Happy 2011!!

From all of us at SECOND HAND ROSE to all of you -

Wishes for the best year ever!!!!!!! Make it happy, healthy and prosperous - and shop a lot at Second Hand Rose!!

See you February 3rd!!

Merry Christmas!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU FROM THE ENTIRE SECOND HAND ROSE GANG!!! Hope your holiday and new year are filled with the blessings of family, good health, good friends, love, joy, laughter, prosperity - and lots of shopping at Second Hand Rose!!!
See you all in February!

Ring Out The Past - Ring In The Future

Last nite was the Second Hand Rose Christmas party - hosted by the hostess with the mostest Rose Darden! It was a wonderful evening full of great food, great company, great wine, lots of laughter, some singing and general silliness! And even tho it was a party - lots and lots and lots of discussion of the upcoming February Grand Re-Opening sale!!!!! It's gonna be a doozy - better get your calendars marked early (February 3-4-5-6) cuz you won't want to miss this one! Brad and Amy are full of ideas and plans to make us look better and make you guys want to come and shop even more! BUT enough of business - wanna join the party??? Come on in and join us!

Our Hostess Rose with her David - more laughs than a barrelful of elves!!!

Brad and Amy Johnson - our New Grand Poobah's - and we all LOVE them already - and you will too!

Just a hint of the goodies that were there last nite - was gonna take some more shots of the foods - but I got busy sampling and then everyone was sampling and well...............gosh, by the time I remembered - the plates were pretty bare!

I've always wanted Christmas dishes - but just haven't found the right set yet - until..............This set Rose had displayed in her kitchen was drop dead gorgeous! Don't know the pattern name or if it is still available, but it is by Spode.

Rose decorates so well - and she kind has a less is more attitude with her Christmas decorating - and yet the house was so festive!

Love the centerpiece - simply elegant!

Very simple mantle - fresh greens and cream colors.

Her sparkly silver and white Christmas tree - so elegant and pretty - and a gorgeous touch of natural with the branches stuck here and there. That is Rose's sister Bonnie lounging by the tree - I think she was waiting for Santa!

Rose has a large dresser of some sort (I hate to even say dresser because it is so grand!) in her living room next to the fireplace. The wine bar was set up there in front of the mirror - the silver and crystal just sparkled! That's Rose and Barb reflected in the mirror!

Rose just painted her bathroom this lovely deep charcoal gray - the room is beautiful - you hardly even remember you are in a bathroom!

A little touch of Christmas on her curtain tie back - just enough don't you think?

My favorite corner - the chunky fat pillars and stand with the big fat chunky clock - it all works together so perfectly!

A corner of the dining room - again simply elegant!

Now down the basement is another story..................her work room/storage/laundry! But she made some space to hang out down there too! Gotta love the used paint brushes hanging from the tree!

and a nice little place to sit down and..................

have a conversation????????????

Dessert First, Second, and Last!!!

Dessert is always my favorite course - I prefer it first and last! So here to help you with your holiday parties are some of our favorite desserts!! ENJOY!


DESSERTS – CAKES, PIES


Louisiana Pecan Pie from Cindy Chapman

1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup light corn syrup
3 eggs, beaten
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup pecan halves
1 unbaked pie shell

Cream butter with mixed sugar and flour; add syrup and eggs. Beat until frothy. Add salt, vanilla and pecan halves. Pour into 9" unbaked pie shell. Bake 40 minutes at 325 degrees.



Almond Mini Tarts from Coralyn Bergstrom

½ (15 oz.) pkg. refrigerated ready pie crust
1 egg
2 tbsp whipping cream
½ C ground almonds
½ C sugar
½ tsp almond extract
1 tbsp flour

Let pie crust stand according to directions on package. Unfold onto lightly floured surface. Heat oven to 375°. Cut pastry into 20 circles using a 2 ½ inch fluted cookie cutter, re-rolling as needed. Gently press circles of dough into 1 7/8in mini muffin tins shaping to fit. In mixer bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Spoon 2 tsp mixture into each tart shell. Bake until puffed and golden brown – about 15 – 20 minutes. Cool in pan 5 minutes and remove to wire rack. Cool completely – great to serve with coffee!



Blueberry Coffee Cake from Coralyn Bergstrom

Cake:
1/3 c shortening
1 c sugar
1 egg
½ c milk
2 c blueberries

Topping:

½ c sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
1/3 c flour
¼ c butter

Cake: Cream shortening, sugar and egg. Add milk, flour, baking powder and salt. Fold in blueberries. Pour into greased 8 x 11 pan.
Mix topping together and place on batter. Bake for 40 minutes at 350°.





