So last week was all about canning and harvesting all that goodness that comes our way during the warmer months. But, do you have a favorite that you can’t seem to can just so? Maybe it’s a favorite salsa, or relish? No matter how hard you try it’s just not like the jar you can buy in a store? This can happen. (Ha, see what I did there? CAN happen. HA!)

I mean, fresh is best. 95% of the time homemade is where it’s at! Take for instance, when we were up at our riverlot right before 4th of July weekend. Getting ready for the long weekend up there. I made a bunch of food to take up because we were getting our docks put in a little late, and friends were coming up to help put them in.

I made 6 lbs. of Brown Sugar Bourbon chicken. Those babies marinated all day and night, and I cooked them right before we went up to the river that night. It was the first time ever making this flavor. The Yukon was just filled with the ambience of the just grilled sweet brown sugar bourbon on the drive up. We couldn’t wait to dig in. We anticipated dinner! When we made it to the riverlot, I placed the cooked chicken on our picnic table. Our sweet river neighbor called us over to have a drink and had salsa and nachos out on his table. We were waiting for friends, so we walked over and visited with him a bit. This salsa he had was absolutely incredible! It was made by “Pappy O’s Peppers.” We seriously could not stop eating it. My husband took a picture of it on his phone and said “Babe, we have to get some of this!” The salsa I make he loves. It’s good stuff! But this salsa was different from mine, I couldn’t put my finger on it! We were about to be full of nachos and needed to stop indulging in the salsa that was addictive as ever!

“MOMMMM!!!!” yelled my eleven-year-old son. “Come here! Quick!”

Tyler walked over to grab some of his fishing stuff so he could go fishing.

“What’s wrong!?” as we are all running over to him.

“Our dinner! It’s gone!”

“Wait. What!?” I said.

Our sweet neighbor’s dog had gotten over to our lot, and ate all glorious six pounds of our dinner. There wasn’t a crumb left to be seen.

Our neighbor felt awful. I felt awful. What would I feed people now? I had pasta salad, fruit salad and homemade brownies.

“It’s ok, don’t worry about it! We will just eat brownies and pasta salad!” as I laughed. “No big deal,” I said.

“No, it’s not ok, our neighbor said, I can’t believe he did that!”

Our dog Bear doesn’t bother food. He knows better. Poor boy never even got to try it or went near it when the other dog was eating it. I never gave it a thought sitting it on our picnic table at the river! His dog never bothered our food before!? But I’m telling you, that Brown Sugar Bourbon smelled so divine, that you couldn’t blame him! Plus, he is a hunting dog. It’s in his nature! He ate good that night, and so did we!

We got more of that delicious salsa, and our neighbor fed us sausage and elk steak. YES, elk steak! Not every day you get elk! We all just joke about it now, and our very dear neighbor will text me joking saying “Hunter (his dog) wants to know what’s for dinner tonight!?” God bless him. We love Sergeant Peppers. He is the best darn riverlot neighbor you could have. Even helped us put the docks in that night.

All jokes aside though, sometimes those jarred items are pretty tasty! Another one of my favorites is Schatzi’s Jalapeno relish. A mixture of sweet and spice that can be put on anything!

Eggs in the morning, pizza, cheesesteaks. OH my gosh…cheesesteaks!! Hot ham and cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, brats, burgers and more! The possibilities are endless! Check out their website if you are interested in a jar. You won’t be sorry! http://www.schatzisbrats.com

Oh, and that Brown Sugar Bourbon Chicken. You can find that in the seasoning aisle made by McCormick’s Grill Mates. Comes in a small packet and is one of my favorite chicken seasonings! If Hunter liked it so much that he ate six pounds of it, I have a feeling you’ll love it too! (Hahaha!)

Sometimes good things come from packets and jars.

Brown Sugar Bourbon Chicken

• 1 package McCormick® Grill Mates® Brown Sugar Bourbon Marinade
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast halves

Let marinade as long as you can, anywhere from at least 6- 12 hours, then grill.