Sweet Lady Cook feature & GIVEAWAY!

This week, we have another wonderful food artisan for Shop Small Saturday Showcase!  I first met Arian of Sweet Lady Cook at Unique L.A. where she was lovely enough to let me sample a ton of her delicious preserves.  I love that everything is fresh, using with quality ingredients, and lovingly made to  tasty perfection!  I love the packaging, the combination of flavors, and the emphasis on local, fresh ingredients.

Check out the entire interview with photos of Sweet Lady Cook's beautiful preserves, including a couple of links to wonderful recipes using their preserves.  Then, make sure to enter for the chance to win a delicious prize from Sweet Lady Cook in the giveaway below!  Good luck!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

I began making preserves as a hobby after trying a homemade habanero jelly from a local food truck. Prior to this experience I had only been familiar with the processed and overly sweet jams and jellies I grew up with (that vaguely resembled anything like fruit!). I had no idea how wonderful and diverse preserves could be. So I started experimenting with local ingredients and giving away jars to friends and family. After about a year of making preserves for fun I decided to start my business. It’s been an amazing experience and I’m so happy I took the leap.

Where did the name of your store come from?

Cook is a nickname given to me by my husband’s family. When I first met his grandmother she confused my name with Oreo (like the cookie). As a joke everyone started calling me cookie and the name stuck. Over the years it was eventually shortened to cook and the rest is history.

Check out the recipe here!

What is your favorite item?

If I had to pick a favorite flavor it would be my Blenheim apricot jam. Sometimes I come across fruit that is so incredible I almost don’t want to turn it into jam and these apricots are one of them. Unlike your average apricot, Blenheim’s are small in size and pack an intense flavor. They are also incredibly delicate making them difficult to ship; meaning you probably won’t find them in any grocery stores. Lucky for me they are grown by small family farm down the road from where we live.

What is your most popular item?

That’s a tough question since my flavors change with the season but some of the more popular ones have been seascape strawberry jam, clementine & sea salt marmalade and bourbon apple butter.

Where do you get the inspiration for your work?

My favorite place to go for inspiration is our local farmers market. Every Saturday my husband and I start our weekend at the market strolling up and down the rows of gorgeous produce.

Want the recipe for the Iona Grape Cocktail?

What makes your store unique?

What makes my product unique is the fact that I source all of my fruit from small, family farms in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties (within 60 miles of our kitchen). It doesn’t get more local than that!

What is the toughest part about making your goods/your artistic process?

I guess I would have to say the toughest part of my job is finding a balance between work and home life. As a one-woman operation it’s easy to let the business consume my life. As much as I love what I do, I think it’s important to create boundaries and always make time for yourself and loved ones.

Where can I see more of your work and buy a gift?

I don’t currently have an online store but you can purchase my products through many retailers. You can find a complete list on my website.

Website: www.sweetladycook.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/sweetladycook

Twitter: @sweetladycook

Instagram: @sweetladycook

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Simple beautiful creations, am I right?  I am just drooling over the Brie & Blenheim Apricot Grilled Cheese sandwiches above, and I just loved every flavor that I sampled, especially the Concord Grape.  Also, make sure to check out the incredible website for even more delicious recipe ideas and photos!

Now, let's get to the giveaway!  It is open to U.S. and Canada residents over 18 years old, so get entering in the widget below.  :)

Good luck!

Sweet Lady Cook