Pumpkin Cake from Coralyn Bergstrom

2 cans pumpkin pie filling
1 yellow or white cake mix dry
1 stick butter melted

Make pumpkin mixture for 2 pies as directed on the can. Place in a 9 x 13 glass pan and sprinkle dry cake mix on top. Drizzle melted butter on top. Bake for 1 hour at 350° til knife comes out clean. Serve with whipped cream. Good served warm.



The Best Rice Pudding from Coralyn Bergstrom

1 qt. half and half
1 qt. water
1 C sugar
1 C long grain rice
½ stick butter
½ tsp salt
2 eggs
½ tsp. vanilla

Mix the first 6 ingredients together in 5 qt non stick pan. Bring to a boil, and then simmer stirring frequently for 40 minutes. Beat eggs with enough water to make a cup. Add to rice mixture and beat in quickly with a spoon. Add vanilla. Return to stove and bring to boil. Refrigerate and top and serve with cinnamon. This is good served warm too.



Carmel Chocolate Cake from Sheryl Comee

1 box German chocolate cake mix
Smuckers caramel syrup
1 container Cool Whip
1 pkg butter brickle crunch

Prepare and bake German chocolate cake according to directions. Cool cake for about 5 minutes. Poke several holes in cake with end of wooden spoon. Pour caramel syrup over cake and let run into holes. Before serving top with Cool Whip and sprinkle with crunch.



Caramel Apple Dip from Sheryl Comee

2 c brown sugar
½ c butter
1 c corn syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Bring to a boil sugar, butter and corn syrup. Add milk and bring back to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Slice apples in bowl and drizzle caramel over. Top with whipped cream. Also great on ice cream!


Cinnamon Coffee Cake Bread from Kris Hart

1 C shortening (1/2 butter)
2 C sugar
4 eggs
3 C flour
3 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 C milk
1 ¾ tsp vanilla
4 tbsp sugar
4 tsp cinnamon

Cream together shortening and 2 cups sugar. Add the eggs one at a time. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternating with the milk and vanilla. Mix the 4 tbsp sugar and cinnamon.
Use solid shortening to grease bread pan. Sprinkle part of the sugar/cinnamon mixture in pan. Fill in with batter and sprinkle remainder of sugar/cinnamon mixture on top. Swirl through batter with a fork.

Bake at 350° for 60 – 70 minutes until toothpick in middle comes out clean.



Filled Chocolate Cupcakes from Kris Hart

Filling:
1 egg
½ C sugar
Pinch salt
8 oz soft cream cheese
1 ½ C chocolate chips
Mix all together

In a separate bowl mix together:
3 C flour
2 C sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 C water
½ C unsweetened cocoa
¾ C oil
2 tbsp vinegar
2 tsp vanilla

Mix well. Pour into lined cupcake tins ½ full. Add a heaping teaspoon of filling – dot with remaining chocolate mixture if you have any left (depending on size of muffin tins!)
Bake at 350° for 20 – 25 minutes. I use a kind of small size muffin tin and I get 24 cupcakes from this recipe.



No Really, This Is The Best Rice Pudding from Kris Hart

1 C cooked white rice
2 C milk
½ C sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 beaten eggs

Combine ingredients and pour into casserole dish. Sprinkle with nutmeg and bake at 350° for 45 minutes. I usually double the recipe and throw in a little extra rice and vanilla! Great served warm with milk or served cold – it makes a great breakfast too!!


Norwegian Kringla from Kris Hart

1 C flour
½ C butter
1 tbsp water

Mix these ingredients like pie crust and pat on a cookie sheet in two long strips about 3” wide.

1 C water
½ C butter
1 C flour
3 eggs
½ tsp almond extract

Heat water and butter just to boiling. As you take from stove add flour. Stir until smooth then beat in egg one at a time until smooth. Add almond extract. Spread lightly on crust. Bake at 375° for 20 – 25 minutes – should just get a hind of golden brown.

When cool frost with:
1 C powdered sugar
1 tbsp cream
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp almond extract

These were always one of my dad’s favorites – Mom would make this year round but especially at Christmas!


Bløtkake (Norwegian Cream Cake) from Kris Hart

5 eggs
¾ - 1 C sugar
1 ¼ C flour
½ tsp baking powder

Beat eggs and sugar til stuff – sift in flour and baking powder and fold together. Pour into 2 greased round cake pans and bake for 30 minutes at 350°. Remove from oven to cooling rack. When slightly cool, turn upside down on rack. When completely cool, slice each layer in half so you have 4 layers.

Filling:
2 10 oz packages frozen strawberries thawed
1 pint whipped cream

Sprinkle some of the strawberry juice on each layer. Mix 1/3 of the cream with berries for the layers. The remainder of the cream will be used to ice the entire cake. Garnish edges of cake with fresh sliced strawberries around bottom of cake and top edge and in the center. Store in refrigerator. Don’t like strawberries? Raspberries or peaches work well too!!


