News / New Products

 

With a disposition as sweet as their small-batch spreads, Suzy and Clark Neal, the makers behind Unicoi Preserves, are two of the nicest folks you’ll ever have the chance to meet.

Residing in the North Georgia mountains, Sautee-Nacoochee to be exact, this couple has a passion for creating Georgia Grown spreads that are sure to bring people together whether used in a party food, on a cheese plate, or in an old-fashioned PB&J.

Recently, we had the opportunity to chat with Suzy about everything that’s been going on for the Georgia artisans including their newest product addition, award-nominated pretzel rolls, and much more.

When your Georgia Crafted Peaches first found out about Unicoi Preserves’ newest jar of goodness, we were immensely excited to discuss their sweet with a little heat Cherry Jalapeno spread.

The idea for this sweet and spicy spread came from their love of cherries but with a little twist of flavor.

“Cherry Jalapeno Spread came about from our love of cherries. Clark and I look forward to cherry season every year and think that the bright, tart flavor of cherry is complimented by the spice of jalapeno peppers. Ours is a unique recipe that we have been cooking and taste testing for over a year, working to get the balance of sweet, tart and heat just right.”

As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, this spread is perfect for your holiday recipes and to include in a Georgia Crafted gift box.

“This is a beautiful product for the holiday season and gifting; it's just so festive spooned over goat cheese or cream cheese. We are all about entertaining and Unicoi Preserves Cherry Jalapeno Spread is the perfect pair with Georgia Crafted bamboo cheese boards.”

Adding their newest spread to their collection of other delicious flavors such as Vineyard, Vineyard Fire or Apple Cider Pepper has given Suzy and Clark plenty of new recipes to explore.

“Clark and I have been creating new recipes using Cherry Jalapeno Spread so stay tuned. It’s delicious on a toasted panini sandwich with roast beef and your favorite melty cheese and on bagels with a schmear of cream cheese.”

Not only are the Neal’s talented when it comes to concocting delectable spreads, but they also create delicious recipes to share with all of their friends, family, and followers. If there’s anybody’s get-together your Georgia Crafted Peaches would like to attend, it’s a party at the Neal house because they’ll serve up get-in-your-belly-good food.  

Recently, Suzy’s recipe for Peanut Butter Pretzel Rolls was a top contender at the National Festival of Breads in Manhattan, KS.

“I am very honored to have my Peanut Butter Pretzel Roll recipe chosen from over 300 entries as a finalist at the National Festival of Breads. Bread baking is a hobby I shared with my Mom and I'm always looking for unique ways to spotlight Unicoi Preserves, so a bread baking competition was right up my alley!"

"I created my recipe, took some pictures of my bread and submitted it online following the guidelines of the contest. I was thrilled to get a phone call from the organizers of the event asking if I was available to come to Kansas to compete and immediately said yes.  I competed in the Food Blogger category against three wonderful bakers and while I didn't win my category, I came away a winner with great memories, a lot of nice swag from the sponsors, new friendships and connections.”

Suzy’s Peanut Butter Pretzel Rolls are easy to bake and are best served with Unicoi Preserves Strawberry Vanilla Spread. 

When it comes to Suzy’s favorite recipe to cook up during the hot summer months, she prefers a delicious appetizer that brings the heat as well: Her Jalapeno Poppers glazed with Unicoi Preserves.

“There are never any leftovers when we take them to parties. We usually use Apple Cider Pepper Spread but we've recently tried our new Cherry Jalapeno Spread and its great as a glaze on them too!”   

With so many different flavors of Unicoi Preserves spreads to choose from, you have to wonder which flavors best reflect the personalities of the artisans.

Suzy says, “I'm Salted Caramel Peach Spread because I'm constantly looking at what's trending in the food world and I'm a proud Georgia Grown Peach!”

As for Clark, “He’s Strawberry Vanilla Spread because he's a traditional guy but is always up for an adventure and putting his unique twist on traditional recipes.”

To check out more delicious recipes from Unicoi Preserves, click here. We promise you’ll be hungry as soon as you start scrolling. To add all of their spreads to your pantry, you can shop our Unicoi Preserves collection to ship these little jars of goodness right to your doorstep.

