Taste of Gourmet Product of the Month

The All-American Apple Cake mix is the Taste of Gourmet "Product of the Month" during February.  TOG has a "Product of the Month" each month...a fundraising product to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  Purchasing the All-American Apple Cake Mix during the month of February will generate a $1.00 donation to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The hospital is devoted to research and treatment toward eliminating chronic childhood diseases like leukemia and is the only childhood cancer research center designated by the National Cancer Institute.

This mix is priced at $7.95 and makes a large cake baked in a 9 x 13 pan.

The light cinnamon flavor and moist tender texture will make you crave the apple cake again and again.  I added chopped apples to the mix, but you can also add canned pears.

This morning I had a slice of the warm cake with a bit of whipped cream on top...delicious y'all!

I hope that you will try this product and support St. Jude!

Southern Praline Pie

During the Christmas season, give the gift of food...everybody's gotta eat y'all!

Southern Praline Pie...oh how Southerners love this sweet pie.  Imagine the taste of fabulous praline candy found in the French Market of New Orleans.  That's the flavors found in the Southern Praline Pie!  The Praline Pie has a rich, dark, sugary, crunchy flavor and texture that is just delicious!

I love serving this pie to my guests...it is such a Southern favorite!

You can call it by the Mississippi-Louisiana name and pronounce it PRAW-LEAN or you can say PRAY-LEAN...either way, it tastes great!

You can order the Southern Praline Pie mix here.  One box of the mix is only $7.95 {makes 2 pies} and is great to have in your Entertaining Pantry.

The Southern Praline Pie mix is the Taste of Gourmet "Product of the Month" during December.  Taste of Gourmet has a "Product of the Month" each month...a fundraising product to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  Purchasing the Southern Praline Pie mix during the month of December will generate a $1.00 donation to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.  The hospital is devoted to research and treatment toward eliminating chronic childhood diseases like leukemia and is the only childhood cancer research center designated by the National Cancer Institute.

The Taste of Gourmet Southern Praline Pie mix doesn't have nuts, but I added chopped pecans to the recipe...

Recipe for Southern Praline Pecan Pie:

1 box of Southern Praline Pie mix

2 eggs

1 stick butter

1/2 cup milk

1 cup of chopped pecans

1 unbaked pie crust

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Follow the directions on the box of the Southern Praline Pie mix.  Add the eggs and butter as directed.  Stir in the milk and pecans and pour into the unbaked pie crust.  Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.  Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream or serve cold and it's just a good!  Oh-so Southern y'all!

This Southern Praline Pie mix makes an awesome gift!  Wrap it up on a dish and tie it up with a festive bow...presentation is everything!

Cranberry Chutney

Cranberry Chutney!

What is Chutney?  Chutney is a relish originating in India made with fruits and spices.  The Chutney preserved the fruit itself so that it could be eaten out of season and it also acted as a cooling condiment to tone down the hot and spicy flavor of Indian curries.

Taste of Gourmet's Cranberry Chutney is a sweet flavorful condiment filled with whole cranberries and spices to serve with roast turkey, chicken, or pork.  You can mix a little of the Chutney into chicken salad or spread it on sliced turkey/ham sandwiches.

A great party food treat:  Cover the top of a Brie cheese with the Cranberry Chutney, wrap it in pastry, and bake until brown.

It is wonderful mixed with cream cheese as a bagel spread.  Just add 2-3 tblsp Cranberry Chutney to 8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature.  Spread on warm bagels and enjoy!

This Cranberry Chutney is my Taste of Gourmet "Product of the Month" during November.  TOG has a "Product of the Month" each month...a fundraising project to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Purchasing the Cranberry Chutney during the month of November will generate a $1 donation to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.  The hospital is devoted to research and treatment toward eliminating chronic childhood diseases like leukemia and is the only childhood cancer research center designated by the National Cancer Institute. 

It's time to start thinking about hostess gifts for the holidays.  Food is a gift of love.  We all have to eat y'all!  Stock your entertaining pantry and gift closet while making a donation to St. Jude.  A 12 oz jar of the Cranberry Chutney is only $8.95.  This is delish y'all and will make a great hostess gift during the holidays.  Just take your hostess a jar of Chutney and some bagels that she can enjoy the next morning.  You can order the Chutney from me HERE.  

