You are what you eat... CHEAP + EASY!

 This will probably be the shortest JAM SESH of my life. 

Ever get invited to a barbecue, party, or some other potentially socially awkward celebration and not know what to bring?

Here's a clue... 3 words.. All food... Inexpensive... Easy... GIVE UP?

Bring brie cheese** topped with SMASHED! Apple BUTTER! with Cinnamon Whiskey, served with a sliced baguette (or two).

**Here's a little trick: heat the brie in the oven on an oven safe platter, once warmed to your liking take the platter out of the oven and place the sliced baguette ON the platter while still hot. This will not only warm your bread, but also make them perfectly crisp.**

               Easy peasy! And delicious to boot! xo

Winner! Winner! Chicken DINNER!

Who wants to cook long meals when it's hot outside? Not me. Considering we will be in the upper 80's this week (Yuck! I loathe the heat). I'm looking for quick, healthy, and delicious meals that don't require me slaving away over a stove top. 

So, this brings me to our next JAM-SESH! We looked over the results of the survey we posted a couple of weeks ago and the jury has spoken, you want QUICK and SAVORY. BOOM! I got you covered.  (Don't worry those of you with a sweet tooth, I'll sneak a couple sweet tutorials in here too. It IS jam, after all :] ). 

Tonight I took our SMASHED! Champagne, Ginger, Peach JAM! and turned it into an AWESOME chicken marinade. 

Here is the recipe:

4- Chicken Breasts (Chicken thighs would work too)

1/2 C. SMASHED! Champagne, Ginger, Peach JAM!

1 1/2 T. Soy Sauce

1 T. Minced Garlic

Chili Flake, to taste

- Mix ALL ingredients together in a medium sized bowl. Once mixed, add the chicken of your choosing. 

    **If you plan on using this for later use, seal in an airtight container or freezer bag and refrigerate or freeze.**

- Once you let the chicken marinade as long as you want it to, heat your grill and place your chicken on the hot grill. Baste the chicken with the marinade while cooking. Cook accordingly. 

I added a pinch of sesame seed sprinkles on mine. Totally NOT needed, but fun none-the-less. We paired our lovely chicken with a super tasty Mango Salad (Want the recipe? E-mail me: artisanalgoodsnw@gmail.com-- I'll share the love). And voila! a delicious meal was made.

                           *I hope you enjoy this QUICK, HEALTHY, and TASTY meal!*

  ***What other ways would you use our SMASHED! Champagne, Ginger, Peach JAM!??***

All Natural SMASHED! Pop-Tarts!

I'm sure everyone and their Moms have had a Pop-Tart at one point in their life, but have you ever read what goes IN them?! It's not awesome. There's TONS of processed garbage and ingredients most people cannot even pronounce.

So, we took it upon ourselves to create a natural version using all organic ingredients, non-commercial food dyes, and not a shred of genetically modified materials, all the while incorporating our SMASHED! Raspberry, Rose, Moscato Jam! ENJOY!


Raspberry Rose Pop-Tarts!

 

We started with a basic pie crust recipe:

 

Pie Crust Recipe:

 

2 1/4 Cup Organic Whole Wheat Flour

2 T. Organic Butter

1/2 Cup Organic Vegetable Shortening

3/4 t. Sea Salt

7-8 T. Cold Water

 

              Combine Flour and Salt in large bowl. Using a pastry cutter, incorporate butter and shortening until fully combined. Add 1 tablespoon of water at time until dough becomes moist and pliable (I used all 8 tablespoons).

 

              Then roll out onto a floured surface (if dough is too warm and tears when you try to roll it out, pop it into the fridge for 10 minutes). Roll dough until it is just shy of a 1/4" then use a pizza cutter and cut out 12 equally sized rectangles or squares if you're feeling crazy!

 

                                              

            Once you have all of your shapes cut out, spread about 1 tablespoon of SMASHED! Raspberry Rose Jam to the center of the dough.

 

            Brush an egg wash (whisk and 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of water together) on the edges and place one of your pastry shapes on top and seal the edges using a fork. Puncture the top of the pastry with a sharp knife to help let out any steam. Now last, but not least brush the edges of the finalized pastry with egg wash and voila! You're ready to bake!

 

       Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the edges are golden brown

 

 

 

                 Whilst your little pastries are cooking away it's time to make the glaze!.

 

Raspberry Glaze:

 

- 3/4 Cup Powdered Sugar

- 3 T. Natural Food Coloring (We made our own using 1/4 Cup dried Hibiscus flowers steeped into 1 Cup of boiling water. It made for a very nice rosy hue)

 - 1 T. Organic Raspberry Extract

 

                                   Mix all ingredients in a bowl and you are DONEZO!

 

 

          Now it's time for the FUN part! Apply the glaze and SPRINKLE on the goodness!

 

Once you take your pastries out of the oven, let them cool for about 10-15 minutes before applying the glaze otherwise it will end up everywhere. You can put the glaze in a piping bag and make cool designs or use a frosting spatula (like we did) and go to town!

 

While the glaze was still wet we sprinkled on some Rose Organic Sugar (1/4 Cup whole, dried rose buds-- seeds and stems removed, pulverize in a spice blender, add to 1 Cup of Organic Sugar, place into an airtight container, and SHAKE IT UP!)

 

 

 

 

 Now look at these little beauties! Go on... Eat one! But I bet you can't stop at just ONE! <3