DPA

We had fun with balls outside today. It felt like spring :)

What time is it Mr. Wolf?

But we also took some time to watch the water. Where DOES that water go?

Happy New Year! And our jam recipe :)

I hope that all Room 15 families had a wonderful holiday. Everyone had exciting tales to tell of what they did during the holidays ( movies! skating! resorts!)

Everyone said that they loved our apple/ cranberry jam! Some families even asked for the recipe. We had so much fun making it!
First we put on our aprons (we all wore aprons), and washed our hands:

Then we peeled, grated, squeezed, measured and mixed. We used a special apple peeling machine that peeled, cored AND sliced the apples - a special thank you to Ms. Hayter for helping us with the apples! Turning the crank was a highlight of the process!

We had other favourite parts too:

(washing the jars)

It took a really long time for the fruit to boil down and get jammy, so Ms. Brown put it in the jars and gave it a "hot water bath" after we went home. But we also had fun making our own labels for our jars!

Here is our recipe:

Room 15's Apple Cranberry Jam
(makes 9-10 half pints -- 250ml jars) ( this recipe can be halved, but do not double)
Ingredients:
8 cups peeled and sliced apples ( less firm apples are best)
4 cups whole cranberries
6 cups sugar
1 cup water
2 lemons, zested then juiced
1 tsp cinnamon ( spices may be left out for a less festive jam)
1/2 tsp allspice

Instructions:
1. Combine the apples, cranberries, sugar and water in a large pot, over high heat. Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the cranberries pop and the apples soften.
2. Add lemon zest and juice and spices and simmer until the liquid in the pot begins to thicken.
3. Ladle into prepared jars (leave 1/4" headspace), wipe rims, apply lids, and process in a boiling water canning bath for 10 minutes. Remove from water bath and allow to sit, undisturbed for 24 hours. Check the seal of the lids, and refrigerate any unsealed jars.

* if you have any questions about how to safely can and seal jams, please ask me!

Blog note:
Blogging is about to become much more frequent. I 'bit the bullet' and purchased a blogging app that will allow me to blog and post photos that don't flip! All from the iPad, or even from the phone.
We've also given the classroom a gift :) we now have a new Nikon Coolpix camera (that is shock resistant), so students will be able to document their own work whenever they need to ( we share 5 iPads with Room 21, so we often find that we need the iPads right when Room 21 is using them! ). I say that WE have given the classroom a gift because I purchased it with our Scholastic bonus points that we have accumulated! Thank you!
( also, please let me know if you are seeing photos upside down, or if the photos are too large, etc. -- what I see on my screen is not always what everyone else sees!)