"homemade jam" news and stories

• Yes, French woman do indeed drink wine.
• Here's what you need to have a garden party this summer.
• How to make homemade jam.
• A quick guide for what to make for June events such as graduations and Father's Day.
• How to add flowers to any meal.
• This month's recipes include: Chilled Tomato-Tarragon Soup, Grits, Cheese, and Onion Souffles, Tomato, Red Onion, and Basil Bruschetta, Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies, Blackberries with Mint Tea Syrup and Yogurt, and Coconut Cake with Mascarpone Frosting.

When the folks at Jam contacted me and asked if I'd like to try out a jar of their Blenheim Apricot Jam, I was hesitant to accept. Not because I don't love jam but because the vast majority of jam I've eaten in my lifetime has been made by my mom and she makes some really terrific jam. She hand picks blueberries, wild blackberries and yellow plums for her jam. It's so good that in past years she has sold it at craft fairs and frequently gives it as gifts. Because of my mom's cooking and canning skills, I know good jam.

These folks know good jam too. When I received the box, I immediately took it into the kitchen, broke the seal on the jar and dipped a spoon in. I touched a small amount to my tongue and waited for a reaction from my tastebuds. They nearly danced from the joy of the jam. The flavor is intensely apricot-y and smooth. It has the power to turn an ordinary piece of toast into something exalted. I imagine it would be amazing as the fruit layer in a cake or jelly roll. It is awesome, amazing jam.

They make it in small batches, canning it the old fashioned way, just like my mom does. It's a little bit spendy, coming in at $20 a jar before shipping, so I would rank it as a treat for a special occasion. If you have a jam lover in your life towards whom you are feeling particularly generous, this (along with a nice, crusty loaf of bread) would make an excellent gift.