Evelyn's Blog - Taste of Gourmet

Be an Encourager!

I've been so excited today - all day!  April Savell, one of our TOG Consultants, sent this email out this morning to her personal TOG Family - an encouraging note that made me proud and happy when I read it!  April said I could share it will all of you - isn't it great to have friends who love and encourage you?

"Good Morning from Brandon, Mississippi!  It actually looks like it is going to be a blah day! Rain in the forecast but I choose to make it a great Taste of Gourmet day!

Did you know that we are blessed? We are blessed beyond measure.  We have family, friends, children, husbands, clothes to wear, a roof over our heads and we have food to eat!  There is so much talk about the President and his Administration and the Economy that it sometimes makes you want to curl up and not go anywhere!

God says, 'Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged; for the Lord God will be with you wherever you go!' Joshua 1:9

Wow!  What a comfort to know that with God in my life I am going to be Ok.  It doesn't say that we will not face hardships but that we will never be alone!

We represent a company that has a product that people must have to survive - FOOD!!  We need to get behind our Products and be PROUD to sell Taste of Gourmet!  We all know that food is what brings people together and during the summer months people will celebrate so many things - graduations, babies, birthdays, vacations, family reunions, weddings, etc..  All of these require FOOD! 

Sell your products and give your customers ideas on what to do with them!  That is what people like the most - we actually tell them how to use our products and it is usually easy stuff.  Call me if you need anything and feel free to email me anytime!  April Savell"  

Thanks April for sharing your love!  Evelyn

Tried for the first time....

Nothing puts a smile on my face like a compliment to the food I've created!  There was a comment on our website last week that I just loved!  "I bought some of your products for the first time recently through a fundraiser and absolutely loved them!  Please send me a catalog!"

Of course we mailed a new catalog out that day!  And I'd love to send each one of you a new catalog too!  Some great new pictures and new serving suggestions!  Just email me at evelyn@tasteofgourmet.com or go to the Contact section of our website and ask for a catalog - it's simple!  Just go to www.tasteofgourmet.com and have a good look and get really hungry!

A Prayer for today......

Years ago, I found this prayer on a scrap of paper in my Grandmother's Bible...I run across it every now and then and it makes me happy to read it through and pray it again... with her!

God, give me eyes that I might see the work that can be done by me;
God, give me ears that I may hear the cries of those who need me near.
God, give me lips that I might speak comfort and peace to all who seek;
God, give me a mind, that I might know how to help those who need me so.
God, give me hands that I might do some large or simple task for Thee;
God, Give me a prayer, that I may pray Thy Help and guidance every day.
And this one thing, all else above;
God, give me a heart, that I may love.  Amen.

B.B. King Homecoming June 6th

That's right!  B.B. King is coming home - like he has for the last 28 years - to visit with friends and play his music for the children!  Friday evening, June 6th, B.B. King will be in Fletcher Park here in Indianola, Mississippi talking and playing and letting the children dance on the stage!  And just having FUN!  Enjoying himself!

So ya'll plan a trip to Indianola!  Experience the Homecoming on June 6th!  T-shirts are on sale at The Crown (the Chamber, Indianola Pecan House, etc.) and tickets for the festivities that night are only $15.00 at the gate!  Come have fun in our little town on Indian Bayou that B.B. King calls Home!  The shopping is great, the food is wonderful (of course The Crown will be serving Lunch), there will be music in clubs and on the street and you'll be welcomed with true Southern Hospitality in our little town of the Bayou and the Blues!

NOTE:  Indianola is opening the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in his honor on September 13 so B.B. will be BACK in town for the ribbon cutting!  Plus: B.B.'s just bought historic Club Ebony here in Indianola, where he's been playing after the Homecoming Concert for years and years!  So much to do and experience in the Delta!  Ya'll come see us!

Muffins for Prescott

Sweet Potato Muffins - made with orange juice instead of water - adding chopped walnuts for crunch!  Does that sound yummy?  YES!

Shelly Allen (a Consultant from West Virginia) was describing the Sweet Potato Nut Cake she served at her last Tasting when we were talking today.  She said everyone there bought at least 2 boxes of our Muffin Mix! Now I was getting hungry!

