Small Business Saturday

Here at Clever Girl, we think everyday is a Small Business Day.  However, today

marks the "OFFICIAL"

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY...

As you have probably heard, "Small Business Saturday" is now marked yearly on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  While I certainly applaud the acknowledgement of that day, shopping locally is really done 365 days a year--not just one!  

Here, in Western Springs, we are fortunate to have many independent businesses that offer goods and services to the community. I am also encouraged thought the year by the many, many comments we hear from customers expressing their gratitude that we are here.  So many of you do truly try and "look local first".  It is no coincidence that communities that are thriving have actual downtown shopping areas--it's just a natural part of small town living.  The convenience of avoiding a lengthy trip to the mall, or a pilgrimage to a big-box store is a huge asset.  So, this weekend, and over the next busy weeks of the season, and in all the years ahead, we look forward to seeing you and serving you locally.  It's what it's all about...

Please join us for cider & donuts this Small Business Saturday! 

Thanksgiving Wishes...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

My wish for all of you on this lovely day is the gift of being together, much laughter, happy reflection, and thankfulness as we look ahead...

Ina has done it Again...

It's here!  The latest wonderful cookbook by Ina Garten has hit the shelves here at Clever Girl, and it does NOT disappoint.  We always admire her straight forward, un-fussy approach to entertaining, and this book is packed with hints and tips to ease the job of the hostess.  The focus in Ina's latest book is on preparing dishes ahead of time so that you can be freed up to enjoy your own party.  Certainly her recipes work just as well for informal and family gatherings as well. 

It's not too soon to begin thinking about your Christmas list, and this will be a most welcome gift under the tree, or as a treat to yourself, as you begin to plan your holiday menus and entertaining...

I was at a recent party for a friend; and dessert was served in mini-skillets, which was rustic in it's presentation, but special to receive your own individual little serving.  As I looked through the cookbook, this brownie recipe struck a chord...  If you try it, I'd love to hear what you think!

Skillet Brownies (Serves 4)

• ¼ pound (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 4 ounces plus ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided
• 1½ ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 2 extra-large eggs
• 2 teaspoons instant coffee powder, such as Nescafe
• 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
• ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 pint vanilla ice cream, such as Haagen-Dazs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Heat the butter, 4 ounces of the chocolate chips, and the unsweetened chocolate together in a medium bowl set over simmering water just until the chocolate melts. Remove the bowl from the heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes. In a large bowl, stir (do not beat) together the eggs, coffee powder, vanilla and sugar. Stir the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and set aside to cool to room temperature.

In a medium bowl, sift together ¼ cup of the flour, the baking powder, and salt and stir it into the chocolate mixture. Toss the remaining ½ cup of chocolate chips and one tablespoon of flour together in a medium bowl and add them to the chocolate mixture. Spoon the mixture into four individual cast iron skillets (the skillets I use measure 5 inches on the top, 3½ inches on the bottom) and place them on a sheet pan. Bake for 22 minutes exactly. Don’t overbake! A toothpick inserted in the center will not come out clean. Cool slightly and serve warm with a scoop of ice cream.

***Don't Forget!  This cookbook, and oh-so many other goodies are available on our website.  Click here

**Save the date!  Thursday, December 11th is the Clever Girl Christmas Open House--plan to visit and have a bit of Christmas Cheer!

Magic Mittens...

Just in case you've forgotten what "winter" can entail around here, feast your eyes upon this...

With the truly chilly winter weather looming ahead, we feel duty bound to share a magical secret with our fellow Clever Girls.  In case you two don't know each other yet, allow us to introduce you to the Magic Mitten...

While we have no way of knowing what kind of winter we'll be having here in Chicago,  it's a pretty safe bet that at some point it will be cold, and there's going to be some snow, and you are going to need a pair of these mittens.  From the inside out, here's a break-down on the magic part:

• Fully lined in micro-fleece for extreme softness and warmth
• Inside has divided fingers (like a glove)
• Suede outside for secure grip (yes, you can drive in them)
• Adjustable toggle at the wrist means you can keep the wind out

And then we get to the fun part.  The colors.  There are lots to choose from beyond the serviceable Black and Brown.  The Cherry Red is my favorite this season.  So, if you'd like to experience a little magic, head on over and check these out...  And if you're thinking about your Christmas list, these make a truly wonderful gift!

P.S. A side note to our blog readers, the Elves are working overtime, and Christmas will be on display Monday 11-10-14.  Ho ho ho, and here we go!

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!!!

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!

Sunrise Song...

I'm off to Maine for the first time this season...the chilly evenings remain, but the days have crossed the fine line into being warmer, and it's time to open up for another season.   

In Maine, the rumble of the lobster boats is the second thing I hear each morning.  Before the boats begin their pleasant murmuring, out on the water, in the near darkness that is not yet morning, something else makes the first sound of the day.

Sunrise in Maine

Just after four AM, a solo begins: The sweet and earnest melody of a solitary song bird.  He leads off on his own, often for several minutes, before another joins the chorus.  It seems to me, that he is, in fact, singing. This is not a typical bird call; there is no "chirping" to speak of.  No mate replies from across the woods.  Rather, it is truly a song and performance that provides a soundtrack that precedes the sun's first rays breaking across the Atlantic.  Perhaps he is serenading the moon; saying goodnight as it fades to another sector of the planet, rising over the opposite hemisphere in silence.  Sometimes, especially now in the spring, the wind caries the conversations and songs of all the birds, and projects them like an amphitheater, acting as a sort of "auto-tune"in a modern recording studio, that makes even starlets--who have no business singing--sound passably good.  

This particular bird moves around a bit between verses.  Beginning first in the tall pines, then up on the roof, and eventually over to the rocky caves, he works the room, so-to-speak. I've no idea what kind of bird it is, or what it looks like, and I never hear his song again except for these very early morning performances.  I suppose he might work the whole coast, like some transient performer...Perhaps someone down on Cape Elizabeth hears him every day while eating lunch in her garden, as he makes the "bird circuit".  

I hope he is cozy and safe during these still chilly nights; I would happily tip him generously for his daily warble, and look forward to hearing him all season long...