I'M SHOWING A LITTLE SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY!

My business keeps changing y'all! It started out with me hosting tea parties, then I taught etiquette, then I got very into the tea industry and all things tea-ish. I've sold Taste of Gourmet products, all the while teaching Entertaining...Southern Style. I'm a Gemini and I change my mind all the time!!! So, now I've added yet another branch to my business...

I'm showing a little Southern hospitality and offering my new neighbors a "Welcome To The Neighborhood" basket!

It is proper etiquette to give the new homeowner a thoughtful gift. People who have just gone through one of the most traumatic undertakings ever and are surrounded by boxes will appreciate your act of kindness! The appropriate time to give a gift is either when you first visit or else have something delivered to the new house once the owners have settled in.

Ideas for Gifts:
~A subscription to the city newspaper or just a copy of the newspaper
~A list of handymen
~Important phone numbers (police, fire, hospital, et cetera)
~List of grocery stores and addresses
~Information of zoos, malls, churches, and hospitals
~Return address labels and other stationery, along with a pack of postage stamps
~Take out menus
~Gift certificate to a local restaurant
~Fresh baked bread, cakes, or cookies
~Local government & utility numbers
~Local maps
~Local magazines

When the economy took a turn for the worse, there were many empty homes in our neighborhood. Now, thank goodness, these homes are slowly filling up with families, young professionals, and retirees.

This is a small gift I put together in a basket to welcome one of my new neighbors. I chose a black basket, filled it with shred, and embellished it with my 'signature gingham ribbon.' I filled it with informative pamphlets for our area, take-out menus from all the restaurants here in our village, a local newspaper, and some Taste of Gourmet Morning Muffins.

I attached a cute rooster-stamped card (might as well let them know up front that I'm a rooster-holic) with the my name and phone number on the back.

The Taste of Gourmet Morning Muffins will be the signature treat that I prepare for each "Welcome to the Neighborhood" basket.

The Morning Muffins are a complete flavor explosion, just as they emerge from the box into your mixing bowl. Morning Muffins combine the flavor of oranges and cranberries. These muffins are moist and delicious and freeze so perfectly. You can make them all up at once and bring them out of the freezer as you are hungry for them! Muffins are a great way to give children (and us grown-up folks) a heartier, healthier breakfast. You can bake the batter in loaf pans or even in round cans for pretty circles of fabulous flavor!!! The Morning Muffins mix is only $7.95 per box and if you are baking the mini-muffins like I did, the mix makes 48 little precious muffins! You can purchase the muffin mix from me here.

Nutrition Facts: (The small print)
Dry Mix Only- 1 Muffin - Servings 12: Calories 159, Calories from Fat O, Total Fat Og, Saturated Fat Og, Trans Fat Og, Cholesterol Omg, Sodium 339 mg, Carbohydrate 39g, Fiber Og, Sugars 22g, Protein Og.

The Morning Muffins make a great gift for a housewarming party or to take as hostess gift! I'm also taking this as a hostess gift to someone I'm visiting this weekend. I found this cute little baking dish on sale at Michael's...
Filled it with some autumn-colored shred and placed the box of muffin mix inside...wrapped it all in cello, and tied it up with great ribbon...along with a monogrammed gift tag!!!



Remember y'all...Don't get caught up in social reciprocity...offer hospitality to strangers!