Black Raspberry Ripple Baby Afghan

Over the last few years I've been pushing myself to learn new things in the world of crochet.  I've been itching to try my hand at a ripple star afghan, and when a friend recently announced she was having a baby, I took the opportunity to try out this pattern.  It's a 12 pointed star, and the pattern is free to download on ravelry. 

The yarns were mostly stash, and include Caron Simply Soft in Blackberry, Caron Simply Soft Party in Platinum (it sparkles!), and Yarn Bee Soft Secret in Lilac.  Pretty darn thrilled with how it turned out. 

Bracelets for National Girlfriends Day

Did you know that August 1st is National Girlfriends Day?  I didn't either.  Not until I bumped into it on a calendar of weird holidays.  It also just so happens to be a night I'm going to see The Little Mermaid at the arts center in Nashville with two of my girlfriends.  Since one of them was awesome and bought the tickets (and got us invited to the opening night reception, thanks to being a season ticket holder), and the other friend is driving, I decided to make gifts for these two lovely ladies as a thank you. 

Each bracelet features a Swarovski crystal ring, with stainless steel charms, crystal heart links, and gunmetal chain and findings.  While they all match, each one has a different charm.

'She's like whiskey in a teacup' for Heather

"She believed she could... so she did' for Jena

'Though she be but little she is fierce' for me.

Calhoun Peach & Sweet Basil Jam

This past weekend my husband and I headed up to his parents home in southern Illinois to visit friends and family.  Each summer when we go up, we pass roadside stands selling Calhoun peaches.  When I inquired about the signs a few years ago, my husband told me that the peaches grown in Calhoun county are famous for being extra sweet and delicious.  Apparently the area they are grown in is between two rivers, the Illinois and the Mississippi, where moisture from the waters and the limestone bluffs seeps into the soil to make the peaches much more flavorful.  So on our way out of town on Sunday we stopped at a roadside stand so I could get some peaches to can.  This was the result!  The clean herbal flavor of the basil balances the bright sweetness of the peaches.  It made 7 half pint jars, plus 1.5 freezer jars leftover for me.  I enjoyed it equally on toast this morning, and on vanilla ice cream last night. 

Calhoun Peach & Sweet Basil Jam

Ingredients
7 cups sugar
4 cups finely chopped, peeled Calhoun peaches (or whatever peaches you have locally)
1/4 cup bottled lemon juice
1 pouch liquid pectin (3 oz)
3/4 cup finely snipped fresh sweet basil (I like to roll it up and snip it with kitchen sheers)

Prepare a hot water bath canner & 7 half-pint jars. 

In a 6-8 qt pot combine the sugar, peaches and lemon juice.  Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved. 

Quickly stir in the pectin.  Return to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.  Boil for 1 minute. 

Remove from heat.  Skim foam from the top with a metal spoon, and stir in the basil.

Ladle the hot jam into hot sterilized half-pint canning jars, leaving 1/4" head space.  Wipe the jar rims, adjust lids, and apply screw bands until fingertip tight.

Process filled jars in the water bath for 5 minutes.  (Start timing once the water returns to boiling.)  Turn off heat and remove lid from canner, leaving jars in the water an additional 5 minutes.  Remove the jars to a folded kitchen towel, and allow to rest away from drafts for 24 hours.