I blinked and Fall is here. The Summer heat has broken and the Winter snow has kissed the mountains. There is a steady buzz of energy as we build to the end of year Holidays.
This season in life brings me deeper to my roots as I have become more of a care taker for my family. My mother’s cancer has returned and now I also find myself serving my parents as well as my children. Full time single mom, part time care giver. My cooking is less experimental, more comfort, or convenience food. As such, we eat more PBJ than the average household, always plain Strawberry Jam.
Potlicker has returned to small (less than 500 jars at a time either in Florida or Vermont) batches until I can establish full scale manufacturing on my own again. Over the past two years, while trying to build the right partnership to make jam, one of my copackers in particular kept pushing margins lower and quality right along with it. Ultimately we/Potlicker realized that the lack of educated food experience on the part of the copacker made for sloppy batches, loose lids, and soft jam. Generally they had a poor under understanding of the food science involved in manufacturing. So we began phasing out 3rd party manufacturing.
So many people will likely say “I told you so!” and I can’t blame them. This volume of manufacturing easily loses all of the love from the product unless I am there every day to impart it. And I do love it. I can hear the jam, no real need for timers and temps because I have been jamming hardcore for over 10 years.
Written into the next stage of business will be a small food outlet that also sells and manufactures jam. A flagship store that we haven’t had. Currently, however, we produce what we can and sell every bit of it.
This year, I will not be attending any holiday events in person. Apologies, but I sincerely hope that you still find me and my products online. There are a handful of new items just in time for the gift giving and hostess season.
Non-jam items include Mustard Seed “Caviar”. This jar of pickled mustard seeds has a rollie polly texture and will pop in you mouth when bitten into, releasing a spicy bead of flavor. The other, if you haven’t tried it, is the Savory Sauce. A home made Worcestershire sauce that accommodates my food allergies. Great for grilling.
Last year we introduced some new gift sets and we have prepared one more. 8- 1.5oz jars of Potlicker Jellies for a taste bud tickling experience. These incredible jellies taste like the beer, wine, or coffee they are made with! Perfect from Roast to Toast.
Hostess gift or gag gift, they will love it. Check out these adorable sets! These are priced to include shipping.
Lastly, I would like to leave you with my favorite biscuit recipe. It is the absolute best way to eat jam.
Potlicker Biscuits
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4Tbsp shortening
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 1/3 cup milk
- 2tsp Baking Powder
In a bowl stir together flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk, stirring just until moistened and dough pulls away from sides of the bowl. On a floured surface, knead dough about 10 to 20 times or until smooth. Pat or roll into 1/2″ thickness and cut with circle cutter. Place biscuits 1/2″ a part on greased baking sheet. Bake at 450*F for 12-15 minutes. Yield: 8 to 10 biscuits.
Thank you for your continued support of Potlicker Kitchen & my family business.
-Nancy
Nancy Warner 