Photo Courtesy of Marcia Seiler Photography

Just the other day I had to ask myself how many days until Valentine’s Day and I realized it’s here

. It’s that time of the year…love is definitely in the air! A holiday focusing on spreading kindness, friendship, and love is something we can all embrace. Whether or not you have a Valentine or not, there’s something about this alleged Hallmark holiday that warms our hearts.

I love decorating the house with delicate touches of reds and pinks, heart-shaped glassware and trinkets I have collected through the years and lots of fresh flowers. It adds something cheerful to the dreary, gloomy days of winter. When the girls were little, Valentine’s Day was a family affair. We spent weeks creating festive Valentine’s Day cards for classmates, friends, and family. We always made lots of Valentine’s Day cookies and treats to share.

This year, we have been experimenting in the kitchen more than ever and coming up with so many new, creative, and delicious ways to use our products. For the past few weeks, we have been focusing on different ways to use our jellies and jams. Since it’s Valentine’s Day, I thought using our Strawberry Jalapeno Jam would be most appropriate. It is one of our most versatile products and can be used in so many recipes.

One of my favorite ways to use our Strawberry Jalapeno Jam is to make up a batch of puff pastry bites using the jam and brie cheese as the filling. It is so simple to make, takes only a few minutes using ingredients most of us have on hand, and is oh-so-delicious. The slight zing of the jalapeno peppers infused with the natural sweetness of strawberries is the perfect taste profile to combine with the creaminess of brie cheese. It’s a “triple threat” of flavor!

Another way we have been using our Strawberry Jalapeno Jam is in cocktails. It doesn’t have to be sunny and warm outdoors or Cinco de Mayo to enjoy a refreshing margarita, and making a Spicy Strawberry Jalapeno Margarita adds a curious twist to one of my favorite beverages. It’s the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. I taste-tested several recipes and finally decided that adding a spoonful of our Strawberry Jalapeno Jam to the shaker is a simple trick for margarita making! Use more or less depending on your preferences–and shake, shake, shake; it’s a quick shortcut for a strawberry margarita with a zing. It blends perfectly and adds that little something-something! Don’t forget to rim the glass with salt and top it with a slice of fresh jalapeno for that extra kick.

For a sweet treat for Valentine’s Day, don’t forget about our best-selling Boozy Cherries. The dark Italian cherries are soaked in syrup made with Kentucky’s finest spirits and pure organic cane sugar, creating a deliciously decadent sauce. They are perfectly served over vanilla bean ice cream or used in place of regular cherries for any recipe. One of my favorite ways to use our Boozy Cherries, other than cocktails, is for my Boozy Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.

These cookies remind me of the chocolate chip cookies that my Grandmother sent me while I was in college. Of course, adding chopped Boozy Cherries is the curious twist. Think chocolate chip cookies meet the perennial favorite Old Fashioned. There are elements of my favorite cocktail laced in these decadent cookies. The Boozy Cherries are the star, and I use just a splash of bourbon to keep things exciting. Maybe I should rename these little delicious treats Cupid’s Cookies for the holiday?

Also, think about using our Boozy Cherries with champagne. Just drop a cherry into your fluted champagne vessel, add your favorite bubbly and VOILA! You have a new Valentine’s Day champagne cocktail.

However you and your loved ones celebrate Saint Valentine, remember it's a season to spread love and kindness–and for my family, there’s no better way than some tasty treats. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Cheers!

MK

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