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You are here: Home / Archives for Kentucky food

Land Between the Lakes Red Raspberry Jam

July 12, 2017 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Land Between the Lakes Raspberry Jam
A while back, I wrote about the Land Between the Lakes Raspberry Jalapeno Jam (it is so good, you don’t even know). Like the jam I’m here to crow about today, I got it in the gift shop at The Homeplace in the LBL.

This past weekend, we took a trip to The Homeplace (it was as wonderful as always!) and, before leaving, I did what I always do…. I hit the gift shop and hit it hard. I intended on getting another jar of the Raspberry Jalapeno Jam – in addition to trying another flavor. Unfortunately, I didn’t see a jar of the Raspberry Jalapeno Jam, but I did spy this beauty – Red Raspberry Jam. Raspberries are one of my favorite things in life, so I snatched this jar up before it knew what hit it.

Before I start telling you about how delicious this jam is, I have to say how much I appreciate the completely reasonable price. Less than $4! I don’t have to tell you how it is in most gift shops, souvenir shops, and antique shops. They mark things up about as high as they conceivably can. Seems to me that it’s much cooler to make things affordable for your guests and visitors – allowing them to buy several things instead of popping on just one overpriced item.

I love that The Homeplace has these jams marked so well within reason – for one thing, I love a bargain… but most of all, the fact that they’re inexpensive means I can buy several different flavors instead of trying to decide on one!

I made cornbread to use for our first dive into this beautiful and delicious jam and it was a knock-out. A TOTAL knock-out. It was every bit as good as the Raspberry Jalapeno Jam and I will look for it as well on each trip to The Homeplace.

Shopping List for Our Next Visit:

  • Land Between the Lakes Raspberry Jalapeno Jam
  • Land Between the Lakes Red Raspberry Jam
  • The Next Lovely to Catch My Eye!

The next time you visit The Homeplace, be sure to visit their wonderful gift shop before you leave. Find the shelves of these jams and – whatever you do! – grab a jar of the Red Raspberry AND the Raspberry Jalapeno jams.

They are both out of this world.

Land Between the Lakes Raspberry Jam

Filed Under: Kentucky Food, The Homeplace Tagged With: Kentucky food, Land Between the Lakes Jam

Kentkucky Proud: Windstone Farms Blackberry Jam

May 25, 2017 by Joi Sigers 4 Comments

Windstone Farms Blackberry Jam

Windstone Farms Blackberry Jam – Kentucky Proud

I have a confession to make. I’m borderline obsessed with buying “Kentucky Proud” products… and when I say “borderline,” I basically mean “There is no line. I am obsessed.”  I’m all about buying as local as possible for several reasons. The concept of supporting your neighbors just makes great sense to me. When those in our community (state, even) do well, we benefit. So whenever possible, I love to eat at locally-owned restaurants and I love to buy food, decor, coffee, tea, etc. that was made right here in Kentucky.

Which reminds me, I have a couple of delicious Kentucky brewed coffees to tell you about in the coming days.

Another reason I’m obsessed with buying Kentucky products is they’re almost always better than anything else!

Case in point – jams, jellies, and preserves. I honestly cannot remember the last time I brought a national brand. It doesn’t make sense to settle for less than best when there are delicious options like Two Sisters Jams, Jellies, and Preserves, Land Between the Lakes Raspberry Jalapeno Jam, and Windstone Farms…. all made right here in Kentucky.

While the other brands have been household staples for quite a while, I only recently found Windstone Farms jams. I actually ran out of my stash of Kentucky jams and preserves (seems I dropped the ball) and was desperate for some blackberry jam to go on toast with a “breakfast supper” I had planned. Naturally, my first option was to look for a Kentucky made blackberry jam and I was thrilled to see jars of Windstone Farms Blackberry Jam on the shelf at Kroger.  They weren’t even on the Kentucky Proud kiosk, they were in the jam and jelly aisle.

