NOTE: This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all of you who entered! The winners have been notified, and they are #464 (Natalie), #1151 (Wendy), and #1307 (Gloria). Y’all have 48 hours to respond before we pick new winners! 🙂
I have a confession for you all and I hope it’s not too shocking: I am not a fan of jam. Not a jam fan. I like homemade freezer jam because it basically tastes like sweetened fruit, but most jam is just too sweet and sickly and cooked fruit-ish for me. If you’re dying to know what I put on toast or peanut butter sandwiches, I like butter on toast and honey on my sandwiches. Am I weird?
Well, I thought I hated all regular jam until I went to Smucker’s last month and I got to try their Orchard’s Finest preserves (and then discovered, in a cruel twist of fate, that they don’t sell it where I live). Even the names are pretty–Pacific Mountain Strawberry and Coastal Valley Peach Apricot and North Woods Blueberry and Fall Harvest Cinnamon Apple. And the jars? 
Don’t even get me started on the jars. Y’all know how I feel about adorable jars and bottles.
I love this jam because not only does it taste fabulous, but it’s fancier than your average jar of jam, so it’s great for holiday entertaining or gift-giving. Instead of just handing someone a jar of jam (anyone remember the Gilmore Girls where Rory and Lorelai forgot to get Luke a present in Europe, so they brought him a jar of jam and he found it lame?), you could fill line a basket with a festive tea towel and then fill it fresh croissants or homemade rolls and then add a jar of jam with a ribbon on it.
Or you could make a plate of these cookies and deliver them with a jar of jam and a copy of the recipe.
If you’re having a party, you could serve up a plate of crackers and slices of crusty bread with some of your favorite cheeses and a few jars of jam. It’s elegant and easy and requires zero to little prep (which is totally what I need right now!)
Because it’s getting close to Christmas and because it’s Thursday (which has always been my favorite day…don’t ask…), we’re giving away 3, count ’em, three of the following gift baskets:
-6 jars of Smucker’s Orchard’s Finest preserves in a cute little crate
-A set of spreading tools (or something similar)
-$100 gift card to Cooking.com
To enter, leave us a comment telling us how you’re getting into the holiday spirit right now! You need to respond here on this post in the comments section, not through email or on Facebook or Twitter. The giveaway is a short one! It will end next Tuesday, December 13 and the winners will be announced on Wednesday morning.
**Thank you to all who entered! This giveaway is now closed!**
I just made sugar cookies (aka shape cookies) with the kids and we’re listening to Christmas Music.
doing a major declutter/overhaul so that i can decorate this weekend.
Finishing up the Christmas cards and the packages that have to be mailed.
Listening to christmas songs reminds me of the spirit of christmas everyday. I love this time of year!
We have about half our shopping done & are buying our tree tonight, yippee!
I’m getting ready to start my celebrating by starting to bake cookies! First is going to be Paula Deen’s Praline Cookies and next up will be a new recipe: PB&J cookies!
Listening (and dancing) to Christmas music, making Christmas cookies and candies, and finishing making Christmas gifts.
I am eating way too much holiday food!
I’ve been busy with work and school, so I’ve only gotten our wreath up so far. But this weekend, we’ll be doing the whole tree/house decorating thing. 🙂
I am baking goodies and wrapping presents while listening to Christmas Music on my favorite radio station The Word FM. Thanks, I love jam!
Baking lots of holiday treats!
Baking and decorating sugar cookies – dozens and dozens and dozens and (need I go on?)
Cookies….making lots of cookies to give as gifts
Reading a Christmas story each night from a wonderful book my sister-in-law gave me a few years ago. We also sit down together and open the Christmas cards we receive each day and read them as a family to see what everyone has been up to this year. 🙂
I am teaching my daughter how to make fudge so she can start taking it to her fellow nurses. They always appreciate homemade goodies!
I’m getting into the holiday spirit by baking up some yummy Christmas goodies! This jam would be good to use when making my thumbprint cookies!
I’m in my car a lot so I play my Christmas CDs. I have to get at least one new one every year!
I’m not getting in the holiday spirit because I’m due to deliver my 3rd baby any day! I’m excited but huge, tired and have a sore back. So all my preparations are based on tiny clothes, diaper bags and car seats!
We’re making all kinds of fudge…using YOUR recipe. Thanks!
I’m making cookies, cookies, and more cookies to share with loved ones.
we are making a popcorn chain for the Christmas tree today, going to see the lights at temple square saturday and i’ll be spending the weekend making treats for neighbors and my husband’s coworkers!
We have Christmas music and Christmas movies on, hot chocolate and scones!! Yummy, yum, yum!
Getting presents for family members and lots of baking ideas!!!
We read a Christmas book each night with our kids. 🙂
Singing Christmas carols and baking goodies!
The tree is up and even lights in my kiddos bedroom. But for me, Christmas Spirit really kicks in when I put the Christmas carols on full blast and hit the kitchen to make toffee with chocolate. Yay! Happening this weekend!
Christmas music on shuffle on my ipod. 🙂
This bottles are so cute. What gets me into the Christmas spirit is reciting “The Night Before Christmas” to my younger grandkids while making cookies.
It’s hard getting in the Christmas mood this year, there’s no snow to be seen in Utah! I’ve been listening to Christmas music, but really need to start decorating! At least my shopping is done. Today is DS’s 11th birthday and I’m determined to get the tree up as soon as we finish the birthday festivities. PS – We love Jam! Haven’t tried this kind yet!
I’m having a tough time getting into the Christmas Spirit today. I have a case of the grumps. Maybe carols will help?!