There's No Place Like Home Especially When You Are There

Have you ever noticed just how many sayings there are about home? There's no place like home~ Home is where the heart is~ Home is the starting place for love and dreams~ Home is not a place it's a feeling~ Home is wherever I am with you~ Home sweet home!

By now most of you have heard we are leaving our Sherwood location at North Hills Blvd. and Country Club. You've heard that it is because the seasonal nature of our business will not support the high overhead during the fall and winter months. You also know we are returning to our original location in the Old Farmer's Market on East McCain in North Little Rock. As a matter of fact, the store over there is open now.

The decision to go home was probably one of the hardest we've ever made. We have loved being a part of the Sherwood community and getting to know our new customers on a personal level. We had so many dreams and goals for the big store, but at every turn we encountered road blocks. Add to that bad weather, rising prices, and a tight economy, and well, you get the picture.

As summer turned to fall and we entered into serious contemplation and prayer for the future of our now 36 year old business things just seemed to fall into place; up to and including the new owners of the old property renovating the building as we had imagined so many years ago. Funny, they never even talked to us about what we wanted...it just happened. The rent, the utilities, the cost of keeping the store stocked would be cut in half...And we would once again be next door to BJ's Market Cafe.  It was just the nudge...just the sign...just the opened door...just the opportunity we needed and the decision was made... It's time to go home.

Our anxiety has turned to excitement with each and every promise of continued patronage. We can not thank our customers enough. You are truly part of our family, you are why we do what we do, and you allow us to do what we love.  We will forever be grateful!

Thanks for following us home!

Aunt Theresa

Just a few shots inside the new store at the old location. See you soon!

FALL IS IN THE AIR AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR SOUP!

I am so ready for the cooler weather. I'm not a big fan of rain, but I'll take it if it means Autumn will finally arrive and stay! Days like today are perfect for a hearty soup and I know just what I am fixing for dinner tonight! ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SHALLOT SOUP...one of our family favorites! The good thing about this soup is you can cook the ingredients in advance and pop them in the refrigerator and use the next day or later in the week.

Ingredients

4 cups peeled, seeded, and cubed butternut squash (about 1 1/2 pounds)

1 tbsp olive oil

1/4 tsp salt

4 large shallots peeled and quartered (I use jumbo green onions)

1/2 in peeled fresh ginger sliced thin. (Use powdered ginger if necessary, just wait till everything is in the pan and sprinkle lightly)

2 1/2 cups fat-free, low sodium chicken broth

2 tbsp fresh chives (I use the green part of the jumbo green onions)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine first five ingredients in a roasting or jelly roll pan, toss well and bake 50 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally.  Let cool ten minutes.

Place 1/2 squash mixture and 1/2 the broth in the blender. Remove the center ring and place a fresh, clean towel over allowing steam to escape.  Blend until smooth and place in large sauce pan. Repeat process until all squash and broth are used. Cover and heat 5 minutes until heated through. Top with chives and fresh ground black pepper.

Variation

I have used sweet red onions in place of shallots/jumbo green onions and thyme instead of ginger. Its delicious! I cube the butternut squash and place on a cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper, then a couple pinches (or more) of fresh thyme - then thinly sliced purple onion on top and bake until tender. This soup is a little sweeter and I sometimes use less chicken broth and add a little heavy cream once it is heated through in the sauce pan. Either way it is the perfect fall soup.

Happy Eating!

Aunt Theresa

Zero Calories? Yes, Please!

So I was cruising around the internet today and came across this little tidbit of information.  There are foods that take more calories to digest than they actually contain. I am diggin' this! I knew you could eat tons of lettuce and green beans as long as they were not loaded with bacon fat and dressing, but this list is pretty good.  Of course, as with anything, moderation should be the norm.

Here's the list I found today:

apples, apricots, asparagus, beet roots, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, cranberries, cress, cucumber, fennel, garlic, grapefruit, green beans, kale, leek, lemon, lettuce, onion, orange, peppers, pineapple, plum, raspberries, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, and watermelon.

Yummy, I'm going to fill up a box before I leave the store today.