May 12, 2006, Newsletter Issue #128: STRAWBERRY SHADOW SANDWICHES

Tip of the Week

Makes enough jam for a whole crowd-
2 slices of bread per person
Ingredients
8 cups fresh strawberries
1/2 teaspoon butter
7 cups sugar (or less, to taste)
Jelling agent, such as Sure-Jell
loaf of favorite bread
Utensils
Kitchen towels
Hot soapy water
Pot (large enough for child to stand inside with both feet)
5-quart pot
Wooden mixing spoon
Sterilized canning jars with lids
Cookie cutters
Spreading knife
Process
To make the fresh strawberry jam
1. Wash the strawberries and remove the stems. Place them in the large pot.
2. Spread kitchen towels on the floor. Place the pot of strawberries on the kitchen towels.
3. Meanwhile, wash feet well in warm soapy water and then dry with clean towels.
4. Step into the strawberry pot and gently stomp and crush the strawberries..
Be sure to crush well by pressing down into them over and over.
5. When finished, step onto the kitchen towels and wipe feet well. Wash and dry feet (and hands) again before resuming the cooking project.
6. Place the crushed strawberries in a 5-quart pot. Add the jelling agent to the strawberries, and then add the butter.
7. Place the pot of strawberries on the stove over medium high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the sugar to the strawberry mixture and continue stirring.
8. Remove the pot from the stove and then skim the foam off the top of the mixture with the spoon. Discard the foam.
9. Pour the mixture into the sterilized canning jars. Fill to 1/8 inch from the top of the jar, then immediately screw the lids on tightly. Turn the canning jars upside down on the counter to cool.

To make the shadow sandwiches
1. While the jars cool, divide the bread into two equal piles.
2. Spread cooled strawberry jam mixture on each slice of bread from one pile.
Set on a plate. From the other pile of bread, cut a shape with a cookie cutter into each slice of bread.
3. Make a shadow sandwich by putting one slice of strawberry-covered bread together with one bread cutout. The larger piece of bread will show around the cutout like a frame. Spread jam on cutouts, too, if desired.
4. Arrange the shadow sandwiches on a plate for a fresh strawberry treat.

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