Not sure how to build the perfect Care Package for your college student? Check out your Georgia Crafted Peaches' Guide to building the PERFECT gift box to give your freshman or seasoned student a little comfort from home.

I was raised in Southwest Georgia where there were at least two carbs at every meal and a pitcher of sweet tea ready to be poured by family and friends alike at the dinner table.

As I am preparing for my wedding this upcoming November, I realized that this habit would not help me feel my best on one of the most important and most photographed days of my life.

After becoming familiar with the Keto diet from a friend, I decided to give it a try. I will admit that after hearing about this diet I thought it was just another fad such as the grapefruit juice diet or South Beach Diet that was not a day at the beach for lack of a better cliché.

The Keto diet’s premise surrounds a low carb, high fat diet that causes your body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates.

Individuals who swear by the diet have stated that you reach a sense of euphoria after being on the diet for a week or so.

I’m sorry but this idea made me a little skeptical of such a great diet that emphasizes little to NO carbs. However, it’s worth a shot to at least try the diet for a week for the sake of November 10, 2018.

After purchasing a Georgia Crafted Keto Deluxe Box, I had an arsenal of snacks and meal ideas to effectively begin THE KETO DIET.

Day 1: To be perfectly honest, day one was not as bad as I anticipated, but it included a lot of hunger and stomach growling. Unknown to my fiancé, we were in this together so he would be forced to eat the same dinner as my Keto-focused self.

The dinner consisted of lettuce wraps featuring Dinner Tonight! Burger seasoned burgers with a few slices of tomatoes and some special keto sauce. The folks at Wholesome Yum said that this recipe would taste like a Big Mac without the bread. With a sauce combination of mayo, white vinegar, mustard, paprika, and pickles, I must say that I didn’t miss Mickey D’s in the slightest.

Day 2: Day one began with optimism but on Day two the carb withdrawals began to hit. I wanted nothing more than a slice of bread. It didn’t even have to have anything on it. I went to the grocery store for a few groceries and I kid you not I could smell the bread from six aisles away.

However, I persevered and made it through day two with a little help from a Keto-approved fruit dip recipe perfect for strawberry dipping. With greek yogurt, Georgia Grinder Honey Almond Butter from my Georgia Crafted Keto box, and a little bit of honey, I whipped up a dip that tasted almost like cookie butter without the guilt.

Day 3: Because the weekend was over, it was back to work for me and hopefully a space free of carb-filled distractions. With the help of Front Porch Pecans Sea Salt Pecans from my Keto Box sitting beside my monitor at my desk, I could thoughtfully snack and keep myself full and focused without traveling to the temptation riddled break room.

Day 4: Ah! Day four was not a breeze but this no carb thing is getting a little easier. I still daydream about Oreos and find myself drooling after scrolling to a Tasty video on my Facebook feed but I have not broken. I am a Keto-strong warrior! I prepared an “I can’t believe it’s not a chocolate shake” smoothie with Nourished in 5 Back to the Basics Plant Protein powder from my Keto box to get my day off to a wonderful start.

Day 5: When I wake up in the morning, I feel less bloat and more confidence. I head back to the office with Striplings General Store Beef Jerky to help me have a protein-packed snack throughout the day.

My energy has increased, and I feel ready to hit the gym after work. Most of the time, I feel too sluggish to do anything but eat then sleep after a long day at the office. However, after participating in the Keto diet, I feel ready to run on the elliptical for about half an hour.

Day 6: The sense of euphoria has not quite been reached but I do feel better and ready to tackle the day. I enjoy a protein-packed breakfast featuring a sweet potato toast recipe from Little Bits of Real Food and Real Talk covered in Georgia Grinders NaturAlmond Honey Almond butter and a few banana slices.

Day 7: The week is already over? I survived without inhaling an entire row of Oreo cookies?

I am pretty proud of myself but prouder of the Keto diet. Although I felt as if this diet was simply a bunch of hype created by fit influensters and bloggers, I must say that this diet works even for a carb-loving Georgia Peach.

