Wow! What to say???
I am having so much fun with this, I cannot tell you!
I was lucky enough to freeze quite a bit of fruit over the summer, thanks to great local farmers like Fryer Farms of Logan, Parker Produce, Mark Anderson of Wellsville (NOT of Anderson Garden...a much nicer guy!) and Harward Farms of Lindon... (I will admit that I did get a little bit of fruit from Allred farms in Provo, but I have recently heard that they broker peaches from out of state and am not going to buy from them any more.) I truly take my support of local farmers absolutely seriously and will not support a broker.
THIS does not mean that I DO NOT use out of state produce at all, (seasonal cranberries, lemons, etc) but 85-90 percent of my jams are made with local produce only!!! And they are made in Logan by me and me alone (with the help of my husband and family who do the labeling and add my cool lids!!! :)
Here are a few of my new winter flavors...there will be more... but for now....
Sloshed Cran Raspberry--Fresh Utah Raspberries and Fresh Cranberries cooked together with sugar, special seasonings (of course grains of paradise are included in my blend of spices!) and a hint of grand mariner to bring out that hint of citrus that we all love so much with fresh cranberries! This makes for a great jam, or is wonderful with pork, turkey, chicken, white seafood, in cakes or thumbprint cookies, brownies, cheesecakes, or my favorite old-fashioned way is to slice up a Rustic Baguette from Crumb Brothers, spread it with cream cheese, and add a dollop of this to the top! Great toasted or cold!
Chocolate Cran-Raspberry-The same exact thing as above, BUT, with the addition of Amano Ocumare chocolate in just the right proportions!!!! :) Oooooo Yummy!!! Use in the same ways, or melt some in the microwave for Ice Cream, crepes, waffles..
Chocolate Pear a l'orange--Red and ripe D'anjou pears (skins and all) blended with special seasonings, a hint of grand marnier, just a teensy bit of sugar and chocolate to balance out the flavor make this spread wonderful with anything. It makes a great spread for a grilled cheese with sharp cheddar....add a few sauteed mushrooms and you are set! Try it with Crumb Brothers Garlic Loaf.. YUM! Pannini Style. Also great on ANY Meat as a marinade or condiment!
A "Plum" Mocha Obsession'- Italian plums poached in Cognac, sugar and spices, then blended with a hint of Kahlua, Amano Chocolate, special spices, and you are off to never never land! This is a wonderful compliment to Pork or Turkey.. Great for the holidays. This is one that is not too sweet, not to sour, but just right!!!
Chocolate Blueberry Decadance-Blueberries and chocolate. Heaps of both. Need I say more? This has been my most popular flavor to date and I cannot keep it in stock. I will have some this weekend at Caputos. The price on this is higher because I cannot get the quality in state blueberries that I like to cook with so I have to pay more for them. However it is worth it.
Peach-Blueberry Almondine-Utah Lemon Peaches infused with blueberries and a bit of Amaretto... Three of my favorite flavors blended together.
I am going to try to have my ever popular Strawberry Lemon-lade, however, I am catering a birthday party tomorrow night and busy, busy, busy!!!
NEW AND FUN HAPPENINGS!!!!
I am so lucky that Matt Caputo found me! He pointed me towards Amano Chocolate (TOSS OUT THE GUITTARD GUYS...I USE 1/4 THE AMOUNT OF CHOCOLATE BECAUSE OF THE BETTER QUALITY AND IT IS LOCAL!!!) in Orem (chocolate is HUGE in my gourmet jams) and it has made all the difference in the flavor.
It is an absolute pleasure for me to go to Caputos and sit, snack on cheese, olives, a great (500 pound!) meatball sandwich, more olives (Lukes are my favorites), more cheese, aranciata, CHOCOLATES, and just chat and visit with the workers and customers!! Everyone is so friendly and welcoming, you could not find a better place to spend your afternoon!
