Colorful Fruit Kabobs

I absolutely love fruit.  I think I passed on my love of fruit to my son who is now one years old.  For his birthday I wanted to have a variety of fruit.  Fruit kabobs are a great party food.  They are easy for guests to grab and go and no utensils are required.  They are simple to make.  Just wash and cut up fruit, and put on a skewer.  It's just that easy.

Some great fruits to use are:
* cantolope
* watermelon
* whole grapes
* quartered strawberries
* pineapple
* kiwis
* blueberries

Strawberry Freezer Jam

I LOVE LOVE LOVE strawberries!!!  However, I have never been a jam or jelly girl.  In the past, I always just put butter on my toast.  Occasionally, I would put peanut butter.  Never jam or jelly though.  I never cared for the taste.  That was until a friend made me strawberry freezer jam.  It is absolutely tasty and so much better than store bought jam.  I was amazed at how cheap and simple it is to make strawberry jam.  Now, during the summer when strawberries are on sale (between $.75  and $1.25) I buy a bunch and make freezer jam.  That way I have jam to last me the entire year.  

This recipe can be found inside the Sure Jell Fruit Pectin box.


Ingredients:
* 4 cups of sugar
*1 box of pectin
*2 cups crushed fresh strawberries (about 1 1/2 pounds)
* 3/4 cup water

Directions:

1. You first mash up the strawberries in a food processor. I used our vita-mix, which mixed up the strawberries a little more than I would have liked.

2. Then add 4 cups of sugar (I know, it's a lot).

3. Next, make the pectin as directed on the box.

4. Once the pectin is ready, stir it into the sugar and strawberries.

5. Put it into containers and let sit for 24 hours.  I used Ball plastic freezer containers.

6. Put it in your freezer.  You can keep it in your  fridge if you are going to eat it right away.

7. Enjoy!

Cool and Easy Pie

This is a easy refreshing dessert.

what you need

2/3 cup boiling water

1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin

Ice cubes

1/2 cup cold water

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed

1 HONEY MAID Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.)

make it

STIR boiling water into dry gelatin mix in large bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to cold water to measure 1 cup. Add to gelatin; stir until slightly thickened. Remove any unmelted ice. Add whipped topping; stir with wire whisk until well blended. Refrigerate 15 to 20 min. or until mixture is thick enough to mound.

SPOON into crust.

REFRIGERATE at least 4 hours or until firm. Store leftovers in refrigerator.