In A Pickle Welcomes Spring

It's that time of year when we want to be out of doors, swinging on the porch, enjoying spring gardens and all the bountiful produce that shouts out spring!  

We at in a pickle foods savour those delightful southern muscadine grapes...there is nothing like the cool refreshing pop as you plop a ripe muscadine into your mouth on a hot day... That's why we had to bring you our Wild Citrus Grape Jelly - made with ripe muscadine grapes  and full of nutrients - it's just what we order on those warm days of spring and hot days of summer.

Another favorite of ours is blueberries... a power packed punch of lime, loaded with anti-oxidants our Blueberry Lime Jam is a winner in taste and good for you too!  

And we would be remiss if we didn't mention strawberries!! Our Strawberry Vanilla Bean Jam brings the giddiness of spring to your well-heeled palate!  The aromatic nuance of vanilla bean combined with the distinct lemon taste sets this strawberry jam apart from any other.  You’ll want to try it on a grilled PB & J or with fresh ricotta slathered in honey, pistachios and ground pepper – all atop a nice chunk of Italian bread.  It's amore!

Ahhh... the foodie delights of spring.  We hope you are experiencing all the wonders of spring and anticipating all the enchantment of summer!  We are here at in a pickle foods, as we busily do some spring cleaning, and growing to better serve our foodie companions and pickle peeps.  So don't let the winter blahs continue ... remember Life's greatest moments start in a pickle!  Breathe in a deep fresh breath of spring air and enjoy!

An In A Pickle Twist on the Monte Cristo

Our jams taste good with a water cracker and on an artisan bread ... but you haven't lived until you've tried a Monte Cristo ...in a pickle style!  We take a traditional sandwich ... fluff it up Monte Cristo-ish and add our seasonal jams.

Here's how you do it...

Take two slices of a hearty artisan country bread, add a slice of turkey, a slice of Black Forest ham and a slice of Swiss cheese.  Beat a couple of eggs and 1/2 cup of milk together and dip both sides of the sandwich in the egg mixture.  Over medium heat, melt butter and cook the dipped sandwich - turning once or until the sandwich is well-browned on both sides.  Cut the sandwich diagonally and sprinkle a light snow of confectioners' sugar on top with a plop of in a pickle jam like our lemony pear vanilla bean... yummy!  This is soooo good you'll want to make a few!


And while you're delicately chomping into that hunk of love ... think about this... Fort Worth will be welcoming a SECOND Foodie Truck/Trailer Park in April and in a pickle foods will be there.  The Cowtown Chow Down will be located on Main Street between downtown and the stockyards, and we'll be servin' up some splendiferous in a pickle foods for all our peeps... there'll be many other foodie trucks there along side our fancy food trailer... check it out and save the date ...  we'll keep you posted when we are on the road.

Feelin' The Love

Okay... we know it's still January NOT FEBRUARY but we're feelin' the love here at in a pickle foods.  It's a gorgeous day in Texas - the sun is shining - Angus and Mac are chasing their tails, and love abounds! 

Love Our Pickle Peeps

It's been a fun January...A lot of cookin' in the kitchen with a few new seasonal, small batch gems like Spicy Satsuma Orange Lemon Marmalade ... oooh baby!  Or our new syrup that any pancake would be proud to wear -  Blackberry Mojito Syrup.

You know you can pick up many of our products at vendor's across the country  (see last week's blog)... although we failed to mention Luscombe Farm Specialty Foods in Anna, Texas.. so here's a special shout out to them AND our newest vendor Bolsa Mercado in the Oakcliff area of Dallas!

Our products are moving on up in the foodie world and we are really excited about what the new year may hold!  

Here's a recipe to start your new year out right!  Try our Sweet & Spicy Tomato Jam Panini it'll knock your socks off... and if your in Fort Worth today where it's a fun-filled 70 degrees... take off your shoes, and tip toe through the tall grass and remember... life's greatest moments start in a pickle!!!

SWEET & SPICY TOMATO JAM PANINI

Lovin' Sweet & Spicy Tomato Jam

1 Ciabiatta Roll, split                                                                   
1 tsp of olive oil
several arugula leafs
2 slices of Dutch Gouda
Smear of in a pickle Sweet & Spicy Tomato jam


Preheat a  panini press or iron skillet/griddle 
Layer the lettuce and cheese on one side of the bread and on the other the tomato jam.  Put the two halves together and brush lightly with olive oil.  Place on the panini press and close or if placed in skillet top with a small cast iron skillet.  Cook for 2-3 minutes until the bread is toasted, flip and toast the other side.  Enjoy the love!