Jun 28, 2015
It’s summer – and that means that picnics, backyard barbecues and outdoor get-togethers are happening NOW! For your next summer party, use a watermelon keg – it’s clever, useful and a fun way to delight your guests (for only $24.99, plus the cost of a watermelon).
To start, if your watermelon will stand up straight on its own, then can slice off the top and start scooping out the flesh. If not, you’ll need to trim approximately 1 inch off the bottom so that the watermelon will stand up securely.
Use an ice cream scoop to hollow out the inside, reserving the watermelon flesh in a large bowl (or two).
Stop scooping when you get about 2-3 inches close to the bottom of the watermelon. (If you scoop too far down, you run the risk of piercing the outer skin and causing a leak.) Next, assemble the keg dispenser and use the included coring tool to create a hole for the tap.
Attach the keg dispenser by placing it in the hole, and tightening from the inside. If you tighten enough, it will naturally create a “seal” with the watermelon flesh and rind.
Once the dispenser is secure, you can fill it up with the beverage of your choice (I recommend something fruity flavored, because it’s still going to taste like watermelon).
If you want to utilize the watermelon flesh, use an immersion blender to liquify it.
Then strain the mixture, using a spatula to push the flesh through the strainer. When you’re done, you’ll have a pitcher of watermelon juice, to which you can add whatever you want – club soda, lemon lime soda, vodka, gin, etc. Want more ideas? Check out our Pinterest board with Watermelon Drink Ideas.
No matter what you put IN the watermelon keg, it’s sure to be a hit at your summer get-together – it’s just so darn cute and… summery!
Jun 21, 2015
Did you attend our “Snack and Shop” event in the store? We served treats made from a few gourmet food items we offer, and a clear favorite was the Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken, so we wanted to share the recipe:
Ingredients:
1/3 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup Savannah Bee Company Grill Honey
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 tsp. steak sauce
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Directions:
Preheat the grill to medium heat. In a shallow bowl, mix the mustard, honey, mayonnaise, and steak sauce. Set aside a small amount of the honey mustard sauce for basting, and dip the chicken into the remaining sauce to coat. You can let the chicken marinade in the sauce for a few hours (covered, in the refrigerator) or you can go ahead and grill immediately. Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill chicken over indirect heat for 18 to 20 minutes, turning occasionally, or until juices run clear. Baste occasionally with the reserved sauce during the last 10 minutes. Enjoy!
{original recipe from Savannah Bee Company}
Jun 21, 2015
Some weekends, the best way to beat the Texas heat is to whip up a batch of easy frozen margaritas. This recipe is tried and true (from my friend Kate), and I love that this recipe is super easy (only 3 steps), delicious, and you can adjust the alcohol content to your liking. It’s also not too sweet, which I prefer.
1-2-3 Easy Margaritas
You will need:
1 can frozen limeade concentrate
Tequila (preferably Sauza Silver)
Gin (I like Hendrick’s)
Grand Marnier
Ice
Margarita Salt to rim glasses (optional)
Sliced limes for garnish
Directions:
1. Throw the can of frozen limeade concentrate into the blender.
2. Fill the blender with 2 parts Tequila + 1 part Gin + a shot of Grand Marnier – you can make it as weak or as strong as you like, just keep the proportions in this ratio.
3. Add ice until you get the consistency you desire.
Using a slice of lime to rim the edge of the glass, place face-down in the margarita salt and give it a good twist. Pour the margarita mix in the glass and serve cold! Garnish with a lime wedge if desired. See now, wasn’t that easy?
Jun 17, 2015
As spring shifts into high gear and Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Graduation draw near, we need more room for greeting cards – we have cards out the wazoo!
To solve the problem, this weekend we put a little muscle into it and added two more sections of shelves to our greeting card corner.
The new section will be our “Featured” area – if you’ve seen a card posted somewhere on social media, this is where you can find it. Quickly and easily.
Now we can get out even more of the cards you need for this busy season of life!
Jun 16, 2015
Every May when I board a plane for NYC to attend the National Stationery Show, I get “first day of school” jitters. I’m anxious to see what new products I discover, nervous that the trip will be worth the time and expense (plus time away from work), and downright excited for the show – and great restaurants!
This year I went with a slightly different focus in mind – instead of invitations, I was on the hunt for greeting cards – and lots of them. After the “The Switch” last April, our greeting card sales have skyrocketed. It’s wonderful news, but now the pressure is on. We love when customers tell us we are their go-to place for cards – we just can’t let them down now!
This year’s show did not disappoint in the greeting card department – we found several new lines and had great response to sneak peeks we posted on Instagram (@barquegifts). Here are a few discoveries that will make their way to our shelves over the next few months:
Cards from: Emily McDowell / Paper Bandit Press / Ladyfingers Letterpress / McBitterson’s / Farewell Paperie / 6.25 Paper Studio / Paper Bandit Press / Paisley Tree Press / Paisley Tree Press
Don’t you just love these Social Preparedness Kits from Egg Press? The little fiberglass tray can be used as a catch-all once the stationery is gone. Brilliant!
And this adorable onesie from Lionheart Prints? Awe… (Also available in pink – coming soon).
NSS is such a great place for inspiration too! I probably stared at this booth display wall from Smock for at least 10 minutes.
And finally, I ordered personalized stationery albums from Haute Papier. Man oh man, the stock is high quality and really sharp – and colorful envelope and liner options really send it over the top!
My personal award for the Most Startling Card goes to this one from Ghost Academy… Yes, it pushes the envelope a bit (I shy away from the F word – my grandma shops with me!), but I just couldn’t stop laughing at it. So of course it’s on order.
This trip was especially fun because my friend Christie from Stationery Academy joined me to walk the show. I told her it wouldn’t be a trip to NYC without good food, and she was more than happy to be on board with that. For lunch on Saturday, we got our NYC pizza fix at John’s Pizzeria in Times Square, near our hotel.
Reservations for dinner at Saxon + Parole will definitely be happening again. The food was delicious and the atmosphere/decor was very creative and fun. (Our favorite dish of the night was a pot of chicken liver mousse, red currant, and pepper jelly served with toast – highly recommend it.) 
On Sunday after walking the show, Christie and I attended a lovely Stationery Academy Alumni Soiree at Kari Joy’s Apartment near Central Park – isn’t her balcony space charming?
That was such a fun night – laughing and chatting with stationery friends – now that’s a special group of ladies right there!
On Monday, Jennifer joined Christie and I for dinner at Gato – Bobby Flay’s restaurant. It was amazing all around – fantastic food, a comfortable atmosphere and definitely a highlight of the entire trip. (If you’re going, I recommend the roasted Octopus and Avocado Fava Bean Salad!)
Great cards, hanging with my paper peeps and amazing food? Yep, I think this year’s trip to NSS was a success!
