Evelyn's Blog - Taste of Gourmet

Three Artists on Thursday Night...

Art After Hours is just my favorite "event" that we do!  Just a great time of visiting with interesting people and old friends.....nibbling on something yummy from Taste of Gourmet....meeting such talented people who are featured each month....AND a FREE mini concert from one of our musical friends!

Alan Jones is playing guitar this Thursday night...August 6th...you just want to get up and dance...or sit back and enjoy the rhythms!

Lee Washington will be showing his Cotton Picker Art - tiny table-top sculptures made of metal parts from old cotton pickers!  There's a man pushing a wheelbarrow...a cross...a man carrying a jug...just all sorts of whimsical people and things.  You'll love talking to Lee about his art and you might even inspire him to create something new...just for you!  Start thinking Christmas gifts.....You'll also see Lee's work at the new B.B. KIng Museum down the street!

Susan Love is a jewelry maker from Greenville..inspired by the Delta and using the Delta symbols in her earrings and necklaces....She is one of our newest artists and we're so glad to have her come over next Thursday night!

My contribution is always the food....Food IS an Art Form!   I'm so hungry for my Mama's Meatloaf wrapped in pastry!  Ummm..I think that will be on the menu...not exactly "party food" but it sure is good!  Michael Lovett told me the other day that my Meatloaf Mix makes the "PERFECT" meatloaf - moist but not all drippy with ketchup like some people make!  He's really glad that Jessica found our mix...

Haven't decided on the rest of the menu...but there will be plenty to sample and enjoy!  Art After Hours is a party for the community!  Come out and join us at The Crown from 5 until 7 on Thursday night.  I'll be looking for you!

Walking back into The Crown after being gone almost 3 weeks was a joy!  The Crown really is unique! 

Our "art gallery" makes the dining room such a happy place!  Jenna King has brought in new paintings!  One is called "Don't Worry Be Happy" with houses and smiling people all around the edges and the new one..."Seize the Day" is a sermon and a joyous painting all in one!!

Eva Champion has at least 7 paintings - our newest artist!  Her hydrangeas and the daffodill are just beautiful!  Come eat with us and "devour" all the art as well!

Cinnamon ?Brunch Bread...yum!

We're still in Maine and really enjoying being with the children and eating...(don't we always?)  Today for the THIRD time this week...I've had a coffee cake...cinnamon roll....walnut cinnamon cake...that reminded me of the Brunch Bread that we sold a few years ago through Taste of Gourmet!  And I'm bringing that product back in September! 

Our Brunch Bread is superior to any of the ones I've enjoyed this week....so why not?  We dropped it from the catalog just because we had so many desserts and sweet things...but when it's so wonderful and our Main Dishes now out number our Desserts.....It's time to get YOUR kitchen smelling wonderful again!  And for the holidays...a special morning "coffee cake"  hot from the oven!  Can you smell it?

Fresh Mussels with our Chimmi.....

The fresh seafood here in Maine is a joy to cook with!  And YES - I love to cook on vacation! Deanna and I sort of collaborate when we are here....like I said she's a great cook! 

Last night's dinner was Mussels steamed in a little white wine with just a tablespoon of our Chimmi Sauce and a little butter!   The juices were wonderful and we sopped up every bit with some good granary bread from the bakery!  I loved hearing Carter saying.....one more please....he loved pulling the Mussels apart and eating.....after he played with it for a few minutes!   But he loved the flavor....just the right amount of garlic in the Chimmi to flavor the "broth" just right!

I'm always saying that Taste of Gourmet is perfect for people who love to cook - because they can use our products in so many creative ways!  And for people who hate to cook - because all they have to do is follow our simple directions with a few ingredients and they can make a meal fit for a king.....or a happy grandson! 

We love Maine.......

Being with the kids is the ultimate highlight of our trips to visit Kevin's family in Maine.....Deanna's cooking ranks up there pretty high too!  She had strawberry shortcake waiting on us when we arrived on Tuesday with FRESHLY picked sweet luscious strawberries and whipped cream......real homemade cream Izabela told me!  So good!  You know, it's Deanna's recipe for Cranberry Chocolate Biscotti that is so popular as one of our mixes!  Keep cooking Deanna! 

Free Spinach Dip for you to enjoy!

That's right!  With every $25.00 order you place.....we'll include a box of our delicious Simply Spinach Dip!  Two mixes are in each box...so you'll have lots of ways to enjoy!   I've even included a brand new recipe page for the Spinach Dip - some aren't even on the website!  Chicken Florentine and White Pizza!

And the inspiration for this gift was at supper on the Fourth!   Dale and Phil cooked ribs and steaks and ice cream cake and all of it was yummy!!!   Really yummy!   And for the baked potato....Dale offered a bowl of Spinach Dip to top off the potato!   She had all sorts of other toppings too...but I chose the Spinach Dip and it was so good!  And I even added a bit more during the meal... I'd never thought of our Spinach Dip as a potato topping!

I wonder about the Dill Dip....and the Garlic Herb...and the BLT.......I've topped with Salsa before...but I love a new idea of how to use our good food!  So YOU place an order and we'll give you a box of our Simply Spinach Dip Mix...FREE!   Hope your Fourth was as fun and yummy as ours!