Rum Cake from Kris Hart

½ C chopped pecans
1 yellow cake mix
½ C light rum
½ C water
½ C oil
4 eggs
1 pkg vanilla instant pudding

Grease and flour Bundt pan – sprinkle nuts in the bottom. Combine cake mix, rum, water, oil and eggs. Mix and beat 1 minute – add pudding and beat 2 – 3 minutes more. Pour into cake pan and bake 50 – 60 minutes at 350°.

About 5 – 10 minutes before cake is done make glaze:
1 C sugar
1 stick butter
¼ C rum
¼ C water

Boil in small pan 2 – 3 minutes. Immediately after taking cake from oven SLOWLY spoon glaze over cake in pan. It will bubble and bubble and cook right in the pan so you must pour SLOWLY. Let sit in pan for 30 minutes and then invert to serving plate.
Another one of my dad’s favorite dessert!! He always wanted this when we had company (although he always fought the idea of serving anything with alcohol!!)

Dinner Anyone??????

So if you already saw our first post you have your cookies all planned out - now what about dinner????????????? Yummy recipes found here!

MAIN DISHES

Chicken Makhani from Susan Gorr

My favorite recipe! Great with rice and the Spicy Vegetables recipe (see my
other favorites)

Marinade: 1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/2 teaspoon fresh garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger root, peeled and minced
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
4 boneless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch squares

Sauce: 1 cup fresh tomatoes, blended
1/4 tsp fresh garlic, minced
1/4 tsp fresh ginger root, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cream or half and half
1/2 teaspoon fenugreek powder
2 tablespoons (or more) fresh cilantro, chopped

In a medium bowl place the yogurt, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, vegetable oil, Garam masala, cumin, coriander, and the salt. Stir the ingredients together. Add the chicken and marinate for 24 hours in the refrigerator. Place the marinated chicken on long skewers; grill for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the chicken is just done. (I sometimes just broil the chicken in the oven if I don't want to do the grill).

In a medium large saucepan place the blended tomatoes, the garlic, ginger, butter, and salt. Bring ingredients to a boil and then simmer for 1/2 hour. Remove the chicken from the skewers. Add it to the saucepan, and cook for 3 minutes. Add the cream and bring the sauce to a boil. Add the fenugreek powder and stir it in. Serve the chicken with the chopped cilantro on top. Serves 4




Louisiana Meat Pies: from Cindy Chapman

Filling:
1 teaspoon shortening
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
1 bunch green onions chopped
1 pod garlic minced
1 bell pepper chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon flour

Crust:
1 quart plain flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup milk

Filling: Melt shortening in heavy pot. Add meat and seasonings which have been chopped into small pieces. Stir often. When meat is done but not dry, remove from heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon of flour.

Crust: Sift dry ingredients together. Cut in shortening. Beat egg and add to milk. Work gradually into dry ingredients until proper consistency to roll. Break into small pieces and roll very thin. Cut into rounds using a saucer as a guide.

To assemble: place a large tablespoon of prepared meat along edge and halfway in the center of round dough. Fold the other half over, making edges meet. Firm edges with fork. Drop in deep fat and cook until golden brown. Drain and serve hot. Makes about 18. Can also bake but it's tradition to deep fry.




Crawfish or Shrimp Etoufee from Cindy Chapman

1 stick of butter
1 teaspoon flour
1 medium onion chopped fine
1 tbsp chopped bell pepper
1 pod minced garlic
1 pound crawfish or shrimp
Salt, pepper and cayenne
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Melt butter. Add flour and stir until blended. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic. Stir until tender. Add shrimp or crawfish and cook about 15 minutes. Season. Just before serving -- squeeze a little lemon juice over fish/shrimp. Serve over rice. Flavor is improved if made a day ahead. Pre-cooked crawfish is available at Cub and Coborns.



Chicken Pie from Rose Darden

4 C cooked chicken diced
¼ C chicken fat
4 – 6 tbsp flour
Salt and pepper to taste
2 C chicken broth

Prepare pastry for 2 crust pie. Place in pie pan. Cut cooked chicken in large pieces and place over pastry. Make sauce by blending fat and flour over medium heat stirring constantly. Slowly add broth and stir until thick. Add salt and pepper. Pour over chicken. Add a few green veggies for color and taste (I add peas). Place pastry on top and slit. Bake in a preheated 375° oven until brown and bubbly.

I got this recipe in North Carolina where almost all of the church cookbooks don’t include baking time! This chicken pie is heaven, but when I asked my then mother-in-law how long I should bake it her response was “Why, til it’s done of course!”




