BRANCH BUZZ: August 2012

We want to share these Product Ideas with YOU!

Jean Douthitt's Longaberger® Office

Scorched Milk while Seasoning Flameware/Clean-up Solutions

Question….

Subject: seasoning problem

Anyone else have the milk scorch? I still have some stuck in the bottom of the pan. I counted the five minutes from the time I had steam come off of the milk but it wasn't boiling. Maybe you start the 5 minutes when you turn the flame on? Anyway, it is still soaking. Any suggestions?

Answer….

From: Director Vicki Sugar

TRUE CONFESSION!!

Oh my, I certainly did have a problem!! However, it was actually my fault! While I was "seasoning", I went into the bathroom to blow dry my hair (the contentious cook that I am!!), and FORGOT about the seasoning process!!! Well, by the time I remembered, the milk was BURNED to a crisp (I mean BLACK) on the bottom of my Braiser!! I actually thought I was going to have to dispose of my beautiful new piece!!

I googled, and found that simmering with salt and a little detergent was a tip for removing "scorched" milk. I did this, and let it soak for 24 hours. I scrubbed it with a scrubber for non-stick pans. It was amazing how wonderfully it cleaned up! I wish I would have taken a picture to email everyone, because truly, I thought it was a goner!

I actually am so impressed with how perfect it still looks, that I believe in our new product line even more!!!!

xoxo Vicki

Answer….

From: Executive Director Paula Vandegriff

I walked away and FORGOT so the milk really scorched in my braiser! I soaked it and had to use a Scotchbrite scrubber to clean it. Took some elbow grease but it did clean up nicely. Paula Vandegriff

Veranda Pumpkins and Pumpkins Pokers

From: Ruth Ann Gray

Just in case someone hasn't thought of this the pokers

will fit in the veranda pumpkin. This is the large one~~

Canister Baskets

Keep this on file for reference! Have a great day and thanks to Manager Lori Hoipkimeier and Director Fran Thompson for sharing this.

The question: Does the canister set hold a 5# bag of flour, a 5# bag of sugar and a 2# bag of brown sugar?

The answer: No…..

The large holds 70 ounces. 5 pounds is 80 ounces

The medium holds 52 ounces.

The small holds 30 ounces and 2 pounds is 32 ounces.

Canister Inserts

QUESTION…

Someone mentioned that there were plastic insert they found that work in the Canister Baskets.

Does anyone remember where they found them and what brand they were?

ANSWER…

From: Senior Director Barb Arnold

Walmart has them! They are from Better Homes and Garden. Perfect fit!

10c; 7.5c; and 4.5c. Cost is $6.44, $5.97. and $4.97. I have them, and they seem like they were designed specifically for our baskets!!

2012-07-09 July branch meeting at Panera 010.JPG

2012-07-09 July branch meeting at Panera 010.JPG

Product Line Integration

From: kim krempel

Our retired Wrought Iron large pasta bowl holder works wonderfully with our Flameware!!!

Birthday Basket Idea

How about using our sweet Birthday Basket Set not only as a great vessel for a gift card, jewelry, candy/cookies, or cash for friends or relatives ….

but also for a newborn baby gift? Baby's footprints in white paint would look darling on the bottom of the lid!

Idea for Flameware Pizza Stone

From: Manager Lori Reidenhour

Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2012 9:10 AM
Subject: 15 + Ways to make a Fruit Pizza

If you are looking for fun ways to use your new Flameware Pizza Stone...try some of these. Let me know what you try!

15+ Ways To Make A Fruit Pizza

Here’s a fun treat that couldn’t be easier to make! Fruit pizzas are a highlight at potlucks and picnics, bridal and baby showers or make it as a special dessert for your family “just because”. The crust varies depending on the recipe but it’s typically either a homemade dough made from scratch or cans of refrigerated cookie dough (a box of cookie mix can be used too). The “sauce” is usually softened cream cheese but there are a few other options too, and then it’s all topped off with colorful sliced fresh or canned fruit. Sometimes a sweet glaze is used but try drizzling melted chocolate over top for an extra tasty treat.

Here is a collection of recipes that I’ve handpicked from around the ‘net, so many ideas and they’re all sure to impress, have fun!

