Product Newsletter 8/31/2009

Hi All,

How we love the harvest season and it is definitely upon us! Fresh fruits and veggies abound at the farmer's markets and farm stands. Justin spent a few hours this week in the fields harvesting delicious, juicy red raspberries. You'll love the bright, sweet flavor of our new product, Locally-Grown Raspberry Jam!

New Products

• Locally-Grown Raspberry Jam - Made from fresh local raspberries hand-picked from a small family farm. This jam has a firmer set than most of our jams and a bright raspberry flavor.
• College Care Packages - We're happy to offer college care packages in two sizes, small ($30) and large ($55). Each care package offers your homesick student the comforts of home with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, handcrafted soups, and other great treats.
• Jam Sampler Three-Packs - We have a limited quantity of our jam sampler three-packs. Buy these now and put them away for Christmas! The three 4-oz jars are a delicious handmade gift.

Free Recipe: Blueberry Jam Cake
(Inspired by: Two-Layer Blackberry Jam Cake)

1 1/2 sticks of butter, room-temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup JM Creative Local Blueberry Jam
3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
buttercream frosting or fresh whipped cream to frost or garnish

1) Cream together the butter and sugar. Add eggs, beating well.
2) In a separate bowl, sift-together flour and baking soda.
3) Add flour mixture to wet mixture a little at a time, mixing together thoroughly.
4) Stir-in nuts (optional) and blueberry jam. Mix well.
5) Pour into a single greased and floured cake pan or pie plate.
6) Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes until a toothpick or skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool.
7) Either cool completely and frost with buttercream frosting or serve slightly warm with a dollap of whipped cream. Garnish with fresh blueberries if available.

Product Newsletter 8/24/2009

Hi Everyone!

While the heat of summer is still here, we're already thinking ahead to Autumn and the holidays, our favorite time of year. It's a wonderful time of year filled with family, friends, and some of the best food. We're happy to offer a few new products that'll be perfect for your Autumn shopping needs.

New Products

• College Care Package - Send your favorite college student a hand-made back-to-school treat. Our college care packages, containing a number of our delicious hand-crafted food products, are just the right thing for someone who misses home. Includes FREE Shipping!
• Custom Gift Baskets - We're happy to now offer custom gift baskets for any occasion. Each basket is carefully arranged with your choice of products from our store and shrink-wrapped to keep everything in place. Baskets start at just $30. Contact us for exact pricing!
• Ginger Rhubarb Jam is Back! - Pungent and spicy, this jam was more popular than we could have imagined and sold out quickly. Never fear, it's back and now you can have your very own jar.

Store News

• New Shipping Prices - As most of you know, we were forced to discontinue our $5 flat-rate shipping program due to unreliability. Please see our new shipping policies, with prices that start as low as $12 per order.

Free Recipe: Jam-Stuffed Moist Corn Muffins

1 Recipe Ina Garten's Corn Muffins
1 Jar JM Creative Jam, Jelly or Preserves (any flavor)

1) Prepare corn muffins as directed in recipe. Allow muffins to cool slightly and remove from pan.
2) Scoop all jam into a piping bag fitted with a large tip.
3) Push the tip of the piping bag into the top of each muffin and squirt 1 to 2 tablespoons of jam into each muffin, letting it overflow just a bit on top.

Recipe Idea from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook.

Product Newsletter 8/15/2009

Hi All,

It's been a busy week here at JM Creative. You all can't seem to get enough of our All-Natural Marinara sauce and hearty soups. That, of course, is wonderful! Now, on with the newsletter...

New Products & Deals

Now Offering Next-Day Air Shipping - We're now offering a next-day air shipping upgrade for an additional $3 (a total of $8). As always, this is a flat-rate price and applies to your entire order. We will continue to ship only on Wednesdays unless you make special arrangements with us. To add next-day air to your next order, find the product in our "Shipping Upgrades" category and add it to your cart.

Custom Gift Baskets - Looking for a unique hand-made gift? Email us about custom gift baskets. Choose several items from our store and we'll arrange them into a beautiful hand-crafted gift basket or box. Each basket is custom-priced depending on the products chosen and container choice. Contact us for details!

Gift Wrapping & Gift Direct Shipping - Buying a gift for someone else? We'll wrap it and ship it directly to the recipient for you. Ask about it in the comment field when you place your order. All gifts will be wrapped in our rustic brown paper, tied with twine or raffia, and bear the recipient's name on a tea-stained hanging tag. We'll even include a card with a message from you. A small feel will apply for wrapping supplies.

