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 have been wrapping presents, getting ready to have a Christmas goodie baking day and planning a Girl’s Night Christmas party! 🙂
I am getting in the Holiday Spirit by decorating my home to the max!!! I love it and when I do the tree it is fun to unwrap all the ornaments and remember special friends who gave them to me. I have a “Christmas Mouse” tree with 150+ mouse ronaments on it…mainly given to me by family & dear friends! I love Christmas and all it represents….God Bless us Everyone!!
Baking cookies and spending time with friends and family! 🙂
I’ve been listening to Christmas music, have the two Christmas trees up and lighted garland strung around the inside of the house. We wrap the presents as we buy them and stick them under the tree so we can enjoy looking at the shiny bows and pretty packages the whole month.
I am trying to get my shopping done! Yikes!
I just mailed my (hopefully) last batch of cookies this morning. Still many Christmas cards to make and send, but I love it. Thanks for a chance to win.
The kiddos, husband, and I read a Christmas story everyday together.
Seeing Christmas through my children’s eyes certainly puts me in the holiday spirit!
I have always wanted to have a classic berries and popcorn Christmas tree! Last night we spent (for probably too long) stringing popcorn and cranberries , drinking candy cane hot coco and listening to the newest Michael Buble’ album.
I just made our darling little Christmas tree yesterday.. And we listened to Christmas music every night while eating dinner.
To be honest, I don’t think I have totally hugged the holiday spirit yet. I have yet to pull out the decorations or put the tree up. It snowed last weekend (which totally helps make it feel like Christmas) and I am working up the nerve to sing a solo for a Sunday Church service. I love Avalon’s “Jesus, Born on Christmas Day”. But, I want you to know that after seeing the “Sweet Tortilla Snowflakes” recipe, I am so ready to embrace the holidays. I have nephews and a niece staying at my home tonight and I am going to sit them down and we are going to make these together. What fun! Thanks!
We are trying to do as much service as we can. We have also been reading lots of Christmas stories,
Shopping for presents and making a wreath like the black one Sara made for Halloween, except red and white like a candy cane!
Christmas music, gift shopping and wrapping, seeing Santa, BAKING!! Yea for Christmas! I love it.
I’m busy finishing up some projects for charity and deciding what to make for family members. The kids are taking care of the decorating.
I love going to a special street in my town where all the neighbors go all out decorating their houses. I may not put that much effort into my own house, but it’s so fun to see other people do it!
This weekend we are doing some Christmas shopping and then baking and decorating cut-out sugar cookies while watching Christmas movies.
Making homemade Christmas gifts!
making Christmas ornaments for friends as gifts
Pulled out my Christmas decorations, spend my day off baking goodies and rocking out to Christmas music!
The tree is up and the house is decorated! 🙂
So far, our tree isn’t up and I haven’t decorated a thing. However, as a family, we’ve spent two nights reading from the book of Luke in the Bible about our Savior’s birth and singing songs that remember Him. So, I think we are doing okay.
I am getting in the holiday spirit by mailing out my Christmas cards today!
We are getting ready with decorations and making all sorts of sweet goodies. This is our first Christmas as parents and we’re really excited! Thanks for all you do!
We’ve been doing one fun Christmas activity each day in December. Anywhere from reading a Christmas book to making gingerbread houses to driving around looking at Christmas lights. It’s been fun!
Watching Christmas movies with the kiddos.
This is so lame! I’m so busy at my day job (and commute), that we do a little bit each night. Like last night, we picked up all the thanksgiving decorations and put a few ornaments on the tree. Luckily, my student husband put that up the day before. Tonight, the kids can finish the tree with the babysitter while hubby & I attend our church council holiday party. Tomorrow is a trip to see Santa, then prepare for Las Posadas at church. I’m commited to beans & rice and hot chocolate. Not to mention that my customers orders will arrive tonight! Thank goodness I don’t have to deliver until Monday!
I am getting in the holiday spirit by wrapping presents in front of the fire and Christmas tree, with Christmas music playing
Those are such cute jars!!! Today I am finally going to start baking some holiday cookies, and tomorrow we get to go visit Santa!!
Talking and e-mailing with my daughters as we coordinate gifts and the food we’ll be making! I love all of the anticipation of the full week we’ll have all of the family here and look forward to the arrival of a new baby the same week!