I'll Be Back

It's summertime and all the blockbusters are coming to our shores in waves. I'll be laying low for the next few weeks to work on some new items as well as redesigning some old things. So look out for my new stuff in time to come and I hope it will blow your minds away.

New Flavour!

It's here... the latest addition to my family of unusual flavours, Spiced Pineapple & Mango. It's got undelying hints of cinnamon & ginger to add some kick. I haven't uploaded any pics of it yet as I'm in the creative process of retaking my jam pictures. But do get a mini jar to taste it and I'm sure you won't regret it. This jam also has the lowest sugar content among all the others, so hopefully it will suit your dietery needs.

In the meantime, I'm always looking into other new flavours... all using local fruits. I'll keep you all posted.

How to eat these jams?

The obvious way would be to spread these jams on bread/toast for breakfast... but here are a few other ways you can enjoy the different flavours of I'll Be Jammed!

~Lemon & Mint~

It's great with practically anything. You can have it with any kind of bread, bun, bagels, crackers, biscuits, muffins or any pastries. You can spread it on, top it off, as a side, use as a filling or any other way you'd think might excite you. The Lemon & Mint curd can also be used as a dessert topping for ice creams, yoghurt or even custards. This versatile spread can be eaten in many ways that you can imagine.

~Tomato & Basil~

It's no pasta sauce but a perfect match to cheeses & meat. Spread on a layer over a cream cheese toast or a meat sandwich and you got yourself a fantastic tasting snack/meal. It's also nice as an hors d’oeuvres topping, a nice twist off the normal bruschetta or even paired with a little smoked salmon. Of course, this jam also goes with most baked goods and is very suitable as a mini pastry filling.

~Watermelon & Lime~

This refreshing jam can be eaten in similar ways to the Lemon & Mint but the one thing that really stands out is eating it with pancakes. Because this jam has a lower sugar content and it's chunky texture, it really is a nice jam to have spread over pancakes. I've even tried spreading this jam in a banana roll and deep frying it as a dessert. Lovely!

~Lime & Ginger~

Since this is a very unique jam that only certain people will like, it's a privileged to mention that this jam is best with crackers and even 'yau char koay'. I've had one lady mention to me that she tried it as a dipping for cucur udang. You don't need to drown these fried foods in the jam, just have a little to enhance to food's flavour. I've had surprising outcomes experimenting with this jam & other foods. So just pick up the courage to try it in different ways.

Halal/Vegetarian/Diabetic/Organic & Other Issues

I've had a few people ask me the following questions... so for the benefit of everyone else, here are the answers.

1. Are the jams halal?
The jams are DEFINATELY pork & alcohol free. I will not loosely use the term halal as I have not got any certification on the some of the ingredients or the process. I do use gelatin in 2 of the flavours but that is certified halal as it is bovine based.

2. Are the jams suitable for vegetarians?

As mentioned in the previous answer, I do use bovine based gelatin in 2 flavours and eggs in 1 more. All other flavours/ingredients are vegetarian friendly. The ingredients of each flavour is clearly stated on the jars and therefore would advise vegetarians (especially strict ones) to read the contents of the jar labels or ask when buying.

3. Can diabetics eat these jams?

This will definately depend on the severity of one's diabetic condition. Some jams have a higher sugar content than others and I am working on new flavours that will either have a very low sugar content or none at all. Do give me sometime to work on it. To be on the safe side, do ask me when you purchase a jar.

4. Do you use organic ingredients?

No, I don't. I do however use only fresh ingredients. 

5. Do you add any artificial preservatives, colourings or flavourings?

None whatsoever. 

6. How long can the jams last for?

Unopened, these jams can last for up to 1 year if stored in a cool dry place. Opened, they must be refrigerated and consumed within 1 month after opening. The date on the cap is the date it was made.

7. Are the jam jars new or recycled and are they airtight?

All the jars, in all their sizes are brand new. They are sterilized before filling them up with the jams and sealed in a boiling water canner. The inner rubber seal makes these jars airtight. 

8. Can I order custom jam recipes?

To be fair, I will entertain custom jam recipes only if there is a minimum order of 25 big jars or 100 small jars. 

9. Can I order these jams for a party or wedding?

Yes, you can. I recommend the small jars and there will be a minimum order of 20 jars and atleast a 1 week advance notice with deposit. Prices will vary according to your requirements (ribbons, tags, labels, etc...). Do contact me to discuss further.

10. What if I have queries or feedback?

That's simple... TALK TO ME. I make the jams and I should be able to answer any (if not most) of your queries. You can ask me how to eat them, what's the next flavour, how to share them... And I certainly do appreciate feedback & suggestions. This is a neverending process of learning & improving. You can find my phone number and my email on the side bar of the blog.

Another New Flavour On The Way

I'm experimenting with another new flavour that will have very low sugar content and a more normal fruit combination. This is specially for those on low sugar diets and who prefer something a bit more unadventurous. But it wouldn't be a jam of mine if it didn't have a slight twist in its flavour, so do look out for it soon.

Many people have asked for strawberry or orange marmalade flavours but I must admit that I'm not one to follow the norm, so should I consider to add these fruits to my range of jams... it will come will enhancements to make it more exciting.

