Time Flies Too Fast to Catch

Hello. I realize it has been about a week since my last post. I apologize my avid readers. To be honest, I got a little slammed at work and was unable to go to the gym and/or cook. I usually never take work home, but this week was a rare exception with a key player in the company quitting and leaving without fulfilling her two weeks. Thus, I got her responsibilities on a quick turn around.

Nonetheless, I am happy to say I have made something (hopefully) scrumptious today. First off, I will mention that no, I did not go to the gym yesterday. Save this last Saturday, I haven't been since last Tuesday. I know. I feel awful. But my wonderful boyfriend has decided that leaving for his two hour commute to his home/work was more efficient for both of us if he left on Sunday afternoon rather than crack of dawn Monday morning. As much as I'll miss that Sunday night together, I understand that being tired on a Monday of all days during the week is horrible.

Therefore, I will be able to go to Mr. Prom King's class Monday mornings. Unfortunately, Mr. Prom King is training for the Iron Man in May 2011, and therefore will not be teaching Sundays and maybe not Mondays. *sad face.

However, I am going to blog about Strawberry Balsamic and Cracked Black Pepper Jam.

I bought way too many strawberries. I had twelve cups of chopped strawberries and boiled them down. I did half the sugar in this batch since the strawberries were so ripe and sweet. But when you remove the pot from the heat and add balsamic vinegar and pepper. Stir and voila.

I got nine jars out of this recipe. I'm very excited about it, but of course I can't try it until tomorrow.

A few other things. I did try infusing vodka today. I took a handful of the strawberries before I put them in the fire and poured them in a mason jar. I also finally found figs! I infused those as well as a pear and a handful of orange-flavored cranberries. They are currently infusing in my pantry.

I'm looking forward to trying those in a week. A few months ago, I went to a new place in Austin called Red's Porch. They have a drink called an Eleanor Rigby . It has RED’S Fig Infused Vodka, muddled orange, OJ & Mathilde Cassis, served on the rocks. I will figure out how to make this at home.