Thank you so much for stopping by to visit with me.

New Giveaway Winner!

Well, I'mANolaGirl did not contact me, so I drew another name!  Mid-Atlantic Martha is the new winner of the Cranberry Chutney.  Martha has until Wednesday, November 7th, at 6:00 p.m. to contact me or I will draw yet another name!

Giveaway Winner

I'mANolaGirl is the winner of the Cranberry Chutney.  She has until Monday morning, November 5, 2012, to email me at:  Miss Janice {at} Miss Janice {dot} com with her contact information.

Y'all be nice and gracious and congratulate I'mANolaGirl!

A Giveaway on All Saints Day

Today I'll be busy all day taking down the Halloween decorations and transforming the front porch tree into a Thanksgiving tree.  I'm also gonna have a little giveaway to celebrate All Saints Day...a day to celebrate all Christian saints, particularly those who have no special days of their own.

THE GIVEAWAY:  Cranberry Chutney!  What is Chutney you might ask?  Chutney is a relish originating in India made with fruit and spices.  The Chutney preserved the fruit itself so that it could be eaten out of Indian curries.

Taste of Gourmet's Cranberry Chutney is a sweet flavorful condiment filled with whole cranberries and spices to serve with roast turkey, chicken, or pork.  You can mix a little of the Chutney into chicken salad or spread it on sliced turkey/ham sandwiches.  A great party food treat:  Cover the top of Brie cheese with the Cranberry Chutney, wrap it in pastry, and bake until browned!

For a real treat, add some Cranberry Chutney Bagel Spread* to your bagel...it's one of my traditions on the "Day After Halloween!"

Recipe for Cranberry Chutney Bagel Spread:
2 to 3 tbsp Cranberry Chutney
8 oz cream cheese at room temperature

Mix the Cranberry Chutney into softened cream cheese.  You can add a bit of milk or orange juice, if needed for softness.  Spread onto warm bagels and enjoy!  The spread will last in the frig for a week).

The Cranberry Chutney is the Taste of Gourmet "Product of the Month" during November.  Taste of Gourmet has a "Product of the Month" each month...a fundraising project to benefit the St. Jude Children's Hospital.  Purchasing the Cranberry Chutney during the month of November will generate a $1.00 donation to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.  The hospital is devoted to research and treatment toward eliminating chronic childhood diseases like leukemia and is the only childhood cancer research center designated by the National Cancer Institute.

THE GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES:
One winner will receive a jar of the Cranberry Chutney.  All you need to do to enter is leave a comment!  That's it...easy peasy!  I will announce the winner of this giveaway on Saturday morning, November 3, 2012.  The winner MUST contact me at:  Miss Janice {at} Miss Janice {dot} com no later than Monday morning, November 5, 2012 to claim your prize!  If not...I will redraw!!!!

Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR!  She is the winner of my Taste of Gourmet Mississippi Delta Fudge Pie mix.  Shenita please email me at Miss Janice {at} Miss Janice {dot} com with your contact information, no later than Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

Thank you to all who entered and y'all practice proper giveaway etiquette and be gracious by extending your congratulations to Shenita.

Remember, you can still order a pie mix from my Taste of Gourmet site here.

Taste of Gourmet Giveaway

Last night I made chili.  Okay, it was in the 80's yesterday, but I was organizing my closet and pulling out some Autumn decos... totally in the mood for chili!

The Black Bean Chili is my Taste of Gourmet Product of the Month for September.  I added chopped chicken and canned chopped tomatoes to the mix, which is only $9.95 per box.

Husband LOVES this chili and last night I served it with a fresh salad and cornbread.  {Jean Paul loves when summertime is over...he gets more blog time during fall, winter, and spring}

Purchasing the chili during the month of September will generate a $1.00 donation to St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee...a great way to enjoy good food and help the children y'all!

THE GIVEAWAY:  Up for grabs today is a box of the Black Bean Chili.  Each month, I'll be offering a giveaway of the Taste of Gourmet Product of the Month to a lucky reader!

All you have to do to enter is to leave a comment!  Good luck to y'all and don't forget to visit my Taste of Gourmet site to see other delicious gourmet foods.  Keep your entertaining pantry stocked with delicious and easy to prepare gourmet foods!

