Thursday, July 16, 2009

Blueberry Season...

Oh my. It's blueberry season at Kroger stores. Hopefully you have one near you. Yesterday I bought a 5 lb. box of blueberries for $8.88. I came home and concocted 19 half-pint jars of blueberry jam from that single box. (The jar below is a quarter pint.) I had a little left over, so we drizzled it over our vanilla ice cream last night. I know, it's hard not to be jealous.

If you've never made homemade jam before, this is the year to start. Fruit has been so inexpensive -- at least it has been in our area. There's nothing like having that sweetened fruity goodness waft through your house as you're boiling that sugary brew. It's exhilarating. It intoxicating. It's life-changing. Well almost...

You may be asking yourself why I am in such a jammin' frenzy. The answer is simple. It is the answer to all questions directed toward me this month. It is... "Wedding Planning." Yup, everything I'm doing this month seems to be centered around those two words in one way or another. (You've probably heard, but our youngest is tying the knot next month.) Ok, so here's the deal. My husband and I are hosting a Colorado-style "western" BBQ the night before the wedding. We are having The Rib House cater the food -- baby back ribs, pulled pork, brisket, succulent chicken and the best side dishes you could ever imagine. Oh, and don't let me forget... blackberry, cherry and peach cobbler for dessert...a la mode. I'm salivating just thinking about it. Anyway, the decor for the night is going to have a "western" theme. We're shooting for a relaxed and intimate get together with family, close friends, and the bridal party before all the busy events of the next day. I'll be posting the invitation and a few other ideas for the evening some time in the future -- so cute. Anyway, as a favor we're giving away a jar of jam to each of the guests. I hope that doesn't sound hokey. I think it will be a cute gesture. I just hope everyone "gets it" and that the jars don't crack open in their suitcases on the trip home and ruin their favorite blouse. Maybe I should provide bubble wrap and a seal-lock plastic baggie with each jar...