A Southern Grace: pump up the jam

November 7, 2008

pump up the jam

Yum

The good: Jim and Pam from The Office (insert sigh here)
The bad: traffic jams
The ugly: toe jam


Blueberry jam definitely falls into the first category. Definitely.

Yeah, I did it. Forget Smucker's--I made my own blueberry jam, and it's darn good.


(bubble, bubble, toil and trouble)

I have a box of gelatin that's been glaring at me every time I open my cabinet, so I needed to find a jam recipe that used gelatin instead of pectin. Find it, I did.

After making the aforementioned jam (and tasting it to make sure it was magnificent)(it was), my next task was finding a fabulous recipe in which to use it. Find it, I did. Although Deb used fresh raspberries in her creation, I felt confident that using my jam instead wouldn't be a problem. I did have to bake them a bit longer, but that was all.


(helloooo, hunk o' buttah!)

These were some scrum-diddly-umptious bars, if I do say so myself (buckets of butter and sugar tend to have that effect...). There was plenty of that magical cinnamon flavor, and it was nicely accented by the sweet blueberry jam and hearty oats. Delightful.

Blueberry Breakfast Bars
(adapted from this recipe)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cups oats
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 1/2 cups blueberry jam

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease up the bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch baking pan. To make the crust and crumble topping, combine the flour, brown sugar, oats, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Cut in the butter and until loose crumbs form.
Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the mixture and set aside. Pour the rest of the mixture into the prepared pan and push the crust into an even layer at the bottom of the pan. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let the crust cool.
Once the crust has cooled, spread the blueberry jam evenly on top. Sprinkle the reserved crust mixture evenly on top of the jam.
Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.



(have you met Jim and Pam?)

Meanwhile, I hope you're familiar with this site. It's incredible and Wednesday's post was particularly inspired. And inspiring.

55 comments:

Jacque said...

My hubby LOVES that show.

AND your bars look totally scrump-diddly-umptious!

AND you won my extra book! Check it out http://daisylanecakes.blogspot.com/2008/11/and-winner-is.html

Veronica said...

Wow, your own jam...nice. The blueberry bars do indeed look scrumdiddlyumptious!

Anamika:The Sugarcrafter said...

hi grace
the bluberry jam bars looks exceptionally great..must have great taste, too, isnt it ! well done.

Robin said...

You made blueberry jam- Yum! I love blueberries. The bars look fab! The bent site is very cute too. Thanks!

kat said...

Good for you making your own jam!

Gloria Baker said...

Look so delicious Grace!! Gloria

Albany Jane said...

Yum, yum, yum! I really enjoy home made jams. They just taste so much like the fruit they come from!

Dee Light said...

Home made Jams and Jellies really are the best!! Your bars look so yummy.

Anonymous said...

I had to get used to The Office US after watching the original British one but after about 2 episodes I was hooked :)

What a coincidence, just posted something baked in a square pan that uses homemade blueberry jam too :)
Your breakfast bars look delicious!

Paula said...

I would love to try those scrum-diddly-umptious bars! I've never even had blueberry jam ... sniff, sob. My hubby would snarf this down in say ... one second! YUM!

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

I ONCE TRIED TO MAKE JAM WITH GELATIN THAT DINT WORK OUT WELL SO I TURNED MY BACK TO IT :) MOUTHWATERING

Marjie said...

You shoulda seen the traffic jams here when the Office convention was held last October. I love homemade jam, too, and my baby especially loves peach jam. Even with frozen fruits they're great! That might be good in your bars, too!

Rosie said...

Beautiful homemade jam and perfect looking breakfast bars - YUM I would love one to eat for my breakfast any day ;)

Rosie x

Pam said...

These breakfast bars look amazing Grace. I love homemade blueberry jam.

I also adore Jim and Pam - such a cute couple.

Anonymous said...

dang those looks good.
i love pim/jam! :-)

Aleta said...

OMG - I love blueberries. This looks delicious!

Shari said...

That looks buttery-berry-delicious! Love your good/bad/ugly thoughts at the beginning. ;)

Anonymous said...

I love the smell of jam cooking. And, the crumbly topping on these bars looks awesome!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Ha, you got that from HoneyB's Grumpy! I LOVE that word! I giggle reading and saying it!

Your bars looks Jama-ilicous! :-)
~ingrid

The Blonde Duck said...

Those bars look amazing! I'd eat them for breakfast any day.

I'm just getting into the office. Steve Carrel reminds me so much of my boss, it's scary.

I love the bent objects! Cute!

Melanie said...

Homemade blueberry jam? Ok, you just went up like 15 notches in my "cool" book. And the bars look great - I've made a version of these from Smitten Kitchen, too, and they are fantastic!

La Bella Cooks said...

