If you haven’t had an opportunity to look through the May edition of the Kitchen Connection magazine, let me tell you that it contains some fabulous recipes! The Backyard BBQ Bundle contains meals that my family loved. We live in Houston, Texas and sometimes our summer can be stifling with heat and humidity. The last thing I want to do is heat up my kitchen, so I try to get as many meals done on Sunday as possible. The grill is a wonderful way to cook multiple meals at one time.

We defrost 3 or 4 of our 4 Meals in 4 Minutes meals from the freezer. I try to pick a good variety for the week. Last week I pulled out: Southwest Steaks, Lemon Poppyseed Chicken, Mexican Pork Chops and an Asian Pork Tenderloin. We cook all of these at one time on the grill and have one meal for that night. After the remaining meat has cooled, I bag it up for the fridge and we have all our meals planned for the rest of the week. Many times I simply re-heat the meat in the microwave while I make a few side dishes or a salad and within about 15 minutes we are eating!

Do you have a favorite Grilling meal? Have you created a new grilling meal? Share with the class! - Cindy

For the last four years, I have been so fortunate to meet some of the greatest people in the world all through Homemade Gourmet. Yes, some were very friendly, some quite bubbly, some very thoughtful and kind, some were great cooks and some were very lucky to have found Homemade Gourmet (ha). Most of all, I have met distributors who have really shown their true heart . . . a loving and giving spirit to those with less and those in need. Our world, our community, our company, our family has been blessed by those possessing the compassion for helping others. I would like to honor all those distributors who put the needs of others ahead of their own. We are so blessed that you are part of our family! - Cindy Pirtle

I have been trying something new with my 4 meals in 4 minutes selections in my freezer.  I love the variety of ways you can cook them, but sometimes I need a faster solution on nights when I forgot to think about dinner before I left for the day.  So now I put some of my bagged meals in ’stir fry’ form.  For example, last night I called my kids to tell them I was on my way and to take out one of the bags that was labeled stir fry.  I had no idea what flavor was on top, but I knew it would go well with rice.  I instructed my 17 year old to defrost in the micro for a few minutes and them dump it all into our wok with a little olive oil.  I came home to the FABULOUS smell of Southwest Stir Fry. 

When I had stocked my freezer last, I used chicken tenders instead of breasts.  I added 2 tablespoons of southwest seasoning and a bag of frozen stir fry peppers and onions.  Another option waiting to be used is Taco stir fry.  It uses one taco soup mix and a similar frozen bag of stir fry veggies.  I don’t have my recipe notes here with me, but I will look for them and get back with you on some of my other ideas I put up in the freezer.  I was really inspired by going to the frozen foods aisle and seeing all the prepackaged stir fry veggie combinations available.  I gathered a variety and took them home to match up with Homemade Gourmet seasonings.  This will work with chicken tenders or strips of round steak. 

Let me know what you think, and if you have ideas for other stir fry meals…pass them on!  They are great this time of year for use with the fresh produce available as well as a quick meal that doesn’t heat up the kitchen.

 God Bless and Keep You,

Tami

I am so excited that so many people posted what new and exciting flavors they would like to see at Homemade Gourmet! Wouldn’t it be exciting if you were at Family Reunion this year and when we announced the new products YOUR suggestion was one of the new mixes? If you haven’t had an opportunity to put in your two cents, please do.

The Home Office has been so blessed in the past that so many distributors have shared their recipe “creations” using Homemade Gourmet mixes. Long time distributors may have heard about and absolutely LOVE the great recipe for bar cookies using the White Chocolate Cran Orange Cookie mix and an entire can of sweetened condensed milk (can you hear my waistline cringing?), but the newer distributors are saying “Cran what?” Can you imagine having never tasted the Asian Pork Tenderloin? Or what about the new recipe for AWESOME ribs using Kansas City rub, ketchup and a can of cola . . . oh, wait a minute. Shouldn’t have said that . . . shh, it is a new recipe that one of our fantastic distributors submitted and will be featured in this month’s In the Mix.

So, it is share time with everyone! What are your “Best of the Best” recipe creations made with a Homemade Gourmet mix? (It doesn’t have to be your creation, just your favorite.) All categories must be represented, so post your favorite “Best of the Best” appetizer/dip, soup, entree, breads, desserts and holiday dishes. I have my pen and pad ready and can’t wait to hear from each of you!

Put on your aprons! - Cindy

My oldest moved into his own place recently, along with some buddies, to share the rent and expenses.  Because we homeschool, graduation for Evan was a little ‘uneventful’ compared to the invitations and ceremonies that his friends experienced.  So my husband and I decided that we would throw a housewarming celebration for him…celebrating his graduation into the real world! 

It was a great time!  He worked with me to plan the menu and cook the food.  It was such a joy and a very rewarding time as a parent.  He requested some of his favorites and preparing them brought back great memories.  For example…he wanted our coleslaw, and as I was preparing the dressing, I remembered that he was the inspiration for that mix.  As a young boy, he would always ask me to make coleslaw…but would ever eat it anywhere else because they didn’t make it right!  So I naturally turned the family recipe into a Homemade Gourmet mix…and now he can make his favorite slaw anytime he wants it.  He also requested his favorite KC Rub for chicken, which led his father and I to give him a grill as his housewarming gift.  It was so heartwarming to stand by the grill and cook with him that day.  I am still smiling.  (by the way…we also grilled some Southwest Seasoned Brats using a recipe that is coming in the soon to be released May edition of the Kitchen Connection Magazine…so be sure to ask how you can get your copy!)

I guess I just wanted to share this memorable moment around another meal.  For years I have been talking about this generation growing up around the table and finding family favorites from Homemade Gourmet…and now I am living it.  Anyone else?  Do you have a young adult that is taking Homemade Gourmet favorites with them as they graduate into the real world?  I’d love to hear about them.

 God Bless and Keep You,

Tami