Without the help of the Georgia Crafted gift box for snack and gift ideas, I would not have had the perfect catalyst to begin this healthier lifestyle. I am excited to continue this Keto journey until my wedding in 9 months and plan on getting another Georgia Crafted Keto box to help me reach my health and fitness goals.

For anyone considering the Keto diet, living with little carbs is not an easy feat and the first few days will consist of foggy thoughts and a little hunger.

Research low-carb recipes that fit your tastes and preferences, and check out the Georgia Crafted Keto and Keto Deluxe Gift boxes as well as the Keeping it Keto section of their site.

You’ll gain plenty of delicious snack and meal ideas while also supporting small businesses throughout Georgia including Georgia Crafted.

Start organizing your holiday wishlist with our Black Friday Shop Small Gift Guide & don't forget our 20% off code: SHOPLOCAL.

There's always something to be thankful for, and this week it's our family-style Thanksgiving Gift Boxes. From cranberry pepper jelly to crispy cheese straws, we've got all your comfort food favorites that family, friends, and clients will be thrilled to receive.

January subscription boxes hit our subscriber's doorsteps more than a week ago, so it's time for our month Box Reveal!

Our theme for January was healthy (but still delicious!) food products that you can enjoy, whatever your New Year's Resolutions might be. Let's check out what's inside! And if you're a subscriber, remember to tag us @georgiacrafted on Instagram or Facebook when you receive your box!

Meyer Lemon & Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

Harrison Family Farm, Monticello, GA

This gourmet balsamic vinaigrette is flavored with Meyer lemons and basil, to keep your salad tasting bright and fresh—especially tasty with strong greens like arugula. Also great for cooking and marinating! Of course this dressing is a Georgia-made product, but the balsamic vinegar is imported from the Modena region of Italy, making the dressing authentic and truly gourmet.

Find it on our site here: Meyer Lemon & Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

Toasted Pecan Butter with Honey

Goodson Pecans, Leesburg, GA

One taste of this pecan butter, and you'll be a convert from peanut butter and almond butter. The pecans are grown on the Goodson family orchard in South Georgia. The pecan butter has a silky smooth texture, with toasted pecans for smooth flavor, and the honey granules make it perfectly sweet. Use like you would any other nut butter!

Find it on our site here: Pecan Butter with Honey

Gluten Free Cake-in-a-Mug

Abundtant Love, Canton, GA

If you eat GF, you're in for a special treat this month! Even if you're not gluten-free, this cake in a mug is still a delicious treat. This mix cooks up a single serving of delicious cake, right in a standard-size coffee mug.

Find it on our site here: GF Cake in a Mug Mix

"My FAV" Organic French Almond Vanilla Granola

Pure Bliss Organics, Marietta, GA

French Vanilla, almonds, honey, spices... this sweet and filling granola is a classic. It's also vegan and certified organic. Perfect for breakfast, or a snack at any time of day!

Find it on our site here: French Almond Vanilla Granola

 

That's it for this month! Visit our Subscribe page to join our subscription program—1 month, 3 month, and 6 month options available. Sign up by February 28 to receive the March box!

Happy New Year, Georgians and Georgia lovers! I know you've probably moved past the holidays by now, but we need to take a quick look back for our December Subscription Box Reveal!

If you missed out on the December box, we're taking orders through January 31, so you can get on the bandwagon to receive our February subscription box! Subscribe here: Georgia Crafted Subscription Boxes. 1, 3, and 6 month options available.

Our December subscription box was focused on sweet treats for the holidays. We hope everyone enjoyed these premium artisan-made treats and products from all around our great state of Georgia! Did you share the chocolates, or keep them all to yourself? ;)

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels

Blue Ridge Candy Company, Blairsville, GA

These caramels were a Flavor of Georgia finalist in 2016, and you'll understand why after just one taste. Hand-crafted with premium ingredients in small batches, delicious without being too sweet... we can't say enough good things about these caramels! They're also gluten-free and Kosher.

Order another box of them here: Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels

Peppermint Pucker Stick

Rinse Bath & Body, Monroe, GA

We love Rinse's Pucker Stick lip balms because they are smooth and long lasting, but never sticky.  The peppermint flavor comes from peppermint essential oil.

