Try These Toffee Crunch Bars!

TODAY'S FOOD TIP

Here is one of my favorite bar cookies that isn't made from a mix. These Toffee Crunch Bars hold together well, and kids and adults alike love them. Plus, the recipe is very easy, so you'll surely want to bake some of these bar cookies for the holidays. They'd be perfect for a New Year's Day Buffet.



TOFFEE CRUNCH BARS

1 c. shortening
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt

Cream shortening and brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla and beat well. Mix in flour and salt. Press into greased jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes (until brown on the edges). Frost immediately with chocolate powdered sugar frosting. Cut into squares when the frosting has set.

Frustrated with Technology!

Sometimes I hate technology.

It's great when everything works correctly.

But it's so frustrating when things don't work, yet you can't figure out WHY they aren't working correctly, so you have NO clue as to how to fix them.

If you have had trouble signing up for our mailing list - so you'd receive our free ebook - The Twelve Days of Dip Mix Ideas - try this:

Send an email to: suzannelieurance@hotmail with the words "12 days of dip mix ideas" in the subject line and I'll email you a copy of the ebook.

I'll also keep working on the opt-in box. Someday maybe I'll be able to figure out why it isn't working correctly. Thanks for your patience until then.

Suzanne Lieurance
Three Angels Gourmet Co.

Our Anniversary Special!

The Three Angels Gourmet Co. is celebrating its 5th anniversary.

Help us celebrate all year - from now until October 2007 - with this delicious 5th Anniversary Sampler Special.

Yum!

You'll Love Our Scone Mixes!

If you love scones you'll really, really love OUR scone mixes.

They're so easy to make and they turn out perfectly every single time.

That's because there's no dough to roll out and cut.

You simply spoon the crumbs into a scone pan, or muffin tin, pat them down, and bake.



You'll want to try all three varieties, too: Cranberry Scone Mix, Apple-Cinnamon Scone Mix, and Currant Scone Mix.

Scones made with mixes from the Three Angels Gourmet Co. are perfect for a holiday brunch, or an afternoon Christmas tea. Serve them to your overnight holiday guests, too. They'll be delighted and impressed!

Tips for Using Sugar Cookie Mix

TODAY'S FOOD TIPS

Three Angels Gourmet Co. Sugar Cookie Mix is another versatile product.

Kids can easily make a giant Christmas cookie by patting all the dough into a round pizza pan and baking it.

When the cookie has cooled, all they have to do is frost it with some colorful powdered sugar frosting, then decorate it any way they like, so it looks like a giant sugar cookie.

A giant Christmas cookie makes a festive dessert for holiday buffets.

For something a bit more elegant, prepare a scrumptious cookie-tart in a tart pan, ice it with a cream cheese mixture, then decorate with pieces of fresh fruit.



Here’s all you need to make this delicious and eye-appealing cookie-tart:

1 pkg. Three Angels Gourmet Co. Sugar Cookie Mix

1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk

1 stick butter

An assortment of fresh fruit, cut into small pieces

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 c. sugar

A little vanilla flavoring (1/4 tsp. or less)


Heat oven to 350 degrees. Make cookie mix according to directions on package and chill for at least 30 minutes.

When the dough is cold, mold it into a tart pan that has been greased with cooking spray. Bake the dough at 350 degrees for about 15 to 18 minutes, until golden brown. Cool completely after baking.

In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla; beat until fluffy. Spread a thin layer of this mixture over the cooled cookie crust. Arrange fruit over the cream cheese mixture as shown in the photo above.

Drizzle warm apricot preserves over the fruit, if desired. Refrigerate at least one hour.

To serve, cut into wedges. Store in refrigerator. Makes about 12 servings.

An Easy Holiday Cheese Ball!

TODAY'S FOOD TIP



Our Dilly of a Cheese Ball makes an impressive appetizer for a holiday get-together.

But here's an additional tip:

Spray a Christmas Tree cake mold with cooking spray. Then line the mold with chopped parsley and chopped pecans. Pack the prepared cheeseball into the mold, then cover with more chopped parsley and chopped pecans and put the mold in the refrigerator for an hour or so.

Before serving, pop the cheeseball out of the mold and place on a decorative serving tray. Surround the Christmas tree cheeseball with assorted crackers.

"Ho!Ho!Ho!"

Oops!

Make that - "Yum! Yum! Yum!"

"Almost" Homemade Soup

TODAY'S FOOD TIP



When you want something hot, filling and quick to prepare for dinner on a cold winter's night, try this Tortellini Soup.

It's "homemade" enough that you can serve it to company, yet easy and quick enough to prepare when friends drop in for dinner at short notice.

Serve it with a loaf of warm, crusty bread like Angel Ale Herb Bread from the Three Angels Gourmet Co. and a tossed salad and you've got dinner. This recipe serves 4.

