YUMMY RECIPE

Want to look like you've slaved over the stove for hours , but, really have only opened a jar and added some stuff? We love the "lowcountry produce" line that we brought in last spring. We've had it long enough to try mant items many ways. It's well priced and yummy! So here's a recipe for an ULTIMATE GUMBO . We've made it as written, but, have also just heated and added leftover shrimp,lobster, chicken-whatever- with linguica and chorizo left from a clam boil ( we're on cape cod) . It tasts great , is easy, and different. The recipe is below, come in or order from mbrann.com , and let me know what you think. M

GUMBO

This is a tasty and easy recipe using our 'Lowcountry Gumbo'!

32 oz jar of 'Lowcountry Produce Gumbo'
1/2 pound of cooked & diced Andouille sausage
1/2 pound of peeled & deveined raw shrimp
1 pound lump crabmeat (not jumbo lump)
1 box of your favorite rice

First - Cook your rice (according to directions on box) and let it sit, covered
Second - Pour jar of 'Lowcountry Gumbo' into a large pot and bring to a simmer.
Third - Add the cooked sausage and raw shrimp.
Fourth - Stir very gently for about two minutes.
Fifth - Add the crabmeat and gently stir only long enough to mix with Gumbo.
Sixth - Cover pot and continue to cook for another minute and a half.

Serve over rice & enjoy!!

Variation: Substitute 1/2 pound of scallops or any firm white fish (such as halibut or grouper) for the Andouille sausage. If using fish, please dice the fish into 1 inch cubes before adding to the Gumbo. Cook as explained above.

Variation: Combine 1 pound of cooked & diced Andouille sausage (or your favorite sausage) with 1 pound of raw, diced, boneless chicken breast. Please dice the chicken into 1 inch cubes. Add to simmering Gumbo and cook for 6 minutes.

honey tips

Honey Storage Tips Copyright © 2008 Ruth Tan While one of the greatest facts on honey storage is that it doesn't spoil even with no preservatives and additives, liquid honey is susceptible to physical and chemical changes during storage; it tends to darken and lose some of its aroma and flavor. Over time, liquid honey also tends to naturally crystallise and become lumpy. Crystallisation is easily reversible and does not affect the taste and quality of the honey at all, although it changes its appearance. Hence, for commercial reasons, a certain shelf life is often stated on the honey bottles in the shop. I often read from honey storage tips that honey can be kept at room temperature and should not be stored in too cold nor too hot place. The problem here is it can be confusing because room temperature varies from country to country! For instance, where I live, room temperature sometimes could be as high as 35°C but I do not refrigerate any of my honey as cold temperatures would speed up the process of granulation. Also, the rate of crystallisation varies for the different types of honey. Tupelo honey and Acacia honey, for instance, tend to stay liquid and is able to resist crystallization better than other types of honey, whereas Lavender honey rushes to crystallise. Honey that has been heated to 130 or 140 degrees will remain liquid for a few months. I would advise honey to be stored at a temperature of 21°C to 27°C or 70°F to 80°F in a dry cupboard, make sure that the cap is on tight since honey tends to absorb moisture from the environment, which can lower its quality. Also store honey away from direct sunlight as it could affect its properties. And this is the reason why some honey come in dark containers. However, these dark containers do not allow consumers to judge the color, viscosity, clarity, and crytallisation of the honey. Also, glass packaging is preferred by some people because glass is neutral and doesn't react to honey and alter its quality. It's easy to restore granulated honey to its natural state, for instance you could put grainy honey on hot toast, the granules will melt as you eat. You can also place a granulated jar over hot water (about 50-60°C), as soon as the granules are dissolved, remove the honey from the heat and let it cool as quickly as possible. Remember, never boil honey!

green article

having used green principles for over 15 years, we thought you might find the article below interesting. M