Parmesan Crusted Chicken from Coralyn Bergstrom

½ C Hellmann’s mayonnaise
¼ c grated parmesan cheese
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 tsp Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs

Combine mayonnaise and cheese. Spread on chicken then sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes.





Turkey Almond Bake from Coralyn Bergstrom

1 tbsp flour
1 ½ c shredded cheddar
1 tbsp butter melted
1 c slivered almonds
1 c cooked cubed turkey 1 bunch green onion sliced
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 c mayo
1/3 c (or less) Rothschild Honey Mustard
salt & pepper to taste
1 frozen unbaked pie crust

Combine flour and 1 c cheese. Stir in butter and ½ c slivered almonds. Add turkey, green onions, mayo, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper. Mix well.
Fill pie shell with turkey mixture.
Bake in preheated 350° oven for 30 – 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining ½ c cheese and ½ c almonds in small bowl. Remove pie from oven and sprinkle cheese-almond mixture over – return to oven for 10 – 15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cut in wedges.
**If you haven’t tried Rothschild Honey Mustard before, you may want to try less and see how you like it!




Chicken Pasta Salad from Barb Pursley

3 c farfalle pasta
16 oz coleslaw dressing
½ c mayo
½ c Miracle Whip
4 c cubed cooked chicken
1 ½ c seedless green grapes, halved
2 c thinly sliced celery
½ c thinly sliced green onion
2 c cashew halves
2 c dried cranberries

Bring large pot lightly salted water to boil. Cook pasta about 8 – 10 minutes until al dente. Set aside. In medium bowl whisk together coleslaw dressing, mayo and Miracle Whip. In large bowl combine, pasta, chicken, grapes, celery and green onions. Stir in dressing, mix well. Refrigerate to marinate for 2 hours or overnite. Mix in cashews and cranberries just before serving. Serve cold.
This makes a very large salad – great for a party!!




Southwestern Chicken and Rice from Cindy Kulzer

3 – 4 lbs Quartered Chicken
1 can (about 16 oz) Enchilada Sauce or Equivalent Southwestern Cooking Sauce
1 can (15 oz) Frijoles Negros Black Beans
1 can (15 oz.) Diced Tomatoes
1 cup Cut Sweet Corn
1 cup Minute Rice
1 cup Water

Remove skin from chicken pieces, rinse clean and place between paper towels to dry. In large crock pot, combine enchilada sauce, black beans, diced tomatoes, sweet corn, Minute Rice and water. Add chicken pieces and cook thoroughly. Cooking times on crock pots vary; I usually cook mine on low for 6 – 8 hours. Serve with bread and salad for a complete meal. Serves 4 – 6.



Chicken Enchilada Suizas from Susan Gorr

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 Tbsp butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
8 ounces grated cheddar cheese
1/4 ounce can diced green chilies
1 cup purchased green chile salsa
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
4 teaspoons ground cumin
salt and freshly ground black pepper
12-15 7 inch flour tortillas
10 ounces Monterey jack cheese, grated
1 cup half and half
1/2 cup chicken broth

Garnish:
Chopped avocado chopped tomato
chopped fresh cilantro

Place chicken in a pan of rapidly boiling water to cover, and simmer 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat, drain, cool and shred chicken. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion and bell peppers until just soft, 5-8 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Add chicken, cheddar cheese, green chilies, salsa, cilantro, and cumin. Season with salt and pepper to taste and mix well.
Grease a 10X15X2 inch baking pan or two smaller pans. Place 1 flour tortilla on flat surface and place about 1/3 cup chicken mixture along one edge. Roll up from the filling side, and place, seam side down in the pan. Repeat process with remaining chicken mixture. Sprinkle Monterrey jack cheese over enchiladas. (May be prepared to this point up to 1 day in advance. Cover and chill.) Combine half and half and chicken broth and pour over enchiladas. Cover pan with foil and bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Place 1 or 2 enchiladas on individual serving plates and garnish with avocado, tomato, and additional cilantro.



Easy French Dip from Susan Gorr

1 Boneless Chuck Beef Roast
1 can French Onion Soup
1 can Beef Broth
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup Soy Sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients in your crock pot. Cook on high for 1 hour.
Turn to low and cook for 8-10 hours (or till tender). Serve with crusty French rolls

Did You Know We Can Cook????????

Bet you didn't know that besides painting, creating, building and repairing the SHR gang has some of the best cooks in town! There is a ton of kitchen talent in our group too! We wanted to give you all a Christmas gift - so we thought we would share some of our favorite recipes with you! So head on out to your kitchens and get started on some holiday cooking and baking!



