STRAWBERRIES PRESERVES RECIPES

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved. Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 20 minutes, until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly. Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate. (I keep one in the freezer.) Pour carefully into 2 pint canning jars and either seal or keep refrigerated. Use immediately, or follow proper canning guidelines below.
• Sterilizing Tips:
• Jars should be made from glass and free of any chips or cracks. Preserving or canning jars are topped with a glass, plastic, or metal lid, which has a rubber seal. Two piece lids are best for canning, as they vacuum seal when processed.
• To sterilize jars, before filling with jams, pickles, or preserves, wash jars and lids with hot, soapy water. Rinse well and arrange jars and lids open sides up, without touching, on a tray. Leave in a preheated 175 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Or, boil the jars and lids in a large saucepan, covered with water, for 15 minutes.
• Use tongs when handling the hot sterilized jars, to move them from either boiling water or the oven. Be sure the tongs are sterilized too, by dipping the ends in boiling water for a few minutes.
• As a rule, hot preserves go into hot jars and cold preserves go into cold jars. All items used in the process of making jams, jellies, and preserves must be clean. This includes any towels used, and especially your hands.
• After the jars are sterilized, you can preserve the food. It is important to follow any canning and processing instructions included in the recipe and refer to USDA guidelines about the sterilization of canned products.

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or wax paper and set aside.
• Toast the flaked coconut in a dry nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, shaking the pan frequently to ensure an even toast, until golden and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• Add the sunflower seeds to the same skillet and toast, stirring constantly, until they are golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and let cool.
• Add the yogurt to a bowl, then add the honey and mix together. Spoon half on each of the lined baking sheets and spread out with a spatula.
• Place the strawberry preserves in a piping bag, snip off the end and pipe evenly over the of yogurt. Repeat with the blackberry preserves.
• Evenly sprinkle half of the strawberries, blackberries, coconut and sunflower seeds over each pan. Tap the pans on the countertop to ensure that the fruit and nuts settle into the yogurt.
• Place in the freezer, uncovered, until set, at least 4 hours.
• Remove from the freezer, peel off the paper and break into random pieces. Transfer to an airtight container and keep frozen until ready to eat.