Best $12.00 EVER!

As we tidied up the shop today, my eye was struck by the glittering, flickering little jewels on the counter. A veritable rainbow of Swarovski crystal colors beamed back at me.  Every color of the spectrum is on that rack; and I was struck that these inexpensive, little earrings are quite possibly the best value in the whole store.  After all, what can you get for $12 anymore?

1/50th of a bottle of #5.....???

A small sip of fun fizzyness.....???

Or maybe a coffee beverage for you and a friend.....???

One movie ticket & a small popcorn.....???

None of those things are going to last...but these will.  A perfect pair of the most sparkly, dazzling, tasteful, not-too-big-not-too-small earrings a girl could ever find.  It's the best way to spend $12.00!  That, Clever Girls, seems quite the bargain!

Click here to see the colors.  For those of you in the area, pop in and look at these little gems in person.  If you're not in our neck of the woods, pick out a few colors from our web site, and we'll dispatch them right to your door.  Best twelve dollars ever!

Maple Meets Bacon...

There's been a yummy development here at Clever Girl.  Maple Bacon Onion Jam has found its way onto the shelves, and into our hearts.  What can we say?  This stuff is really good.  

So far we've tried this with a baked brie and on a roasted pork loin, but my favorite is this "pizza" recipe.  Cut it into tiny little squares and serve as a starter with a really cold, crisp Riesling and presto; you've got a party...

Savory Jam Pizza

Gather the goods.  Here's what you need:

• 1 12-inch prepared pizza crust
• 1/3 cup Maple Bacon Onion Jam 
• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 4 thin strips prosciutto, sliced crosswise
• 1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled
• 1 Tablespoon pine nuts, toasted
• 1/2 cup loosely packed arugula

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Place crust on a baking sheet. Spread jam over crust. Evenly distribute the red onion, prosciutto, and goat cheese over crust. Bake for 10-15 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Remove from oven. Top with arugula, cut and serve immediately.

With layers of robust flavor, this artfully crafted and savory combination of spices, sweet brown sugar, apples, shallots and bits of real bacon is a versatile pantry essential.  Try this on your next burger, or over a grilled chicken breast.  Heck, just slather some on a cracker for a quick hor dourve.  

Come in and meet your new best friend!  At Clever Girl, we want to share the love.  Stop in this Thursday, (9-11-14) and sample this tasty treat.  You can always view our tasting schedule (and other events) on our Clever Calender, located on the web site.  Click HERE to check it out...

From Sweden with Love...

I suppose when we think of major contributions in history, we tend to think of the Greeks--after all, they gave us sundials, the first alarm clocks, the Olympics, maps and the Parthenon.  They have had a few smart guys with names like Aristotle, Plato and Socrates, too, but lets consider the Swedes for a moment, shall we?

After all,  Abba is nothing to take lightly.  Many people list Dancing Queen as their all time favorite song, and the band has sold an estimated 50 million albums, so there must be something there, right?  (It's estimated that one in five British households own their album, Gold.)

I am also quite grateful for the contribution of Absolute Vodka--a Swedish export that is never out of stock on my bar.  

And then there is Ikea;  also a pretty nifty Swedish export that I'm grateful for from time to time.  I always get a kick out of the asterisk  in the catalog that * Some  products require assembly.....Really?  'Ya think?

Perhaps my favorite Swedish thing is the Swedish chef.  As Muppets go, he's right up there with Kermit and Ralph the Dog on my list.  (And, after a little of the Absolute, some people begin to sound a wee bit like him, yes?)

All of which brings me to my latest Swedish favorite, the dishtowel. I've been a fan of these for a while, and I'm thrilled that we've got them in the store now. These are so handy to have around! With normal use, these cloths easily last six months. These are great for general household cleaning and around the kitchen. They are great for cleaning windows without leaving streaks or lint and they polish silver without being abrasive.   Click here to check them out on the web site.  The chicken is my favorite.  Thank you Sweden!!!