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Raspberry Jam Recipe

Easy Raspberry Jam Recipe Using Jam Sugar

Silver Spoon
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Bread
Servings 4 -6

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kg Jam Sugar
  • 1 kg Raspberries
  • 50 g Butter

Instructions
 

  • Put raspberries into a thick bottomed pan. This needs little crushing as raspberries break down quite easily.
  • Add sugar to the raspberries.
  • Bring to a slow boil, stirring while the sugar breaks down and melts.
  • Add the butter and allow to rapid boil for approximately 4 minutes. Stir.
  • While the jam is cooking, wash jars in warm soapy water, then place on baking sheet for around 10 minutes at 170 degrees. Take out of the oven a few minutes before you are ready to put your jam into it. The ideal conditions are to put your jam into jars when the jars are still warm,
  • Cover the jam jars if you plan to keep some for later, and simply keep until you need it. Once a jar is opened, make sure you refrigerate it until it is used. I used small jars and from this recipe, I filled 5 small/medium sized jars.

 

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Review: Relaxing With Nice Smells from Pied A Terre

Relaxing is something that is pretty difficult to achieve when there are children running around a house.

I tend not to watch TV very often, so most of my relaxing time is around sitting at my computer and either writing, researching, tweeting or blogging.

As someone who makes her own candles, it was lovely to try a couple of new scents from Pied A Terre.  I tend to light a lovely candle when I sit down to type as it distracts me from the daily housy smell.  My husband doesn’t get on well with spray air fresheners as they tend to make his asthma worse, so candles and reed diffusers tend to be my only option for nice smellies.

Strawberries tend to make me think of green fields, while orange and clementines transport me to lazy holidays in lovely climates.

Pied A Terre 1

When the House of Fraser offered to let me try some of the range available, it was the fruity ones I leaned towards.  I’m always a sucker for fruity smells and new ones are gratefully welcome.

I chose to try the Plun & Black Amber Luxury Candle, and the Clementine and Sweet Geranium.

Pied A Terre 2

I have the clementine and sweet geranium candle in my lounge, and the plum and black amber in the small office where I do most of my thinking and typing.

They are gorgeous candles, which I know I am going to love over the next few weeks while I burn them away.  Thank you to the House of Fraser for sending them, they really are lovely.

Pied A Terre 3

Pied A Terre 4

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Pied A Terre 7

 

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When do you need to hire an architect?

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Whether you are hoping to turn your modest two-up two-down into one of the beautiful properties you find on the pages of some glossy magazine, or are simply expanding your kitchen, have you considered hiring an architect?

An architect will most definitely add a touch of class to your remodelling, but a professional finish does come at a cost. Some people are of the mind-set that architects are only for multimillion pound mansions, while others will hire one for the smallest of DIY jobs.

Architects are trained in building design, engineering, project management, and ergonomics. They are able to come up with ideas to solve design problems and ensure a property is true to itself.

The cost of an architect varies between region, architect, and pricing structure. If an hourly rate, you can expect to pay somewhere between £75 and £110 an hour, or 5-10% of the cost of the project.

What you need to really consider is whether you need an architect to achieve the look you are going for, in both design and construction. Here are five reasons that you might want to hire an architect for your build.

Visualise the completed project

 While an architect’s training and skills are essential for him to be able to produce your desired design, one of the most important things they can offer you is a refined vision of the completed project, as well as an in-depth knowledge of all the steps in between.

Paperwork

 Architects don’t simply draw up plans for the property or remodel, they also ensure that your building complies with building regulations and planning laws. Architects are skilled people that can solve structural problems, whilst maintaining the building’s aesthetics.

Hire contractors

 Your architect is the one person that understands your project inside out, so it makes sense that they are the same person that hires the contractors. They will be able to hire the right professionals to do the job to your specified requirements.

Project management

 Contrary to popular belief, the architect’s role doesn’t end once the plans are drawn up and the builders move in. Architects are also able to manage the project right through to the very end. It is up to you how involved the architect is in the build.

Environment

More and more buildings are being built with the environment in mind. If this is something you are conscious of, an architect will have the expertise and knowledge to realise your dream property, whilst being green.

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Review: Jordans Country Crisp Cereal with Sun Ripe Strawberries

Thanks for our review samples for Jordans Country Crisp Cereal with Sun Rip Strawberries.

They’re baked cereal clusters, made from wholegrain oats grown in our own UK.   There are some chopped hazelnuts and strawberries mixed through.

Jordans Country Crisp 1

I’ve often found cereals with fruity bits to look dull and unappealing, so I was happy to find the strawberries in this cereal actually looked nice and bright.  It’s always nice when food looks appealing in a plate.

Jordans Country Crisp 2

What did I think?

I like it.  I’m sure I will buy it as a cupboard staple as one of my boys also thinks it’s delicious.  True to the name, this cereal is crunchy, which is pleasing.

It’s available from larger supermarkets such as Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Waitrose and Ocado

 

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Home Grown Vegetables From The Plot This Week

Our plot is beginning to mature, and in its third year, our crop is getting bigger and bigger.   The man tends to be the one who keeps it up so I do need to get more pictures of how it looks now.

For now, I have the pictures of the fruit and vegetables we took home this weekend.

We have strawberries, rhubarb, potatoes, pea pods, cabbage, turnip, onion and beetroot.

Plot Peapods
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Plot Potatoes
Plot Rhubarb
Plot Strawberries
Plot Vegetables 1
Plot Vegetables 2

 

 

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Easy Strawberry Jam Recipe

For this recipe, I used Silver Spoon Jam Sugar to avoid having to use pectin.  As a rule, strawberry jam can be tricky to set, but there were no problems at all using this recipe.  I’d even go as far as saying it set too much, so I might be tempted to slightly up the fruit to sugar ratio for my next batch.

We have had loads of strawberries from our plot this year, so making jam for the next year has been a sensible idea.  It’s nice to think that due to the plot, we won’t have to buy jam for a whole year.  It’s an impressive achievement considering we only had about 4 strawberries in total last year.

[gmc_recipe 28704]

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Review: Vita Coco Kids – Apple & Blackcurrant / Mango & Pineapple

The coconut water industry has a new kid on the block.

The Vita Coco people have introduced a new kids range which is flavoured with natural fruit.

We tried some samples of Apple & Blackcurrant, as well as Mango & Pineapple.

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The kids verdict was mixed.  While two children loved them, one thought the Apple & Blackcurrant was too weak and wished it had a stronger taste.

There are no artificial sweeteners, flavouring or colours, so that’s a great reason to try it for school lunch boxes.  I’d certainly buy it for my two youngest childrens lunch boxes.

Vita Coco Kids is on sale in Sainsburys, Tesco, Holland & Barrett and other speciality and health stores.

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