All Kinds of Yummy Things...

Can it be that it's almost August?  How did it get here so quickly?  There has been a lot going on at the store as usual.  We are beginning to receive some of our fall merchandise, and, dare I say it, CHRISTMAS items are starting to stream into the stockroom!  

A fresh batch of our Giving Bowls arrived last week, and there are some really clever new words and phrases. YMLY and YOLO have become quite popular to send off with collage students.  (Don't know what that means?  YMLY translates into: Your Mommy Loves You, and YOLO is You Only Live Once.)  Please keep in mind that we are happy to take custom orders on these sweet little bowls, just select your word or phrase, and the color.  Increments of four or more, please, and give us four weeks to have them custom made for you... We have an "Idea" sheet at the counter, and will be happy to help you make up your order.

New in the kitchen department is Volume 7 in The Gathering of Friends cookbook series. It's subtitled Entertaining with Simplicity, and this one is bursting with all kinds of thoughtful, tasty recipes and inspiring photos of not only the food, but great tablescapes and entertaining ideas.  Chapters include Savory Starters, Fresh From the Garden Salads and Sweet Endings. We gave these a test this weekend, and they were delicious!

Tuxedo Meatballs

• 10 oz. pkg. bowtie pasta
• 1 lb. Italian sausage
• ½ c. chicken broth
• fresh basil leaves 
• 1 red bell pepper 
• toothpicks

Cook pasta al dente, according to directions on package; rinse and set aside.
Form meatballs into 1 ½-in size balls. In a heavy pot, over medium-high heat, brown meatballs, turning until browned on all sides. Pour chicken broth over meatballs and cover the pot with a lid; simmer until the meatballs are fully cooked in the center.
Clean basil leaves. Rinse and remove seeds from bell pepper; chop into small pieces. Assemble Tuxedo Meatball appetizers on a toothpick, starting with a meatball; add a basil leaf, bow-tie pasta and top with a piece of bell pepper (as pictured).

Line a serving tray with rows of Tuxedo Meatballs and serve warm.

*We got our peppers and fresh basil at Earl's Farm Market in Glenn, Michigan.  Definitely stop in there for bountiful, super fresh produce! 

A last piece of yummy news; our summer sale starts this week, and all of you loyal Chronicle readers get the early notice!  Customers wait all year for this sale.  We've taken markdowns on clothing, stationary, jewelry and more...we don't have to tell you, the early bird gets the worm!