more green tips

EasyPublish™ Author: Virginia Ginsburg Eight Easy Green Gifts Copyright © 2008 Virginia Ginsburg Giving green gifts is increasingly popular, as it provides an opportunity for your gift to stand out from the crowd and make a positive impact on the Earth. When giving a green gift, you have to consider several elements, including the gift itself, its source, its packaging, and the company providing it. These elements all make an impact on the Earth, and thus deserve careful consideration. First of all, the gift itself must be considered. Ideally, its contents should be organic, or at least have a minimum impact on the Earth. For example, paper products should be recycled; cloth products should be made of organic fibers like cotton, bamboo or hemp. Wooden products should be made of fast-growing woods or recycled hard woods. Second, the packaging of the product should be minimal to reduce waste. Seek zero packaging when possible. Next best is recycled paper packaging. The least desirable packaging is plastic, which takes significant energy to produce and is difficult to recycle. If the only option is plastic packaging, seek minimal amounts of plastic. Third, the source of the gift is important based on both human rights considerations and transportation costs. It's no secret that most U.S. companies manufacture their products outside of the U.S. This is sometimes the only option when it comes to economy, but you can be a conscious consumer by researching the country of origin to determine how likely it is that they frequently are cited for human rights violations. The fuel costs involved in shipping products from foreign countries vary, but can make a significant impact on the product's overall cost to the environment. Finally, consider the company itself. It may surprise you to discover that some companies that sell green products are actually not green at all. They may in fact be terrible companies. Other companies that use less sustainable products may in fact be greener overall when you consider product sourcing and packaging. The best thing to do is to think beyond the label on a product and do a little bit of research. Consider the concepts above and apply them to all of your green purchases for more conscious consumption. Eight Easy Options For Green Gift Giving 1. Gift Certificates - require almost no transportation resources or packaging, and ensure the recipient will get exactly what he or she wants. Choose local, environmentally-conscious companies from which to secure the certificates. 2. Organic Products - are often sourced from environmentally-conscious companies that minimize their impact on the world. Consider clothing, accessories and beauty items. 3. Charity Donation - requires no transportation resources or packaging, and directly make a positive impact on the world. Check out organizations that benefit global resource initiatives, focusing on something meaningful to the recipient like water or air quality, or wildlife protection. 4. Local Home-Made Products - buying locally-made products supports the local economy and minimizes transportation impact. Look for hand-made gift items like bags, decorative boxes and children's toys. 5. Massage - a hands-on gift requires almost no waste, and the only products required are a little bit of massage oil. 6. Eco Spa Day - while many spas use treatments that are tested on animals and contain ingredients that don't meet the green standard, eco spas specialize in treating guests to luxury without negatively impacting the Earth. 7. Home-Made Food - if you like to cook, select the best organic and locally-grown products available and prepare a home-made meal that you can either share or drop off. Don't live nearby? Bake organic cookies and send them in the mail. 8. Groceries for a Week - do their shopping for a week at the local farmer's market or a responsible grocery store. Don't forget to include a list of what you purchased and some recipes for using the food!

EVEN IF EVERYTHINGS NOT ALWAYS ON SALE

Everyone is tightening their belts ,watching where and how they spend their money. All we hear is how all the "big box" stores are slashing prices to get you in the door.( of course their discounts reflect what their real costs are, I couldn't stay in business if I always sold at 50-75% off). Once you get in the door try to actually find someone to help you. Either to know or care enough about what you need for your home or who you're buying for. I know I'm biased being an independent retailer but I want to remind people that in actuality "micro" small business fuels the world economy. We ( micro businesses) employ local residents (in each communities around the world) we give to charities local, national & international. Try getting national retailers to give to your next fundraiser and see how far you get. We care about the people we are serving , the locals and the visitors because we have real "one on one" contact. Shopping with us , eating with us, having work done by us may seem a bit more expensive , but the long term effect on the community of ignoring us may be more devastating than you may think. Consider if you could only buy at Walmart, Christmas tree, TJX's ,the Gap, McDonalds or any other huge enterprises. The sameness of the offerings (cuz where do they get their ideas from but by copying small artisans and whats offered in small shops like M.Brann & co) would make life depressing. Their corporate structure isn't set up to help the local charity with a little something( all those little somethings from small businesses add up to helping a lot of worthy causes). And when you consider the price of gas to travel to the discount store to save??? Please think about the small shops in town, (the ones who recognize you, care about offering you the perfect choice , and care about the community that you live and the world at large) often at a fair, comparable price. EVEN IF EVERYTHING IS NOT ALWAYS ON SALE.

July @ MBrann VIP CArd

Dear Friends,
We've been in business for the past 15 years, a long time for a small independent retailer. We have always felt that our customers are very important people. Without your support and encouragement M·Brann & Co could not be what it is today. To thank our special friends we are offering a VIP CARD (frequent buyer card) with your next $50.00 purchase to qualify. With every $25.00 spent thereafter you will have your card stamped, with a full card ($350.00) your will receive a $35.00 M·Brann gift card to spend as you like in the store. As always for our special customers we will continue our Annual Sale, Special Promotions, Email Updates, and our much talked about "Girls Nite In"!!! Make sure you sign up to be on our email list either in-store or at www.mbrann.com to get the latest news and updates!!!
Maria