Evelyn's Blog - Taste of Gourmet

Can you smell it?

Can you smell it? There must be something in the air that is making people NEED Gumbo!  Is that possible?  Our Creole File Gumbo is absolutely "pouring out the door" of the plant!  Fifteen to a Consultant in Jackson, ten to a customer in Pennsylvania, five to Texas... has everyone discovered how yummy and how easy it is to make Gumbo with our mix?  The Gumbo I served last night to some friends, had fresh shrimp and crab, brought to me by friend from the coast!  There was absolutely nothing left in the pot!  I wonder how many combinations of ingredients we could use when we make our Gumbo?  (Oooh, wouldn't some fresh duck Gumbo be great!)

God's Blessings

Our Staff Christmas Party was last night at my house!  Faye Jackson, the head cook at The Crown, said the blessing and she sweetly asked God's blessings on the "hands that prepared the food."  I reminded everyone (after Faye's prayer) that everyone at the party, the Crown staff and definitely the production crew at the plant ARE the hands that prepared the food and that Tony and Jen and I are so grateful for their hard work and help!

There are people all over the country thanking God for their food during these holiday festivities.  The foods that we've prepared and that our Taste of Gourmet Consultants make available to them!  It is wonderful that we can be a part of so many people's Christmas celebrations!  That is truly a blessing to me!

Make the Holidays Easy!

The Taste of Gourmet Elves are still hard at work - getting boxes to our customers so the "Cooking can Begin!"  UPS is delivering on Monday, Christmas Eve, so if your cupboard is almost bare of Fudge Pie or Peach Pecan Pepper Preserves, you can fill it up again and have some extras to give as gifts!  Director, Lacy Tollison, got a thank you email from one of her customers in Chicago - "I love, love, love being all set for the holidays.  I have been asked to bring the Lemon Almond Cheese Cake Ball to two Christmas parties already! Huge hit!!"  We do make cooking easy!  Don't forget that New Year's gatherings are coming up so be prepared!

Traditions!

Christmas is a special time of remembering!  Remembering the birth of Chirst is always my first thought.  Then remembering special moments with my family! Christmas traditions are treasured in my family and we look forward every year to the start of the Season! 

Our pottery Nativity Scene gets unwrapped and placed on the desk in the living room. Opening the box of Christmas trees ornaments has always been fun for Jen and Kevin as children, now Sage and Prescott dig into the pile of home made ornaments and start loading the lower branches!  Bells from Tony's mom, "framed" pictures of Bella and Carter, wooden penguins made by Kevin and Deanna, Jen's stitched stockings... Pumpkin Bread in little loaves for friend gifts and Kevin and Jen! (I still make the loaves, but now I use my Apple Cake Mix and add a can of pumpkin!  It tastes exactly the same and it's so quick!)  So many fond memories of decorations and meals together!

Traditions!  There are so many when you start listing the things that make your family and your Christmas your own!  I'd love for you to share a few family traditions with me!  It will make me feel a part of your family too!  Tony and I wish you a Merry First Week of Christmas! 

It's a Pleasure!

I had a great time at the Subsidium Show in Memphis!  The best part?  Hearing the ummm's and aaah's when people were sampling our foods!  That is just the BEST part of my "job!"  (You know, you can't can't really call making people happy a job - it's a pleasure!) Knowing that people enjoy what we've created in Taste of Gourmet and hearing their stories of how they've served the Praline Pie or Apple Cake or.......!  That is such a joy!  Now ya'll feel free to tell me your stories too!  Nothing makes me happier that knowing that YOU love our foods!