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 wrapped presents, hung up my stockings, set up the tree and have been listening to carols!
Trying to get in the HOliday spirit by watching holiday movies on tv. 🙂
I decorated the house and I’m listening to lots of Christmas music.
Baking and crafting!!
This is a new one for me but I am trying to get into the christmas spirit by listening to christmas music, not a big fan but doing my best. Going to an ugly sweater party tonight.
Working on finishing up a few last homemade gifts and lots of holiday baking in the kitchen!
Trying to get into the spirit by planning an Adult Only Party right before Christmas. What a wonderful addition Jam would be! Can’t wait for school to break for the holidays!
Hoping to finish decorating and start baking this weekend. Shopping is done now just want to make some fun things to share.
Baking and online shopping!
This year I am trying to slow down, stress less and be grateful for all my blessings. Also cutting back on decorating and baking-it’s supposed to be enjoyable and trying to do too much just isn’t
I have been working on so many homemade gifts to give! Nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit more than knowing I am giving someone a gift that I really put alot of heart into.
Got my 2nd live Christmas tree ever, all lit-up and have been baking 🙂
I’m making chocolate peppermint bark!
We’re getting into the spirit by opening a door to an Advent calendar each morning, and we’re also doing a something festive each weekend, like making ornaments for our tree, making a stocking, or doing a Christmas-oriented craft, such as cotton ball snowmen.
I’m getting in the spirit by walking in the snow and singing christmas songs to myself 🙂
I am listening to Christmas music at all times while I’m awake – at work, in the car, in the kitchen, everywhere!
Listening to Cristmas songs all day long. Thanks for the contest!
I have the house all decorated and all the cookie scented candles lit. Just looking at the twinkling lights relaxes me.
We just got out tree decorated so that always gets me in the Christmas spirit.
Lots of decorating and baking! I am also working on several projects to make gifts for my friends and family.
I’m baking cookies and candies. Shopping, shopping, shopping!!!!!
My kids are loving the stocking advent calendar activities hung from our mantle. Holiday concerts and baking goodies make it feel like Christmas time to me.
I attended the Big Brothers Big Sisters Christmas party with my little last night. What fun! After a yummy dinner and a chance to pick a prize, she got to “shop” for her family. All items were 25 or 50 cents, and she was SO excited to give to the ones she loves. That will put you in the Christmas spirit!
Just finished decorating the house and the tree is going up this weekend! Christmas music is playing. And it is COLD outside. Yep! It’s that time of year again.
Looking for ways to serve and think of others and help teach my kids the true meaning of Christmas! We have lots of new people in our neighborhood so we will be taking lots of treats. This jam sounds delicious, I can’t wait to try it!
The first Saturday of December is the annual cookie decorating party at church. I bake a dozen cookies for each person and then fill bottles with frosting and have the sprinkles in 2oz soufflé cups. We had 80 people come this year. I do the refreshments for the 2nd Sunday service and this December it falls on date the Sunday school classes puts on their Christmas program. I am doing finger food. I bought one of those mini cake pop machines and the mini pie machine. My niece from Florida will be here on the 18th of December and I’am hoping to have a cookie decorating party with her and some other kids. She will be 9 on December 27th, so planning a party for her. I love this time of year to reflect on the birth of Jesus and how truly blessed I am.
baking cookies for a Cookie Exchange!
Cookies, cookies and more cookies!
bookmarking cookie recipes!
Finished wrapping all the presents I’ve bought so far, decorated the house and addressed some Christmas cards – all while listening to wonderful Christmas music.