By bettycrocker.com

Spring Fruit: Ingredients include Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix, butter or margarine, an egg, whipping cream, cream cheese frosting and assorted fresh fruit. From Betty Crocker.
Strawberry: Ingredients include a package of cream cheese, chilled unsalted butter, baking mix (ie. Bisquick), honey, granulated sugar, lemon zest (or pure lemon extract), hulled, sliced strawberries, white or dark chocolate for a drizzled garnish. From One Ordinary Day.
With Heavy Whipping Cream As The “Sauce”: Ingredients include refrigerated sugar cookie dough, sugar, cornstarch, orange juice, lemon juice, softened cream cheese, milk, grated orange peel, heavy whipping cream, halved fresh strawberries, thinly sliced peach, sliced banana, thinly sliced apple and fresh blueberries. From Taste of Home.
Mom’s: Homemade crust, ingredients include cream cheese (at room temperature), sugar, milk, assorted fresh fruit and chopped pecans. From Fly Through Our Window.
Dessert Style: The crust is a homemade cottage cheese pastry that is very rich and tender (and low in saturated fat!). Ingredients include raspberry sauce, diced pineapple, diced kiwi fruit, dried strawberries or dried cranberries and a block of white chocolate (to drizzle over top). From Eating Well.
Crescent Dough Crust: Made with refrigerated crescent roll dough, cream cheese, sugar, pineapple tidbits, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, bananas and cornstarch. Juice from the pineapples is thickened with the cornstarch to make a drizzle glaze. From Controlling My Chaos.
Topped With Apricot Glaze: Made with a homemade crust, ingredients include softened cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, heavy whipping cream (for the filling) and topped with assorted fresh fruit. Features an optional glaze using apricot preserves or orange marmalade. From Blue Jean Gourmet.
Mini Pizzas: Ingredients include refrigerated sugar cookies, softened cream cheese, frozen limeade concentrate, powdered sugar, fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries and kiwifruit), powdered sugar (optional). From Pillsbury.
With Cookie Dough Crust: Ingredients include refrigerated sliceable sugar cookies (sliced), Philadelphia cream cheese (softened), sugar, vanilla, assorted fruit, apricot preserves and water. From Kraft Foods.
Fruit Tart Dessert: Ingredients include a package of sugar cookie mix, finely chopped almonds, softened cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, almond extract, frozen raspberries (thawed), granulated sugar, kiwi fruit slices and strawberry slices. From The Savory Notebook.
Giant Size: Made with a homemade cookie crust, topped with cream cheese, white sugar, vanilla extract, sliced strawberries, sliced kiwi, halved blackberries and a thinly sliced mango. From Two Fat Als.
With Streusel Topping: Made with a homemade sweet roll dough and features a streusel topping, fruit topping is sliced peaches, apples or prune plums. From Seasonal Ontario Food.
With Marmalade Glaze: Ingredients include sugar cookie dough, softened cream cheese, almond, lemon or orange extract, fresh fruit and orange marmalade. From Paula Deen at Food Network.
With Cookie Crust & Caramel Sauce: Ingredients include refrigerated sugar-cookie dough, cream cheese, marshmallow creme, sliced fruit (hulled strawberries, kiwis, banana, cored pineapple, etc.) and warmed caramel sauce. From Epicurious.
Tortilla Crust: The crust for these is a fajita-size flour tortilla, ingredients include seedless raspberry all-fruit jam, part-skim ricotta cheese, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and blueberries. From Whole Living.
Sweet Blueberry Dessert: Made with a homemade crust, ingredients include blueberry pie filling, chopped pecans or almonds and topped with sweetened whipped cream (optional). From Land O’Lakes.
With Homemade Glaze: Made with a homemade cookie crust, softened cream cheese, confectioner’s sugar, vanilla, assorted fruit and topped with a homemade glaze. From The Baking Beauties.
Chocolate Minis: Ingredients include softened butter, sugar, an egg yolk, vanilla, all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa, chocolate frosting and cut-up fresh fruit (kiwis, strawberries, bananas, raspberries, etc.). From Land O’Lakes.
With Puff Pastry: Ingredients include Pepperidge Farm puff pastry sheets (thawed), vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix, milk, assorted fresh fruit. From Campbell ’s Kitchen.

I love it!

We cooked with it all weekend at our cabin in the mountains

and found nothing objectionable.

Contrary to my original thoughts, it is rather light weight.

You know how heavy our Woven Traditions Pottery is!

Of course, first we seasoned it according to the company suggestions.

We're sure you're excited to begin using your Longaberger Flameware™ as soon as you get it!
We thought we would remind you of the seasoning process suggested before you begin using your Flameware. Please note that we will be shipping this information with each piece of Flameware and the seasoning information will be included on the Flameware Product Cards in the near future.
Before use, we recommend seasoning your new Flameware by adding one inch of whole or homogenized milk to the bottom of the pan. Simmer the milk for 5 minutes. Do not stir the milk as the proteins need to adhere to the bottom of the pan. Remove your Flameware from the heat and allow it to cool before cleaning. Seasoning your new Flameware will improve the stain resistance qualities to ensure easy clean-up after use. As an alternative to seasoning with milk, you may season your Flameware by simmering one quart of water with 1/2 cup of rice for 5 minutes. Remove your Flameware from the heat and allow it to cool before cleaning.
For more information on Flameware, visit the Flameware site on mylongaberger.com. A seasoning instructions PDF is listed here