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!**
Sent out some gifts… trying to finish another…amidst planning a move 🙂 Ahhh the joys of life changes 🙂
Unfortunately, right now I’m in full-on “fake it till you make it mode” and hoping to “make it” soon.
baking, putting the tree up and decorating
I just made wreaths out of free trimmings from Christmas trees yesterday and today am making ornaments out of heavy gauge wire. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loudly for all to hear!!!
I have been baking at least a batch of cookies a week (so far I have 3 different knds…snickernoodles, ginger gems and gingerbread men)
We have decorated our apartment with about a ton of Christmas lights and a small tree. We listen to Christmas music all the time– from Bing Crosby to the Nutcracker. Sometimes my husband and I like to go to stores and just walk up and down the Christmas isles talking about our different Christmas family traditions and what we’ll do in our family.
I am starting my month of cookie baking to get into the holiday spirit. My husband and I eat roughly two dozen cookies every other day…is that bad to do?:D
Omgosh – I love Smuckers! This looks awesome. Wonderful for the holidays!
I’m packing my suitcase to go visit loved ones!
I just finished my Christmas shopping. So now it is Christmas music all the time and I’m still slowly putting out all of my decorations.
I am currently snuggled up on the couch under a big blanket with my two cuties. Later we are going to make some Christmas cookies and read a Christmas story.
I have been wrapping lots o’ presents!
I am getting into the holiday spirit by planning what holiday treats I am going to give away and who needs Christmas cards from me!
I am prepping our Christmas cards and cookies to deliver to friends
I’m in the throes of finals, so most of the Christmas-y things are waiting until Monday, but I’m writing to the tune of Christmas music, and one little plant in our apartment is wrapped in Christmas lights. Can’t wait to put up the tree on Monday!
My husband and I bought a Christmas CD (our first one together because it is our first Christmas married!)but he made me wait until after Thanksgiving to listen to it! But we were out of town at our families’ so before we left to come back we bought Christmas tree decorations and my uncle gave us a real tree and we drove home in our little red car (perfect for Christmas!) and set up or tree and decorated it after Church that Sunday and ever since then I have been listening to our Christmas CD with our tree lights on every time I am home! And when I’m not home I am thinking about wanting to be there! (not such a good distraction though when I’m trying to study!)And this Friday I get to bake cookies and cupcakes for our church Christmas party and making those pie in jars that I found on here as part of Christmas presents for our family! I can’t WAIT!:)
Baking Christmas goodies with my Mom, daughters & granddaughters =)
I am getting into the holiday spirit by keeping it simple.
The Smucker’s Cherry Preserves is my absolute fav. This with cream cheese on toast is breakfast every day! Watching alot of Christmas movies with my daughter.
I’m listening to Christmas music, baking delicious holiday foods, and working on Christmas presents I’m making for my family. I love this time of year!
I am getting into the spirit by listening to Xmas music, wrapping gifts, doing fun Advent stuff with the kids and Baking,Baking,Baking!
I have started listening to christmas music!
I bought marshmellows and evaporated milk yesterday to make your fudge. Yum! I am still shopping like mad and hoping to mail far-away packages tomorrow.
I have been baking treats every day.
I am keeping busy making candy and cookies and snacky type foods to give family and friends for gifts this year ! It’s going to be a tight Christmas for us, but at least we have the means (and talents)to bake up a bunch of yummy treats !
Just mailed off the Christmas cards today; started baking this week; decorations are up; and having a ball attending all the Christmas parties and shows!
Baking Christmas cookies, singing Christmas songs with my two-year-old, and going to see the lights. Yay for Christmas!
Baking cooking and making chex mix for all our friends and family!
I always try to be in the Christmas year round. Decorating a bit early for some and trying to make my house festive and welcoming. Cookies, treats, cupcakes and candy as well as jellies, breads and everything homemade. Christmas music and an open door for everyone as well as a Christmas all season open house! Merry Christmas!
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear! (My poor, poor neighbors).