Promoting What’s in Your Own Backyard

We are lucky to live in a very proud state, especially when there is a program like GO TEXAN that makes it easy for independent retailers like myself find other Made In Texas products.
We have always carried only Texas foods – I mean why not – Texas has some of the best food in the country! We have found some fabulous items – such as the dips from Fredericksburg Farms (longhorn dip will make guy do anything!), the jalapeño peanut brittle and jalapeño gold for cream cheese is addictive (I’ve been stopped in parking lots asking if I have either in stock), and since I discovered Avocado Oil from Wimberley Valley Gourmet I hardly use Olive Oil anymore!
So, if you ever want some good Texas food products, just let me know! I can set you up!

College Prep 101

This week begins a new chapter in the lives of many families across America. Six years ago I took my baby and dropped her off, with all her toys, at Texas Christian University. I may as well have been delivering a baby kitten to the shelter. The feeling was pretty much the same. The next year I delivered her to her first apartment, still in Fort Worth, still at the TCU campus…but I may as well have been sending her to live inside a McDonald’s. How would she ever figure out how to cook, eat anything besides fast food, eat anything with any nutritional value??? Hence, the Student Cookbook…for the Hungry & the Broke. THAT is my definition of every college student. Unless you are moving in with the kids to fix each meal, THIS is the book to send to school with them so they survive…and thrive.

Hot Summer Party Idea

Melamine by Le Cadeaux

Hot town. Summer in the city. Back of my neck gettin’ hot and gritty…..but, the weekends make it all worth living!! Living through the week to get to the weekend? Looking for something good to serve? Looking for something to serve it on? We have everything you need. And, the best part — this dinnerware is melamine. Yes, melamine. It won’t break, crack or leak through to your fabulous white pants. And, it looks like fabulously expensive Italian dinnerware. Then, you take the “Tacos & Salsa” cookbook we just got in and create something fabulous. Then, text your friends and tell them to come on over — to enjoy summer in the city at your place!

College Grads CAN Cook! Trust Me..

Yum!

So, your little darlings are graduated from college, AND you are lucky enough NOT to have them coming home to live with you for awhile…or longer! But, these precious babies can barely boil water. In fact, you’re not especially sure they can even do that. Microwave popcorn? Now that is a sure thing. However, as you know, these newly minted graduates headed to the corporate world can not survive on popcorn alone, or eating out on your credit card. What is a parent to do? Well, sending them to the Cordon Bleu is out of the question, and the Food Network will not truly train them to prepare a great meal — within their budget. So, we found a great grad gift! This little cookbook helps all our future leaders and captains of industry eat decent meals without calling you every 10 minutes or showing up for “grub” on a regular basis. After all, you helped move all those pots and pans to their new apartment for them to use, not just look good in the cupboard!
Bon Appitit!

This Grill’s For YOU

Top Selling Pieces

The snow is melting away….well, sort of. The trees are blooming…DEFINITELY. Temperatures have actually tickled the 70’s and 80’s…even if for a day. So, what does that mean? It means GRILLIN’ TIME IS A COMIN’. So, let us help you make that time at the grill stress free…and delicious. Wilton Armetale is one of our favorite products, an American company that has spent years creating beautiful serving pieces. They added the Grillware a few years ago and we love ’em! So, as you dig that grill out of the back of the garage or basement and clean away the cobwebs, add a few grilling essentials for all your fish, vegetable sauteing, steak, sauce preparations!
Clockwise: #1 item – the Vegetable Griller; you can score potatoes, put them on the spikes, place griller on grill & cook potatoes from inside out. ($36.95). The handled sizzle platter, perfect for a single lg. steak, a couple of sm. filets, asparagus, ($27.95). Then, we have the 13″ Au Gratin – good for any kind of sauteing you can think of. ($29.95). The griddle, can you say pancake ala dad on Sunday morning? ($41.95), and then we have the Grillware saucepot with a spout for minimal dripping ($22.95).
Not only would I say it is great fun for your own grill, but if you have a wedding gift you need, this is the one thing all our grooms have gotten excited over when they tag along with their bride to register! And, don’t forget Father’s Day….yes, I know it is 2 months away, but why not already know what to get that elusive guy on your list?

It’s EGG-citing!

Wilton Armetale Platter $42.95

Around this part of the world, when you say Easter…you see deviled eggs! So, I thought you might want to see some cool ways to offer up your favorite family recipe of deviled eggs. Whether you like yours with relish or without, with spicy mustard, with paprika or not, these will display your old family recipe in style. Tupperware is for the kids party at school, these are for you!

