Holiday Living with Mason Jar Summertime Pies
“Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle” (Psalm 103:5).
“Don’t worry about cooking. Just rest and enjoy,” my husband encouraged, as I stuffed mason jars and lemon curd into a cooler on wheels, to be packed in the back of my van. All that was missing was my kitchen sink!
He wanted me to take a vacation. Vacation: a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation (dictionary.com)
I didn’t want a vacation – I wanted a Holiday!
Holiday: festive, joyous, celebrating important values steeped in faith and family with opportunities for rest, pleasure allowing the inner-man to soar(blue cotton memory definition).
When we arrived at the beach, we set up our umbrella city. All together there were 34 of our family – some vacationing – some on a holiday. We celebrated family – from great-grandmothers to great-grandbabies. Afternoon soccer with cousins from 39 to 5 – lines drawn in the sand for good-time rivalry. Some of the boys practiced their Italian and Portuguese (for soccer aficionados- that’s the falling-on-the-ground-faking-injury skills).
This coming Umbrella City gathering was a fluid thing. Great and small, old and young -moved from beach to pool to lazy river – group and individual time. Some shopped, napped, read books, lunched, cooked, watched World Cup soccer, dined all the while coming and going, sitting a spell, going, coming back, going. . . just like waves on the beach.
What am I saying here? Everyone took the opportunity to soar, to let their interests gallop through the duration of the holiday.
All the intrinsic things God placed in me, make me who I am, bring me immeasurable joy, that I sometimes have trouble fitting into the busy daily – they soared over the holiday. I took photos, spent time with family, wrote, read books, looked for God letters, bobbed on inner-tubes in the ocean- and made Mason Jar Summertime Pies – because one of my very favorite nieces asked.
I chose to live holiday over 5 days off then vacationing any day! When something is just so wonderfully delicious – food or just life, it should be shared. Below is the recipe for my Mason Jar Summertime Pies! Wishing you a little holiminute, holihour or holi in your day! Praying that today you taste and see the Lord is good, whether it is tasting a fried bologna sandwich on white bread with mayonaise and pepper, Mason Jar Summertime Pies, a hug savored by the soul, a moment that fills you up with Him, joy spilled everywhere – I pray that you catch those moments, your eyes not bigger than your souls – and see, really see, God’s goodness!
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! “ (Psalm 34:8)
Lemon Curd
4 eggs
Pinch of salt
2 Cups sugar
1/2 Cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed)
1/4 Cup butter
Zest from one lemon
Mix well. Then put in a double boiler, cooking 30 minutes until thick. Put in jar and refrigerate until ready to use. I make a day ahead so it is good and cool.
Crust
1 ½ cups finely ground graham cracker cumbs
1/3 cup white sugar
6 tablespoons butter, melted
Put about 1 1/2 tablespoons into bottom of 8 oz mason jars, hollowing out the middle.
Bake at 375 degrees for 7 minutes. Let cool then add Lemon Curd.
Meringue
4 egg whites
¼ tsp cream of tartar
2 tablespoons sugar
Whip egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Then gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form, about 1 to 2 minutes. Top the Mason jars with swirls. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes until meringue is golden brown. Remove from oven, cool and refrigerate until ready to serve.
(This works great with chocolate pudding, too. I cheated and used Jello Cook and Serve).
Other Lemon Curd treats from the Blue Cotton Kitchen
Dessert at the Grown-up Table, click here
What a fun dessert, the beach looks like a splash!!! Hope you can find your way over to share in our WW!!! Have a great day!!! Had to pin the jars to my Mason Jar Board!!!
The beach was indeed a splash!!! So glad you like my recipe and thanks for the invite! I enjoyed stopping by your place!
I love this idea and the beach is always a plus in my book.
Happy WW…
Good food + beach = no-fail holiday! LOL -Thanks so much for coming by!
Stopping by from What I made Wordless Wednesday. Love your pic’s of the beach… it set me to dreaming 🙂 Your pie recipe looks amazing, would love it if you could come by and share at the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop going on now. I am sure they would be a big hit!
Blessings,
Shari
http://puregracefarms.com/2014/07/wonderful-wednesday-blog-hop-80/
Thanks so much for your generosity of spirit sharing my post – and your sweet words AND invite! Wishing you blessing this week! Joy and laughter!
~Maryleigh
Hooray! So glad you could come and link up! I love making new friends! I am doing a “Triple the Love” campaign for everyone who comes by my site and links up and leaves a comment…sharing fest coming your way!
Blessings,
Shar
They look so good!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Deb
Thank you, Debbie! It’s delicious, too!
They look absolutely delicious… I am a big fan of anything lemon
Mollyxxx
Most of my boys (the ones under 25 – and that’s 4) – their taste buds haven’t matured enough to appreciate lemony things yet – but Lemon Curd ought to be its own food group! Wishing you blessing – and lemony things – this week!
Delicious on so many levels! Your post is brimming over with the joy of experiencing God’s goodness to the fullest, and with abundant life in Him! May you continue your celebration, and thanks for sharing it with us!
God is a holistic God – not one-dimensional – and abundant living God’s way is holistic! Your joy and encouragement is contagious! Thank you for coming by and sharing it with me!
Thanks for the great recipe and for reminding us to take the opportunity to soar. (love that phrase!).
So glad you linked up with Thought-Provoking Thursday!
So enjoyed your take on holiday vs. vacation. It reminds me of the fleeting, but good unique gift of what defines summer. Your line “All the intrinsic things God placed in me, make me who I am, bring me immeasurable joy, that I sometimes have trouble fitting into the busy daily” rings so true, as I myself found myself so stressed I could barely breathe at the end of June. Part of it was just this- not caring out what God created for me to do that slows me down and brings me joy. Enjoy your weekend.
Cheers,
Leah
Wow…these look absolutely delicious! May every day be a bit of a holiday where we allow ours inner selves to soar utilizing our gifts/passionss/skills!
Those look yummy. Thanks for sharing the recipe. So glad you had some holiday time. I am ready for the same. My son and his wife will soon be home for a visit and time with family makes my heart sour. Blessings. xoxo
What a lovely and yummy post! Thank you so much for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop. Watch for your feature on Monday xo
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