being closed. but on a serious note (as serious as you can get with Quentin) GO SEE THIS MOVIE.

sunday was topped with a delicious salmon dinner my pops and mom cooked for me and alley-cat. then we all went to a used bookstore and dorked out for about an hour, before going to overdose on cold stone creamery ice cream. yum yum.

monday i spent slaving away at the office. NOT. thank god it was a holiday. my parents, maybird, alley-cat, and sasha bear all made sandwiches, went to the local organic farmer down the street, and had a gorgeous picnic at lake elizabeth. it was sweetness in the form of a national paid holiday, good family times, warm summer breeze, and the euphoria of thinking you are playing hookey.