Don’t Cry – I’m Just Cookin’

Spoonulas to Goggles

Today Becca and I looked back at the pictures from our first days as the proprietors of the Silver Barn. Wow, what fun. Then, I looked around the store and noticed several things we have done in the last two years. Expanded our baby department, expanded bedding, added bath & body, added The Velvet Frog with her apparel and accessories and a little of this and a little of that. Not to mention just about doubling in size! Yeah, a few tweaks to make Silver Barn better for our customers. So, today we begin to unveil the next metamorphosis – an expanded bridal area and kitchen. What could we possibly do in the kitchen that would be unique and different – in accordance with our philosophy of always finding something fun and different, as well as useful. The Silver Barn now carries a great line of bamboo kitchen products. (Hey, our bamboo towels are fabulous…bamboo cutting boards & serving utensils will be too!). But my favorite product? The onion goggles. Yes, onion goggles!! Laugh all you want, but the next time you are crying from cutting onions you are going to think, “darn, I should’ve bought those onion goggles at the Silver Barn!!” And, while you are picking up your onion goggles, get one of the new silicone spoon-ulas!

Superbowl’s Coming….Got Dip?

Texas Traditions

If you are like me, The Super Bowl is a giant food fest in between those great plays (go Saints) and those great commercials (no, we don’t have a Super Bowl ad – yet!). Unless you are heading to Miami how about coming up with a Lombardi Trophy of dips? We carry Texas Traditions, which has become one of my favorite companies to go to when I want to create something fabulous. Anyone who was with us for our Ladies Night Out enjoyed the Pork Tenderloin created with two of the Texas Tradition products. So, here are some options for you:
– Texas Hot Salt – sprinkle over popcorn and you have a WOW snack.
– Jalapeno Ranch Dip Mix – mix with sour cream and mayonnaise and voila, Super Bowl worthy. Better yet? Looking for a Pro Bowl acknowledgment for your dip-pertise? Use the Jalapeno Ranch Dip with shredded cheddar, mayonnaise, pimentos and TOUCHDOWN, you have created Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Spread. Serve with crackers for a fabulous dip guys go wild for, and then put it on bread for an after-party snack.
– Southwest Pepper Dip Mix – another easy, bree-zy dip. Drew would love it! Got mayonnaise and sour cream – add chips and you are smokin’ the competition.
These mixes run $7.95 and are fabulous for regular meals too. Salmon, lemon butter and Hot Salt! Dinner. Chicken seasoned with Jalapeno Ranch Dip Mix and olive oil – score a low fat meal (to cover all the chips from Super Bowl.) Another reason to love Texas Traditions? Diana, genius behind Texas Traditions has created a company by saving generations old recipes and transforming them for all of us to enjoy. How cool is that?
So, while you watch the New Orleans Saints earn their halos, be the angel of your event. Call us and we’ll cover your ‘blind side.’

Yum!!

Yummy…cookies

Yummy cookies. $9.95

I should’ve probably done this in reverse with last night’s post of the tray today and the cookie kits last night. Oh well! The tray inspired me in many ways. So, it is cookie recipe night. How about Gingerbread Cookie Mix with a tiny little gingerbread cookie cutter? Or, Sparkly Snowflake Cookie Mix with a tiny snowflake? My favorite, the Chocolate Reindeer Cookie Mix with a tiny reindeer cookie cutter. I’ve looked for one of those cookie cutters for years, now I have them! HA. We also have Monkey Bread, whatever that means, and darling tubes filled with hot chocolate mix and complete with marshmellows and a tiny Santa hat sits on top! My grandmother would’ve been all over this to do with me. I can hear her now, bossing me around. I can hear my granddad asking me to tell grandma to hurry up and get the cookies done. Nothing like being the kid in the middle of a couple of 65 year old kids!! Ah, maybe I’ll get my 24 year old daughter to help me make a batch and start our own memories!
Want a cookie?

The Bet

Some of our Texas Tastings

So, as I was watching the Bears vs. Falcons game last night on Sunday Night Football, I was Twittering as well. As I tweeted my love for my darling Bears, a voice from the Falcon Farm spoke! My friend, @countertoplady and I put together a friendly wager across the vast Twitterland. I offered up some of our delicious BBQ sauce provided by Columbus’ own Van Roehling, and a top seller at our store. She, offered something delicious from her peach-filled neck of the woods. Through four quarters we bantered; you’d think we were in the same room. It was some of the most fun I’ve had short of a full-blown party. In fact, it was more fun…didn’t have to entertain the masses…well, it was fun until the end. My beloved Bears fell to the Falcons and I picked a BBQ sauce to eat with their delicious bear-kabobs! So, in honor of Atlanta where all things are from Peaches…I am sending @countertoplady our Whiskey Peach BBQ Sauce. Enjoy. And, for the rest of you….another reason to love Twitter…game on!