Lauri Jo's Southern Gluten Free -- yummy ideas for tailgating and fall parties.

A Product Review

My dear former student Lindsey Roberts sent me some samples and information about the gluten-free offerings of Lauri Jo's Southern Style products, and I am so totally impressed with the product.

I tasted and used samples of Lauri Jo's assortment of pepper jellies -- Pineapple, Blueberry and Strawberry -- and I really loved them.  It has taken me a while to post this product compliment, but I want to assure you that these products are of high quality and are very delicious. I was especially excited to find them on the shelves at the Callaway Garden Store -- complete with a gluten-free sign! (photo by me).

Before I share more information about this great Georgia company, I wanted to share with you MY favorite way to use Pepper Jelly. I am planning to enter this in the first Lauri Jo First Annual Cookoff.

Sweet and Spicy Broccoli Slaw

I package Broccoli Slaw, organic if available (or a small head or green cabbage, sliced thin).
I thinly sliced red onion, or two sliced shallots, or three green onions, whites and greens
1/2 cup slivered almonds or chopped pecans
1 small can pineapple chunks (drain juice for another use, or use fresh if you have it)
1 t. kosher salt.

Mix and let set for about two hours, then make dressing:

• 1/3 cup Lauri Jo's Pineapple pepper jelly
• 1 small can pineapple chunks (drain juice for another use, or use fresh if you have it)
• 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar (or white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Generous Pinch pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin seed, lightly crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds, lightly crushed

Top and mix slaw, add additional salt if needed, and refrigerate.  This is better if made a day in advance, and it keeps well.

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Let me share with you a news release about Lauri Jo:

Also, Lindsay shared some gluten-free recipes with the product:

Lauri Jo’s Sweet-N-Spicy Meatball Sauce

1 jar of salsa

1 jar of Lauri Jo’s Pepper Jelly

Mix the two together for a fantastic glaze for meatballs!  Also makes a mouthwatering grilling sauce.

Lauri Jo’s Baked Beans

1 lb. of ground chuck, browned and drained

1 quart can of baked beans

1 jar of Lauri Jo’s Pineapple Pepper Jelly

½ jar of Lauri Jo’s Salsa

Spray a large casserole dish with Pam.  Mix all ingredients together and add to casserole dish.  Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.

Lauri Jo’s Glazed Pork Tenderloin

1      1 ½ lb pork tenderloin

1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix (be sure to use a gluten-free brand!)

1 jar Lauri Jo’s Pineapple Pepper Jelly

1/3 cup Dijon mustard

In a small saucepan, melt together the mustard, pepper jelly and onion soup mix. Pour evenly over the tenderloin, rolling the meat to coat on all sides. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake, covered, in a preheated 350 oven for 30 minutes, basting with glaze every 10 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking another 30 minutes, or until pork is no longer pink in the center.

Lauri Jo’s Deviled Eggs

1 dozen eggs

1/2 jar of Lauri Jo’s Green Tomato Pickles, chopped

½ cup of mayonnaise

2 tbsp. mustard

½ tsp. celery salt

Dash of black pepper & salt, to taste

Paprika

Boil eggs, cool, and then peel.  Cut eggs in half and scoop out the yolks into small bowl.  Mix yolks and remaining ingredients, except for the paprika.  Fill egg halves with the yellow mixture, and sprinkle with paprika.

Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Hamburgers

Mix Lauri Jo’s Salsa in ground beef, shape into patties and grill until well-done.

I like to top with fresh blue-cheese crumbles or a fresh slice of Vidalia onion and tomato.

You choose your favorite toppings and have a mouthwatering burger with friends.

Mike’s Famous Blueberry Beef Ribs

Get a slab of beef ribs.  Do not cut. 

Mop the slab of ribs really well with Lauri Jo’s Blueberry Pepper Jelly.

Grill ribs very slowly for about 5-6 hours mopping about every hour with the jelly.

After cooking for about 5 hours, remove from grill and cut ribs individually.

Mop all sides really well and place back on the grill for another hour.

Remove the ribs from the grill.  Melt another jar of Lauri Jo’s Blueberry Pepper Jelly on the stove top or in the microwave until a thick liquid consistency. 

Have lots of napkins or paper towels cause your gonna need them.  These are the best ribs you will ever eat.  Dig in and ENJOY!!

Best Ever Hot Dogs or Sausage Dogs

Grill hot dogs (I like mine with black charred marks).

Top with: Chili(made with Lauri Jo’s Salsa), Lauri Jo’s Sweet & Spicy Onions, grated cheese and Lauri Jo’s Sweet & Spicy Jalapeños,  or slaw made with Lauri Jo’s Green Tomato Pickles or Lauri Jo’s Sweet Cucumber Pickles.

Steak with a Twist

Get your favorite cut of steak (Lauri Jo’s is Filet).

Marinate it in Dale’s and Lauri Jo’s Redneck Shaker Sauce.

Grill to perfection (for Lauri Jo that is Medium) and enjoy with a stuffed twice baked potato made with sour cream, Lauri Jo’s Salsa, cheese, and topped with cheese.  YUM, YUM!!!!!!!

