DIY Christmas Gift: Holiday Fruit Refrigerator Jam

I have enjoy making this holiday fruit refrigerator jam for family and friends. It is made with some of my favorite fruit bounties this season brings: cranberries, cherries and orange peel. It is wonderful on toast and is perfect for  breakfast, brunch or a tasty holiday snack.

"Holiday Fruit Refrigerator Jam"

*makes 6 half-pint jars

3/4 cup cherries, pitted and chopped

3/4 cup cranberries, chopped

1/2 cup orange rind, finely grated   

4 cups sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 (1.75 ounce) package powdered no-sugar fruit pectin

3/4 cup water

6 half-pint canning/freezer jars

Rinse 6 clean half-pint freezer-safe canning/freezer jars with boiling water. Dry thoroughly. Wash cherries, remove pits and chop in quarters. Place in medium bowl. Do not drain cherries. If cherries have been chilled, set aside until the cherries reach room temperature. Repeat these steps with cranberries. In small bowl, finely grate orange peel and set aside. In large mixing bowl, combine cherries, cranberries and orange peel. Add sugar and lemon juice to mixture. Stir well. Set mixture aside 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes. In saucepan, combine powdered fruit pectin and water. Stir well. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Immediately add pectin mixture to fruit mixture and stir well. Keep stirring mixture about 3 minutes until sugar is completely dissolved. Quickly pour into sterile jars to within 1/2 inch of top of jar. Wipe off top edges of jar and cover with lid. Makes 6 half-pint jars. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours to set. After jam has set, enjoy immediately or it can be frozen for up to one year. Once opened, it can be stored in refrigerator up to 3 weeks. Enjoy!

   

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ESV Men’s Devotional Bible Review and Giveaway by Guest Blogger, The Southern Fried Husband

Hello everyone, this is Angela's husband Craig. Since she is "The Southern Fried Bride", we decided I am "The Southern Fried Husband". My wife enjoys her blog readers very much. It is hard for the both of us to believe that she has been blogging for nearly 5 years, so it is nice to virtually "meet" all of you this week. I was given the opportunity to receive a Men's Study Bible and it has inspired me along my walk with Christ and blessed me. I am happy to share a review of th"ESV Men’s Devotional Bible" with you. I feel this would be a great gift to share the Gospel with someone during this blessed Christmas season that is upon us and my wife and I already plan on gifting one to a male family member.

The goal of the "ESV Men's Devotional Bible" is to strengthen and encourage men through the life-giving Word of God and sound devotional content aimed at nurturing godliness. I have enjoyed the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible for what I feel is a great resource for understanding the meaning of the passages you are reading.

I feel this is an invaluable resource for Christian men. I like that it is sturdy bound and has a ribbon marker for marking your place. It has a helpful feature with a dictionary section for key terms.

My favorite among the special features is the section of 365 brand-new devotionals, which is a daily source of inspiration for me. Another of my favorite features of this Study Bible is that it has an introduction to each book of the Bible, exploring its unique contribution to a man's walk with God and I like that it makes for a "personalized" experience.

For more information on the"ESV Men’s Devotional Bible", you can visit the Crossway Official Website here.

Giveaway:
One of you will win the"ESV Men’s Devotional Bible", valued at $34.99. To enter, please leave a comment below. Giveaway closes Monday, November 23 at 8:00 pm EST. US and Canada residents only. 

If you are not able to leave a comment on this blog post, please e-mail  angelaskitchen@rocketmail.com with "Giveaway Entry" in the subject line and that will count as your entry.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

DVD Review and Giveaway: Faith of Our Fathers

As Veterans Day nears on the calendar, I am reviewing a film available on DVD that tells a powerful story of loss seen many times over during times of war, this one depicting during the Vietnam War as two soldiers are killed, leaving two young families on the homefront, each with a son who will never know his father.

"Faith of Our Fathers" is 96 minutes in length and stars Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Downes, David A.R. White, Rebecca St. James, Si Robertson, Candace Cameron Bure, Scott Whyte and Sean McGowan. It is rated PG-13 for brief war violence. 

The film weaves together the stories of fathers and sons and spans 25 years as two strangers, played by Kevin Downes and David A.R. White, form a bond when they discover a series of notes their fathers wrote to each other during their time serving in Vietnam. The letters lead the two sons on a journey to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.  to see their fathers' names.  Along the way, reading those letters, they begin to get an understanding of who their fathers were and how they died. 

Here is the powerful video trailer:

 

The film moved me to tears time after time as the fathers are shown in the Vietnam War and their sons 25 years later as they are fighting their own inner conflict each trying to learn about the fathers they never knew. In doing so, it celebrates the spirit of our military veterans who have given so much in defense of our country and also is a salute to the spirit of the sacrifices of the military families on the homefront. 

Special Features of the DVD include segments on "The Heart of Faith of Our Fathers", "Honoring Father's Day", "Commemorating Memorial Day" plus interviews with Si Robertson and Stephen Baldwin. 

You can find out more information about this DVD by going to the website here, including where it can be purchased.  

Giveaway:

One of you will win your own "Faith of Our Fathers" DVD (ARV $14.99).  To enter, leave a comment below and let me know if you have a veteran or veterans in your life you will celebrate this Veterans Day. Giveaway closes Wednesday, November 11 at noon EST. 

If you are not able to leave a comment on this blog post, please e-mail me at angelaskitchen@rocketmail.com with "Giveaway Entry" in the subject line and that will count as your entry.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Meatless Monday: Creamy Pumpkin Penne

Today brings my very first Meatless Monday recipe. I have several friends in my life who inspire me with the understanding that health and fitness are not to be a temporary fix, but a way of life. So during this season of thanks, I offer up gratitude and thanks to Lori, Amy and Kyndra. Several among them have incorporated this type of Monday menu for their household meals as a way of going meatless one day a week. These ladies have each been inspirations to me along the way and tonight for dinner, I have incorporated Meatless Monday into our dinner menu using a favorite of the season for a creamy pumpkin penne dish.

   Creamy Pumpkin Penne

Serves 4

1 (12 oz.) package penne rigate pasta 

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon chopped oregano

• 2 cups fresh pumpkin, pureed OR 1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin puree 
• 1/2 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 1/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar 
• Optional garnish: chopped oregano 

In pasta-size cooking pot, add water and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring salted water to a boil and add pasta, cooking pasta according to directions on package. Reserve 2 cups of the pasta water; drain pasta and set aside. In same pasta pot, add olive oil and oregano. Cook on medium heat for 1 minute. Carefully watching pot to avoid hot oil spattering, add pumpkin puree, minced garlic, half-and-half, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese,  vinegar and 1 cup reserved pasta water to pot. Stir until well-blended and heated on medium heat for through 2- 3 minutes, stirring after each minute.  If sauce is too thick, add 1 teaspoon of remaining reserved pasta water until sauce reaches desired consistency. When ready to serve pasta in individual dishes, pour 1/2 cup of sauce over pasta. Garnish each before serving by sprinkling, if desired, with 1/2 teaspoon of oregano. Enjoy!