COOKIES AND BARS


Pralines from Cindy Chapman

2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup cream
2 cup nut meats (walnut, pecan, etc)

Boil powdered sugar, maple syrup and cream together until a little dropped in cold water forms a soft ball. Remove from heat and beat until creamy. Add nut meats and drop from spoon into patties on waxed paper.



My Granny's Rock Cookies from Cindy Chapman

1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup raisins
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 eggs
1/4 water with 1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter
1/2 cup walnuts
1 teaspoon nutmeg
3 to 4 cups flour

Mix it all -- drop from spoon onto buttered sheet. Bake in slow oven. Yummy! Recipe by the late Barbara B. Guard.


Swedish Shortbread from Coralyn Bergstrom

1 c butter softened
½ c + 2 tbsp sugar

Mix together and add 2 ¼ C flour one cup at a time. Mix together by hand til crumbly.
Divide into 2 logs and flatten then make a well in the center of each log. Fill with jelly. Bake for 20 minutes or so (watch for jelly to bubble) at 350°.

Glaze:
¼ c powdered sugar
1 tbsp milk
½ tsp almond flavoring

Add more powdered sugar if too runny. Drizzle on top while partly cool then cut into slices



Symphony Bars from Barb Pursley

1c softened butter
¾ c sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
2 ½ c flour
4 – 5 *Symphony bars

Mix all together and divide dough in half. Press half evenly in 9 x 13 pan. Lay 4 – 5 oz. Symphony bars on top of dough (you will need to break the last candy bar in order to lay evenly on top). Press remainder of dough evenly over candy bars and bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar while warm. Refrigerate until firm.
* Use the Symphony bars with the bits in them.



White Chip Chocolate Cookies from Cindy Kulzer

1 cup (2 sticks) Butter, Softened
2 cups Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 tsp. Almond Extract
2 cups All Purpose Flour
¾ cup Baking Cocoa
1 tsp. Baking Soda
½ tsp. Salt
1 2/3 cups (10 oz. bag) Premier White Chips

Heat oven to 350°. In large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla & almond extract; beat until light and fluffy. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in white chips. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 9 minutes (Do not over bake; cookies will be soft. They will puff while baking; flatten upon cooling.) Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes about 4 dozen cookies; these are so good though that I always make a double batch!



Santa’s Snickers® Surprises from Cindy Kulzer

2 sticks Butter (Softened)
1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 cup Light Brown Sugar
1 cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
3 ½ cups All Purpose Flour (Sifted)
1 tsp. Baking Soda
½ tsp. Salt
1 pkg. (13 oz.) Snickers® Brand Miniatures

Combine the butter, peanut butter, and sugars using a mixer on a medium to low speed. Mix until light and fluffy. Slowly add eggs and vanilla until thoroughly combined. Then mix in flour, salt and baking soda. Cover and chill for 2-3 hours.

Unwrap all the Snickers® brand miniatures. Remove dough from refrigerator. Divide into 1 Tbsp. pieces and flatten. Place a Snickers® in the center of each piece of dough. Form the dough into a ball around the Snickers®. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 300° for 10 – 12 minutes. Let cookies cool on baking rack or wax paper. When completely cooled, sprinkle cookies with powdered sugar and drizzle melted milk chocolate over the top of each cookie. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.



Cocoa Bars from Kris Hart
Mix together in large bowl -
2 C flour
2 C sugar


2 sticks margarine/butter
1 C water
¼ C baking cocoa
2 eggs
½ C buttermilk
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

In a sauce pan melt the butter and then add water and cocoa. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and pour over the flour/sugar mixture. Mix well. Add the eggs, buttermilk, soda, salt and vanilla.
Beat until smooth and pour into a greased and floured 11 x 16 pan. Bake 20 minutes at 400°.

Frosting:
1 c sugar
1/3 C milk
5 tbsp butter
1 pkg 6 oz. chocolate chips

In a small pan combine sugar, butter and milk. Bring to a boil for 1 minute stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add chips – stir til smooth and frost cooled bars.
I get asked for this recipe all the time – kind of a cross between brownies and chocolate cake!



Poppy Seed Cookies from Kris Hart

I got this recipe from the wife of a former boss – they are a great cookie when you need something but don’t like things really sweet.

1 tsp baking powder
pinch soda
pinch salt
3 heaping C flour
Mix all together.

In separate bowl mix:
3 eggs
¾ C oil
1 C sugar

Add to dry ingredients and add ¼ C poppy seed. Refrigerate overnight. Roll out on floured board and cut with cookie cutter.

Bake at 350° for 15 minutes – til just slightly golden.

What Is It?

