Frequently Asked Questions

These aren’t your typical cooking classes- they’re Jamborees, a rewarding experience that combines the joy of cooking with the pleasure of spending time with loved ones.

With private instructor demonstrations, you’ll easily master classic techniques to make your own homemade preserves. Classes are held in your kitchen or offered virtually and are approximately 2.5 hours long. In the end, you’ll have 20+ jars of your own delicious homemade fresh fruit preserves, instructions, and recipes so you can make fresh preserves again and again, as well as an event to remember!

We are based in historic South Norwalk, CT

We will always try and accommodate your wishes. Please call us at least a week prior to your Jamboree to see what we an do.

We do not use nuts in our recipes, but we are not a nut-free facility.

Yes, all classes, unless noted otherwise, are hands-on. Each participant has their own cutting board and knives. Typically we will be standing, but we are happy to accommodate, we will. There are demonstrations of techniques, and then we begin! In group classes, we all work together to complete the recipes, and in private classes, the participants complete the recipes. During the water boil, all guests will be seated and invited to decorate and personalize their jars.

We recommend wearing casual clothes that you wouldn't mind getting messy. In addition, closed-toe shoes should be worn for safety, and long hair should be pulled back. Other than that, we ask that you dress however you are most comfortable. You will be provided with an apron to use, but be aware that, just like in your home kitchen, you may not want to wear your best clothes.

Because we purchase everything before the event, payment is due when you book your event secure your day and time. See cancellation policy notice.

Payment & Refund Policies: To register for any class, payment in full is required at the time of registration. Due to the amount of preparing for classes, we do not offer refunds, but with email notice 48 hours before the start time of your event, we can offer an account credit (less a 5% cancellation fee) to allow you to reschedule. No account credits will be issued when fewer than 48 hours’ notice is provided. Due to the amount of planning to offer a seamlessly run event, we cannot make exceptions to this policy.

Classes are not refundable.

We bring ingredients for one classic flavor (Strawberry, Blueberry). If you have a flavor in mind, please call at least one week prior to discuss options.

· Strawberry with cranberry as a spread on a like turkey & stuffing sandwich

· Broil/bake salmon with marmalade glaze

· Vinaigrette -Heated the strawberry with cranberry, add balsamic vinegar and drizzle over turkey salad. Also, with spinach & blue cheese salad

· Crepes with powdered sugar

· Fruit Danish with homemade jams

· Crepe with dark chocolate drizzled with your favorite preserve (mine are: like blueberry or peach)

· Serve with scones

· Jam sandwiched between 2 sugar cookies.

· With cheese (my favorite is thinned with a drop of lemon water and poured over goat cheese)

· Baked Brie with toasted Almonds and orange marmalade

· Drizzled over a Chocolate Bundt or Pound Cake

· Filling for tarts and pies and confections

· Absolute breakfast classics- toast with butter and fresh preserves or Cream cheese and fresh preserves

· Make a jam smoothie: blend your favorite jam with milk, fresh fruit, and yoghurt.

· Serve marmalade and cream cheese on crackers.

· Use the jam as a glaze for pork or chicken; it can easily be added to BBQ sauce.

· Liven up any boring original cheesecake with a dollop of jam on top of the cheesecake.

· Spread it between cake layers, for example, a Victoria sponge cake.

· Gently warm it up and thin it (apple or peach jam works best) and pour it over ice cream for an extra treat.

· Use it as a simple pancake or waffle topping.

· It makes great gifts—especially when homemade!

· Stir it into cottage cheese.

· Served up some jam with some sliced-up local fruit; simple, but delicious.

· Serve in a bowl of oatmeal for a comforting snack; it's a great food to eat before bed.

· Swirl in some strawberry jam to add to rice pudding.

· Buy plain yogurt and add jam for flavoring according to your taste.

· Cover a wheel of brie cheese with jam and wrap it in puff pastry and bake.

· Stir jam into icing for a different and yummy cake topping.

· Fill doughnuts with it!

· Make jam-filled butter cookies.

· Mix jam into the pancake batter, you can't go wrong!

· Make a simple jam tart! All you have to do is fill individual pastry tartlet cases with jam. It's nice served warm with a dollop of ice cream on the side!

· Make a batch of surprise muffins—half-fill the muffin cups, put in a dob of jam, and then cover the jam with more muffin mix.

· Easy crepe filling! Top it with a spoonful of cream fraiche or whipping cream.

· For a flavorful protein shake, blend jam, milk and protein powder.

· Use a jelly-type version to sweeten tea instead of sugar or honey.

· Mix it with oil, vinegar and spices for a sweet salad dressing.

· Use jam instead of sugar for making chewy and fruity cookies.

· Drizzle warmed-up jam over really hot and spicy chicken wings.

· Make Queen of Puddings, which uses up leftover bread with jam and eggs.

Classes are approximately 2.5 hours long.

We can tailor classes to meet your time frame

Sugar is so important in the process of getting your jam to gel. Also, sugar is a natural preservative that helps keep your jam fresher longer.

Pectin is a soluble fiber (polysaccharide) found in fruits. It is used to thicken your jam through binding fruit, water, and sugar. It’s what makes your jam thicken.

Fruits with high pectin content:

· Apples of all kinds, including crab apples and sour apples

· Lemons (particularly citrus peels)

· Currants

· Cranberries

· Loganberries

· Sour plums

· Green gooseberries

· Quince

Fruits with medium pectin content:

· Ripe apples

· Blackberries

· Grapefruit

· Grapes

· Oranges

· Sour cherries

Fruits with low pectin content:

· Apricots

· Peaches

· Pears

· Raspberries

· Strawberries