TORTELLINI SOUP

2 (14.5 oz.) cans chicken broth (like Swanson's)

1 (13 oz.) jar pasta sauce (any flavor)

1 (16 oz.) can great northern beans

1 (9 oz.) pkg. refrigerated tortellini (any flavor)


In a soup pot, mix the chicken broth and pasta sauce. Bring mixture to a boil. Add the beans and tortellini. Boil for 6 minutes, or until the tortellini float and are tender.

Yummy Holiday Recipes from Food & Family Magazine

TODAY'S FOOD TIP



I love recipes that require only a few ingredients and are simple to prepare yet turn out tasting as if I'd gone to a LOT of work.

And that's just one of the reasons I love Food & Family Magazine from Kraft Foods.

My husband and I both love this recipe for Baked Crab Rangoon that is featured in this year's holiday issue.



Visit Food & Family Magazine online for more delicious recipes and to order your F.REE subscription to the magazine.

Cranberry-Brie Holiday Tassies

TODAY'S FOOD TIP

Tassies are usually little tarts or cookies made from butter, flour, and cream cheese and baked in tiny muffin tins, but these holiday treats are a bit different since they're made with puff pastry. I still call them 'tassies" though because they're bite-sized and made in tiny "tassie" tins. They're perfect as appetizers or even as part of a dessert buffet. The rich, gooey, buttery brie combined with the tart, yet sweet, cranberry sauce is a luscious combination. I like the little crunch the pecans add to the tassie, but they're just as good without any nuts.



CRANBERRY-BRIE HOLIDAY TASSIES


Puff pastry dough

Cranberry sauce (whole berry is the kind I use)

A circle of good Brie

Chopped pecans (if desired)


Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Unfold the puff pastry dough and let it thaw, then smooth it out just a bit with a rolling pin. Cut the dough into 2 inch squares and smooth one square into each hole of the mini-muffin tin (they'll look like mini-pie crusts once they're smoothed into the tin). Put a 1 inch piece of Brie into the center of each of the puff pastry "crusts," then add a little chopped pecan. Top with a teaspoon or so of the cranberry sauce and put the tassies in the oven for about 10-15 minutes (just until the pastry starts to brown at the corners, so watch them carefully).

Let cool for a few minutes before serving, but serve warm.

Christmas Dinner: Make It With Mixes!

If you live in Kansas City be sure to pick up a copy of At Home in the Northland, a magazine for residents north of the river.

In the winter 2006 issue that just came out, freelance writer Diane Samson wrote a nice article called Kansas City Christmas Dinner: Make it with Mixes.

Samson gives ideas for using mixes from three Kansas City companies - Three Angels Gourmet Co., Rabbit Creek Gourmet, and Laurie's Kitchen - to put together a delicious holiday meal.

Look for the article on pages 48-49 of the magazine.

Thank you, Diane, and At Home in the Heartland, for featuring "heavenly gourmet mixes" from the Three Angels Gourmet Co. in your article.

Twelve Days of Dip Mix Ideas - Day 12

TODAY'S FOOD TIP:



Make a Dilly of a White Sauce with some Divine Dill Dip Mix.

Make a white sauce, then add 1 1/2 tablespoons of the dill dip seasoning per cup of white sauce. Pour over pan-grilled chicken strips. Serve the chicken over rice or noodles.


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NOTE: If you'd like to receive all 12 days of dip mix ideas in an attractive ebook, then simply sign up for our mailing list at right and you'll receive a link to the ebook. Then, once you're on our mailing list, look for a few emails now and then with exciting product specials.

Now You Can Help Spread The Thrill of Dill!

People all over the country are thrilled with our Divine Dill Dip Mix.

And now you can help spread the thrill of dill by becoming a Three Angels Gourmet Co. affiliate.



The best part is, you don't need to do anything except sign up, place the link on your blog, and then tell a few friends about our delicious "heavenly gourmet mixes."

Of course, you'll want to try them yourself if you haven't already.

Each package of this delicious mix comes with a recipe for A Dilly of a Cheese Ball, plus 12 additional serving suggestions.

You'll also find many suggestions for this dip mix in our f.ree ebook The Twelve Days of Dip Mix Ideas (sign up for our mailing list to receive this f.ree ebook).

As an affiliate you'll receive 15% of all retail sales. Sign up at right today.

Help spread The Thrill of Dill!

The Twelve Days of Dip Mix Ideas - Day 11

TODAY'S FOOD TIP

Our Sun-Blessed Tomato Herb Dip Mix is more than just a dip mix. Use it to make this delicious dressing, which is a great way to dress up a salad.



SUN-BLESSED TOMATO HERB SALAD DRESSING

1 c. oil (olive oil is best)
1/2 c. balsamic or red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 to 2 Tbsp. of Three Angels Sun-Blessed Tomato Herb Dip Mix

Add tomato herb dip mix and sugar to vinegar and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add oil and whisk until well blended.

Read what Marinade Dave has to say about this salad dressing.

