I still haven’t made that transition to feeding two instead of five.  This is no more evident than when I go to the farmer’s market.  At my favorite vendor, I linger over baskets of beautiful, ripe strawberries.   I pop one in my mouth, hmmm yum, they taste as good as they look.  Okay,  STOP.  Yes, the berries are wonderful but it’s only Wes and me.  Well, there’s Sammy, but he doesn’t eat strawberries.  I really should buy just one basket.  But no, I pick up a three-pack, and Ruiz, who I have known for years, adds more berries on top.  Well, at least I didn’t buy a half flat.  A three-pack is still too many berries.  What to do.

Berries in the Air, Berries Everywhere

I had read about a new bread baker named Josey who collaborated with Four Barrel coffee to open a shop called The Mill in The City.  Coffee and toast are their game. I LOVE toast and I LOVE coffee.  Am I the only idiot I know who owns a cookbook all about toast.  Made a mental note to try The Mill and finally dragged my friend Mel with me to check it out.  As soon as we walked in the average age jumped at least 10 years.  Music played on a retro turntable and everyone else was dressed in skinny jeans, glasses, a cool slouchy hat, and Vans.

Yes, Welcome to Hipsterville.

We stood in line (yes, a line for toast) got to the front, and ordered.

ME:  “I’ll have a slice of country bread with fresh strawberry jam and a latte…

HIPSTER SERVER:  Ok, that will be 8 dollars” Whaat? Ok, keep cool Deb, try not to act like an incredulous old fart.  Yes, I could get a bowl of noodles in Chinatown for less but sans Madonna on vinyl or copies of the New York Times.  I have to admit the toast and jam were delicious.

The fresh berry jam at The Mill was the perfect answer to my extra strawberries   I wanted a simple delicious jam, like theirs.  I wasn’t looking to make jam that I could preserve.  No canning for me thanks to a long-ago article in Reader’s Digest about one family’s nightmare with canned veggies and botulism.  I was scarred for life.

Bingo, I found a recipe for jam that you could make and keep in the fridge or freeze and it is INCREDIBLY STUPID EASY.  If in fact I were selling a book and I included this recipe I would feel silly.  But, if I didn’t tell you about it you might never know something this stupid easy exist.  Luckily this blog is free. Here is the long list of ingredients you will need-strawberries, sugar, lemon juice.  That’s it.

So, there you go.  An easy way to use all those strawberries that you couldn’t resist.  Simmer it to the desired thickness.  Be sure to keep an eye on it as it reduces.  Stir to keep it from sticking and burning.  Mine was thick like a classic jam after about an hour on the stove. Reduce the time for jam more like the Mill’s, looser and chunkier.  I added a tiny bit of vanilla to keep everyone guessing.

You can also use a combination of blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries which would be gorgeous and amazing.  I plan to try lime juice instead of lemon or perhaps add a few chili flakes for some zing.

Here’s to Toast, Homemade Jam, and Summer.