Jeannie's Jams- Last Weekend at Love Apple Farm, Ben Lomond

logo design by Ron Suthers

If you are around this Memorial Day weekend, be sure to come out and visit me one last time at the Farm. Love Apple Farm is having their last weekend of tomato sales for the year Saturday and Sunday from 10-3pm. They are starting a new farm so this may be the last time to tour the gardens as the new farm will not be open to the public except for classes.  I've got new delicious flavors like my new Raspberry Rhubarb or Blackberry Meyers Lemon- you thought the Strawberry versions were the best-wait until you try these! Grab some undeniably insane Apricot Pineapple jam- this batch is quite special, made from a super ripe pineapple that has vanilla & coconut notes- WOW! Thanks to all my Ben Lomond Jam Freaks- I will miss seeing you at the farm. Thank you Cynthia from Love Apple Farm for the honor of managing your Tomato Plant Sale and Farm Stand for the past 4 years. Hope to see you all this weekend - don't forget your jars! checkout out the farm's website at GrowBetterVeggies.com

Jeannie's Jams Return to Love Apple Farm Tomato Plant Sale

Ah, Spring is here and that can mean only one thing! It's time to visit Love Apple Farm to stock up on Jeannie's Jams and get a zillion precious and unique varieties of heirloom tomato starts! I currently have over 60 varieties of small batch homemade jams with yummy samples for tasting! We are now open Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays from 10am-3pm through May 30. Love Apple Farm is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains in Ben Lomond California. You can read all about the farm at http://www.growbetterveggies.com/
Can't wait to see you there!

When Life Gives You Lemons....Make Marmalade!

By years end I'm so exhausted from the long season of canning and selling my jams I escape all things "kitchen" for the holidays. Recently while on vacation in Arizona, a friend brought me Tangelos and fresh Kumquats she'd just picked. The next day another friend brought over Grapefruits from his backyard. Ok I thought, its only the second day of my vacation. I had envisioned a little more time to relax and dream of the citrus of my future. Oh well, as luck would have it, I was working.

After eating my fill of those luscious Tangelos I made a couple of batches each of regular Tangelo Marmalade and some with Royal Crown Whiskey. I like the idea of Whiskey with citrus. Kinda reminds me of a "Hot Totty". Did you know that a Tangelo is a cross between a Pummelo and a Tangerine? Cool huh?  Next I made Kumquat Marmalade.  I usually add orange to the marmalade but I added clementines for a change (besides I didn't have any oranges but an obscene amount of clementines.) Kumquats are used medicinally in Asia, as a tonic of sorts. Makes sense since Citrus originates from the area. The hardest project though proved to be the Grapefruit. I carefully peeled the rind from the grapefruit for what seemed like hours to ensure none of the bitter pith was attached to the rind and made sure the cut strips were uniform. I set aside more than half of the peel for candying later and added the rest to the sweet yet bitter bright pink flesh.

When I arrived home I was so excited to see the Meyers Lemon tree was LOADED with ripe lemons! More for my Strawberry Lemon and Mango Lemon Marmarlade and the glorious Meyers Marmalade. You can never have too many lemons! I am amazed that people in my neighborhood don't pick their Lemons and other citrus loaded trees in their front yards. They are the treasures of the winter. Free, organic and just right for winter's chill. MY FAVORITE is Blood Orange Port Marmalade. When you slice them they are like sunsets inside.  When you add the Port in the end it it sizzles and really makes it a lovely deep garnet color. I love making marmalades. They are truly like capturing sunshine in jars!

Jeannie's Jams at Holiday Craft Fair at Louden Nelson Center

Due to the rain forecast for this Saturday, Decmeber 12th I will be selling my jams at Louden Nelson Center's Holiday Craft Fair from 10-4pm. Louden Nelson is located at 301 Center Street in downtown Santa Cruz. There will be over 30 local artisan vendors, live music, and homemade baked goods for sale. Their will also be arts and crafts for the kids to enjoy including gift making, and decorating ginderbread houses. So come one, come all and support your local artists by buying handmade gifts and ofcourse some of my yummy jams and gift baskets. Click here For more info. Sunday I will have my last jam stand of 2009, rain or shine. Since there's a 60% chance of showers expect a more scaled done model of my stand than usual or contact me at JeanniesJams@gmail.com for pick up later in the week. Happy Holidays!

Jeannie's Jams Holiday Gift Sale

Starting this weekend December 5th & 6th and continuing next weekend December 12th & 13th from 10-4pm, I'll be having my annual holiday gift sale. It will be held outside 530 Windham Street in the lovely Seabright neighborhood of Santa Cruz. I will have gift boxes and baskets of jams as well as my amazing stock of over 50 varieties of jams, jellies, marmalades and chutneys for sale. Tell your friends and family to come get some locally produced, practical gifts for the season. Hope to see you all there!

Jeannie's Jams Goes to Santa Cruz

(photo courtesy of Chris Berry)

I'm so excited to be continuing my jam sales for my Santa Cruz neighbors in my "hometown" of Seabright this weekend November 7th and 8th and next weekend November 14th and 15th from 10-4pm. I'll be at the corner of Seabright Ave & Windham Street (just follow the amazing handmade signs Ron made!) It's a lovely area quite near the beach, in fact I can hear the seals barking at night! So come mingle with the locals. There will be jam samples and treats for all. If you are wondering what lovely and personal gifts you could buy for the holiday season that are pracical and affordable, come visit me and get all that stuff off your mind and enjoy a relaxing Autumn. See you there! - Jeannie

Last Weekend to Visit Me This Season At Love Apple Farm

Come visit me this Saturday and Sunday from 10-3 for my end of the season jam sales at LoveApple Farm. I will have new flavors to share with you all- Curried Apple Chutney, Triple Ginger Jam, Lime Marmalade, Sugar Pie Pumpkin Butter, Cranberry Apple Butter and Strawberry-Balsamic Fig Jam. There will also be a small supply of precious offerings from the farm including amazing fresh picked dahlias, peppers, eggplants, squashes and tomatoes. It's a great place to visit and be inspired so bring the kids and pick up some of my tasty creations.

Love Apple farm is the exclusive kitchen garden for Manresa restaurant. To learn more about the farm and to get directions visit farmer Cynthia Sandberg's blog GrowBetterVeggies.com. You can expect more posts about the farm in the future as it's one of my favorite places!