Evelyn's Blog - Taste of Gourmet

Roast some vegetables for supper....

Roasted fresh vegetables are one of the healthiest, most delicious ways to enjoy fresh vegetables.  Quick to cook....all the vitamins and goodness stays IN the vegetable....and the flavor of the carrot or potato is enhanced.  Try roasting vegetables with our Chimmi Sauce to add great garlic flavor too!

Roast one vegetable at a time....or mix them like I do at home!  My favorite combo is:
Fresh carrots - cut in 1/2 inch slices or strips
Sweet and Red Potatoes cut in slices or dice
Onions - in quarters
Zucchini or yellow squash in large chunks
Bell Peppers in quarters

Turn your oven to 400 degrees. Cut the vegetables and place in a shallow baking pan, drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil mixed with a tablespoon of Chimmi over the vegetables, toss them around to "coat".....it only takes a little oil for a lot of vegetables.  Put the pan in the hot oven.  After 10 minutes, stir the vegetables and check for doneness.  20 minutes is usually just right! 

New Orleans Beef is a WINNER....

This message was on the Comments section of our website!  I loved the praise for The Crown and our products AND that young grandchildren ALSO loved our products!  What I particularly loved was the reference to the "old pot roast with cream of mushroom soup!"  My mother made that exact same roast EVERY Sunday for years!  It was always ready when we got home from church and it was good!  She could put it on before Sunday School and forget about it! 

Tony ate Sunday lunch with us when he was in college for about a year and a half....he did request that we should NOT have that particular meal really often after we got married!  And we didn't!  But I may have to make it the Sunday after Easter..... just for old times sake!  Thanks for a great Comment and your very kind words!!

"My husband and I drove down recently to have lunch and buy Catfish and Capers. Did both..great lunch...also bought New Orleans Beef and Vidalia Onion Dressing among other things. My family loved both items. My 11 year old grandson ate three helpings of the beef for dinner Sunday. My son told me I should give up the old pot roast with cream of mushroom soup and just make this. From one mother/grandmother to another..thank-you for all of your wonderful products."

Sauces to create yourself....

I love reading menus (and eating of course)....the sauces for the meat and fish dishes sound so exotic and exciting....some with French names and some just unusual combinations of ingredients!  (I can actually gain weight just READING and VISUALIZING wonderful food.) 

So I thought I'd give you some of MY creative sauce ideas - using my Taste of Gourmet products of course!  Then you give me YOURS!  We use these ideas at The Crown!

Chipotle Mayonnaise - for sandwiches or drizzled over grilled fish, chicken or beef.  2 Tablespoons Chipotle Sauce mixed with 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise (use low-fat if you choose...the flavor is in the Chipotle)

Chimmi Mayonnaise - wonderful on sandwiches, burgers, or on top of a steak! 3 Tbsp. mayo to 1 teaspoon (or more to taste) of Chimmi!

Garlic Herb Dip - made with butter and cream cheese - it becomes a French Boursin cheese and is fabulous on top of a steak or grilled chicken breast - and just to eat with crackers!!!!

Cranberry-Chipotle - mix 1 teapoon Chipotle with 2 Tablespoons Cranberry Chutney for a great dipping sauce or to dollop on top of a grilled pork chop!  It's enough for two chops!

Chimmi Butter - mix 1 stick softened butter with 1 Tablespoon Chimmi Sauce (or to taste) and use as a finishing sauce for a chicken breast, pork chop or as a spread for a roast beef sandwich!

Suddenly Fruit Salsa - equal parts of our prepared Suddenly Salsa mixed with Peach or Apricot Jam...wonderful on top of a burger or to eat with chips!

The Crown's Salad....

The Secret of The Crown's Salad? Crispy Crumbles and Vidalia Onion Salad Dressing! Simple as that! And you can order both "ingredients" right here on the website! Crumbles are $4.95 and the Vidalia is $8.95....The sweetness of the Dressing melds delciously with the spicy, garlicy Crumbles...YUM!

How long will the Crumbles last?  April S. answered that question by freezing the Crumbles and spooning out what she needed to top her salads!   At The Crown we use Romaine lettuce, chopped cantaloupe and apples! We dress the salad with a little Vidalia and sprinkle Crumbles over the top! That's easy isn't it?

We have a 20% Sale on all our Taste of Gourmet foods...now through March 31st. Enter the Discount Code SpringSale for your 20% Discount (no spaces in the words) Don't forget a $40.00 order lets you choose ONE Half-price Customer Special! Order now and enjoy every bite of our good foods! www.tasteofgourmet.com  No excuse for not have good, southern, Mississippi made food wherever you live!  And be sure to come to Lunch at The Crown when you are in the Delta!

 

Ideas for Mama's Meatloaf....

One of the big "winners" of the Favorite Product survey already...is Mama's Meatloaf.  And several customers shared HOW they prepared their Meatloaf.  (Send me your favorite product at evelyn@tasteofgourmet.com.)

Wendy wrote, "At my house, we must have Mama's Meatloaf at least once per week...per my son.  It also must be made with ground turkey.  No complaints from this Mama."   Ground Turkey is a healthy, nutritious and delicious product that you can use with many of our soups and main dishes!  
Take a hint from Wendy's son....eat well and eat healthy! 

