Somer Saturday – Jam Packed Post
by Amanda • June 30, 2012 • Plant-based (Vegan), Shout outs, Sweet Saucy • 39 Comments
It’s Somer Saturday! Amanda recently said in an email to us girls at GCF “I’m not sure we can contain Somer in a single day.” Indeed, I can hardly contain myself! We were recently nominated for TWO blogging awards: Drumroll Please….
First, Jason at Jason and the Veganauts nominated us for the Reader Appreciation Award. If you haven’t visited his stellar blog, do it now and you’ll find the coolest Atkins to Vegan dude that you ever met. Doesn’t hurt that his posts are so funny that he often leaves you in stitches with laughter tears running down your face. Good times. Thanks Jason. Pure worship to my veganaut brother from another mother!
Then the gracious Lucy at Lucy’s Friendly Foods nominated us for the One Lovely Blog Award. Aw, shucks! *Blush* Lucy is a Cordon Bleu trained Chef/Mom that has taken the vegan cooking/baking/you wanna reach into the computer and take the food in her photos and eat them world by storm. I’m hosting a birthday party this weekend, and I’m pretty sure most of what I’m serving will be Somerized interpretations of something dizzyingly delicious from her blog. Check it out now. Really. You won’t be sorry! So thank you to Lucy and Jason! You’re my faves too!
Where was I? Oh yes, not only can I hardly contain myself, but I’m bursting at the seams and this week my kitchen was overflowing with fruit. I had cherries, raspberries, pomegranates, blueberries and strawberries to name a few. What to do with so much fruit? Why I needed to make jam of course, not just any old jam, but Antioxidant Chia Jam. Adapted from this fabulous pectin free recipe here at OSG.
Antioxidant Purplicious Chia Jam
3 C. Pitted Cherries
2 C. Raspberries
1 C. Blueberries
1 C. Strawberries
1/2 C. Pomegranate Arils
1/2 C. Pure Maple Syrup
5 T. Chia Seeds
Dash Cinnamon
Method: Combine fruits, pure maple syrup and cinnamon in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook until it reaches a low boil. Mash a bit with a potato masher, add chia seeds and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring often until nicely thickened. Remove from heat and ladle into jars. Share. Keep refrigerated, will stay fresh for a week or two.
Now you need to make this nut butter, also adapted from this recipe here at OSG (can you tell I’m in love with Angela lately?)
Super-Powered Nut Butter
2 C. Raw Almonds
2 C. Raw Cashews
1 C. Raw Pecans
1/2 C. Sunflower Seeds
2 T. Hemp Seeds
2 T. Sesame Seeds (I used black and regular)
2 T. Flax Seeds
2 T. Chia Seeds
1/2 C. Unsweetened Dried Shaved Coconut
1/4 C. Pure Maple Syrup
2 t. Kosher Salt
Ok, ok, so just really use whatever nuts and seeds you have, I know this list is a bit ridiculous, but my pantry is pretty awesomely stocked at the moment. You may also need to halve this recipe if you have large food processor envy. Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees, roast nuts all nuts and seeds on a large baking sheet (except coconut) for 5-7 minutes, stirring once. Add shaved coconut to the nuts and seeds and roast for a few minutes more until the coconut turns golden. Remove from oven. Let cool briefly. Add to food processor and let ‘er rip. You may have to scrape down the sides a couple of times but in 5 minutes or so it should start to come together and stop looking like very finely ground nut flour. When that happens, add the maple syrup and the salt. If you notice steamy fragrant luciousness emitting from your food processor, you’re not the only one, and no the motor isn’t malfunctioning, the nut butter is heating up under blissful pressure. Process for a couple more minutes until delicious. Eat while gooey and warm and turn into a veganaut superhero.
Add pretzel rolls, I know you haven’t forgotten these from my carb loading post, neither have I 
Instant Picnic!
Don’t forget to make yourself a vegan pizza for dinner tonight for Vegan Pizza Day! Ideas here and here!
And finally, if you haven’t entered my Cafe Rio Giveaway, DO IT NOW! Winners to be announced on Tuesday!
Hi Somer, thanks for stopping by my blog! I These recipes look delicious, I LOVE eating peanut butter toast with raspberry for breakfast, and have been wanting to make chia seed jam since I first saw it posted on healthfulsense.com. The blend of berries sound great, and the nut butter sounds awesome! And those pretzel rolls…wow! Liking, pinning, following!
