The Pink House of Claremore

Ever feel like shopping and eating chocolate should be declared an Olympic sport? If so, then here’s something you’ll absolutely love...

On July 14^th, the Pink House is partnering with All the Rage Fashions for a night of fashion and decadent chocolate feasting...and guess what? You’re invited.

No, this isn’t the Olympic trials but it will be an evening like no other.

The event will be 5pm to 8pm at All the Rage Fashions where you’ll be able to shop your head off...and sample all different kinds of chocolates, cake, and baked fudge courtesy of the Pink House Restaurant.

Just click on the attached flyer (to the right) and print if off. It will be your ticket to get into the special sale and will earn you 25% discount off your entire clothing purchase!

Remember, July 14th at 5-8pm at All the Rage Fashions, 502 South Lynn Riggs Blvd in Claremore, OK.

Join us for a night that will make even Willy Wonka envious. Oh, and bring a friend... and you’ll even receive a FREE gift!  

Can’t wait to see you there.

I love summer fruit and picking out the juiciest ones I can to put in salad, desserts, or just for popping them plain. We have a large selection of fruit here in Oklahoma , but trouble is... a lot of people don’t really know how to choose the fruit when they’re at their peak.

Here are some ideas I use personally and at the Pink House:

Blueberries. Look for deep purple berries that are smooth and wrinkle free. If they’re soft and watery,  it means they’re too ripe. Avoid containers that are stained which may indicate bruised fruit or ones that could possibly be moldy.

Peaches. I absolutely love peaches and can’t wait for their season. Look for smooth skin and a heavy feel to the peach. Ripe fruit will give off that sweet peach aroma and will have a soft texture but not mushy. For best flavor, it’s better not to store in the fridge.

Cataloupe. You’re looking for a nice shape that’s round with a nice golden color. A ripe fruit will give off a nice mild aroma. If you buy it green, then just store it at room temp for a couple days and it will ripen on its own.

Strawberries. Plump, bright red berries are the choicest fruit. Look for fresh, green leaves and be sure to discard any bruised or damaged berries. Now I ask you... is anything better than sweet red strawberries in the summer?

 Watermelons. With watermelons, you want to look for firmness. The trick is in the thump you give it...if it gives a hollow sound you know it’s ripe. The outer rind also needs to have a dull look to it, not dark green.

Hope this helps. Summer will soon be here, and it’s a great time to enjoy the fruit of the season.

Blessings,

Margo

If there’s one thing I look forward to every fall, it’s the taste of pumpkin. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, it doesn’t matter what form it takes, if it’s got pumpkin in it, I love it. There’s something about the sweet, spicy taste that’s perfect for the season.

Here’s some of the best pumpkin bread you’ll ever try. It’s called Pumpkin Cheese Bread. I got it from allrecipes.com. It has cream cheese in the middle of the loaf and an aroma that’s out of this world . Let me know what you think.

What You’ll Need…

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease two 8x4 inch loaf pans.
2. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, 1 egg and orange zest; beat until smooth. Set aside. Sift together 1 2/3 cup flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and pumpkin pie spice; set aside.
3. Place pumpkin, vegetable oil, 2 eggs and 1 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl; beat well. Stir the pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture just until combined. Fold in the pecans if desired. Pour 1/2 of the pumpkin batter into the loaf pans. Spoon cream cheese mixture on top of this layer and then pour on the remaining batter.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool bread in pans for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy,

Margo

I think we all know what it’s like to go through trials in our lives. They’re never pleasant but often we come out better for having endured the hardship and seeing God refine us through our troubles and times of pain.

Here’s a story I found online that reminds me how God is always at work in our lives, especially during the challenging times. It’s called the Silversmith. Read it and really let it soak into your heart today. I think you’ll find it a blessing and a great moment of reflection for your life.

There was a group of women in a Bible study of the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three, which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God allowing us to be in fires of life; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes. He not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire --whatever your troubles may be, remember that God has his eye on you and is refining you until He sees His image in you.

--Author unknown

Blessings,

Margo

Yes, National Apple Month is here…and knowing how much everybody loves apples, we knew it would be a great time to offer some tasty apple themed meals and desserts at the Pink House for October. 

Look at some of the incredible dishes we’ve dreamed up—

Apple Turkey Burgers with Cranberry Apple Salsa, Apple Turkey Pot Pie, Grilled Chicken with a Crunchy Apple Salsa and Apple Topped Pork Loin.

