Yes, You Can! Canning Class Offered

Here's your chance to get hands-on experience canning some of your favorite summer items. I'll be sharing my knowledge at an intimate class hosted by the fine folks at Simple Gourmet, where I'll teach canning safety and how to get the most out of your summer produce. The class is set for 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 30.

Class includes locally grown produce, (yes, we will actually can!) canning jars, written materials and will last 3-4 hours. You will leave with three jars of finished canned items you made that day! Learn more about the class here. 

The class is limited to 10 individuals so make sure to sign up today!

Upcoming Appearances

Our flagship store, Mother Moo Creamery, won't be open for a few more weeks but we are thrilled to be presenting an ice cream demo at these two amazing local events: EatReal Festival and LA Street Food Fest.

At Eat Real, Mother Moo Creamery Owner and Certified Master Food Preserver Karen Klemens will appear on the craft stage at 11 a.m., Sunday, July 17, giving a demo on how to make her signature Sweet Summer Corn Ice Cream. She also will be at the LA Street Food Fest on Saturday afternoon.

If you cannot make any of the two extraordinary food events, check out the Mother Moo Creamery website for information on our much anticipated opening!

Cannot wait to see you all there!

Coming Soon: Mother Moo Creamery

For those of you who love Mothercluck jams and jellies, we are proud to announce that our products will have a new home. 

Coming next month, Mothercluck Artisanal Jams, Jellies and Preserves will be MOO-VING to Mother Moo Creamery, 17 Kersting Court, in beautiful Sierra Madre (www.mothermoo.com).

Owner Karen Klemens will be scooping up her organic ice cream at Mother Moo, plus she will be selling her artisanal jams directly to the public. Home preservation classes and workshops also will be available in August -- just in time to can the 100 pounds of tomatoes in your garden!

Mother Moo and Mothercluck are proud to be united under one barn.

Come by and give a scream, because We All Scream for Ice Cream!

The Market is Back!

After a few months of rest and more importantly the birth of two beautiful, healthy goat doelings, the Altadena Urban Farmers Market is back, featuring locally grown fruits, vegetables and prepared foods.

The market also will be celebrating the lift of the citrus quarantine. The quarantine has hampered local growers' efforts to safely and legally transport backyard fruit. At the May market, patrons can expect plenty of fresh, organic fruit and vegetables for sale.

The market is set from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, May 29, at the Zane Grey Estate, 396 E. Mariposa St., Altadena. Proceeds from the market benefit the ongoing work of the nonprofit Arroyo Time Bank. Check out the ATB's link here.

Mothercluck's line of jams, jellies and preserves will be back along with a host of other regular vendors. We all will be so happy to see our regular customers again.

Truly, the Altadena Urban Farmers Market is one of the best markets in Los Angeles County. Stop by, shop and make sure to pet the goats, including babies Dorothy and Poet. You'll be glad you did!

New Item: McGrath Family Farms Strawberry Jam

Back by popular demand, my award-winning Gaviota Strawberry Jam using berries freshly picked from McGrath Family Farms. This is a premium jam using 100 percent organic strawberries. $12 for an 8 oz. jar.

I only make a limited supply so when I'm out, I'm out.

Until next time, of course.

Come get yours this Saturday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 2600 Paloma Street, Pasadena. The event, benefiting Norma Coombs Alternative School, is free and open to the public.

My Gaviota Strawberry Jam makes the perfect Mother's Day gift.

The Life of a Chicken

At Mothercluck, we’ve been working as hard as a brood of hens to produce some of the best artisan jam your mouth will ever taste. Right now we’re getting the most out of our citrus as the season winds down -- gorgeous, tasty marmalades and candied citrus. Soon we’ll focus our efforts on the bounty of plump strawberries on the horizon.

This Saturday, you can taste the deliciousness of our citrus at the launch of GOOD LA, a new local community market at Atwater Crossing, 3229 Casitas Ave., in Atwater Village.  You can learn more about living a more sustainable life, stop by the DIY workshops and shop for locally made goods.  The weekend event is free but feel inclined to RSVP because some events will fill up.

Mothercluck will set up shop from noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, along with a handful of other local artisans such as Créme Caramel LA and Cast Iron Gourmet. We’re happy to join them.

If you are in Atwater Village, stop by and give a cluck! 

Buy LOCAL: Two Great Events Saturday!

Your Saturday morning errand schedule might be tight, but there's no reason not to support two events happening in the Pasadena community. Both events are located mere minutes of each other.

On your way to the local grocer, stop by and support local artisans who have baked for the Bake Sale for Japan. The nearest location for Pasadena-area residents is at the Chef's Center in Pasadena, 45 N. San Gabriel Blvd., Pasadena. Mothercluck Artisanal Jams, Jellies, and Preserves has donated some goodies, plus there's delicious breads, cookies, and other sweets for sale. Proceeds from the event go directly toward Japanese earthquake and tsunami victims. The sale begins at 10 a.m.

You'll be thanking us in July if you buy LOCAL and purchase your tomatoes and other delicious fruits and vegetables from Ardenwoods Edibles and Winnetka Farms. Meet the farmers behind this one-day-only sale as they host a seedling and seed sale from 8 a.m. to noon. Ardenwoods is located in Pasadena (email me for address info). There is no entry fee to purchase your locally grown starter plants.

So stop by, sniff some basil and fresh tomato greens, taste some jam, and say hello!