Ten Sweet and Savory Ideas Using Jam

Homemade jam can pile up in the summertime since fresh fruits are in abundance. While home made preserves make a great gift for friends and family it is often thought of only as a sandwich spread. Change everyone's outlook on this old time favorite by perking up your recipes while using jam as a focal flavor point. Here are ten delicious ideas and how to's for using jam or jelly for dishes other than PB & J.

1. Pour jam or jelly over cream cheese in order to serve it as a quick appetizer for unexpected guests. Serve it with water crackers or toasted french bread slices. It is simply delicious. Using a pepper jam like jalapeno or red pepper will add a little spiciness to the appetizer. The spicy peppers combined with the sweetness of fruit in a jam really compliment one another.

2. Make plain extraordinary. Mix jam into plain unsweetened yogurt for an escape from overly processed yogurt cups. Try topping tapioca pudding with your favorite fruit preserve. Add a dollop of whipped cream on top of the jam in your pudding and you have a mouth watering confection.

3. Did you run out of honey for your tea? Try a teaspoon full of jam or jelly stirred into your hot tea. The jam with sweeten and flavor your tea in one step.

4. You have heard of using cranberry sauce or jellied cranberries on a turkey sandwich. Switch it up and try a turkey sandwich with avocado and plum preserves. How about turkey, a smear of cream cheese and apple butter? Sliced turkey with baby spinach, a dab of blue cheese dressing and home made strawberry jam just makes your mouth water. The combinations are as endless as your imagination.

5. To continue with the sandwich theme; try using jam on a grilled cheese. Sound strange? Yes, but it tastes so good. Grilled cheddar cheese with apple butter, grilled brie with pear preserves, grilled Monterey cheese with blueberry jam or a grilled smoked Gouda with raspberry jam. Yum to the max!

6. Cheese glorious cheese. For another quick and easy recipe, cover a wheel of brie cheese with your favorite jam and then surround it with pastry dough. Bake until golden brown and serve with wedges of pear and sliced baguette.

7. Don't have a lot of fresh fruit options on hand for your morning smoothie? Whirl your choice of jam in a blender with a few ice cubes, plain yogurt and a splash of milk for a refreshing alternative to morning toast and jam. When making a protein shake, a little bit of jam mixed in may help to disguise that funky taste so often associated with protein shake blends.

8. As a glaze for pork & chicken just add jam or jelly to your favorite bbq sauce. Here is a delicious blueberry bbq sauce recipe:

Smokey Blueberry BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

8 oz blueberry jam

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup thick Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup ketchup

1/4 cup bourbon whiskey

1/3 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar (optional)

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon mesquite liquid smoke

1 teaspoon ancho pepper

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

salt

freshly ground black pepper

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Place ingredients into a small saucepan and simmer on the lowest heat until hot and reduced and thickened, about 15 minutes. Allow to cool. Store in the fridge.

9. Raspberry vinaigrette is a delicious salad dressing. You can make it easily with raspberry jam or any other fruit preserve. Here is a quick and easy recipe. This recipe is just the right size for one dinner salad that serves four.

Raspberry Jam Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil

1/8 c. balsamic vinegar

1/2 oz. orange juice

1/8 tsp. garlic, jar or fresh

1 tsp. raspberry jam

Salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients into a container or jar with a lid. Seal container tightly and shake well until all ingredients combine. Pour over tossed salad just before serving.

10. Drum roll please...number ten is an all time favorite. Crock pot meatballs made with jam or jelly are easy and convenient. This recipe is great to take to a church supper, for holidays or to make for a home full of kids.

Crock Pot Jelly Meatballs

Ingredients:

3 -5 lbs frozen cooked small meatballs or Little Smokies sausages

1 (32 ounce) jar grape jelly

2 (12 ounce) jars chili sauce like Heinz

In a crock pot combine the grape jelly with the chili sauce; add in the meatballs and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours covered or until the sauce has thickened. Serve on snowflake rolls or just let people use a toothpick to enjoy.