{Continued Below…}

Windstone Farms Blackberry Jam

I just have to say that I love it when I can find Kentucky Proud products in my local stores. I don’t mind ordering online and we normally stock up when we’re at the Hitching Post or Kentucky State Parks (GREAT sources for Kentucky Proud products) – but when I can find my beloved local delicacies at my favorite grocery store, it just floats my boat.

The jam was outstanding – the blackberry flavor tasted like someone had just picked fresh blackberries and made the jam right in front of you. I bought blackberry jam because it’s my husband’s favorite (awwww) but I CANNOT wait to find their strawberry jam. Strawberry, Raspberry, and Plum are my faves… although, after having Windstone Farms’ blackberry jam, I’m going to have to add it to the list of favorites too.

{Continued Below…}

Windstone Farms Blackberry Jam

This Jam Will Make Delicious Thumbprint Cookies

I can’t wait to use this particular jam for thumbprint cookies. This one is “seedless” which is perfect for baking.

You can read more about Windstone Farms on their website and be sure to look for the jams on your grocer’s shelves.  I’ll come right back here and let you know about the Strawberry jam as soon as I find it!

When the jam is this good, there’s only one thing to do… SLATHER it on!  The proof is in the picture….

Blackberry Jam on Toast

Filed Under: Kentucky Food Tagged With: jams made in Kentucky, Kentucky food, Kentucky Proud

Crispy Kale Chips Recipe: Made Better With Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt

March 20, 2017 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Kale and Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt
Kale, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Sea Salt
1 head kale, washed
2 tablespoons olive oil
Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt (or regular sea salt), for sprinkling

{Directions Below….}

Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt

  1. Pre-Heat the oven to 275 degrees.
  2. Wash (and dry) the kale. You want to make sure it’s thoroughly dry or it won’t get as crispy as you want it to.
  3. Cut the ribs away and discard. Cut the kale leaves into 1 1/2-inch pieces.
  4. Place in a bowl (or directly on a large baking sheet) and drizzle with the EVOO and Sea Salt. If you can get your mitts on Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt, do so. It adds a little extra flavor and, if you’ll allow me to be all girly for a minute… it’s pretty.
  5. Be sure each piece is coated with the oil and sea salt. Bake on a large cookie sheet until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, for about 20 minutes. If, after 20 minutes, they aren’t as crisp as you prefer, put them back for a few more minutes. Just be sure you don’t put them back and walk away – they’ll turn on you fast.
  6. Enjoy as a healthy, crunchy snack!

Be sure your cookie sheet is large enough for a single layer of kale chips. If they have to ride on one another’s backs, they won’t get nice and crunchy.

Kale Chips

Filed Under: Kentucky Food, Kentucky Recipes Tagged With: Kentucky food, Kentucky recipes

GENUINE Kentucky Recipes

January 29, 2017 by Joi Sigers 1 Comment

Pepper Relish on Hamburgers

Hamburgers with Pepper Relish

Ever have an idea that was “a long time coming,” as our grandparents would say? One that was so perfect and so seemingly meant to be that you kick yourself for not thinking of it sooner?

That’s where I am right now.

FACTS:

