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Small Business Grant FedEx Competition

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE:
FEDEX WILL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON 3/31/21-ย 

Thank you for all your votes!! Fingers crossed!


I entered a small business contest on FedEx!
Between now & March 24, 2021 PLEASE go online & vote for Ojai Jelly!
One vote per day, per person- TELL your friends & Ojai Jelly fans!

VOTE HERE- FedEx GRANT LINK

I started my business on a shoestring in 2010. I had a stroke in 2007, which led to heart surgery, then falling & severely fracturing my sacrum… No fun at all but I’m here & I’m smiling
(most of the time)-ย  Bottom line: I really needed a job!ย 
You can read more about me here if you’d like to.
This is me before I had a stroke- it left me unable to walk or talk. I was 48.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Thank GOD I’m fully recovered & perfectly capable now. I’ll be 62 on Saint Patricks Day!

Fast forward to 2021, I sell in every state in this GREAT country of ours, +
in two villages in Baja, Mexico!

The small business FedEx contest limited me to 1000 words INCLUDING spaces-
so I couldn’t elaborate…

I’d LOVE to win the grant!! With your daily votes I might be able to do just that!!

If I win, here’s what I’d like to do:

โ†’Enjoy more shipping with FedEx Ground and possibly expand to FedEx Express
โ†’Print my logo on my shipping boxes so they can advertise my company as they’re en-route
โ†’Have new banners made
โ†’Have large magnet logo signs made to use on my vehicles
โ†’Print more business cards
โ†’Print more recipes for y’all
โ†’Maybe I’ll even have my pepper logo printed on all my “Jelly Roll” tubes
โ†’Possibly have t-shirts, masks, hats, mugs, water bottles printed with my logo!

โ™ฅI recycle, repurpose & reuse clean materials in the safe shipping & packing of Ojai Jelly.
I drive the truck, I unload the cases (usually alone), especially during the ongoing pandemic.

Thank you for your time, for your vote & especially for supporting my small business!
My business is one-woman strong! Me!
The possibilities are endless & I don’t shy away from hard work!

 

 

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Houston, we’ve solved the problem!

At long last Ojai Jelly has arrived at We Olive Houston!!
Ojai Jalapeรฑo Jelly+Ojai Habanero Jelly+Ojai Habanero Apricot Jam
“Where Heat Meets Sweet”
I LOVE the We Olive family & I’m super excited to sell Ojai Jelly in Houston-
Lets do this!!
Did I mention they have a WINE BAR?!?
Oh YES they DO!

 

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Heatwave Chicken

When it gets too hot to be creative in the kitchen I say “lets take this outside“-
I fire up the BBQ & stick everything on it-

In a large piece of heavy duty aluminum foil add;
La-Yu’s “Chili Oil”
Trader Joe’s “21 Seasoning Salute”
(It’s my new favorite spice mix- NO SODIUM, NO CALORIES, NO FAT & NO CARBS!)

IMG_0731 IMG_0732

 

 

 

 

 

Boneless skinless chicken breasts, but on the bone is fine too- more flavor.
Salt & pepper
Sprig of fresh rosemary on each piece of chicken
Lemon zest & a big squeeze of lemon juice

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Wrap up this mixture then add another layer of heavy duty aluminum foil
My BBQ is gas & it’s so easy to cook with-
I had 2 burners on low & still got the beautiful grill marks through the foil
(chicken cook time; about 30 minutes)

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I later added fresh corn that I’d previously soaked in water
(corn cook time; about 20 minutes)
Potatoes with a dash of olive oil & salt, cooked in foil
(potato cook time about 25 minutes)

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A little 25 year-old Balsamic Vinegar from il fustino added to some freshly picked watermelon;
A refreshing summertime dessert!

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enjoy!

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Death by Chocolate…

Death by Chocolate...

Preheat oven to 350*

Iโ€™ve experimented with this RICH yet surprisingly light cake for many years-
Itโ€™s my favorite & regardless of friends & families dietary restrictions
they LOVE it too-

No flour, oil or leavening.
Rich coffee flavor runs throughout both cake & frosting.

Serve with freshly churned vanilla ice cream & espresso.

Cake;
1 packet of Starbucks Italian roast โ€œViaโ€ plus 1/3 c. water
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 c. chocolate chips (1- 11 ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips)
1 1/2 t. pure vanilla extract
1/2 c. butter
12 egg yolks (keep egg whites for later)
1 3/4 c. organic walnuts, ground (food processor, ground like coffee grounds)

In a medium size saucepan, over low heat;
Coffee, water & sugar. Mix then add chocolate chips & stir.
Once mixed add vanilla & remove from heat.  Let cool 5-10 minutes.

With an electric mixer;
Cream butter, add egg yolks & mix. Add ground walnuts, then chocolate mixture.

In a separate (metal) mixing bowl;
Beat egg whites until firm but not dry-  Fold whites into the chocolate batter-

Place 3 layers of parchment paper on counter top, draw around the cake pan with a pencil then cut out with scissors- Cut some straight pieces to use for the pan sides. Line pans.

Evenly distribute the batter into cake pans. I add 1 or 2 scoops of cake batter to each cake pan until all three are evenly filled.

They will look a bit empty- but donโ€™t worry-

Bake @ 350 for 25 minutes (a little less time in a convection oven).

Frosting;
2 c. chocolate chips (1 11-ounce bag of semisweet chocolate chips)
1 packet of Starbucks Italian roast instant โ€œViaโ€ plus 1/3 c. water
1 c. + 2. T. butter
4 egg yolks
2 c. powdered sugar + a little for dusting the finished cake.

In a medium size saucepan, over low heat;
Slowly melt the coffee, water & chocolate chips.
Once smooth & blended; remove from heat.
Cool for about 7-10 minutes.

In a separate bowl;
Cream the butter, add egg yolks, then sprinkle in the powdered sugar.
Once smooth & well mixed, add in the chocolate mixture.

note; make sure when adding something hot to eggs that you donโ€™t accidentally cook the eggs- add a little at a time & keep stirring because you donโ€™t want it lumpy-

enjoy!

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Pickled Asparagus

 

 

Makes 5-6 quarts

Surprisingly crunchy & delicious like a great pickle can be-
Eat alone, cut them into your chopped salad, serve with cheese,
or use as a ‘swizzle stick’ in your next Bloody Mary!

Wash 6 quart-size jars
Sterilize jars & lids

Wash all ingredients-
You’ll need;
Asparagus- about 5-6 clusters
Break or cut off asparagus ends, allowing asparagus to stand in jar; about 3/4″ from top.
18 sprigs of fresh dill – 3 per jar
12 cloves fresh garlic – 2 per jar
6 small Peppers – 1 per jar (Habanero, Serrano, or Jalapeรฑo; dried or fresh)

Fill clean, sterilizedย  jars with raw ingredients; asparagus, dill, garlic & Peppers.

In medium sized pot, boil until salt is dissolved:
6 c. water
2 c. apple cider vinegar
6 T. kosher salt

Using a ladle, fill jars with hot liquid-
Always remember to leave about 1/2″ at the top, as per canning instructions.

Seal jars.
When cooled, store jars in refrigerator for at least 2 weeks.
(you can also make with fresh green beans instead of asparagus)

enjoy!