Deborah wrote, "Made Mama's Meatloaf last night for supper....it was delicious.  I used 1/2 pound of chorizo sausage with 1 3/4 pounds of ground round.  I used catsup for my "moisture."  I was very happy with the results, and so was my husband.  I have NEVER been unhappy with anything I have gotten from you."  

Cindy simply wrote, "My favorite is Mama's Meatloaf, Handsdown!"  I don't know Cindy's "way of preparation" but loved her enthusiasm! 

Seeing the "favorites" and reading the comments has been so much fun the last few days!  If you still haven't sent YOUR favorite to me...please do!  

New Orleans Beef is a family favorite....

Our house smelled SO good last night!  The New Orleans Beef was simmering on the stove and everyone loved Supper! I put it on to cook at the plant yesterday morning....cooking real slow on top of the stove.  I just put cut up the meat, added the beef broth and a can of tomato sauce, popped on the lid and walked away!  Does it get any easier? 

Well, I guess I could have bought already cut up stew meat instead of cutting my own...but I think a chuck roast is perfect and usually much less expensive than the stew meat.  You really need to use the full 5 pounds of beef with the one bag of mix!  Spend a little more on the beef because you'll enjoy SEVERAL meals out of the one cooking! 

Another hint....I always cook New Orleans Beef early in the day if possible so I can refrigerate the pot, skim off any fat that rises to the top and heat it all up again just before supper!  That way you can enjoy a much healthier meal!  And no last minute prep!  This is one dish that tastes even better a day later!

We ate the Beef over rice last night (the rice comes in the box too) but Prescott kept dipping his bread into the juices....we should have made him an open face New Orleans Beef "sandwich" instead!  I divided up the "bonus Beef" this morning and have enough for 3 more meals in the freezer!  I love stocking the freezer with ready to thaw and enjoy!

In Louisiana they call this dish Grillades - but when we made a mix of it....New Orleans Beef was easier to explain!  You'll find it on some menus in New Orleans...usually Grillades and Grits!  It's so good served in the middle of a big pile of grits!  YUM!  One of those 3 containers is coming out of the freezer tomorrow night!

Condiments.....what's in your fridge?

What do you keep in your fridge to add flavor and "OOMPH!" and just plain "YUM!" to your meals?  Are there some products that you just MUST HAVE on hand at all times? 

Now I'm not talking about mustard and ketchup...even though the kids demand those two!  Our Chimmi Sauce and Chipotle Sauce are the ones I Must Have....just a 1/2 teaspoon of either makes a HUGE difference in a sauce or making that pork chop even better!  Then there is the Peach Pecan Pepper Preserves.....that's my back up for appetizer and for chicken breasts (rubbed on the top after grilling!)  Then I can't do without......well, I might be prejudiced but all of our jars have their own special "Need to be" in my kitchen!

Think about what's always on YOUR shopping list?  Customers at The Crown love our Vidalia Onion Salad Dressing and Crispy Crumbles.....and the Peach PPPreserves fly off the shelf too!  What is your favorite Taste of Gourmet product?  

Supper is Quick and Delicious.....

Southwest Soup is a favorite at my house!  It's quick and delicious cooked just like the recipe on the back of the box - in just 10 minutes, my soup was simmering on the stove!  I just browned a pound of ground beef, added a 13 oz can of crushed tomatoes, broth, water and the Southwest Soup mix of course!  I like for the soup to simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes....so just perfect timing for putting a loaf of Bayou Beer Bread in the oven! 

Soup and bread were cooking...the grandchildren and I went back to our on-going game of Monopoly and supper was scrumptious!  Good food doesn't get any easier!  Just be sure to keep my mixes in your pantry!  Ready for great meals QUICKLY!

Merry Christmas 20% Discount

That's right.....there is still time to fill your pantry with great food to enjoy during the Holidays...AND wrap up for gifts under the tree!  We are shipping right up through December 23rd......but if you want your goodies to arrive before Christmas....place your order on-line by Sunday and everything SHOULD arrive by Friday.....most places in the country!  AND you will get a 20% Discount!

Enter the Discount Code....MerryChristmas (in the credit card section of the ordering process)  to receive a 20% Discount on all your purchases!  PLUS we will include a FREE recipe booklet in every box that ships!

Make your Christmas Delicious with Taste of Gourmet! 
Remember you can also choose one Half-price Customer Special with each $40.00 order you place!  Order TODAY!

Gulf Shrimp for Supper.....

I've got some beautiful Gulf Coast Shrimp in my freezer and THIS is what I'm cooking for supper tonight!   It just could NOT be easier and it is scrumptious!  And yes.....I do love butter - real butter!

Texas Shrimp

1stick of butter
1 to 2 lbs. fresh peeled shrimp
2 Tablespoons Taste of Gourmet's Chipotle Sauce

Melt butter in a skillet.  Add 1 Tbsp. of Chipotle Sauce and stir.  Add shrimp and cook while stirring and shaking pan until shrimp are pink and done (2 to 3 minutes at most)
Add the second Tbsp. of Chipotle, stir well and serve immediately over freshly cooked pasta!
You can add 3 or 4 chopped green onions for color if you choose....but the flavor is fabulous just like this!
If you want to use chicken instead of shrimp....cut 2 or more boneless chicken breasts in bite size pieces and cook them the same way.  Yummy!