Banging & Hammering are music to my ears right now! That is the sound of progress being made on my new space! I stopped in a bit ago and the studs are going up for the walls and the corragated metal for the ceiling has arrived. Still no word on who will be in my old space or the new space next to me. I will let everyone know when I do! Stop by and take a peek!
Ok, so I’ve taken a little license with the song. It gets pretty boring on rainy days here, but it gives me an opportunity to get caught up on paperwork. Yes, the dreaded paperwork! Bill paying, order placing, order tracking, etc. I shouldn’t complain, but I’m really a people person and would rather visit with customers than do paperwork. LOL
The landlord will be back over to the new space next week. It is coming along nicely. Still don’t know who my neighbor will be, though I’m really hoping for _______________________ to come in! That is all I will say about it. I’ve placed it in God’s hands. He is much more capable than I at deciding who would be the best fit anyway!
Stop by and see me! The rain won’t melt you!
My husband Don and I had to do some shopping this afternoon at Lowe’s. While he was picking up some stuff, I headed over to the appliance area. I asked the first sales guy if they ever had any scratch and dent gas cooktops. He said he thought they had some models for sale, but didn’t know if they were gas or not. So we headed over to the last aisle, only to see that the stock boys had been really busy loading up the aisle. You couldn’t get down it! We went under some shelves (head height) and he found them. There were 2 and they were both gas! I was so excited! But we still couldn’t get to them. Another associate came up and asked if we needed some help. Monique to the rescue!! She was actually there on her day off, but didn’t have any qualms with climbing over the shelves, etc. Monique single-handedly pulled both the cooktops out for us to see. I saw that one was a 36″ Fisher Paykel. I knew I probably couldn’t afford it and would have to get the 30″ Frigidare, but I asked what the price was anyway. The sales guy said that I would need to talk to a sales manager and if he was in a good mood, maybe I could get it for a good price. I was getting pretty excited at this point and jokingly said how about $200? He said that it was an expensive model (over $1000) and that probably wouldn’t happen. Well, after a few minutes, we got the manager on the phone, he said make him an offer, I said again (jokingly) $200. The sales guy says, how about $250? My jaw dropped!! SOLD!!!!
Now we just have to get the kitchen in………
This morning Brenda Nolte, a new chef for our shop, came and taught a class about Weeknight Dinners and what we can do to “pizzaz” them up. It was a fabulous feast! Lot’s of great ideas, too. One of the dishes she made was the Chocolate Custard Bread Pudding. Check out this recipe. Pass it on to your friends and tell them to become a “Fan” of A Thyme For Everything, too.
Chocolate Custard Bread Pudding
4 c. or 8 slices of day old bread, cubed (can use white or wheat)
2 c. milk (can use any type)
1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs yolks
2 T. butter, melted
1 t. vanilla
1 c. chocolate chips
Place cubed bread in a 9″ square dish (can use 9″ pie dish), sprayed with non-stick spray. Combine milk, sugar, egg yolks, melted butter and vanilla. Pour over bread. Sprinkle chips on top. Cover and bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean.
I LOVE this time of the year! Spring is by far my favorite! I’ve got little crocus’, daffodills and my bleeding hearts are poking out of the ground. Another reason, I love this time of year, is that I can have the windows open, FINALLY! Fresh air, wind blowing the nasty winter out of the house! And the last reason I love this time of year – BBQ Season! There isn’t anything like food on the bbq! I’m excited that Karen Adler and Judith Fertig’s new cookbook on planking will be out soon. That is a technique that I haven’t mastered yet, but I’m excited to try. I hope that you are enjoying your Spring, too.
Chicago has the best shopping! My sister and I arrived in Chicago this morning and hit the ground running. We shopped up and down Michigan Avenue till evening and only stopped when we saw what promised to be a great restaurant for dinner. We enjoyed a deep dish spinach pizza at one of Chicago’s great pizza places.
Tomorrow we will be up early and heading to the International Housewares Show. More to come….
This morning I am taking off for Chicago to the International Housewares Show. This is my first trip to the show and I’m so excited! My sister, Donna will be meeting me in Chicago.
In case you aren’t familiar with this show, HGTV does a special program on it every year to showcase the new and innovative items that have come out. (I’ll wave into the camera!) They showcase everything from pots and pans to gadgets to the latest in kitchen appliances and vaccum cleaners.
I’m on the lookout for new cookware, excited gadgets and anything else that I can find to bring back to Lee’s Summit!
There is also a Gourmet section with a “Cooking Studio”. This year Guy Fieri, Gale Gand, Morimoto and many others will be cooking in the studio. It will be fun to see and maybe meet some of the countries popular “TV Chefs”. My sister and I will be attending a party with Guy Fieri Sunday night. That should prove to be a great time! His rock band will be there too!
I look forward to sharing with you all the new and wonderful finds!
Wow! We have so many amazing classes coming up! Judith Fertig, Karen Adler, Jasper Mirabile, Jr. just to mention a few.
Judith’s class this Tuesday, March 16 is Gourmet Breakfast for Dinner. Now I don’t know about you, but I LOVE breakfast for dinner! Doesn’t it take you back to your childhood when once in a blue moon, mom would say, “It’s breakfast for dinner tonight.” Judith, who has written a new cookbook, 200 Fast and Easy Artisan Breads, will be baking out of this cookbook in addition to making other scrumptious things for dinner/breakfast. It is one you won’t want to miss.
Karen Adler will be returning for our 14th Beef Burgundy (Boeuf Bourguignon) Classic Julia Child class on Thursday, March 18. If you haven’t been to this class – you will want to come! Beef Burgundy is one of 10 dishes that Julia Child felt every cook should know how to prepare. It is delicious and Karen shares timesaving techniques for this tender red wine meat. Definitely one of my favorite foods to eat! Karen Adler will then be teaching a demonstration class, Saturday, March 20 at 10:00 a.m. It will be all about the Pantry! She will share double duty recipes that with a few items on hand in your pantry, you will always be prepared for entertaining, or the occasional drop by guest.
Jasper Mirabile, Jr. is teaching us Easter the Italian way, in his class Monday, March 29. This class will feature some of Jasper’s favorite traditional Easter foods, Pasta Filled Eggplant with Homemade Ricotta Cheese, a tort filled with cheese and spinach and much, much more.
Check out the website for full info on each of these and many more classes. Then call the shop for your reservation (816)554-3755.
Today we skipped church. I know! Shame on us! Aleasa spent the night last night and the roads were so slick that we opted to stay home. After Aleasa got picked up, I was sitting on the sofa, in the quiet of the morning. The only sounds were the cracking of the ice on the branches. What a wonderful sound. Just soft and a sort of tinkling. I looked out over our “winter wonderland” in the backyard and just saw such a peaceful setting.
Sometimes we just need those quiet times to center ourselves again. As tired as I am of the WINTER, I needed to “hear” the quiet of this day.
Tuesday night at the shop we have our 2nd annual Chocolate Workshop with Chef Nancy Stark. Last year she totally wow’d us with her yummy chocolate menu and this year promises to be even better!
I know you don’t want to miss out on this class – call the shop to reserve your spot. Class starts at 6 pm, but you need a reservation to join us. (816)554-3755 Check out the menu on the website, www.athymeforeverything.com