This afternoon Sage is going to help me make the Muffins like Shelly did the Nut Cake!  With orange juice and walnuts!  Prescott loves the "regular" recipe for the muffins!  He'll go wild over this version!  Five little muffins in each hand - he'll be really happy!

I love for people to change my basic mix recipes - add things - change ingredients - make it their own!  But still SOOOOO easy to make!  That's the beauty of our mixes!  Any more ideas?

Jennifer is in France...Wish I was!

Our daughter, Jennifer Schaumburg, is on the trip of a lifetime! She was invited on a Rotary Exchange trip to France for four weeks!  Jen was nominated by Indianola's Rotary Club and is with three other young people from Mississippi on this professional exchange!  What an opportunity!

I was telling Laurie Phillips, one of my Consultant friends from New Albany, MS, about her trip today and Laurie suggested I share some of her travels in my blog (so here is a tidbit from her first email!)  Of course Jen's profession is FOOD and the entire life of France revolves around food!   Lucky Girl!

"The food is incredible, the wine delicious and we are having a very busy time! Today I went to a patisserie - you would have loved it!  I watched them make croissants, macaroons......"  Inside a French Bakery!!  I've always wanted to do that! 

I have a bad habit anyway of worming my way into special kitchens to watch the chefs at work!  (Paul Prudhomme's people actually invited me in when we ate at K-Paul's the first time!  And at Commander's Palace, you can walk through the kitchen any time (and linger like I do!)   

I just hope Jen had a chance to shape a croissant ( I know she'll be enjoying dozens while she's there!)  A French Bakery!  Heaven!

We all need advice....

The Crown has been the setting for lots of graduation parties in the last few days.....precious young people making huge changes in their lives!  And what a joy that we can be a part of their celebrations. 

The Graduates will be getting lots of advice - and they need good advice just like all of us still do!  Even if we graduated 50 years ago... like Tony or 47 years ago... like me or 68 years ago.... like our Senior Pastor, Brother Bailey!  This quote was in our church bulletin this week and I want to share it with you!

"Do not pray for an easy life; pray to be a stronger person.  Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, but for powers equal to your tasks.  Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you will be the miracle.  Every day you shall wonder at yourself and the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God." 

Will Power...Some have it!

Did everyone start a diet on the first of May?  It seemed like HALF of our guests at The Crown on Thursday were refusing our Bread!  Talk about will power! 

I was carrying the Bayou Beer Bread around the dining room (my favorite thing to do) and the bread was steaming.....looking yummy on the Taste of Gourmet Bread Board.....and some people were saying "No!"  That is true will power!

Actually some of them also said, "I'm saving calories for the Dessert Table.."   But that's still will power and I wish I had more of it!

And the Winner is.......

I just have to brag a little!  Morgan Wood from Clarksdale, Mississippi, sold 60 Peach Pecan Pepper Preserves during April to set a new record for individual sales of the St. Jude Product of the Month!  I am so proud of Morgan!  She passed Tammy Caruther's previous record of 56! Morgan worked at it too! 

In her words, "I even did a "Tasting to Go" with the PPPP and the Sweet Potato Muffins and carried it to two banks and a couple of offices near mine downtown!  Everyone who tasted those products -BOUGHT!"  Thanks for your hard work Morgan!  The work at St. Jude Hospital needs all of our support!

Rhonda Orr, a new Consultant from South Carolina, was the Winner of our April Rain Drops Drawing!  Congratulations to Rhonda!  She also has earned her First Month of Fast Start and really sold the PPPP well too! Thank you for choosing Taste of Gourmet Rhonda!  You are setting your goals and working at reaching them - one step at a time!  Thank you!

I've decided to keep the St. Jude "Break the Record" Challenge going for May!  If you want to help your personal Consultant, just call and give her your order!  Or go on line to order and use your Consultant's name!  We will make a $1.00 donation to St. Jude for every box of Toffee Crunch Cheese Cake Ball that is sold during May!  And it's one of our all-time favorite products!

I wonder how long Morgan's Record will hold?