Two things I had to discover by accident about jam, but maybe you have known all your life:
1. Grape JAM is completely different than grape JELLY. Grape jelly is the stuff that’s translucent and kind of like jell-o and doesn’t go on smoothly. Grape JAM is opaque and, after swishing the knife around in it, goes on smoothly. I didn’t learn this until my late twenties; I always just thought I hated grape jam because I was thinking of jelly and didn’t know there WAS a grape jam. But as anyone who has made jam or jelly knows, jelly is basically gelled fruit juice, while jam has the fruit in there.
2. Seedless strawberry jam could instead be called Big-mushy-strawberry-lump-less jam. The seeds don’t bother me so I never bought seedless. Then either Paul or I bought the seedless by mistake—and it was a revelation like the grape jam: it’s LOVELY. Because they have to strain out the seeds, you don’t get those unspreadable big mushy strawberry lumps either. (If those are your favorite part, then you’ll want to avoid the seedless.)
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I have a small diaper bag I bought long ago on clearance at Lands’ End, thinking it might be useful even though I didn’t like the color. It ended up being the Emergency Car Diaper Bag: it was just the right size for two to three diapers, some wipes, some hand sanitizer, and a fresh onesie. It saved my bacon many a time.
Tidying the car recently, I found it under the driver’s seat. The bag is still in good shape, but what to use it for, especially since I don’t like the color? THIS is what:
It is now an Emergency Car Bag for teenagers.
This idea started when I picked a child up from school for an orthodontist appointment, and as he got into the car I made the immediate and uncharacteristic decision to RISK BEING LATE: instead of driving directly to the appointment, we stopped at home to have him change his shirt and put on deodorant, because LORDY. A clean shirt won’t fit in the bag, but a travel pack of diaper wipes and a thing of deodorant would help considerably if we didn’t have time to stop at home.
Also a comb, hand sanitizer, and a snack, which are potentially useful for ANY of us (as are the wipes).
Coffee. Out. My. NOSE.
I recently (like 5 years ago) discovered seedless strawberry jam too! I hate fruit chunks, so I always bought jelly, but didn’t love that either. Somehow I bought the seedless jam and it is perfect for me! I will have ti try grape jam as well, I guess I didn’t realize they even made that.
You are so right about jam. My mom only ever bought jelly, and I thought they were all the same. Nope. I’m a big fan of the seedless kind. Yum!
Great idea for the emergency car bag for teenagers! Especially boys. Wow. They ripen during the day, don’t they?
Reminds me of @superjules’s emergency car kit!
Just a note from experience, be careful with the deodorant in the car in the summer. It melts, and can then escape the cap. I used to keep some in my glove box, and now I really hope I don’t get pulled over because my car registration is rather slimy–though it is powder fresh!
OH DEAR. This is very good to know! I’m going to see if I can think of a good substitute.
How about a roll-on version of some antiperspirant and put it in a ziploc bag?
I’m going to try it!
Okay, I never even knew they MADE grape jam or seedless strawberry jam! Now I’m going to have to buy some just to see for myself. You’ve done your civic duty today by informing me of this profound information. Seriously.
For that bag, may I suggest a pen and a variety of blank greeting cards?maybe a couple of stamps? I forget the card all the time.
Spray on deodorant shouldn’t melt in the heat.