I haven't posted for a while because I've been busy getting my crew ready for the Artisanal LA Holiday Pop-Up Shop. Mothercluck is one of 30-plus vendors that were fortunate to be selected to participate in this winter event. I'll be sharing my pop-up space with the fabulous kitchen soap artisan PLU (People Like Us). They have marvelous soaps (I particularly love their clean-smelling tobacco and vanilla scent). Because it's December, mothercluck has prepared a number of small-batch jams, jellies and preserves using wholesome ingredients that are perfect for the season: pomegranates, apples, cranberries, quinces, Meyer lemons (you've got to try our variation of 3M -- Myer and Meyer Marmalade -- it's to die for), and glorious oranges. With mothercluck products, we use the simplest and purest of ingredients, often grown within miles of home. Our philosophy is simple: honor the true taste of a fresh fruit or vegetable and you'll be rewarded with the best in flavor and texture. We never use juices from concentrate (yup, the juice for our pomegranate products were all seeded and juiced by hand), and, if we can help it, pectin.
For those who are visiting the mothercluck site for the first time, welcome. We hope you enjoy the stories published here, which tell the tales of my humble homestead. In addition to being an award-winning canner and preserver (I won best of division and several ribbons for my jams at the 2010 L.A. County Fair), I do give a cluck about food safety. I have taken a number of Los Angeles-area courses on the safety of food preservation and canning. All of these courses were taught by certified Master Preservers of Los Angeles County. When in doubt, I also follow the guidelines set by Ball’s Complete Book of Home Preserving and the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Mothercluck's jams are heat processed in sealed containers that can be kept in your pantry for up to one year. Once opened, the jams should be refrigerated.
I want to give a special shout-out to Christine Moore, owner of Little Flower Candy Company, for the use of her facilities (you really need to try her caramels), and my terrific network of friends, Rebecca, Heide (friends for 35-plus years!), Maureen, Karen, Sherri, Lisa, Kate, Angela, Meghan, Rose, my friends and co-workers from that extraordinary independent day school I used to work for, and my two Pams for all their support. And to my son Joe and my husband who reluctantly does farm chores: my heart warms whenever I think of you two.
I think that's enough.
So if you are in the 'hood this weekend, stop by and give me a cluck at Artisanal LA!
There's always something cooking at mothercluck. We use the freshest seasonal produce to make our award-winning jams and preserves. They make great gifts and will be most appreciated by the food lovers you know -- that is, everyone.