This was the train parked outside SHR this last week! We never know what is going to show up on our train tracks - but it definitely caught our attention! Anyone know what it is for - and more importantly why is it telling us not to hump????????????????

An EXTRA SPECIAL Treat for You!!

The December sale is over - and it was wonderful but THIS SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT JUST IN FROM OUR NEW OWNERS BRAD AND AMY JOHNSON - We are going to be open next Saturday for one last chance to shop til you drop!!! And we will be re-stocking!!!!!!!!!!!!! So if you missed something, couldn't come out, forgot a gift or a gift certificate, need something special for your home or just a little something just for you - Come on out!!!

In the meantime - some photos from the December Sale!!

The outside of the shop was filled with greens, birch, pinecones, branches - a beautiful sight and a gift to the local bird population! We enjoyed having them as our guests!

MaryAnn getting friendly with our mascot Merry - Merry likes to come and visit and get treats - and she also brings her owner Sara with her!

Hunter Johnson - the eldest son of Brad and Amy. Hunter and Merry became best friends - better keep your eye on her Sarah - I think Hunter wanted to take her home!

Lynn and Rose having just a little too much fun!!

Notes from You!!!

When Rose made the announcement that she was retiring we got so many nice emails! And now that you all know SHR is not going away - we have again gotten so many nice emails! We have also gotten letters, calls and wonderful stories and hugs from those of you who came into the shop to share with us your memories! We wanted to share some of these nice notes with you! From Rose and the whole gang - all of you, our customer friends, are so special - your enthusiasm helps keep us inspired and your loyalty has been incredible! We love you all!
And here are some of your comments..............
______________________________

Rose, You might be "Over and Out," but u will never be OUT. Thanks for sharing all of your creative talents and generous spirit all these years. You have been an inspiration for so many of us. Whenever I need a creative charge and inspiration I come to your dealer days and the battery is recharged once again.
Good luck to your and enjoy your semi-retirement for as long as you can stand it. From one that has retired three times and keeps going back for more.


The best of luck to you Rose. I am so glad we will continue to see you once in a while. My home is filled with wonderful treasures from your shop. My memories of shopping there with my daughter and close friends... I will cherish forever. One year, while waiting in line for your December sale - at the old shop - my girlfriend and I plucked all of the large wooden candy canes right out of the window boxes! I felt like the Grinch! Every year when I decorate for Christmas, I walk around the house with those candy canes and wonder what in the world I'll do with them this year. I put my annual call in to her and say, "I'm walking around with my candy canes!!" She says, "Me too!!!"
Merry Christmas to you and yours.


Rose, Rose, Rose,
You will be greatly missed. You’re creative stamp was in every nook and cranny of your shop and I loved it as did everyone else who returned month after month not just to buy but to be inspired with new ideas and discover quirky new ways to use old finds. Thank you for giving us a monthly destination that was never disappointing and often awe inspiring.
Thank you, Rose. You will be missed.


Greetings,
Please pass our greetings to Rose.
We live in Bismarck and have loved every trip thru Buffalo that we have made! We were just sick when we heard about "the closing".
The news today that the flag has been passed and SHR will remain open is music to my shopping ears!
Best wishes to the new owners and best best best wishes to you in your retirement!
Can hardly wait to get to Buffalo in 2011!


Thank you for the fun shop and concept that you started! It is such a highlight to look forward to the first of the month so see all of the cute ideas that you and your dealers come up with. Enjoy your lighter schedule. You deserve it! I’m glad it will continue with Brad and Amy.



Thanks for the note.
I sooo appreciate this store. It really has shaped how my friends and I decorate. It is wired into our personalities. We mention you often on our blog, sometimes abbreviated by SHR - :)
Love to you Rose, and we will be back!!!
emily haataja
http://www.outsandins.net/


I am a loyal customer and just wanted to say YOU WILL BE MISSED (but I will keep coming ).


With cheers and many thanks, Rose! For all you have done and given of yourself I am grateful. You have made my world a more beautiful and inspiring place.
Peace and love


It is Sherry from Hopkins Lillian's and I am so sad to hear that you are going to be done. I truly think NONE of the occasional shops anywhere would be around if it were not for you. Second Hand Rose fills my shop in Hopkins and we get so many compliments on the decor. It is because of you and the clever way you put it all in each and every customers you have touched. My home reflects this as well. My daughter Summer was so inspired by you she opened her own shop and has had huge success. I will for sure be out to see you this month with my neighbor gals.
Good luck in whatever you choose to do.


Good luck to you Rosalie... yes, if the soul is pulling a certain way, how can we not want to look what is lying around the corner. And the numerology is perfect too. :)
ps. really enjoyed the monthly visits to your store... you know it was the best!!