Love that show and I also love the Brit version as well. Wow, homemade jam. I am impressed! This looks delicious and would be perfect with a cup of coffee right about now.

anudivya said...

Perfect! hunk o' buttah, LOL Cute!

Anonymous said...

Okay I love the office but I don't have the patience for Jim & Pam...I know, I know, I just don't!

But your foooood does look scrumptious!

Anonymous said...

Yum, I just bought some of my favorite Blueberry Jam from Trader Joes last week. I think I have to make these!

Lori said...

Jammin' we're jammin' (insert Bob Marley music). It looks utterly delicious. I have a lot of jam hanging around. This is how I can put it to use!

Anonymous said...

Wow, your jam looks great. It's not runny at all-must give the gelatine method a try.

I used to dislike the Office US (being loyal to the original UK version) but now I love it. Like seriously love it!

Nic said...

These bars looks soooo good, and homemade jam makes them fantastic!

Heather said...

I LOVE JIM AND PAM!!! That's what she said. The Office is the highlight of my week. sooooo funny :) this jam looks delicious! and i agree, toe jam sucks :)

MaryBeth said...

These jam bars looks great, all I would need is a glass of milk.

OhioMom said...

I love how the blueberry is just oozing out of these bars ... yum!

pam said...

Those are some delightful looking granola bars!

Jessica@Foodmayhem said...

My oh my! you're own blueberry jam...I am in love.

Anonymous said...

I've always wanted to make my own jam - I'm sure it made these bars even more delicious. They look awesome (especially with that hunk of butter!)

PG said...

If I get "Pump up the Jam" in my head all day - well...I don't know what. But, it wouldn't be good.

I've made the blueberry breakfast bars...also made a peach version. Contemplating making another batch this weekend. Definitely a winner recipe.

You've been tagged!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Thank goodness it is breakfast time. I am headed to the kitchen now!!

Tabitha Blue said...

Hello, phoenix bombshell!!!! I just love these names. Another thing I love is Jim and Pam!! Perfect pick. I made blueberry jam over the summer and it's one of my faves! I'll totally have to try this recipe now too!

vanillasugarblog said...

Alright girlfriend! Making your own jam. Love it. And yes, I saw that hunk of butter, I love when that happens.

Mc Allen said...

Oh that looks so yummy!!!! I wish I was creative and liked to bake... I did just get a new bread maker so I'm moving in the right direction!! LA

Sophie said...

I just might have to try out that recipe, I have some gelatin in my pantry too :). Btw, when I read the title of this entry, I couldn't help but think of the song that I used to dance to in my light-up LA Gears some time looong ago lol! :)

Anonymous said...

Love blueberry bars! LOVE them. But I have to tell you that you kind of gagged me out with the toejam. lmfao

Anonymous said...

I love using homemade jam- it is so much better! The blueberry bars look delicious.

Unknown said...

very impressive! i love blueberry jam but know I'd never try to make it at home... Is the second picture down the jam or jello? the bars sound delicious, especially the hunk of butter.

Sandy said...

Good job on the jam Grace. Love the tasy bars - and The Office, too!

Geggie said...

Yum, yum, yum! I was just looking for a recipe for something non-chocolate and jammy.

Sandie said...

1. Love The Office
2. Yum on the blueberry jam. Double yum on these bars.
3. Great link to Bent Objects. Never seen that site before, and you're right. The salt & pepper post was particularly inspired.
4. Wasn't there a song back in the 80's or 90's called Pump Up the Jam? Seems vaguely familiar...

:-)

Bunny said...

I love Jim and Pam, my husband doesn't unde4rstand why I like the show at all hee hee! Next summer I will make jam, I didn't get to do it this year. The bars look scrumptous!!

Emily said...

Blueberry jam and the Office? Yum.
Best post ever?! :)

Deborah said...

I don't think I've ever had blueberry jam - and from the looks of these bars - I'm missing out!

Ann said...

Well, I think the Poptart has been officially de-camped! I adore blueberry anything, it's my fave berrty - so this looks totally delectable.

Unknown said...

Grace~
GORGEOUS, I must say...
You make my mouth water EVERYTIME girl!!!
j

Anonymous said...

Haven't watched a single episode from this season so far! What's wrong with me? Oh yeah.. blogging gets in the way :)

test it comm said...

Those look really good! I think I have some blueberry jam as well.

Jaime said...

i'm so impressed you made your own jam! those breakfast bars look good too - maybe i'd actually eat breakfast if i had those :)

Jeanne said...

LOL about the sugar and butter quip. Sometimes I catch myself mixing a batter and worrying that it won;t turn out as planned... and then realising that, given the ingredients, whatever happens it will be tasty (even if hideously deformed!!) - so stop worrying!

Love these breakfast bars...