Easy Rhubarb Strawberry Jam

If you like rhubarb and you don't have your own rhubarb plant in your garden or yard, I highly suggest that you get one. For about $4 you can get a little plant and it will last you years! This is our 4th summer in this house and each summer this rhubarb has grown bigger than my kids. It was here when we moved in so I'm not sure how old it is. The first year we did nothing with it an just threw it away when they over ripened. The 2nd year we had people walking buy asking for pieces of it. Last year I used it for the first time. Seemed like such a waste to not use it. I made a rhubarb strawberry cobbler and it was heaven! I'm determined to find more recipes this summer since I have 2 large plants ready to be eaten.

The first thing I have found is an easy rhubarb strawberry jam. It has cost me about $1 for 2 jars of this jam because I already had the rhubarb. You can buy it in the stores, but I've never priced it - sorry :(.

Start off with some fresh Rhubarb. You will need 5 cups. I found myself with about 20 little stalks and 4 large stalks.

Chop it up into small pieces - or big if you like the texture.

Put the rhubarb in a pot with 2 1/2 - 3 c white sugar. The recipe I found on allrecipes.com said to leave it over night, but after reading some of the reviews, there were quite a few that didn't and still had great results. I let it sit for about 3 hours and let the juices come out and soak in the sugar.

I did cheat a little bit. I took most of the rhubarb and put it in the blender. I thought my family might be more likely to eat it if it wasn't super chunky. I mixed it back in and let it simmer for about 15 - 20 min just until the rhubarb chunks were soft. After it has simmered, add one 3 oz pack of strawberry jello and mix until dissolved.

Pour the jam into sterilized jars and store them in the fridge. If you are able and know how - you can do the whole cook the bottle 'til it seals thing. I'm determined to learn how to do that this summer!

So - one pack jello $.50. Rhubarb $.0 Sugar $.50 (approx.) Love and Labor - free!

Here is another rhubarb recipe. I haven't tried it yet, but I am going to try it tonight and I'll let you know how it goes.

Rhubarb Slush

1 1/2 c rhubarb

Cook the rhubarb until tender then puree.

1/2 c white sugar

can of frozen orange juice, thawed

can of frozen lemonade, thawed

3/4 c water

1/4 - 1/2 of a 2 litre of Sprite

Mix all together and enjoy! Doesn't that sound soo good?

Happy mess making!