  1. I am an avid cook and have been since I was 19 years old. Growing up, I was a spoiled only child (yep, one of those) who never had to do laundry, help with cooking, help with chores, etc. All that was asked of me was to get good grades in school, feed our cats and dogs, play softball, and look cute.  Okay, so the last wasn’t actually asked of me, I just figured it couldn’t hurt, you know? When I got married at 19, I had to learn how to cook, like, immediately. There were no Food Network, YouTube videos, or Google to turn to. Just me and an artillery of confusing-looking (to me, anyway) pots, pans, gizmos, and gadgets that had been given to me at our shower. I tried to act like I knew what was going on at the shower, itself, but have to confess – when one of my mom’s co-workers gave me a set of kitchen tools that included a mallet, I asked, “What’s this weapon?” They laughed. They did the same when I combed my hair with the pasta lifter. Good times, good times. Anyway – I not only taught myself to cook, I fell head over heals in love with the process. I just wanted to cook all the time. Other wives would be complaining about “having to cook” and wanting to “go out to cook so someone else does all the work,” and I’d be like, “Pfft, my food tastes better and it’s so FUN to CREATE!”
  2. We raised three beautiful daughters on home-cooking and I never fell out of love with the process. We home-schooled our girls all the way through school, so they were always front and center when meals were coming together. During their high-school grades, I decided it would be really fun to create a website where I could accumulate my recipes, cooking tips, and so forth for my girls as well as other cooks.  I have published a food blog since and it’s one of my greatest joys.
  3. I collect cookbooks and have a collection numbering in the hundreds. Occasionally I even follow the recipes as written! However, my favorite thing to do is to take the recipes and put my own spin on them. My most treasured cookbooks are the really, really old ones – my “antique cookbooks,” as I call them.  Due to the fact that they were written so long ago, putting my spin on them isn’t just fun, it’s necessary. Measurements, ingredients, ovens, etc are often a world apart, so I often have to really play with and tweak the recipes sometimes – which, as you’d imagine is pure joy for me.
  4. I am all about my state of Kentucky! Born here, raised here, live here… never want to live anywhere. Well, until Heaven that is – and I read once that Heaven must be a Kentucky kind of place, so we’re good.  In addition to my food blog, another of my favorite blogs is the one you’re on now… my Kentucky blog. Since many of my antique cookbooks are by Kentucky cooks (and, yes, I have to confess that they’re my favorites), two of my greatest passions collide and it’s perfectly delicious.

So, there are the facts. A Kentucky cook who gets pure, boundless joy from cooking and experimenting and perfecting old Kentucky recipes.

How have I not had a “Kentucky Recipes” section on Genuine Kentucky before now??!! Wait, I know, I know… too busy taking pictures of animals, birds, and trees. Let’s just be honest.

Well, it has occurred to me that I can still pamper my obsessions AND add Kentucky Recipes to the website – so that’s where we’ere headed here.  I will be regularly adding (amid the Kentucky events, reviews, birds, animals, and trees) my favorite Genuine Kentucky Recipes and I am really  anxious to see the collection grow.  

When I post a recipe, you can know with 100 percent certainty that I have, personally, tried, tested, and tweaked the recipe. It will be my own take on a genuinely old Kentucky recipe. You’ll be able to see that I’ve made it, myself, by the pictures. So, if I’m making the recipe, you can bet your bottom dollar (and anyone else’s you get your paws on) that there will be no possum, bison, elk, squirrel, rabbit, or pigeon recipes. I have actually come across recipes for these beautiful animals and make a sour puss face each and every time.

No. Thank. You!

What You Can Expect from the Genuine Kentucky Recipes:

  1. I have to eat gluten-free (health reasons), so all of my recipes here will be gluten-free. This is a very healthy way to eat whether you have a health condition or not, so I hope you’ll give them a go. Eating gluten-free doesn’t involve putting anything strange or different into your recipes – it simply means leaving them out or replacing them with gluten-free options. For example, when frying fish or chicken, I use Rice Flour instead of wheat flour. You don’t taste the difference.
  2. Speaking of “healthy” eating, I use a LOT of vegetables and other healthy ingredients when I cook for my family – so you’ll a lot of Kentucky Recipes here that aren’t just good… they’re good for you. I’m kind of obsessed with working healthy veggies into as many meals as possible – it helps you reach your daily requirement goals for vegetables and it kicks up the layers of flavor in your meals, which is always a great thing.
  3. As expected, you’ll see my personal favorite foods and ingredients fairly often – eggs, peppers, shallots, parsley, chives, Gouda cheese, green onions, broccoli, seasoned salt, paprika, vanilla extract, fresh black pepper, Monterrey Jack cheese, white cheddar cheese, spinach, limes, bacon, thyme, grass-fed ground beef, citrus fruit zest, cumin, kale, grits, basil, bacon, fish.. these are just some of the foods I love and find a way to work them in regularly.
  4. Given my great passion for Kentucky products, you can bet I’ll highlight as many of them as possible. Kentucky food, coffee, spices, seasonings, etc. will be highlighted regularly. 