This giveaway will close at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 6, 2012 and I'll announce the winner that evening at 6:00 p.m.

Comfort Food Craving

Cold weather calls for comfort food. It's been chilly here in South Florida and my cravings have turned from salads to down-home cooking. We don't eat red meat, so I made a Turkey Loaf Pie. It's a very easy recipe* and husband loved it! I added a few of my Taste of Gourmet products to ground turkey, bread crumbs, 2% cheddar cheese, and eggs.

Comfort food on a chilly winter night!
These are the Taste of Gourmet products I added...*Recipe for Southwest Turkeyloaf:

1 pkg Southwest Soup {Taste of Gourmet}
2 lbs. ground turkey
3 eggs
1/2 cup Tangy Tomato Dressing {Taste of Gourmet}
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs

Mix all ingredients, place in baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour. Serve topped with Suddenly Salsa {Taste of Gourmet}!

Please note: this recipe made enough for a pie and a small loaf pan.

The Day After Halloween

My my, we had an unbelievable amount of trick-or-treaters last night. My front porch quickly became the neighborhood portrait studio with Mamas photographing their little costumed-clad youngins next to our Halloween tree. We saw some really creative costumes and met a lot of new faces during the Halloween parade of visitors 2011.

Well today's another day...All Saints Day--a celebration of all Christian saints, particularly those who have no special feast days of their own. I need to get busy taking down the Halloween decorations and transforming the front porch tree into a Thanksgiving tree! But first, I must treat myself with a bagel and some Cranberry Chutney Bagel Spread*...a tradition on the "Day After Halloween!"

What is Chutney you might ask? Chutney is a relish orginating in India made with fruit and spices. The Chutney preserved the fruit itself so that it could be eaten out of season and it also acted as a cooling condiment to tone down the hot and spicy flavor of Indian curries.

Taste of Gourmet's Cranberry Chutney is a sweet, flavorful condiment filled with whole cranberries and spices to serve with roast turkey, chicken, or pork. You can mix a little of the Chutney into chicken salad or spread it on sliced turkey/ham sandwiches. A great party food treat: Cover the top of Brie cheese with the Cranberry Chutney, wrap it in pastry, and bake until browned! Tonight I think I will serve the Chutney with roasted chicken, green beans, and rice & gravy...yum yum y'all!

Recipe for Cranberry Chutney Bagel Spread:
2 to 3 tbsp Cranberry Chutney
8 oz cream cheese at room temperature

Mix the Cranberry Chutney into softened cream cheese. You can add a bit of milk or orange juice, if needed for softness. Spread onto warm bagels and enjoy! (The spread will last in the frig for a week).

The Cranberry Chutney is the Taste of Gourmet "Product of the Month" during November. Taste of Gourmet has a "Product of the Month" each month...a fundraising project to benefit the St. Jude Children's Hospital. Purchasing the Cranberry Chutney during the month of November will generate a $1.00 donation to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The hospital is devoted to research and treatment toward eliminating chronic childhood diseases like leukemia and is the only childhood cancer research center designated by the National Cancer Institute.

It's time to start thinking about hostess gifts for the holidays. Food is a gift of love and is a perfect gift to give in this economy. We all have to eat y'all! Stock your entertaining pantry and gift closet while making a donation to St. Jude! A 12 oz jar of the Cranberry Chutney is only $8.95. This is delish y'all and will make a great hostess gift during the holidays. Just take your hostess a jar of the Chutney and some bagels that she can enjoy the next morning. You can order your Cranberry Chutney online here.

Gobble Gobble Y'all...we're on the road to Thanksgiving!

Mississippi Mud Brownies

Every month I tell y'all about my Taste of Gourmet Product of the Month...each purchase of which generates a $1 donation to the St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis. Well, this month it's the Mississippi Delta Fudge Pie mix.

This a Southern favorite...a rich, moist, fudgey, and intensely chocolate pie mix! I decided to use the mix to make Mississippi Mud Brownies. At $9.95 per box, this mix makes an 8" square pan full of decadent brownies...great to serve during the football season as a tasty dessert treat.

Marshmallows, chocolate, pecans...goodness gracious y'all! Mississippi Mud Brownies.

