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!
A lovely couple from North Mississippi had lunch with us Tuesday at The Crown! They had just come from the B.B. King Museum and were in awe of the Museum's quality and story! They said, "We are really museum lovers and the B.B. King Museum is one of the best we've ever seen." And we really loved hearing that because we think so too!
But that wasn't all.....their next statement was..."Your town is just beautiful. HOW did Indianola manage to keep the downtown alive?" I was very proud to say that thankfully...our downtown never died! Some of our loyal, local businessmen, years ago, raised private money to add great lighting, planters and plantings on the Bayou, paint some of the buildings that needed it, refurbish an old church for a Little Theatre and more! And most importantly Indianola's residents continue to support our local merchants and restaurants...on the highway AND downtown! Indianola works together!
I couldn't be prouder of our little town of Indianola, right in the very center of the Delta. The Museum attracts visitors from all over the world and our "job" is to make sure that everyone who drives down Indian Bayou enjoys their visit to Indianola, the Museum and the entire Mississippi Delta! The daffodills are starting to bloom....ya'll come see us in Indianola and order some Catfish Allison at The Crown!
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!
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?
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!
I've just been at a meeting in Greenwood where we were brainstorming my favorite thing to do.....Eat...and particulary Eating in the Delta! Just talking about Delta Bistro in Greenwood and Abe's Bar-B-Que in Clarksdale and Doe's in Greenville (and thankfully, my Crown Restaurant in Indianola)....just talking made us all hungry! And that made us even more eager that visitors find ALL the great places to enjoy the Delta's food! (We did adjourn for a delicious lunch at Delta Bistro by the way! My Fried Green Tomato BLT was yummy and David's Pimento Cheese Sandwich just oozed goodness!)
So.....How can we enhance the Culinary Trail that already exists on the Mississippi Tourism website and the listings of restaurants on www.visitthedelta.com? How can we make sure that if you are looking for "old" established restaurants or great "new" places like Vince's in Leland....that visitors can find what they are looking for?
Ideas were flying around the room and of course "Blogging" was part of the discussion! I know that my blog has centered primarily on what's happening in Indianola, at the B.B. King Museum, at The Crown and ways to use the products we've created in Taste of Gourmet! And I will continue with those themes....but I'd love to branch out a little more and be more of an information source on this blog too!
When visitors come into The Crown....for lunch or just shopping...I always ask "Which way are you going from here? Where are you staying tonight? What are you planning for supper? Do you know about McCarty's Pottery (or Po'Monkeys or the Hwy 61 Blues Museum in Leland or the new Skye Lake Cypress Preserve) or one of the hundred places that I think they need to see? I'd like to do more of that kind of "answering" on my blog....all personal opinion of course...but I think it would be fun! So if you are coming to the Delta....just ask for my favorites! Everyone at the meeting today wants ALL our visitors to enjoy their first visit and return for another visit! That's what Southern Hospitality is all about!
We have just completed a batch of Morning Muffins (Cranberry Orange) in the processing area and I've already done my regular Taste Test! Baking and then sampling a batch of the product being produced that day is SUCH a difficult task! Having to spend a few minutes mixing, then being forced to smell the lovely aromas from the kitchen and THEN tasting the Muffin (or pie or soup or bread) when it's still warm and then again when it's cold! What a job! And don't I love it!
We take a lot of pride in our products....they are all my own recipes/creations and are made in small batches to keep them fresh coming to you for your enjoyment!
If you haven't tried my Morning Muffins yet.....order them NOW! Whole dried cranberries are in the mix....NOT bits of something that wants to be a cranberry (or blueberry)....real cranberries with a lovely hint of orange in the muffin! So good! We believe in REAL ingredients...dried onion, dried sweet potatoes, dried tomatos. We make all our products right here in the Mississippi Delta! We are proud of our products, love serving them at The Crown Restaurant here in Indianola and are thrilled to be able to ship them all over the country! Have a look at all our delicious products at www.tasteofgourmet.com!
And be sure to come to The Crown for lunch if you are anywhere near the Mississippi Delta! We'll make sure you know all the interesting places to go and point you directly down the street to the B.B. King Museum. That's another thing we are very proud of!
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!
Our Newest Gift Collection is called:
A Taste of The Crown # 827 $41.75
The gift includes: Vidalia Salad Dressing and Crispy Crumbles, Bayou Beer Bread (2 mixes in the box) 1 box of Creole File Gumbo and a box of Mississippi Delta Fudge Pie for dessert! YUM!
Ground shipping is $8.95 with your personal message on a card INSIDE the box!
Browse our Gourmet Gifts page - A Taste of The Crown is the third gift on the page! All our Combo gifts are delicious or you can create your own favorite......
And don't forget to come for lunch at The Crown when you are anywhere NEAR Indianola, Mississippi! Our food and hospitality and Christmas Gift selection at The Crown are just wonderful!
We've been shipping so many dessert mixes this week.....I think Taste of Gourmet will be making a lot of Thanksgiving guests VERY HAPPY when the desserts are served!
Our Thanksgiving Sale lasts through NEXT Monday....Nov. 21st...Get your "Eating List" and Gift List together and place your order!
20% Discount Code is ......ThanksgivingSale.....enter the code after your Credit Card info.
Have a Blessed and Delicious Thanksgiving!
We're enjoying Sweet Potato Muffins this morning....sprinkled with the Crunchy Sugar Topping that comes in the box! It's heavenly to eat and such wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen! I made the Muffin batter yesterday so all I had to do is spoon it into the muffin cups this morning! How easy is that? And the batter will last for a week in the fridge....if you can stay out of it!
Go on line today and order all the Taste of Gourmet goodies you'll need for the Holidays at a 20% Discount! Then your cupboard is stocked and you can relax and enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas...knowing you have deliciously easy food to serve your family and friends! AND give as gifts!
Go to www.tasteofgourmet.com and in the check out area of the ordering....
use the code ThanksgivingSale for your 20% Discount!
Be sure to order $40.00 (after discount) so you can choose a Customer Half-price Special! The Dessert Trio is perfect for the "eating season!"
Apple Cake, Mississippi Delta Fudge Pie and Chocolate Truffle Cheese Cake Ball for just $12.50!
Just 12 Days before Thanksgiving! And we have so much to be thankful for!