Yay! We eat a LOT of PB&J of every variety around here. It was super fun making a fancy version! I’ll have to look up the healthfulsense.com version of chia jam! I love how this one turned out, I love that I didn’t need pectin. Following you too my dear!
Can I come to your instant picnic? No way I’m making jam with the weather forecast we’ve got, but I shall save this for a more reasonable day. Looks amazing!
Yes please! Picnic at my house!
I know blazing hot this week! I could do with a spot of rain! Thanks!
Uncontainable…I’m sitting here in a bathrobe, glasses on, kids cranky, and wondering how you have such good morning energy! I am trying to capture your energy and channel it into good food, but pizza shouldn’t be a problem. We might do calzones since they cook beautifully on the grill and the missing cheese isn’t a problem.
and it’s probably not actually an “instant” picnic, since making those lovely foods takes at least a few minutes…
Who said I have good morning energy? So not a morning person! I love the schedule publish function!
Pizza or calzones on the grill sounds SO good! I gotta get you the cashew cheez…..
Roasted on the instant picnic…
This is so crazy, Somer! I JUST made nut butter and chia jam yesterday (enter twilight zone music)! We are so much on the same wavelength sometimes! Have a great weekend (I hope your little one has a great birthday!)!
That is CRAZY! What kind of chia jam did you make?!? Too irresistible right? I have been slathering bananas with both of them. Drool! Have a great weekend too! Lateover birthday party is going to be rockin! Woot Woot!
I had some blueberries so I went to town! Thank you for mentioning the scramble pizza too!
Have fun!
Yum, I really love the freshness of freezer jam, but this was one recipe I will be making again and again. Your welcome for the scramble pizza mention! xoxo! Talk at you soon!
I can personally attest to the scrumptiousness of the rolls, jam and nut butter as Somer graciously shared her creations with me and my family. Thank you, my dear!
Xoxo! I gave some of the minis out to others, but the rolls were entirely for my favorite vegan blogger!
I am totally jamming it up tonight (who wants to clean on a Saturday night?) LOVE it!
Need a cherry pitter. So much more efficient.
For reals, pitting cherries forever and stained fingers too…
Yay, wanna know how it turned out. We’re in love with it over here!
Hi I have to try and make the Super-Powered Nut Butter
great idea 
You will love it! Thanks!
I love this Somer – Amanda is right, we so can’t contain you in just one day…we need more Somer! And of course more of this jam too! Looks amazing, and the chia – brilliant addition
Hehe, I have 2 days, phew. Thanks to Angela at OSG for the chia additin idea. Oh and I made your hummus and served it with homemade pitas and falafel last night. TO DIE FOR.
Awesome!!! Happy you liked it….honestly isn’t it good? TDF for sure!! xox!
We licked our plates clean. That good!
Love that so much!!!
I love that the jam only needs a 1/2 cup sweetener and you used maple syrup!
oh those rolls – those rolls still are amazing!
It’s great and still tastes plenty sweet! Thanks, we are a little obsessed with pretzel rolls…..
congratulations on the nominations!! thanks for sharing the chia purplicious recipe. I wanna try it this summer
Thanks! Try the jam, you will love it. Super yummy! Use any berries you have. How are your allergies?
I’ve never even tasted chia, but I might just have to give this a try.
Thanks for visiting my blog, Somer!
You are totally missing out! Chia is the bomb! I eat it nearly every day! Best prices are usually on amazon if you wanna try it!
I am in LOVE with this post! I might try and can a jar or two and see how it goes! Thank you, my friend! Sooooo exciting! ♥
It’s super fun, AND super yummy! Let me know how the canning goes, I haven’t ventured into that arena yet… :/
I just started last year with pickled watermelon rind. It’s awesome fun. ♥
Gotta do it, I have the equipment, just seems difficult with a busy 3 year old under foot. He starts preschool this year, so I’m ready to foray into it!
congrats on your awards Somer! You definitely deserve them:) And okay…YUM!!!! That pb&j on a pretzel roll…i’m practically drooling!! the combo of the jam…mmmmm!! I hope you have a fabulous weekend!
Thanks Caralyn! I have some awesome followers!!! Yes, it was a a crazy good combo! xoxo!
That super powered nut butter looks awesome. I love to make different nut butters but have never thought to add the seeds in too. I will have to give that a try this weekend!
Don’t add too much flax and chia, otherwise they thicken the nut butter too much and make it difficult to spread. Otherwise, go to town!
Good to know. Thanks for the tip!