New Shipping Policy on Chocolate Products - Due to the summer heat, we aren't able to ship our chocolate products via UPS ground. Effective immediately, all orders including chocolate items will automatically be charged $10 for shipping and will receive next-day air service with ice packs in the box to keep things cool. This policy will be rescinded when the weather gets cool again. In the interest of recycling, any ice packs returned to us will get you a $1 store credit. Or, use them for the beach!

Sister Blog; Kitchen Organization Tips - Our sister blog, EatMyAsparagus.com, recently partnered with Bonnie Dewkett, a Professional Organizer from The Joyful Organizer, to write an article about organizing your kitchen. Check it out. It has some great tips, even if you don't like to cook!

Free Recipe - Chili & Cheese Dogs

4 quality beef hotdogs
4 hot dog buns or sub rolls
2 tablespoons of butter
1 jar JM Creative Mild Turkey Chili or Beef Chili
1 jar orange cheese sauce (plain or spicey)

1) Open the jar of chili and pour half of the contents into a microwave save bowl. Cover and microwave for two minutes. Stir. Continue heating and stirring one minute at a time until chili is heated through.
2) Warm the cheese sauce according to the package directions.
3) Heat a large frying pan on the stove on medium-high heat.
4) Split each hot dog the long way, being careful not to cut through the skin on the bottom so that each hot dog opens "like a book".
5) Place butter in the pan and allow it to melt. When the foaming subsides, place hot dogs, cut-side-down into the pan. Weigh-down with a sauce pan if they start to curl. Allow bottom to develop a brown crust, 2-3 minutes.
6) Using tongs, flip the hot dogs onto the uncut sides and allow to develop color, another 2-3 minutes.
7) Remove the hotdogs from the heat, fold back together, and insert each, cut-side-up into a bun.
8) Dress hot dogs with cheese sauce and chili, allowing the filling to get between the two split pieces of the hot dog.
9) Enjoy with quality potato chips, pickles, or your favorite summer side dishes.

Product Newsletter 8/6/2009

Hi All,

It's been an exciting week as we gradually complete the remodel on our production kitchen and take advantage of the summer's bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Justin spent two hours in the fields picking local blueberries and a lot of time at the stove to bring you two fresh, new products. We hope you enjoy!

New Products

Local Rhode Island Blueberry Jam - This all-natural blueberry jam is made from 100% Rhode Island grown blueberries from a small family farm. Justin hand-picked the blueberries himself and made the jam the same day, locking in the most intense, delicious, sweet blueberry flavor you've ever experienced.

Tuscan Rosemary & White Bean Soup - This hearty, filling soup is inspired by the Italians' love for creamy white beans. Not only that, but it happens to be Michelle's favorite soup in our repertoire. This is true chicken soup for the soul.

New Programs and Great Deals

Free Soup With a Bulk Jar Return - For our frequent customers, we're offering a new "Bulk Jar Return Program." If you have at least 12 of our jars to return, send us an email. We'll send you a prepaid shipping label to ship the jars back to us. To thank you for your efforts, you get a free jar of soup on your next regular order.

Wedding Favors - Looking for unique wedding favors for your upcoming celebration? Contact us! Our delicious candy treats, such as our English Toffee or Chocolate-Dipped Macaroons can be made in miniature, packaged in bite-sized bags and tied with a tag for your guests' names. We promise you your guests will love you for it. Ours sure did!

Wedding Gifts - Going to a wedding this August or Fall? Nothing is a nicer gift for a newlywed couple than a warm, fuzzy hand-made afghan for their new home. Sure, it's 90 and sunny now, but remind them that you love them on those upcoming chilly winter days.

Save Money, Eat Soup! - Our handcrafted soups are a healthy and delicious way to put a little less stress on your wallet during these tough economic times. Save over $16 per week or $800 per year by eating a jar of our soup instead of eating out! Plus, return every 12 jars to us at our cost and get a new jar of soup free! **

Free Recipe - Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Use a jar of one of our delicious, all-natural jams or jellies to make these Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars. We highly recommend our Strawberry Rhubarb Jam as its tartness pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of the cookie bars and the peanut butter. Recipe by Ina Garten of Barefoot Contessa and The Food Network.