Happy New Year!

 I don't know about you, but I am so glad 2020 is over and done. That is no excuse for not posting more often than I do, but this is a new year, a new and hopeful year to come. Since I have not had any vendor events to prepare for since last February, I have been keeping my booth at the Ozark Rag stocked, and for awhile I had a few of my dips and other mixes out at Kimber's Cottage in Republic, Missouri. Unfortunately that business had to close this past fall, and so now I only stock at the Rag. I am still on the look out for another venue that I might be able to have a small booth. I even did some canning this summer and fall, and have some Sweet Summer Salsa, Cranberry Orange Jam, and Chocolate Covered Cherry jam. Yup, Chocolate Covered Cherry, try it on Peanut butter toast. Yum is all I can say. 

I also didn't waste my time just hanging around the house doing nothing! I have spent this time off developing new ideas, tasting new recipes and experimenting. As a result I have added several new options! I have 2 new dips, Chipotle Ranch Dip and Zorba the Greek Dip! Both are very tasty and I know you will love them. I also have 4 new seasoning mixes. These are seasonings you can use on meat and vegetables, soups, stews and just about anytime you want to spice up your life! The four new seasonings include All Purpose, Smokey Spice, Autumn, and Mediterranean Herb Blends. Beginning the first Wednesday in January, I will be highlighting an item every week with tips and tricks of how to use some of these items. I PROMISE you will hear from me every Wednesday, every week! 

Here is a list of all of my current Mixes available. (Note that I do not stock ALL of these at the Ozark Rag, and at Vendor Events and Craft Shows, but they are always available directly from me. 

Dips: Garlic French Onion, Spicy Cajun, Fiesta, Chipotle Ranch, Dilly, Zorba the Greek and Veggie

Dressings: Italian, Chipotle Ranch, Opa! Greek, Celery Seed

                                        Dips and Dressings are $3.50 or 2 for $6 (mix and match)

Soup: Love (Bean and Pasta) and Pasta Faggioli  $7

Hot Cocoa $4.50

Brownie and Cookie (mixes vary) $6

Taco Seasoning $3.50

Chili Seasoning $3.50

Seasoning Blends: $4 each; 2/$7, 3/$11 or 4/$15 Mix and match

Canned Items (Items vary; prices vary; call to see what I have in stock)

I am really looking for ward to 2021 and hope that by the time Craft and Vendor Events are back up and running, that I will be able to get back in the swing. I have REALLY missed these events and all the friendly faces and customers. I feel I should talk briefly about Covid. I have been very fortunate not to have been exposed unlike several of my friends. Trust me it is not fun. What has Prairie Pearl done to protect YOU? I have a specific area where I produce all of my mixes. I have vinegar wipes that I wipe down the surfaces before and after each batch. I also wear food safe gloves while making everything. While by Missouri Law, I have to make it known on all of my products that they are produced in a non-inspected kitchen, I take cleanliness serious. If I do any events, until Covid is under control, samples will be "served" by me (wearing gloves) rather than a help your self type set up. Lets Hope this year is brighter and we can get back to some form of "new normal".

Hoping you and your family continues to be happy and healthy and a Very Happy New Year to each and every one of you. 

2020?

Wow, It has been awhile since I have blogged as Prairie Pearl. I had a very busy and productive 2019. Craft shows, Paddle parties and even a Haunted Corn Maze. I have met many other crafters and it seems like we all gravitate to the same shows. I also quit selling products through Etsy. It was hard to keep both stocked along with my craft mall booth. Also, I was selling more at shows and at the Ozark Rag.... Etsy was no longer profitable. I also had a Facebook page, right before Christmas, some one hacked into it and was selling cameras or some nonsense. In the process of getting that person out, I somehow got myself locked out and could get no help to re-access it. SO, I will be launching a new facebook page "Prairie Pearl - Simply Delish" Because that is exactly what Prairie Pearl is all about. Simple ingredients, no additives like preservatives or fillers or anti clumping agents. You really don't want to eat that do you?

Currently I have:
Dips: Chipotle Ranch, Garlic French Onion, Dilly, Veggie, Cajun and Fiesta.
Salad Dressings: Greek, Italian, and Chipotle Ranch
Rice Mix: Spanish Rice and Herb Rice
Soup: Pasta Faggoli and Love
Cookies, Muffin, and Brownie Mix
Cocoa

Not all products are stocked at one time either at shows or at the Craft booth. Some are seasonal, but all are always available by request. You can request an item from the person at the register at the Ozark Rag Craft Emporium in Branson West, send me a message on Facebook, or call me. (a side note about calling. Be sure to leave a message. With the high volume of Robo calls, I don't always answer. But I WILL call you back). Feel free to comment here or request more information. I promise I will be keeping current on this page!

Tomorrow evening I will be at a Paddle Party fundraisers for the Music Department in Fair Grove, Missouri. The Doors open at 4 and the paddle party starts at 5pm. See you There!

Joan
Facebook: Prairie Pearl - Simply Delish
417-544-0863

Paddle Parties

Ever heard of Paddle Parties? Well, I hadnt until a few weeks ago. My neighbor asked me if I wanted to set up a table at a Paddle Party in Galena. It only cost $15... Heck why not..., but what is a Paddle Party. Well, it is a fund raiser party. They invite individual small businesses/crafts to set up tables. People come in and buy a Paddle. Every paddle has a poker chip with the same number. The chip goes in a bucket. Each vendor donates 2 items valued at at least $20 to be auctioned off. The first round of auction starts. The vendor introduces themselves, and what their first item is. Then it is Paddles up and Quarters in the bucket.... oh, I left that part out. When someone wants to bid, a quarter is collected for each paddle someone holds up (you can buy as many paddles you want). So basically you are bidding a quarter per paddle for the idem. The person in charge of the party, draws a poker chip out of the bucket and that person (if they had bid) wins the item! For that first round of auction, all the quarters collected, goes back to the vendor. Once all of the vendors have presented, there is a short intermission, giving people time to buy food, and wander around each vendor and look (or buy) their items. Then the round of auctions go again, but this time, the charity retains all the quarters bid. It was so much fun, I am going to do another one! Watch for time and place to be announced soon!

