Bourbon & Blueberries
New Product Release: Bourbon Blueberry Jam
Jams and jellies were not on the radar three years ago when I launched In the Curious Kitchen. But wow, have they been a tremendous hit! So popular, in fact, that our limited, seasonal Bourbon Blueberry Jam is such a fan favorite that now it will be a regular item available online and at our markets.
Making jams, jellies, and preserves is relatively simple but unfamiliar to this kitchen, and now it's a permanent fixture. They are the perfect way to savor the tastes and flavors of spring and summer and are so versatile. Our jams and jellies are the perfect addition to both sweet and savory recipes.
But ultimately, the decision to include jams and jellies in our product line was more of a business-driven decision. Our pimento cheese and beer cheese needed something that would compliment their rich, creamy flavors...a product or two to round out the selections. Plus, jams and jellies are a staple in Southern hospitality offerings–and adding bourbon just made sense. It’s a nod to my hometown, Frankfort, Kentucky, where some of the best bourbons in the world are made.
Our Hot Pepper Jelly was the first to test the waters. It would immediately sell out at the various markets and has so very many uses. It is perfect spread over softened cream cheese and served on a buttery, rich cracker. It’s a taste I remember well and a perennial favorite appetizer served at my parents’ legendary cocktail parties. It also packs a punch to everything from chicken wings to burgers. And like most of our jams and jellies, it is perfect to round out a charcuterie or cheese board.
Next came our Strawberry Jalapeno Jam. The flavors capture the sweetness of summer’s freshest berries and adds some heat for a curious and delicious flavor combination. Like its cousin, Hot Pepper Jelly, our Strawberry Jalapeno Jam is also the perfect appetizer. Use it on cream cheese or as a dip. During the holidays or for any party or gathering, use our Strawberry Jalapeno Jam in the center of a Pimento Cheese Ring. This is a tried-and-true recipe that has aged well–a real throwback to appetizers from back in the day. It’s simple. Mix In the Curious Kitchen Pimento Cheese with chopped pecans to form a ring—or pop it into a mold lined with plastic wrap. Chill for a few hours and unwrap it or unmold it and spoon our Strawberry Jalapeno Jam in the center. It truly doesn’t get any better than this!
Earlier this spring at a local farmers market, baskets full of beautiful blueberries captured my attention and I started figuring out a use for them as a product. After several trials and errors, In the Curious Kitchen Bourbon Blueberry Jam was born. It was meant to be a limited edition and available for just a few months but it is so popular that we have decided to add it as a permanent product. It’s the perfect addition to your cheese or charcuterie board and so many other recipes. One of our favorite uses is a topper for thinly sliced sirloin steak and brie crostini. This makes an amazing appetizer or light-bite dinner for when friends and family gather.
The collection of In the Curious Kitchen jellies and jams make a perfect hostess gift or stock your pantry to make sure you have some on hand for a quick appetizer. And don’t be surprised if there is an addition to this line-up at the end of the season–just in time for the holidays. I’ve been experimenting with fall’s bounty of apples and, what else, bourbon! I’m trying to determine what ingredients my grandmother used for her apple butter. It’s something I remember always having at her house–year round. A hot, flaky biscuit fresh from the oven and smothered in her perfect apple butter. A bit of bourbon to the recipe can only make it so much better and I believe a Bourbon Apple Butter would simply round out this collection. Stay tuned!
