Jam On It!

It all started with a suggestion.  Just a mere, "you should make your own hot pepper jelly," suggestion (Curses to you Lauren W!).  I quickly dismissed this idea as silly, time-consuming, and perhaps even foolish.  Why would I go through all that work when I can just buy it for $5.00 per half-pint jar, at a store that is far away, and open 5 days a week, during business hours?  Oh that's right, I can never get there when they're open, it's hella expensive, and I'm a poor graduate student.  In SOCIAL WORK.  And it's Wisconsin.  Hot pepper jelly is hard to come by in dese here nordern parts, yah?  In fact, it's hardly heard of.  So...the suggestion, my pocketbook, and my desire to do something industrious on what might otherwise be a sad day (my deceased dad's bday), started me on a minor kitchen adventure, turned hobby, (turned obsession?), turned small business.  My new jam business is officially named What~Bam~ThankYou~Jams!  We all mulled over (and over and over) the name with MANY amazing suggestions.  In the end, I just decided that I'm a Wham-Bam kinda girl.

I've been working my pert little butt off for months, trying out and adjusting recipes (Canning For a New Generation by Liana Krissoff is my bible), and pursuing a spot at one of the local mini-farmers' markets.  Hooray--I found a market who wants me, and here's the best part:  we're BOTH farmers' market virgins!  This is their first year doing the market and they have no idea if anyone will even come.  This is my first year vending at a market, and I have no idea if anyone will even buy a product from some kooky, single, grad student who lives with her cat (Gigi Louise!), and makes random homemade goods in her 1-bedroom apartment.


The adventure officially started TODAY.  Using my best friend Lauren for her Costco membership (she's all cool with a house and husband and kids and stuff), she helped me stock up on sugar (50 L-Bs peeps!), and other assorted goods from Woodman's such as vinegar, canning jars, and random ingredient:  mustard seeds.  We made a bit of a scene at the store, taking taking photos and generally just giggling, while people wondered what the hell was so funny about a cart full of 8 gallons of vinegar.  We made an even bigger scene as we unloaded my bounty, and couldn't stop laughing about how I looked like either a hoarder, or an extreme couponer.  228 canning jars, 50 lbs. of sugar, 12 mega rolls of paper towels, 8 gallons of vinegar, 6 boxes of liquid pectin, and this girl is officially ready to start her business!  Seriously, people better buy this shit.

Gigi "helping" put groceries away

The Bounty