My golly, where has the time gone! Prairie Pearl had a busy winter spending the holiday with family. The Craft business slows in the winter time, since the town closes down after the holidays. My items were available all winter at the Ozark Rag Craft Emporium in Branson West, Missouri, and shoppers were still looking for Christmas and Valentine gifts. Now it is time to start restocking the shop making and updating some packaging, trying out new recipes and getting ready for some spring craft shows. I officially retired from work, allowing me to work full time on Prairie Pearl. You can look forward to more posts, new products and new blog updates!

Right now, I am signed up to participate at the Cajun Days festival in Reeds Spring, Missouri in May 18th. I will have the best of Prairie Pearl products as well as some new and limited edition items. If you are in the Branson area on May 18th be sure to check out Cajun Days in Reeds Spring. Reeds Spring Cajun Days is an outdoor festival that features live music, food vendors, and craft booths. Money raised from sponsors and vendor fees is used to fund the Rotary Club of Table Rock Lake's many community enrichment projects. And yes, they DO have shrimp and craw fish! I will need to be sure I have a big stock of my Cajun dip. Just a bit of heat. Come by and take a taste!

Pearl was busy this week getting out the first of her Fall/Winter specials! Mulling spice bags. These little bags are perfect for Mulled (spiced) wine or cider. These have all those welcoming spices like cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and more. You can even just simmer these on the stove top to give your home that seasonal aroma without the chemicals of room spray. These would make wonderful hostess gifts for holiday parties or as a little gift for co-workers. These are now available now in my Etsy store and will be stocked at Ozark Rag on Tuesday.

Speaking about the Etsy store. My production will be closed on October 24th and 25th. Prairie Pearl and her sidekick Jojo are going on a little road trip. Any orders will be processed as soon as we return on the 26th.

What is coming up next? Soup!

Are you ready for fall?

I don't know about you, but here in the Ozarks, the past few days have been damp and cool. Makes you start to think of Fall. When I think of fall, I think of soups and warm casseroles. Prairie Pearl has a couple of different soup ideas that will come out in a few weeks, but this week she is getting ready to stock her rice mixes. First there is her Spanish Rice. Great side dish with your taco and enchilada dinners. There are diced peppers, onions and just a hint of spice. The other mix is a Herbed Rice. The perfect sidekick for pork, chicken or beef. Both have suggestions to make them a complete one dish meal with the addition of your own veggies and meat. Bring home a rotisserie chicken from the deli and whip together with a rice mix... dinner in no time at all. Don't forget, I look for only the best ingredients, meaning no stabilizers, preservatives or MSG. Both Rice mixes will be available in the booth at the Ozark Rag Craft Emporium later this week as well as by order at the PrairiePearlShop on Etsy. As we get closer to the holidays, I will be available at the Craft Emporium live in person with samples. Like and follow the Ozark Rag Craft Emporium on Facebook for the announcements when those dates occur.

Where has August gone?

Prairie Pearl has been busy getting her craft booth at the Ozark Rag Craft Emporium that she is sharing with Stitching 9 to 5 up and running and I have to say, it is pretty darn cute! With a lot of help from my neighbor, Karron, who I have to give kudos for the signage. It is ALmost done. Still need to change the tablecloth out for a "fall cloth". There is still some tweaking to do, but we will do that when it comes time to decorate for Christmas. Speaking of Christmas. Prairie Pearl will do custom gift bags. Just contact me and let me know what mixes you want in the bag, and I will tie it all up pretty with a bow! I have had quite a few requests for Rubs for meats. I  have some ideas and will do some taste testing in the next few weeks and will try to get a couple of choices. If you ever have requests, be sure to ask and maybe I can just come up with some ideas. I still have my online store open at  www.etsy.com/shop/PrairiePearlShop. While I may swap out some mixes at the store to make room for some new choices, I will always have everything available through the Etsy store or by request at Ozark Rag.

I really thought Jojo and I would be getting out an about more, but it just seems like time this summer has flown by. We both are definitely looking forward to some cooler days. She is enrolled in some doggy classes. Now mind you, these were supposed to be hour long classes for 4 weeks... well, she is such the baby, after 30 min, she just lays down as much as to say "ok, I am bored with this, I'm done!". So we are having 30 min classes for 8 weeks. She is catching on to most of the ideal behaviors, but like her mom, she will do anything for treats! If you know anything about Shih Tzus, they can be pretty stubborn! But they are really charming too, so they tend to get their way! The trainer has some amazing dogs and we do get to watch her work them before and after class. You can tell they are in competition.

Mix of the Day:

Chipotle Ranch Dressing! Do you love Ranch Dressing? Do you like a little heat? Then Chipotle Ranch is the choice for you. It is Ranch with a kick. Even though it is tagged as a dressing, you can totally use it as a dip. Wonderful as a topping on baked potatoes too. How about serving it with Chicken wings or fingers at your next football gathering? It is sure to be a hit. What is super about my dips and dressings is that you know what is in them. The ingredients are listed on the backs, but the difference from what you buy in the grocery store, is that you can pronounce every word. Those ingredients in store bought mixes that you can't pronounce are known as preservatives and stabilizers. My mixs have none of those, but will last a year if you keep them in a cool dry cabinet  (away from the stove).