Cranberry Orange Jam and Crostinis

Hi Everyone,

Happy Monday to you!  This weekend I took advantage of the cold weather and rain by hanging out of my kitchen and making lots and lots of jam!!  Every time I think of Jam I think of the episode of Friends where Monica was making jam to forget the man!

I made Wild Berry Compote, Hotter then Hell Pepper Jelly Jam, which I’ll give you the recipe later.  I also made Cranberry Orange Quick Jam, Yum and Maple Pumpkin Butter.  I was out of my Maple Pumpkin Butter and I was in need!  I love to put it on my vanilla greek yogurt, topped with Puffins.  It tastes like pumpkin pie!  After my pumpkin butter cooled, I made my parfait right away! (1 cup vanilla greek yogurt, 2 heaping tbsp. pumpkin butter, a few Puffins)

Then I continued to make more jam!!  My newest jam to the collection is Cranberry Orange Quick Jam!  I don’t know what it is, but I love cranberry and orange together.  It’s such a fantastic combination!!

I didn’t get the things done that I planned today like setting up my new shelves, doing laundry and cleaning my front room, but that’s ok because I have 7 jars of different kind of butter, jams and compotes to get me through the next few weeks.  I kind of have a thing for condiments!  I love healthy ones that can be topped on yogurt, oatmeal, meat and other fun things!

I didn’t realize how fast time went.  I spent about 5 hours making these, which isn’t to bad!  I was pretty stoked when the doorbell rang and I got my monthly Nature Box.  I love having a monthly subscription to Nature Box.  Look at the goodies I got!  It was in perfect timing because I was getting hungry!

I got in this months box Carrot Chips, Chipotle Maple Almonds, Cinnamon Spiced Granola, Roasted Garlic Pumpkin Seeds and Country Ranch Peas.  I thought the peas were weird, yet it was the first and only thing I tried so far.  Let me tell you they are really good!  I couldn’t stop eating them.  They tasted like corn nuts!  I seen them at Trader Joe’s and I was never inclined to buy them because there peas!  I was wrong  now I have to get them next time I go.  Look how weird they look!

While I was cooking, I had the tropical music station on.  My Husband came in and asked me what the heck am I listening too?  The music sounds like I was in a Mexican restaurant or Cost Plus.  I like it because I could concentrate because I didn’t know the words.  He changed the channel to 80′s music, which I love and as I’m typing this post, I’m singing Stevie Nicks, Stand Back!!  Not good!  I LOVE 80′s music.  I guess I’m showing my age!

There, I’m making my Husband turn the music off!  To hard to think, when all I want to do is dance.  Around 2pm I needed a snack and I was hot from standing in front of the stove, so I decided to whip up one of my Skinny Peppermint Mocha Frappes.  I’ll tell you I am so addicted to this drink.  I have had it everyday around 2-3pm since I posted it a couple of weeks ago!  It’s so good!  I am such a peppermint freak!!

Your probably waiting for today’s recipe for the Cranberry Orange Quick Jam and all I did is ramble on about my day.  I didn’t tell you I also made my roasted chicken too, but that we can discuss another day!  :)  All righty then, lets talk Cranberry Orange Jam!  I thought it would be perfect to share this recipe with you since Thanksgiving is coming and it’s such a cranberry type of holiday.  This jam is very easy to make and I didn’t use any pectin, just cranberries, oranges and sugar.

This jam is fabulous served with cream cheese, brie cheese or goat cheese.  I also like is smeared on whole wheat rolls or my Cranberry Walnut Rolls, which I need to make soon since I am all out.  I made Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese crostinis as an appetizer before dinner.  I topped a few of the crostinis with chopped pistachios, but I left it out on most of them because my Husband isn’t a fan of nuts in his food.  He prefers to just eat them by the handfuls.

I love the crostinis and they are super quick to put together as long as you have the jam!  This is a perfect appetizer if you have surprise guests over to your house or you want a quick snack.  I made the crostinis with Artisan Country Loaf French Bread but it would be delicious on walnut bread or wheat bread.  My Husband won’t eat either so I had to use white bread.  When I cut into the bread there was a huge hole right through the middle, so most of my pieces are missing the center.  Glad the cream cheese filled it up!

Now you know what I did all day Saturday!  :)  Busy, busy!!  I can’t wait to see what other things I whip up this week!  Lots of ideas and recipes to share!

Have a great week!!

Toodles,

Jennifer

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