Pictured At the Top: Hamburgers with Pepper Relish

As I said above, peppers of all shapes and sizes are a particular obsession of mine. They’re colorful, delicious, and good for you – what’s not to love?!?

Due to the fact that I had to start eating gluten-free a few years back, I began eating my hamburgers off of buns. While gluten-free bread IS available, my favorite way to eat hamburgers is either on a plate or wrapped up in a lettuce leaf blanket. I love to experiment with different toppings and sauces for burgers and, pictured here, is a simple Pepper Relish I made by adding colorful mini sweet peppers, a little Kosher salt, and a half of a jalapeno to the food processor and giving it a quick pulse. Delicious… and downright pretty, too.

Pictured Below: Fried Eggs, Bacon, Grits with Smoked Gouda Cheese

This Grits with Smoked Gouda Cheese recipe can be found on my food blog by clicking the link.  Just add fried eggs, bacon, green peppers, and grape tomatoes and you’ll have a bowl of insane deliciousness.

For the first entry in the Kentucky Recipes Collection, see Fried Eggs with Browned Butter (can you tell that I’m all about eggs???)

Other Recipes: (added as they’re published)

Cheese Logs (or Cheese Balls)

Crispy Kale Chips (With Bourbon-Smoked Sea Salt OR Regular Sea Salt)

Smoked Gouda Grits with Bacon and Fried Eggs

Filed Under: Kentucky Recipes Tagged With: Kentucky food, Kentucky recipes

Bourbon Barrel Foods: Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt Simply Makes Life More Delicious

January 17, 2017 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt

Bourbon Barrel Foods’ Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt… One of My “Can’t Live Without”s!

As a food blogger, I think about recipe development, ingredients, and food combinations almost every waking hour. As a Kentucky blogger and proud Kentuckian, I am devoted to supporting Kentucky businesses and committed to promoting them on Genuine Kentucky and any other platform I can climb upon.

Lucky for me, Kentuckians are great at what they do and if I can just get them to try their Kentucky Made product once, they’ll return again and again and again.  Which is what my husband and I do when it comes to our favorite Kentucky food.

Louisville’s own Bourbon Barrel Foods makes a Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt, Pepper, and Sugar are three such addictions.

As you can see in the picture above, I have a Rachael Ray 3-Tiered Salt box (as any Rachael Ray fan would have, right?).  Kosher Salt, Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt, and Himalayan Salt live in the three compartments – at all times. The Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt is out of this world on and with any meat you can think of. It gives the bacon, fish, chicken, steak, burgers.. whatever…. an unmistakable and delicious smoky, bourbon flavor that kicks it up to a whole new level.

I’ve also sprinkled it on eggs, pasta, and baked potatoes, roasted vegetables, and fries and it’s a knock out every single time. I’ve even been known to make hot cocoa, top it with whipped topping, drizzle on a little caramel, and sprinkle the top with Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt.

So good… you don’t even know.

I find my Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt, sugar, and pepper all at Kroger. They’re always in a “Kentucky Foods” kiosk that’s usually in the back of the store. The display used to be at the front of the store, near the checkouts, but they (unfortunately) moved them to the back.

You can also find Bourbon Barrel Spices and Seasonings on Amazon – which is as convenient as it gets. Amazon also carries some of their products I can’t find in Kroger.

{Continued Below…}

Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt

Visit Bourbon Barrel Foods for more information and to see the wonderful foods they keep churning out. While you’re on the website, check out the Bourbon Barrel Stave Pen – he’s a real looker!


Filed Under: Kentucky Food, Louisville Tagged With: Bourbon Barrel Foods, Kentucky food, Kentucky Proud

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Also See: Best Fried Catfish in Kentucky
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The pandemic has crushed many activities, events, and normalcy – not just in Kentucky, but all around the world. As we creep back toward normal, I want desperately to highlight any and all events going on around Kentucky. Please E-mail me any information you’d like shared about your Kentucky event! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

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