Blackberry Jam [RECIPE]

When blackberries are in season, make this versatile jam recipe in a matter of minutes! (Photo by Jathan Fink, Jadeworks Entertainment)

Why buy a tiny, expensive jar of blackberry jam when it is so easy to make? All it takes is three ingredients to make a pint of homemade goodness that goes great on your favorite breakfast bread, including pancakes and waffles. Use it to make a delicious PB and J. Or, spoon it over a bowl of vanilla ice cream as a yummy dessert. This also makes a great gift for someone special. Just pack it in a glass Ball jar and tie a bow around it to make it look festive!

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Plum-and-Blackberry Cornmeal-Almond Crumb Bars [RECIPE]

Plum-and-Blackberry Cornmeal-Almond Crumb Bars

These bar cookies are bursting with fruity flavor! (Photo by Lennart Weibull)

We are big fans of using seasonal produce in everything we cook, especially in desserts that call for of lots of succulent fruit. This recipe for plum-and-blackberry cornmeal-almond crumb bars comes from Martha Stewart’s latest cookbook, Cookie Perfection, and eating it is like sinking your teeth into the best parts of summer. To get the right texture for these bad boys, make sure to pick your plums with care. You don’t want ones that are too juicy, so look for those with a low moisture content (such as yellow-fleshed Italian prune plums), and combine them with another stone fruit or berries—like these plump, sweet blackberries. Taste-test your blackberries though. If they’re tart, temper them with an equal amount of blueberries.  —J&H
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Berries with Mascarpone [RECIPE]

Heather first made this dish for my college graduation party many years ago, and I have loved it ever since. Nothing says summer like this light, buoyant dessert. Easy to prepare, but oh so delicious, this is the perfect finish to a special meal. It’s so easy to make, she even taught two of my interns, Jordan Tidwell and Rachel Breitfeller, how to prepare it! Read more of this post