The Longest Run

We love spicy foods in general, and Mrs. Longest Run especially likes pepper jelly. These being the days to stay inside with a hot fire, I'm doing a lot of cooking. One of today's projects was to make pepper jelly. To keep things interesting I made two different recipes. The first, courtesy of the Kraft Corporation, Sure-Jell Hot Pepper Jelly , came out really well (it looks just like the jelly in the recipe picture). I went looking for the Sure-Jell recipe as the blueberry jam I made using Sure-Jell last summer was insanely good (prepared with hand-picked blueberries from Ellsworth Farm in Connecticut). Today's other recipe was courtesy of the website Simply Recipes: Jalapeno Pepper Jelly . I was interested in this recipe as it used the natural pectin in fruits rather than including added pectin. Both came out well and would be worth making again - though I'd definitely shoot to make them spicier next time....

We've been on a blueberry picking binge, making two trips to Ellsworth Hill Orchard & Berry Farm to pick the best blueberries I've ever eaten. I've made a bunch of blueberry jam (about 30 jars) and a Slab Pie (pictured above). The recipe is from Martha Stewart and can be made with fruits other than blueberries. It's easy and it's fantastic!

...then check out the recipe at Cook's Illustrated for Old-Fashioned Burgers . The site is subscription-only but this recipe is currently available free. I made these hamburgers a few weeks ago and can comfortably say they were the best burgers I've ever made!

There's a recipe in the April Bon Appetit for a cocktail called a Gordon's Cup. I made up a batch of these this weekend; they are delicious and are perfect for a spring/summer drink. Here's the recipe: Gordon’s Cup - From Comme Ca in Los Angeles 2/3 of 1 small lime, cut into 6 wedges 2 ½-inch-thick rounds peeled cucumber ¼ cup gin 1.5 tablespoons Simple Syrup 1 cup cracked ice Pinch of sea salt Place lime and cucumber into cocktail shaker; mash with muddler or wooden spoon until lime is juiced and cucumber is pulpy. Add gin and Simple Syrup, then ice. Cover; shake vigorously 3 times. Pour contents of shaker into rocks glass. Sprinkle with salt (optional).