Find this favorite on our site here: Peppermint Lip Balm

Caramel Pretzel Bark

Chamberlain's Chocolates, Norcross, GA

This gourmet Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel Bark is hand-crafted in Norcross, GA with the finest quality chocolate. It's a great mix of salty, sweet, and crunchy!

Find it on our site here: Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel Bark

Twisted Pecans

Cleveland Organics, Fort Valley, GA

*or* (depending on when you ordered)

Gourmet Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

Goodson Pecans, Leesburg, GA

These tasty treats are a special blend of sugar and cinnamon covered over pecans, grown on the Goodson family farm in South Georgia. They are addictive!

Find them on our site here (currently sold out!): Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

 

We're excited to have new and updated gift boxes coming for this holiday season! Today, we're revealing the first one:

The Southern Baking Kit

We created this gift box full of Georgia-made treats for anyone who loves to bake. This would be especially thoughtful as a gift for a new home owner, a family who bakes with their kids, or as a host gift.

Here's what's inside:

Chocolate Chewy Square Mix
Dr. Pete's, Savannah, GA

Dr. Pete's Savannah-made mix bakes up into fudgy squares, like the best brownies you've ever tasted. All you need to add is butter and an egg.

Pecan Flour
Oliver Farm, Pitts, GA

This gluten-free flour has a variety of uses in baking. We've shared a Triple Chocolate Pecan Brownie recipe. You can find even more recipes on the Oliver Farm website's recipe page.

Pecan Oil
Oliver Farm, Pitts, GA

Another favorite from Oliver Farm, this Pecan Oil can be used for baking, or even for frying chicken. And if you didn't catch it, the New York Times recently featured Clay Oliver of Oliver Farms for his artisanal Green Peanut Oil. 

Peach Cobbler Mix
Lane Southern Orchard, Fort Valley, GA

Make a Georgia classic peach cobbler, with this Georgia-made mix. Bakes up with fresh, canned, or frozen peaches, so you can enjoy it any time of year.

Banana Bread Mix
Back to the Basics 101, Cochran, GA

This banana bread mix was a Finalist in the 2016 Flavor of Georgia competition! The first ingredient is 100% whole wheat flour. This soft wheat flour is grown on a family farm and stone-ground, right here in GA. 

Whip It Good tea towel
French Silver, Marietta, GA

"Whip it. Whip it good." This towel from French Silver in Marietta, GA, will bring a little humor to your kitchen. The design is printed on a 100% cotton, soft & absorbent flour sack towel—great for drying dishes.

You can purchase this baking gift box on our site here: Southern Baking Kit.

Check out these new products available on our site this month! All of these items are available à la carte in the Build a Gift Box section of our store.

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

This Pumpkin Spice Syrup is made with real pumpkin and spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Drizzle it over waffles, pancakes, or even oatmeal for a seasonal breakfast treat. Add it to your coffee for a homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Buy a bottle of Pumpkin Spice Syrup here!

Shower Bombs

Thievery Shower Bomb

Fall has finally come to Georgia (yay!), but that means cold and flu season isn't far behind. This Shower Bomb will turn your shower into a spa-like steam treatment. It's scented with a Thievery essential oil blend, including Cinnamon, Clove, Rosemary, Eucalyptus & Lemon.  This blend is known to help with cold & flu germs.

Buy a Thievery Shower Bomb here!

Aller-Ease Shower Bomb

Just like the Thievery Shower Bomb, this Aller-Ease Shower Bomb will turn your shower into a relaxing steam treatment with essential oils. It's like a bath bomb for the shower! The Aller-Ease blend includes Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint essential oils to reduce symptoms of allergies and hay fever.

Buy an Aller-Ease Shower Bomb here!

Lip Balms

We're now stocking Pucker Stick lip balms in Margarita, Ginger Lemongrass, and Peppermint. These balms are creamy and smooth, never waxy or greasy—and they're 100% natural, too.

Buy a pucker stick (or 2!) here: Margarita, Ginger Lemongrass, Peppermint.

As always, our new products are made in Georgia by local businesses, creating artisan-style products in small batches. We're proud to support the state of Georgia! This month's new products come from Blackberry Patch in Thomasville, GA and rinse bath & body co. in Monroe, GA.