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NOTE: If you'd like to receive all 12 days of dip mix ideas in an attractive ebook, then simply sign up for our mailing list at right and you'll receive a link to the ebook. Then, once you're on our mailing list, look for a few emails now and then with exciting product specials.

The Twelve Days of Dip Mix Ideas - Day 10

TODAY'S FOOD TIP



Divine Dill Dip Mix from the Three Angels Gourmet Co. makes a great dry rub for chicken breasts.

Flatten boneless chicken breasts with a meat mallet. Sprinkle dry dill dip mix over both sides of each chicken breast and rub the dip mix into the meat. Cover chicken breasts with plastic wrap or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or more.

Remove chicken breasts from the refrigerator. Cook the chicken in a skillet with a little olive oil.


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If you'd like to receive all 12 days of dip mix ideas in an attractive ebook, then simply sign up for our mailing list at right and you'll receive a link to the ebook. Then, once you're on our mailing list, look for a few emails now and then with exciting product specials.

The Twelve Days of Dip Mix Ideas - Day 9

TODAY'S FOOD TIP

Bagel lovers will love this bagel spread made with cream cheese and Sun-Blessed Tomato Herb Dip Mix from the Three Angels Gourmet Co.



TOMATO HERB BAGEL SPREAD

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 pkg. Sun-Blessed Tomato Herb Dip Mix

Blend softened cream cheese with tomato herb dip mix. Refrigerate for at least an hour, then allow the cream cheese mixture to soften again.

Spread on sliced bagels or bagel chips and serve.

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NOTE: Here's a tip: If you'd like to receive all 12 days of dip mix ideas in an attractive ebook, then simply sign up for our mailing list at right and you'll receive a link to the ebook. Then, once you're on our mailing list, look for a few emails now and then with exciting product specials.

TODAY'S TIPS - Including The Twelve Days of Dip Mix Ideas - Day 8

Here's a tip: If you'd like to receive all 12 days of dip mix ideas in an attractive ebook, then simply sign up for our mailing list at right and you'll receive a link to the ebook. Then, once you're on our mailing list, look for a few emails now and then with exciting product specials.

TODAY'S FOOD TIP



Try this tasty bread dipper made with olive oil and a package of Sun-Blessed Tomato Herb Dip Mix from the Three Angels Gourmet Co.



SUN-BLESSED TOMATO HERB BREAD DIPPER

Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of Three Angels Sun-Blessed Tomato Herb Dip Mix to 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil and wisk together. For even more flavor, add 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, plus salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with slices of Angel Ale Herb Bread.

The Twelve Days of Dip Mix Ideas - Day 7

TODAY'S FOOD TIP

Fresh veggies beg to be served with a little Divine Dill Dip Mix from the Three Angels Gourmet Co.



Fill cherry tomatoes with dill dip made with either sour cream or plain lowfat yogurt. Arrange them on a tray and serve as holiday treats or appetizers.

Hollow out a large fresh bell pepper and use it as a serving bowl for the dip mix. Surround it with a variety of fresh veggies.



Make celery boats for the kids by filling crisp celery pieces with a little prepared dill dip.

Use your imagination and you'll think of all sorts of other ways to use dill mix and fresh vegetables to create a festive touch for the holidays.

The Twelve Days of Dip Mix Ideas - Day 6

TODAY'S FOOD TIP

If you love nachos with queso dip, then you'll love our Mild Chilies & Cheese Dip Mix. It makes a rich and cheesy queso dip when you just add water and pop it into the microwave for a few minutes.

For something a bit fancier than a bowl of plain queso dip with chips, try this nacho platter.




NACHO PLATTER

1 pkg. blue corn tortilla chips

1 pkg. regular tortilla chips

1/2 c. black olives, sliced

1 bunch green onions, chopped into small pieces

1 small carton sour cream

2 pkgs. Three Angels Gourmet Co. Mild Chilies and Cheese Dip

Guacamole (optional)


Combine Mild Chilies & Cheese Dip Mix with water according to package directions and microwave for about 1 minute. Let dip cool while you pour the 2 packages of tortilla chips onto a large, decorative platter.

Pour cheese dip over the tortillas, then put a layer of sour cream over the cheese tip. Top with the black olives and green onions, and guacamole (if desired). Serve immediately.




Spice up your life a little with these other ways to serve Mild Chilies & Cheese Dip from the Three Angels Gourmet Co:

1. Simply add water to this mix and microwave for a creamy, but not-too-spicy queso dip just like the restaurants serve. Try it with tortilla chips or fresh veggies for a quick and easy appetizer or snack. Optional: Add cooked ground beef or your favorite ground sausage.

2. For a spicier dip, drain RO-TEL Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies and add to prepared cheese mix.

3. Drizzle prepared dip over broccoli or your favorite steamed vegetables.

4. Use prepared dip as a topping for eggs, potato dishes or casseroles to give them a little zing.

5. Add prepared dip to rice for a delicious side dish.

6. Combine dip mix with beer or chicken stock to create Spicy Cheese Soup (search this site for recipe in an earlier blog post).