Thanks for the years and hard work that went into the shops you have had. They were always the best. Yes it time to read all those books! I am working on that now,


I’m excited for you Rose and wish you well in all that your future holds! I am sad as well, since your sales have always been the highlight of each month for Patty and I. Sincerely, Dale O’Hara, a Loyal SHRR (Second Hand Rose Regular)



From Molly in Des Moines....I am sad but SO very happy for you. My daughter, Heidi, lives in the Cities and it was always our "together time" for me to come to visit so we could work in the Second Hand Rose weekend. We had such good times together - it always seemed she found the "good stuff" before me or at least recognized what it COULD become (she is very clever). I retired from a job I loved about 4 years ago and know the feeling of it just being the right time. I have not been sorry and continue to enjoy the freedom to visit my grandbabies whenever, sleep late if I wish, spend hours in my garden, read lots of great books and just be ready for what happens next. I wish you happiness and thank you for the wonderful hours and adventures you enabled my daughter and me to enjoy. I will remember Second Hand Rose fondly as I enjoy all the treasures filling our home. Thanks!!


Rose~
You absolutely amaze me with your talent and I want to thank you for all the blood, sweat, tears and most of all the love you put into your unique 1 of a kind shop. Any occasional shop owner desires to be "like" Second Hand Rose! Amy and Brad are very lucky to be carrying on your store and your name!
You have helped women with your inspiration to create unique looks that they wouldn't have ever thought twice about.
I'm so excited to shop in your booth and see you at the sales! Unfortunately Tim and I won't be there for the December sale because we're headed to Florida for a long weekend on Thursday but we'll see you in February!
Again~ from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU!


Rose,
What a beautiful passing of a "place where everyone knew our names." You started a great concept and many followed in your creative footsteps. I am so glad you found a soul mate and can enjoy a new phase of your life.
We talked in the shop one day and shared our new adventures. Life is better now. We may not look the same or act the same however we have experiences on our side and that makes it all the sweeter. There are second chances.Thanks to you and all the dealers who made the shop so welcoming and fun. Good luck to Brad and Amy. We'll keep coming.


Rose:
All the best to you. I always love love love your shop.
We live 60 miles away and have sent many many people to find you.
I love your creativity. You inspired me to start my own occasional shop.
I have Dragonfly Bay Boutique in Spicer, MN. (am only only on weekends in the summer months) I do consignment in a cabin on a lake North of Spicer. It has been a lot of fun. We finished our 5th season this year.
I don't make any money yet( I am always buying from my vendors) but I meet some real nice people and they love coming to my place.
Thanks for being who you are and what you do!!
deb

Farwell from Rose Darden (aka The Grand Poobah!!)

Today I pass the flag of Second Hand Rose. The fact that I am passing my business on to two wonderful people has made this an easier transition. You will all just love Brad and Amy….they fit in like a missing piece from a puzzle.

I don’t think that the finality of this transaction has hit me yet. I have been so fortunate to make a living doing what I love. The pressure of having to get a sale ready every month has been huge at times but I would not have traded this experience for anything. I have worked with like-minded, really fun dealers. We have had so many laughs over the years. We have had a raccoon in the shop, a family of mice, women fighting over an item, a dealer who insisted on the presence of ghost at the old shop, angry husbands and absolute hilarity. I will always remember the long, long lines of customers waiting to get in at 9AM at our first shop. I remember one of our dealers telling the customers that anyone who had a present for me could come to the head of the line. I remember going out to my car and sitting there having a good cry because I was so exhausted and there were so many customers in the shop and everyone wanting a piece of me. Our sale was so huge that time and I told myself that I didn’t care if I ever had another sale that big. I just could not handle it.

I didn’t want to grow unlike many shops. I wanted to stay small. I didn’t want to do extra events, lots of advertising or be open more than the four days per month. I always felt that getting bigger is not always better….at least not for me.
Now Second hand Rose will have new life. I can continue in this business on a smaller scale being a dealer only. I don’t want to be in charge anymore, I don’t want to make the important decisions. I just want to slow down a bit and have the presence of mind to create. I want to simplify, take better care of myself, take some long walks, read my good books, kayak a lot of rivers with my dear David and rediscover myself.

Now I can watch Brad and Amy soar with the shop that I created. I am SO happy that they want to take over, to make the business grow, and introduce some exciting new ideas. I will always be there to help where I can.
Thank you to all of my friends, family, dealers and most of all thank you to all of my loyal customers.

Rose
Over and Out

Once Upon A Time...............

