Cross-Country Jam Exchange!

I am very excited to report that I just participated in my first-ever Jam Exchange, hosted by Steph of the blog Steph Chows. Over 100 home preservers were paired-up to mail 2 half pint jars of their homemade jam to a designated partner. I was paired with a woman named Janae in California, which I am really excited about because I was able to send her a jar of my slow-cooker apricot peach butter - stone fruits not necessarily favoring west coast climates - and she is sending me a marmalade (last I checked we don't have much citrus growing in New York).

Apricot Peach Butter

I also sent a jar of my black raspberry jam, I know berries grow like mad on the west coast, but this jam seems to be pretty popular with my friends who have tried it so I hope Janae likes it!

Blurry Boiling Berries

UPDATE: I received a package from Janae yesterday (the 14th), and I am so excited! She sent a jar of Peach Marmalade, and a jar of Organic Vanilla Strawberry Jam. Part of me wants to tear into them and devour them immediately, but I am going to do my best to wait until fruit season is long gone to enjoy these beautiful jams.

Janae's Jams

 
I think one of my favorite things about this whole jam swap is that even though what we sent to one another was a total surprise, we only overlapped in one ingredient, and the jams that I received were not jams that I have ever made before or have in my larder. I can hardly contain my excitement!