Wicked Good Stuff
There were plenty of things my mom did that I took for granted. One was making jam. I used my last jar this winter. It was a sad moment. I'd hoarded a lot of jars, but not enough. My mom would make her jams heavy on the fruit, easy on the sugar. It made for the perfect balance of fruit to sweet ratio. Left with no more jars of goodness, I bought jar after jar of jellies and jams from grocery stores and boutique shops, but none tasted quite right. They were all too sweet. Finally, I went on memory...how did Mom make her jams? I had vague recollections of the process and the supplies, so I went to the store and grabbed a 2 pound box of strawberries and a box of pectin. After cleaning the strawberries, I set them on the stove to cook. Added a half a cup of sugar and allowed to boil for ten minutes, removed from heat and added half the pectin. Perfect! It's a little runny without the proper amount of sugar., but that doesn't matter...the flavor is perfect. Mom would be proud! 
A looming prophecy is their destiny.
A destiny that will bring them to their knees.
One fateful night will change their lives forever.
Seeley is born a hunter. God’s warrior. She’s endowed with inexplicable gifts to slay creatures and demons threatening human’s. Alongside her guardian angel, Ezekiel, she will face unimaginable trials and tribulations.
Jack Chase was born an orphan. Kicked from foster home to foster home, he lands with a couple who worships Satan. He succumbs to their diabolical rituals, and learns he also has extraordinary talents. Wealthy, Asa Trebane, and leader of the Black Order of the Cult locates this teenager he’s heard much about. He takes Jack under his wing and into his home.
A mysterious pull leads Jack to Seeley. A pull neither of them can resist.
LINK: Amazon
Wickedly It Begins is the prequel to Wickedly They Come and Wickedly They Dream.
Amazon Links: Press on the title:
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Amazon Author's Page: http://www.amazon.com/Cathrina-Constantine/e/B00EPENYGE/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wickedly333
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Well, glad you figured out how to make your mother's jelly. Store stuff does have too much sugar in it.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Cathrina!
I pretty much just want cooked fruit on bread. LOL
DeleteI'd love to be able to do it sugar free, but I don't think it works with Splenda.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right. I think you can use Splenda. I'm not so much worried about the sugar as much as just wanting as much strawberry flavor as I can get. To make one jar of jelly, I used two pounds of strawberries.
DeleteYou brought back memories. My mother made peach preserves. I never appreciated the effort she put into them...but I remember emptying to contents on my food Sunday mornings.
ReplyDeleteCathrina...love the fonts on your cover. I need to let go of a few bucks and get some nice fonts (I do my own covers). Wish you much success.
It's those little things I miss the most. My mother used to be fanatical about fresh linens too. I never realized how much work she did. She used to strip and clean my bed at least twice a week.
DeleteThere is nothing better than homemade jam, especially when it's your mother's recipe. Yum!
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed it worked. I didn't have anything to go on other than memory. When she first started making it, she made a lot of strawberry syrup, lol.
DeleteOh yes, some things you just need the taste of family to make it right. Maybe that's why I never cared for the store jam, it was always too sweet!
ReplyDeleteGrats to Cathrina!
It is too sweet. And all the sweetness dulls the fruit flavor. It took two pounds of strawberries to make one jar of jam. It's like spreading fresh fruit on toast!
DeleteHow lovely that you re-created your mom's jam. You must be thrilled and proud. I've never made jam, but I might try one of these days. My daughter makes amazing blueberry jam. I have not received a jar in a long time. :-(
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I must admit, it turned out better than I expected.
DeleteBetter get your daughter on the line and have her send some jam!
Great that you were able to recall and figure it out. Now can jam about your jam.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Cathrina.
She made it all the time. She enjoyed a "well-stocked larder".
DeleteWOW Elizabeth – you can cook too?!! I've never tried making jam because we don't actually eat it that often (apart from when I bake my favourite gluten free cake which I then fill with lactosee free cream and jam lol!). Good for you for remembering how your lovely mum did it!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Suzy xxx
www.suzyturner.com
To say I can cook is a bit of a stretch. I'm capable, but not overly proficient. Your eating habits sound much healthier than mine!
DeleteMmm, homemade jam. Sweet, sweet memories for you.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Cathrina.
Indeed!
DeleteYour mother would be soooo proud of you! There's nothing better than homemade jams and preserves. The peaches are really good here this year, so maybe I should haul out some of my old canning stuff. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a super weekend!
That's awesome you figured it out. I've always thought store bought jams were too sweet.
ReplyDelete