I <3 PB&J sandwiches 4ever
Peanut butter & Jelly sandwiches. One of life's most simple pleasures. How can you go wrong with one of these?! If one of these sammys doesn't take you back to being a kid, I don't know what food does!
So it's Friday, and lunch of course needs to be made. BUT I'm wiped out, and my energy level to pack a decent lunch is pretty much out the window. That's when I turn to a basic sandwich. Normally, I'd resort to my Veggie Sandwich but I devour those so often, and I was just craving something sweet for lunch! And if you've read my previous post on Almond Milk, you'll learn about my newest [amazing] cookbook, which includes this 10/10 Jam recipe!! Why not give it a go?!
Jam is one of those staple items that you normally have stocked in your fridge. You know. Right there, waaaaay in the back- even if you don't even open it. Personally speaking, I've bought jam for a one time recipe, or a quick PB&J sandwich that I just needed, and basically never opened it again. Fast forward a few months, and I'm cleaning out the junk I don't eat.. and I see this little sticky jar. And I think, "when was the last time I even had this? Is it expired yet?". AND that's when it hits the garbage can. It just sat there so lonely and unused and it was such a waste of a good product. As good as a jam is, you really can't beat a homemade version with just a few ingredients. There is no "fruit juice concentrate" in mine, and you can make it with BASICALLY whatever fruit ya want! I made a raspberry jam because I'm raspberry in love, BUT next time I'm going to experiment and mix some up. Peaches + strawberries = <3 <3
Here is yet another staple pantry item, that can be made quickly on the spot, without all of that difficult canning process. That's why I call it the 'cheat' jam, because I add a bit of cornstarch for a quicker thickening. It's SO good and SO fresh- and totally dairy free! If you're really wanting a good treat to snack on this weekend, I suggest whipping up a batch of my Buttery Biscuits, and SMOTHER in a homemade jam. Mmm
Thank you so much for reading, and have a great weekend! xx S.
| Vegan • Gluten Free - if your Cornstarch does not contain gluten|
I N G R E D I E N T S:
- 12 oz. of Frozen Raspberries (or any fruit you prefer!)
- 2 Tbs of cane Sugar (more or less depending on desired sweetness)
- 1/2 Tbs of Cornstarch + 2 Tbs of Water
SIMPLE JAM: In a small saucepan, add your berries and sugar, and cook over medium heat. Once it begins to breakdown and starts to bubble/boil, reduce heat to medium low. Let it cook for about 15-20 minutes while occasionally stirring, and it should result in looking like a thick soupy mixture. Add your cornstarch water mixture, mix well to combine, and remove from heat. Pour it into a mason jar and seal with the lid immediately. It won't look like a thick jam just yet, so don't panic! Once it cools fully in the jar, it will be your desired jam consistency. Enjoy :)
*Notes: You can also use fresh berries instead of frozen, but it might take a little bit longer to break down and get 'soupy' looking. Also, if you want to omit the cornstarch entirely, just let your jam cook on medium low longer, until the liquid dissolves more and thickens naturally.