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 Greetings!
A great big "autumn hello" to all of you - my wonderful newsletter friends!! Some of you have been around for a long time - as I started this newsletter back in October 2007! Wow! Thanks for allowing me to share with you, month after month - and for sharing your comments and stories back with me! That's what I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE about my Creations Facebook page!! It allows me to have conversations with YOU on a daily basis - not just once a month. If I see a fun recipe or a great link - I post it. If I get something in that's new and I'm all excited about it - I post it! I just started my "daily gift ideas" for the holidays a few days ago - and I will try to post a different gift idea every day until Christmas. If you have questions/comments/suggestions/info to share... post it right there on my page!! It's so fun, you guys!! It's like we're right there chit-chattin' away with each other!! As a BONUS this month, If you join my Facebook page, you are automatically entered in my "Wine Wisdom" contest for a prize - but you don't have to fill out the answers to the quiz!! (Gotta hit the "like" button - and make sure it disappears! If you still see the "like" button, try it again. It didn't work for some reason!)
I absolutely can't wait for you to join me!
Anyway - There is just so much info in this month's newsletter... You might want to make yourself a hot cup of tea or cider before you settle in for a good read! I will be sending another email in the next few days with information regarding the "HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE" here at the Overland Park Convention Center that I will be participating in November 10-13... just about a week away! Watch your inbox for further information !! In the meantime - here's a link...
Holiday Boutique Information
"Write it on your heart that the ones you love are life's most precious gift."
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Cheers!
Cathy
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Testing your "Wine Wisdom"... | 
1. How many acres are planted with grapes worldwide?
A) 200,00 B) 900,000 C) 2 million D) 20 million
2. Among the world's fruit crops, where do wine grapes rank in number of acres planted?
A) 1st B) 3rd C) 6th D) 10th
3. How many countries import California wines?
A) 12 B) 51 C) 108 D) 164
4. How many varieties of wine grapes exist worldwide?
A) 100 B) 1000 C) 10000 D) 100,000
5. Which state is not one of the top three U.S. states in terms of wine consumption?
A) OR B) CA C) NY D) FL
6. What percentage of legal-aged Americans contacted in a Nielson phone survey drink wine?
A) 36 B) 58 C) 77 D) 89
7. What percentage of restaurant wine sales do red wines represent?
A)29 B) 41 C) 55 D) 68
And YEP - there's a prize!! Reply back with your answers - and the lucky winner will be announced next month!
**BONUS:
If you go to my Facebook page and "like" me, you will automatically be entered! If you have ALREADY "liked" me (Thanks!), then just make a comment on anything that I have posted and you will be automatically be entered as well!!
Here's the link...
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Trendz Tidbits... |
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New website!!! |
OK - so have you checked out our new Trendz website yet...?? So cool - you're gonna love it!! Stay up to date with what's happenin' this month (click on "events") or take a peek at all of the different vendors at Trendz (click on "stores"). To get to Creations - click on "stores" and then "home & gift". It's that easy!!
This Thursday November 3 is "First Thursday" @ Trendz... Another fantastic excuse for a little GNO!! Check HERE for details on everything going on that day! Plus you had better get your shopping lists together, friends... Counting TODAY, there are only 54 days until Christmas!! Dont't PANIC - Just get in here and let us help!
We had a busy October at Trendz - & I have a few loose ends to wrap up...
First of all - Congrats to Jill Riffer, the winner of the Nouvelle Candle survey drawing and Leslie Clouston, the winner of the drawing for one of the new Wind & Willow Soups or Brownie Mixes from the "Brookwood" event last Thursday!! As promised, here are the recipes (below) from the Brookwood event.
Also sharing some pics from our Octoberfest... live music, hot cider, pumpkin decorating, bracelet beading and, of course, the making of the "Oreo Eyeballs" (my Creations booth)! Ha! |
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Trendz "Octoberfest"... |
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Is the best part adding the "blood" - or eating the M&M's...hmmm |
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Our Trendz bartender, Nate, proves that there was no age limit for making Oreo Eyeballs...! |
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Key Largo Parfaits |  Ingredients: Wind & Willow Key Lime Cheeseball Mix 8 oz. cream cheese 4 T. butter or margerine 1 small tub Cool Whip 1 1/2 c. chocolate wafer crumbs 2 oz. chopped macadamia nuts
Directions: Mix cheeseball mix, cream cheese and butter or margerine until well blended; fold in Cool Whip. Assemble six parfaits by making two layers of 1/4 c. key lime mixture and 2 T. chocolate wafers in each parfait glass. Top each with 1 T. chopped macadamia nuts. Refrigerate until well chilled. |
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Herbed Hors D'eouvre Squares |  Ingredients: 1 Tuscan Olive Cheeseball Mix 8 oz. cream cheese 4 T. butter 1 8-oz. can crescent rolls
Directions: Preheat oven to 375. Lightly spray bottom of 9"x13" glass pan with oil. Unroll crescent rolls but do not tear apart. Press into bottom of baking dish, pressing together creases and covering the bottom of the pan. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool. Combine Tuscan Olive Mix, cream cheese and butter. Spread over baked crescent roll dough. Garnish with sliced black olives and sprinkle with Tuscan topping blend. Cut into squares and refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes about 12 appetizer servings.
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| As American as "apples & pie" | |
Cooking with apples? Different apples are good for different uses; for example, a Macintosh tastes great as a snack but will turn to mush in a pie. Golden Delicious, while not terribly flavorful raw, really hold their shape when baked. When possible, buy your apples at local farm stands - the growers will usually be glad to give you samples and advice.
When you're making a pie crust that calls for you to press crumbs firmly into a pan, use a buttered sheet of waxed paper or a plastic bag so that the crumbs stay in the pan rather than sticking to your hands.
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| What a great recipe to have on hand for the long Thanksgiving weekend... and all of those "out-of-towners" that you might be hosting!! Even better - It can be made 24 hrs. ahead of time!!
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American wine drinkers consume more wine on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year!!
On average: 5 oz. of wine at 13% alcohol=100 calories. Wine varies greatly in alcoholic content, and the higher the alcohol content, the higher the calories.
"Hot" refers to a high level of alcohol, sometimes leaving a burning sensation in the mouth.
"Velvety" refers to a soft but intensely rich wine.
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My favorite tree in our backyard... |
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"The world is full of people who will go their whole lives and not actually Live one day. She did not intend to be one of them." | |
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Cranberry Martini |
- 1 1.5 fluid oz. jigger vodka
- 1/2 fluid oz. orange liqueur
- 1/2 fluid oz. dry vermouth
- 2 1.5 fluid oz. jiggers cranberry juice
- 1 C. ice
- cranberries
Directions:
Combine vodka, orange liqueur, vermouth, cranberry juice, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously to chill. Pour into martini glasses, and serve. Garnish with cranberries.
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Perfect accompaniment to your Thanksgiving meal...
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