And, for dessert, you can choose from Caramel Apple Pudding Cake, Toffee Apple Cheesecake, and Apple Cranberry Crisp to Celebration Cake, and Chipotle Apple Pecan Cake. Sound good?  

Remember to make plans now to visit us this month. We love fall and hope you’ll come and celebrate the season with us.

See you soon,

Margo 

As summer slowly drifts to fall, you may want to get out in the yard and garden and prepare for next spring. Here are some ideas for your fall gardening schedule that will help you plan for next year’s beauty.

• Begin to water trees and shrubs less to allow hardening off before winter and remove annuals that have seen their better day.
• Mums, pansies, and flowering Kale and cabbage are excellent decorative flowers to begin planting in late Sept/ Oct. for some cool season color when summer’s flowers are gone.
• Dig up and divide perennials that are overgrown and crowded or replace any perennials that didn’t quite make it after our brutal summer.
• Fall is also the perfect time to plant new trees and shrubs—giving them a better chance of getting developed and growing stronger roots.
• As fall arrives, use a good 3-1-2 slow release fertilizer on your lawn and seed or sod any bare spots your lawn has.

Remember also to weed and compost as often as possible and provide a little seed to the birds as they begin their winter migrations. Who knows…some may even stick around your area if they know they have a steady food source.

Just a few suggestions for your fall gardening. May God’s peace rest upon you as you enjoy this wonderful fall season.

Blessings,

Margo

A Poem for Fall…

I love fall poems. I especially like them when there’s a crispness in the air and I can settle in with a good cup of tea in the morning or evening. September’s cool, as we know, can be a hit or miss in Oklahoma, depending on the stubbornness of summer, but at least you know relief is coming soon. One of my favorite memories of our Oklahoma autumn is that of the Monarch butterflies.  Before my husband went to heaven we would often enjoy them as they migrated during this season. It was something that was very special to us and still is to me today. Another thing I love about this cooler weather is it seems it's the perfect time for reading poems with a cup of tea.

Here’s one I found called September. It’s by Helen Hunt Jackson. You may have heard of her. She was a great poet known for her rhythmical sonnets and powerful images. When you read it, think of the breathtaking sights and sounds of autumn and God’s wonderful miracle in us all—the gift of His life and hope.

I pray blessings on your life this wonderful time of year and hope you’ll remember to enjoy the colors this fall.

SEPTEMBER

The golden-rod is yellow;
  The corn is turning brown;
The trees in apple orchards
  With fruit are bending down.

The gentian's bluest fringes
  Are curling in the sun;
In dusty pods the milkweed
  Its hidden silk has spun.

The sedges flaunt their harvest,
  In every meadow nook;
And asters by the brook-side
  Make asters in the brook,

From dewy lanes at morning
  The grapes' sweet odors rise;
At noon the roads all flutter
  With yellow butterflies.

By all these lovely tokens
  September days are here,
With summer's best of weather,
  And autumn's best of cheer.

But none of all this beauty
 Which floods the earth and air
 Is unto me the secret
 Which makes September fair.

‘T is a thing which I remember;
  To name it thrills me yet:
 One day of one September
  I never can forget.

Margo

In honor of National Waffle Day, August 24th, I’ve decided to come up with a “best of the best” list for everything waffles. I hope you enjoy it and remember, no waffling around. LOL. 

Best Waffle Recipe:

Sweet Potato Pecan Waffles with Praline Peaches. Loaded with pureed, rich sweet potatoes and pecans, topped with butter and out of this world peach sauce. Find it at allrecipes.com.

Best Waffle Topping:

Hands down, strawberries, bananas or peaches. Nothing like fresh fruit on golden delicious waffles. Oh, and can’t forget a dusting of powdered sugar for added bonus. Talk about heaven. FYI Chocolate, honey or pure maple syrup come a close second.  

Best Waffle Song:

Don’t know any, but imagine it would be a syrupy love song. Get it, syrupy.

Largest Waffle Ever Made:

1986 in Chicago. It measured over 3000 square feet, larger than the average American home.  

Most Waffles Eaten in 10 minutes:

In 2006, Joey Chestnut consumed 23 Waffle House waffles in 10 minutes to claim the title of World Waffle Eating Champion and broke his record of 18.5 waffles set from the previous year.
Best Waffle Quote:

“A waffle is just a pancake with a syrup trap.”—Mitch Hedberg, comedian.

Also, I like “He gave her a look that you could have poured on a waffle.”—Ring Lardner, writer.

That’s all for now.

Enjoy,

Margo