Lauri Jo’s Bodacious Baked Beans * a must with any grilled entre. 

1 16oz can of Bush Home-style Baked Beans.

½ jar of Lauri Jo’s Salsa

½ jar of Lauri Jo’s Pineapple Pepper Jelly

½ bottle of your favorite BBQ Sauce

1 lb of browned and drained ground beef

After browning ground beef, spray a 9x13 pan with pam, mix all other ingredients in with ground beef.

Pour in casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 45 mins to an hour.

These are absolutely delicious.  If any are leftover, put them on top of a grilled hot dog.  It’s the best.

*These can also be cooked in a tin foil pan on the grill covered with tinfoil.

Grilled Salmon or Grouper

Select your steaks of fish.

Baste them in Lauri Jo’s Pineapple Pepper Jelly.

Place on hot grill on foil.

Save some of the jelly for dipping sauce.

Garnish with lemon or lime slices.

Beautiful dish and healthy too!!

Grilled Strawberry/Cilantro Chicken

Wash and dry chicken (I use halves or breasts but use your choice).

Pour 1 jar of Lauri Jo’s Strawberry Pepper Jelly or Jam into a Gallon Ziploc bag or a container with a lid.

Chop about ½ cup of fresh cilantro and pour into bag.

Add chicken and toss to cover completely.

Remove from bag and place on hot grill.

Drizzle with fresh squeezed lime juice.

Turn as the chicken browns and mop with strawberry mixture.

Remove from grill when the chicken is cooked completely through.

This is really good with grilled potatoes and other veggies.

Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning Takes Home First Place at the

2012 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest

Recognized as Best Georgia Product in the Jam, Jelly, and Sauce Category

ATLANTA (March 14, 2012) – This year’s 2012 winner of the Flavor of Georgia food product contest in the jam, jelly and sauce category is Muscadine Pepper Jelly from the kitchen of Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning.  Final judging was held at the Georgia Freight Depot in Atlanta during the Governor's annual agricultural awareness week. 

The Flavor of Georgia food product contest is an annual celebration of all the flavors Georgia has to offer. The contest highlights delicious, original food from Georgia and is judged by a distinguished panel of business and food experts.  The contestants are critiqued on flavor, best use of Georgian ingredients, Georgia theme, unique or innovative qualities, commercial appeal and originality.  The contest is sponsored by the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development in partnership with the Center of Innovation for Agribusiness, Office of Governor Nathan Deal, Walton EMC, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Agribusiness Council and the UGA Department of Food Science and Technology.  Judges included representatives from OneGeorgia Authority, Whole Foods Market, Channel 2 Action News, Food International, The Kroger Company, Georgia Made Georgia Grown and Emory University Food Service.

Lauri Jo Bennett is the owner and founder of Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning and Marketplace located in Norman Park, Georgia.  Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning’s winning Muscadine Pepper Jelly is just one of the many delicious products her company has to offer.  Specializing in gathering fresh produce from local farms, Lauri Jo Bennett has a passion for canning and offering handmade products that are unique to the south.  With a few of Lauri Jo’s great-grandmother’s recipes, combined with some from her own family, the company delivers products that are unique to the South.  Being a small, family-owned and operated business, Lauri Jo’s understands the importance of shopping local and supporting small businesses.  The wide variety of products are all-natural and range from different kinds of pepper jellies to pickled okra and asparagus to salsa. 

Lauri Jo canned goods at the Canning Plant at Colquitt County High School until she established her canning business in September 2009.  She wanted to offer authentic, locally-grown products with a flare of southern charm to customers like herself. Since then, her business has grown from a small variety of jams and jellies to 17 different products. 

• Lauri Jo’s products have won countless awards including

·      Best of the National Gourmet Food Show for her green tomato pickles,

·      Excellence in Innovation Award from Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle,

·      Chosen by SUSTA to represent Georgia in July 2010 at the Fancy Food Show in New York,

·      And People’s Choice Award winner at Flavor of Georgia in 2011 for her Blueberry Pepper Jelly.  

Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning was also named as one of Atlanta’s Favorite Taste of Georgia for 2012.  She is an active member of the Agriculture Committee for Colquitt County, the Board of the Georgia AG Tourism Committee, a founding member and the Director of the URA for Norman Park, a business partner for the National FCCLA Board of Directors, a community business partner for the Colquitt County Chapter of FFA and is an active member at First Baptist Church in Norman Park. 

To find out more about Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning or to purchase products, please call 229-769-3391 or visit www.laurijos.com.

About Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning, LLC

Southern charm and down-home cooking combine to make Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning, LLC, one of a kind.  A small, family-owned and operated business, Lauri Jo and her team personally oversee production and select fresh, local produce to be used in every all-natural product.  Preserving the south one jar at a time, Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning, LLC features condiments with a true "Southern Taste."  Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning and Marketplace is located at 4428 Highway 319 North Norman Park, Georgia.  For more information visit, www.laurijos.com.

Much love, to Lindsay, to Lauri Jo, and to you all!

Ging