A mug of orange, witchy hot chocolate was just the right beverage to pair with the brownies.

Recipe for Mississippi Mud Brownies:

1 box Mississippi Delta Fudge Pie mix
1/2 cup flour
3 eggs
1 stick butter or margarine
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup pecans

Melt the butter. Add the pie mix, flour, and eggs, and stir with a spoon until mixed, but not too much. Butter an 8" square pan and dust lightly with flour. Pour the brownie mixture in the pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Spread marshmallows over the hot brownies and return just long enough to begin to melt the marshmallows. Take out and let cool.

Chocolate Icing:
8 oz. sour cream
8 oz. chocolate chips

Melt the chocolate chips. Add the sour cream and stir until smooth. Spread the icing on the brownies and top with pecans.

Enjoy y'all! You can purchase the Mississippi Delta Fudge Pie here.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Hey, Hey Tampa Bay, the Bucs know how to shine! Well not yesterday, they didn't!!! But aren't the new Swashbucklers cute? Lord have mercy, cheerleaders today look a LOT different than they did when I was a cheerleader in high school. Even the high school and college cheerleaders are so different. Back when I cheered, we just went out there and pranced around and did some fancy jumps. Now, it's a dangerous sport...well, not for the NFL girls!

It's been football-football in my house all weekend. College Gameday on Saturday, then NFL Sunday! We are huge Tampa Bay Bucs fans, but unfortunately, husband could only get the game via the computer. Ugh! Just as well. It was their season opener and they played some BAD football! Bucs lost to the Detroit Lions 27-10. Regroup Bucs. Get it together.

Well, I served husband's favorite football meal...Chili and Garlic Bread, with beer! Of course I wore my Bucs apron from my "Prissy Apron Collection."

I bought this apron from a street vendor at the Mt. Dora Crafts Festival and I wear it all season during the Bucs games!

I served Taste of Gourmet Black Bean Chili along with the tasty Taste of Gourmet Roasted Onion Garlic Bread...on a black wooden serving tray...from my "Serving Tray Collection."

The Black Bean Chili is the Taste of Gourmet Product of the Month for September. I added ground turkey and canned chopped tomatoes to the mix which is only $9.95 per box. Purchasing the chili mix in September will generate a $1.00 donation to St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.


The Roasted Onion Garlic Bread mix is an easy quick bread with a a fascinating flavor and a real crunch of roasted onion and garlic. For $9.95/box you receive two bread mixes...a great value.

This bread boasts a great soft texture with deep onion and herb flavor--ready in only 30 minutes with versatile uses for all occasions. You can order the bread mix here.
Looking forward to next Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings! LET'S GO BUCS!!!

Happy Memorial Day y'all!

We are celebrating Memorial Day all weekend here at 'The Roost'!

I'm still thinking about the message at church yesterday...about honoring those who serve or have served our Country in the Armed Forces and remembering those who have given up their lives to protect us.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13

There are over 2,700 crosses planted in the ground up at the Village Square where I live in Tradition, Florida. Each cross represents an American soldier in the Armed Forces who lost their lives engaged in the fight for freedom between World War 1 and today, who resided in Florida. You can visit Take Time to Honor to read more about this memorial.

Last night, I made a simple dinner of Sate Chicken and served it over white rice. I served a bowl of fresh greens with Vidalia Onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes, and some french bread. Oh...and iced sweet tea!

I used my Taste of Gourmet 'Great Grilling Marinade' and it was wonderful. This Marinade is inspired by the flavor of Indonesian Sate grilled at street markets in the Orient and now served in fancy Thai restaurants. I marinated the chicken in the 'Great Grilling Marinade' for about 3 hours, then threaded the pieces onto the water-soaked skewers. I baked these in the oven at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes. Easy peasy y'all!

The Marinade is also great to serve as a dipping sauce for the cooked meat! The 'Great Grilling Marinade' is the Taste Of Gourmet Product of the Month. A $1.00 donation will be given to the St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee for a every bottle you purchase. A 12-oz bottle is only $8.95 and one tablespoon of the Marinade is enough to marinate 2 chicken breasts:) You can order the Marinade from me here.

I'm still obsessed with the 'Sweet Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette'. It is soooo delish y'all!