Great Week

Again.. I must thank all those who bought my jams & Mother's Day baskets and for making it another great week. To those that showed interest, I do hope to see you all again. And finally to those that wanted to buy the small jars... I'm so sorry they all sold out. I'm waiting for my new supply of small jars so I can make more for everyone.

Mother's Day Gift Baskets

Spoil your mom with something a little different this year! Instead of the normal or usual treats for your mom, why not try out a jam & muffin basket. Authentic homemade jam & freshly baked homemade muffins in lovely baskets. On top of that, you can personalize your very own jar label with short messages or dedications.

We'll Be At TWO Locations This Week!

I'll Be Jammed! will be at our normal place in Plaza Mont Kiara this Thurs, 7th May from 4pm-9pm AND we'll also be at Jaya33 from Thurs-Sun, 7th-10th May from 11am-7pm. 

I'm gonna announce in a few days time what we'll be up to for Mom's Day promos, so do stay tuned.

Latest Flavour!!!

Good news... I've perfected the latest addition to the current lineup of flavours available. It's WATERMELON & LIME. It has a very lovely refreshing tast with a slight zing to it and best of all... lower sugar content. I bet there will be many of you out there really intrigued to try this out. So come on by Mont Kiara tonight and get a jar.

Oh... by the way, I've got mini tasting versions of all the flavours now. You can purchase these mini versions for only RM3.50 each. Now you've got no excuses not to get some of my jam.

New Flavour @ Plaza Mont Kiara Fiesta Nite

Hey folks... I'm gonna be at Plaza Mont Kiara's Courtyard again this Thurs, 30th April 2009. Don't forget to swing by as I'll be unveiling a NEW flavour!!!

Thanks To All

My outing at Plaza Mont Kiara & SoHo KL was a very good start. Thank you to all who bought my jams and gave good feedback. Those of you who want more, can contact me or wait for more announcements on where I'll be next.

I'm going to start work on 2 more new flavours... no spoilers except that one will be a very refreshing taste and the other will have some spice.

Wedding or Party Giveaways

My jams come in mini personalised versions that are great for weddings or parties. Just give me a buzz and we can discuss about it further. Prices start from RM5.00 and there's a minimum order of 20 jars.

I'll Be Jammed @ Soho KL (25 & 26 April 2009)

Setting up stall at A:fair Weekend BIGGEST Bazaar this Sat & Sun in Soho KL. Same 3 flavours cos I haven't got the time to experiment. 

12 Hour Marathon

Today was the first time I made so many bottles of jam. Took my mom & I a total of 12 hours to make 60 bottles of jam. But I have to admit, had a few smoke breaks, Mom had to watch her Taiwanese shows, talked to my dog every now & then and finally had to eat KFC my Dad bought for dinner and watch American Idol at the same time. All this for Fiesta Nite @ Plaza Mont Kiara tomorrow.

I had to skin some lemons, squeeze a few limes, beat up a dozen eggs, korek the tomatoes, karate chop numerous basil leaves, smash the ginger that thinks it's sweet, get the mint & sugar to make love and many other shoulder busting & feet tiring prep.

Oh here's how I sterilized & process the bottles. The jars have a boiling water bath twice. This process is according to the US National Center for Home Food Preservation. So you don't have to imagine that my jams are made in dirty old kitchens with rusty utensils & tools. But I did manage to break a jar and boil my thumb.

This is my plate test for my tomato basil jam... since it's extremely difficult & expensive to get a candy thermometer in Malaysia and I don't use pectin to gel any of my jams. This jam is the hardest of the three to gel properly. 

Well, I'm off for a nice cold shower after a long day of slaving in the kitchen and then to bed. It's another long day tomorrow. Remember, I'll Be Jammed! will be at Plaza Mont Kiara tomorrow from 4pm onwards. See you there.

I'll Be Jammed @ Mont Kiara (Thurs, 23 Apr 09)

Come get your first taste of the fab jams I've made at Mont Kiara's Courtyard this Thursday, 23 April from 4pm-10pm.

I've currently got 3 flavors:

-Lemon & Mint Curd

-Tomato & Basil Jam

-Lime & Ginger Marmalade

Each jar will be RM12.80 and if you buy 2 jars, you only pay RM25.00 and if you truly are a jam fan, you can get 3 jars for RM36.00.

I'll be at Stall No: 22! See you all there!

The Start of Things

Got all my stuff... now it's time to make some jam! As you'll notice, I won't use any preservatives, flavouring or colouring. Another thing is... I won't reveal my recipes as I haven't copyrighted any of it yet... hehehe.

Here are the main ingredients in my first batch of jams. Lot's of lemons, limes & tomatoes. Baught them today at the Pudu market. It's been ages since I've gone to a wet market. Had a pretty exciting time surveying the stalls for future items I may need.

Other important ingredients are the beautiful Basil and Mint leaves. Love their smell. Must think of other jam/spread recipes that use them.

Lastly, the eggs that came straight from this old couple's farm. Had a pretty interesting conversation with them. But I'll leave that for another day.

And here are the jars before I sterilized them. I only use jars with pop-up safety seals. I'll show you another time how I process them to make sure there are no aliens that may grow in your jams.