Once upon a time there was an awesome little shop called Second Hand Rose in Buffalo, Minnesota. It grew and grew til people from all over the country knew what a wonderful place it was. The Grand Poobah (aka Rose) worked hard and found just the perfect little elves to help her make this the best place in the world. But one day GP (aka Rose) got tired of working so hard and decided it was time to retire and do silly things like read books and play with her friends so she announced to the world that Second Hand Rose would be no more. A deep and dark sadness fell across the land and all the elves and all the friends of SHR. How could mankind as we know continue without SHR????????? But then one day a small sliver of light shone into the shop – a young couple managed to shake off their sadness and say “Hey, wait a minute – I think we could buy SHR and keep it open and make it shine again and add new ideas and make it bigger and better!” So they talked to GP (aka Rose) and made it all so – and the light began to glow again, and the sun shone, and laughter and music rang out, and the sadness was lifted off the world! The elves began to sing and dance and paint and create and even GP (aka Rose) decided to become an elf instead of GP!!!!!! Ah, miracles do happen, the world can rest, and our new Grand Poobahs (Brad and Amy Johnson) have already begun working hard to make the shop glow and sparkle and ring with laughter!!

So be sure to come on out and check out the brightest, merriest, happiest, coziest, warmest, funnest, bestest sale ever!!!! Our December sale is packed to the brim with goodies for Christmas decorating, home décor, Christmas gifts, lighting, upholstered pieces, mirrors, beds, silly stuff, fun stuff, and lots of our usual unusual one of a kind, just gotta have it, don’t know what it is, oh my gosh, nobody else will have one of those, bestest things in the whole entire universe!!! And all of us elves will be dressed in our Christmas finery, there will be treats for you (and presents too!!) and you can get to meet the new team Brad and Amy!!!!

Sadly, some of us will be leaving SHR (Barb is taking a break and Mike and I will be heading out for new adventures) so be sure to check out the clearance pricing and deals that we have for you! Our regular great pricing all around and steals to be had as well!

Don’t forget we will be closed in January so Brad and Amy can make some improvements to the building and give everyone a chance to enjoy the holidays – but will re-open in February with A BIG BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Come on out and celebrate with us – we’ll carol with you or to you, jingle bell rock your world, help you find Joy in the World, give you peaceful Silent Nights, help you with all 12 Days of Christmas, find your L in Noel, make your Christmas White or Blue (depending on your color scheme!!), make your Silver Bells ring, help you find your 2 front teeth or whatever else is all you want for Christmas, help you be Santa to all your baby’s, and make your world and home a winter wonderland! So Come all ye Faithful friends and celebrate with us – we’ll be waiting with sugarplums!!!!

Oh yeah – go check out the blog – I’m putting TONS and TONS of photos on there – 2 or 3 posts worth of photos!!!!!



See you on Thursday, Friday and Saturday AND Sunday!!!!!

All I Want for Christmas.............

The last photos from the December sale - want to see more???? Well, come on in and you'll see the REALLY GOOD STUFF!!!!!!

MaryAnn's black and silver area - to die for! Elegant and yet very cozy.

Angela is all soft creams and grays and taupes!

How much is that doggie in the window?????
Lynn has so many fun goodies - she truly has something for everyone (and quite a few things for me!!!)

No room for your Christmas tree - hang it!!

Love the barb wire wreath!

And Dinah's barb wire tree - how whimsical is that!

Just plain nice..................

DON'T MISS THE BATHROOM - decorations on the cheap - toilet paper garland with a few sprigs of greens - Rose is still the best!!

An entire room of fun and Christmas!

All you Want for Christmas!

Some more peeks at the December sale - really, truly you don't want to miss this one!!!!

Sparkles, Twinkles and Jingles!!

The December sale is almost here - and all of the SHR elves are busy creating and decorating and setting up - the mood in the shop today was shiny and bright and twinkly and giggly and just plain FUN!! Most of us are still NOT ready - we'll be taking it right down to the wire - but I wanted to show you a few glimpses of what is happening! I'll be in there again tomorrow and get more photos for you all - but for tonite - things to dream about!!!!!!!

I am loving these ski sconces that Brad made - would look great in your lodge or cabin or north woods styled family room!

Angela still has far to go - but don't you just love the softness of her sheers!!

Nothing like lockers - and stockings!
Such an interesting mix in Marla's area - chippy and fun and a total childhood Christmas!

Okay - now really - who doesn't love this??????????

Barb has really outdone herself this sale - but this corner is probably my favorite - all creams and ivories and soft whites!

Or perhaps this is my favorite part of Barb's area - just can't decide!!

This could be my favorite too - Barb always gets lots of photos cuz she is always done first!! She is also AWESOME!!

Rose's area - sparkly, twinkly, drop dead gorgeous!!

I'll get some more photos tomorrow - cuz there is SO MUCH MORE TO DROOL OVER!!!!! Can't wait to show you the bathroom!!