I chopped up some cucumbers, tomatoes, and Vidalia Onions...then poured the 'Sweet Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette' over it and served that over the mixed greens. Yum, yum y'all! You can also order this vinaigrette from me here. It's $8.95 for a 12-oz jar and is must-have for the Southern hostess!

Well, Miss Coco is decked out for the day! We are probably gonna stay home and have some vege burgers, vege baked beans, and potato salad...with some iced sweet tea, of course!

Hope y'all have a wonderful day!

Taste of Gourmet Product of the Month - May 2011

Today, I'm featuring the "Taste of Gourmet" Product of the Month...Toffee Crunch Cheesecake Ball. Crunchy chunks of chocolate and caramel are hidden throughout this sweet delicious Cheese Cake Ball! A packet of toffee is included with this mix and all you need to add is butter and cream cheese for a yummy no-bake dessert! This is one fabulous appetizer y'all:) There are two mixes in the box and the cost is only $8.95/box. You may purchase your Cheesecake Ball here at my Taste of Gourmet site online.



Taste of Gourmet's Product of the Month is a fundraising project to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Purchasing the mix of Toffee Crunch Cheesecake Ball during the month of May will generate a $1.00 donation to St. Jude Hospital!

When you purchase a Product of the Month through my site, you are making a $1.00 donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The Hospital is devoted to research and treatment toward eliminating chronic childhood diseases like leukemia and is the only childhood cancer research center designated by the National Cancer Institute.

The cheesecake ball is great to serve at any casual soiree or also makes a cute hostess gift or a party favor!
So go online today and order yours...remember a $1.00 donation will be made to St. Jude Hospital for every box you purchase!

Thank you for stopping by to visit with me today! I'm off to visit my Royal Family in Georgia...so, I'll be back soon with a 'Proper Giveaway' for one of my lucky 'Proper Followers'!

Peach Pecan Pepper Preserves

Last night I entertained an out-of-town guest. Well, by 'entertaining' I mean that I cleaned the guest bath & bedroom and served him an appetizer! I had to look cute doing it! I found this cute pink & green hostess apron in a small shop in Mt. Dora, Florida last weekend. It looked darlin' with my pink & green flamingo print capris pants... I served Chardonnay with a dip of Peach Pecan Pepper Preserves over cream cheese, along with some Graham Cracker cookies. The Peach Pecan Pepper Preserves are a product from my Taste of Gourmet line and is the Product of the Month. This jelly taste so much better than your granny's plain ole pepper jelly! What a fabulous flavor...the pecans and peaches add texture to the jelly. It's a little bit sweet and little bit hot. It's also great served over browned pork chops... Remember when you purchase the Peach Pecan Pepper Preserves during the month of April, a $1 donation will be generated to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The Peach Pecan Pepper Preserves have been a long-time customer favorite of the Taste of Gourmet line. I always serve this fab jelly over cream cheese at my etiquette and entertaining seminars! The price is $8.95 for a 10-oz. jar and you can place your order at my Taste of Gourmet site HERE. Of course, my goblets {monogram decals from 2PreppyGirls}, monogrammed coasters & linen towel {monogrammed by a friend}, and appetizer plate {from Hobby Lobby} just had to coordinate with my outfit:)

Later we dined on the patio at The Town Crier Pub in Tradition...fish & chips--splurge! If you follow me on Twitter, you know I had a fun evening watching the Jersey girls from up North dancing and flippin' their hair all night! Fun night, y'all! "HERE'S WHAT I WORE..." My friend Joy gave me the pink & green flamingo print capris pants--LOVE them! I wore a white blouse and my {closed-toe} pink Lilly mules. My ponytail was adorned with a hot pink grosgrain ribbon and I wore a silver monogrammed choker necklace with the matching monogrammed ring, my 'Return to Tiffany' bracelet, and my rollring wedding band by Cartier. My iPhone cover was lime green {duh} and my fragrance of choice for the evening was 'Burberry.'

Thank you for stopping in to visit with me today! Now, my eyes and heart will turn to my hometown--Augusta, Georgia--for the Masters Golf Tournament this week. {Brother has the tickets this year!} Looking forward to seeing who will don that coveted Green Jacket.