Balsamic Strawberry Jam

A couple cups of strawberries from the grocery store produce isle and I visited in the kitchen today.  They landed in a pot with some Balsamic, sugar and lemon peel.  Half an hour simmering on the stove and a big spoon full on toast…I’m in strawberry heaven!  I started out thinking I’d make this for a brunch for friends but I may eat the entire half pint jar before then!  I know a couple of you are reading this right now, thinking…call me!   Girls, come on over and I’ll show you how to make this super easy recipe with some fresh strawberries, then we’ll eat another jar while we peruse over more strawberry recipes at the bottom of this post. 

Fresh strawberry Banana muffins with chocolate drizzle

We spent a beautiful morning at a local Farmers Market with the grands.  They wanted to buy everything in sight.  Fresh fruits and vegetables are so pretty, aren't they?  Before going I charged the mini ipads so they could practice their photography skills and take images of interesting things we bought and some we did not buy. They captured some pretty interesting shots, especially the five year old.  We bought some bright strawberries so I can participate in this months Ultimate Recipe Challenge which is strawberries. If you like strawberries and if you're looking for some new ways to use them in recipes then you'll definitely need to peruse the recipe round up and check out our Pinterest Board with even more recipes.

I made this strawberry banana muffin recipe some time ago because I had strawberries that were getting too ripe and one lonely banana that begged to be baked right away.  That particular day I wanted to make a breakfast muffin but discovered I had left my muffin tin at the family farm.  Not to be deterred I pulled down several coffee mugs and built the muffins for great grand and I to enjoy together.  Now that strawberries are in season again I remembered how easy the recipe is and decided I NEED it again.  Seriously, as soon as I thought about that hot muffin with chocolate spilling off the top and the sweet little bites of fresh fruit inside I was done for.  So here it is again and you can make one to enjoy too.

If you like recipes using fresh fruit, you'll like these too:

• Strawberry balsamic sauce
• Old fashioned blackberry cobbler
• Strawberry Jello Pie
• Raspberry Cheesecake in a jar

Strawberry Banana Muffin with Chocolate

by Jeannie

Cook Time: 20 minutes

6078105

Ingredients (12 muffins or 6-8 mugs)

cake batter

• 1 1/3 Cups flour
• 2/3 Cup sugar
• 2/3 Cup 2% milk
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

fruit layers

• 1-2 bananas, chopped
• 12-16 strawberries, chopped (1 per cake and 1 to garnish each cake)

Drizzle

• Chocolate syrup

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter and flour muffin pan or 6-8 mugs

Mix first 6 ingredients for batter

Put a little batter in each muffin pan (about 2 Tablespoons

Drop in a few pieces of chopped banana

Add a little more batter

Drop in a chopped strawberry

End with batter on top, 1/3 full

Bake 350 F for 25-30 minutes.

Drizzle on some chocolate syrup and be prepared to be astonished at how delish it is!

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Balsamic Strawberries

http://www.forwhatitsworthjeannie.com/2016/04/balsamic-strawberry-jam.html

The recipe and instructions can be seen on this post.

   

  

Chocolate Strawberry Banana Muffin

Breakfast does not need to be boring!  Great Grand woke up asking for cupcakes.  If you’ve seen my Grandma book page, you know I will find a way for every grand to get their Nini wish!  So, using a “not too sweet” cake recipe we added fruit and made perfect breakfast cupcakes.  I discovered earlier this week that I left my cupcake pan at the last family farm party, so I used mugs as my muffin pans.  They made cute little cakes.  Here is the recipe so you too can grant your little persons request.
  Recipe:

• Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter & flour muffin pan or 6-8 mugs
• Mix together in a medium mixing bowl:
  1. 1 1/3 Cups flour
  2. 2/3 Cup sugar
  3. 2/3 Cup 2% milk
  4. 1/4 cup butter, softened
  5. 1 egg
  6. 1 teaspoon vanilla
  7. 1-2 bananas, chopped 
  8. 12-16 strawberries, chopped (1 per cake and 1 to garnish each cake)
  9. Chocolate syrup
• Mix first 6 ingredients for batter.
• Put a little batter in each muffin pan (about 2 Tablespoons) and drop in a few pieces of chopped banana
• Add a little more batter and drop in a chopped strawberry
• End with batter on top, 1/3 full
• Bake 350 F for 25-30 minutes.
• Drizzle on some chocolate syrup and be prepared to be astonished at how delish it is!
• 

I personally loved eating mine straight from the mug,

Great Grand liked his on a plate so he could drizzle the chocolate all over it himself. 

He dipped his extra strawberry in the chocolate puddles.

Strawberry Pie - sugar free

A wonderful pie that is diabetic friendly and beautiful!  There is some sugar in the vanilla pudding, so check the lable for content if you count carbs.   Of course, if you aren't concerned about the sugar, use a sugar jello instead of the sugar free version. I originally got this recipe from a work buddy about 10-15 years ago.  Thanks Bonnie. We've enjoyed this pie many,  many times!

Start with a pre baked pie crust. (Sometimes I cheat, don't care about a little sugar and use a purchased crust)

• 3/4 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons of buttery flavored Crisco (or lard)
• 1/4 Cup boiling water
• 1 Tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 packets of Sweet n Low (not Equal)

Mix ingredients  thoroughly with a fork or mixer.  Add 2 1/4 Cups flour gradually while continuing to mix at low speed until all is incorporated.  Dough should easily form into a firm moist, but not sticky, ball.  Divide into 2 balls.  Roll out one ball on wax paper to fit pie pan. Crust is fragile, make repairs as needed pressing torn edges together in pie pan. Bake 400 F. 10 minutes.

Sugar Free Strawberry Pie Filling

Wash, stem and slice

• 4 Cups strawberries and arrange in the bottom of pre baked crust.

In a medium sauce pan stir together:

• 1 4 oz. box sugar free strawberry jello
• 1 4 oz box sugar free "cook & serve" vanilla pudding
• 2 1/2 cups water

Stir constantly over medium-high heat until mixture comes to boil.  Continue to stir over heat at a rolling boil one minute.  Remove from heat, cover and cool in refrigerator until slightly thickened. 

Pour cooled mixture over strawberries.  Chill until set.

Sugar free whipped cream

• 2 Cups heavy whipping cream.
• 8 packets of Sweet N Low
• 8 packets of Equal

Beat on high with an electric mixer in a chilled bowl until peaks form.

You know, with a few blue berries sprinkled on top, this would look like an American holiday.