Wondering why you should choose the Shirley J Pancake and Waffle Mix over any other brand out there? Watch this video!
Other posts you may like:
Celebrate National Pancake Day with Shirley J
Shirley J Universal Sauce: Indepth Product Information Video
Yellow Corn Pancakes
Can’t believe we are already on week number ten! Can you?
Try this fresh take on sauce next time you are looking for a way to use Shirley J. It’s got great heat and spice from the garlic and jalapenos, and then a cooling factor comes in from the fresh cilantro and mint.
Spicy Indian Sauce
Ingredients:
2 c. cilantro
¼ c. mint
1 jalapeño (leave seeds in for heat, take out for milder sauce)
6 cloves of garlic (peeled)
1 c. Shirley J Universal Sauce
4 c. water
Directions:
Using a kitchen blender or stick blender, blend the cilantro, mint, jalapeño, garlic and one cup of the water until smooth. In a saucepan add the Shirley J Universal Sauce and the remaining water, stir until the Universal Sauce mix has dissolved and bring to a slow boil. Combine the blended ingredients with sauce, simmer for 10 minutes.
* Use in any type of Indian cooking. Perfect over rice or chickpeas, also great as a baking sauce for chicken.
We are happy to announce that we just got in new shipment of our Shirley J Aprons. To celebrate, we are offering a special price to 
the first 50 customers who order! These 50 lucky people will receive a a special price of $14.95 instead of the normal retail price of $19.95.
The Shirley J Apron is a must-have item in the kitchen that shows your love of Shirley J products. It’s a durable yet classy apron that displays the Shirley J logo. It’s perfect for everyday use..
*There is no order limit per person.
To order, call (801) 225-5073 or visit the Shirley J storefront in Orem. (15 East 400 South)
| March 11, 2010 | ||
| 7:00 pm | to | 8:30 pm |
Shirley J will once again host the Preparedness Pro to teach another popular class at our Studio Test Kitchen.
The topic: UNDERwhelmed in Food Storage. This 90 minute class will be the tastiest food storage class you’ve ever attended! Plain old blah and boring food storage is converted to EASY, gourmet with this innovative class. (And we’re pretty sure with the help of Shirley J!) You’ve never experienced a preparedness class like this.
UNDERwhelmed in Food Storage
Preparedness Pro Cooking Class
Date and Time: Thursday, March 11, 2010 from 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Location: Shirley J (15 East 400 South, Orem, Utah)
See what bloggers are saying about our products and enter to win a bag of Universal Sauce! Check out these two recent reviews of Shirley J Universal Sauce.
Read the review and enter the giveaway. Entry deadline is 11 pm CST.
Read the review and enter the giveaway. Entry deadline ends March 2.
Other blogger reviews you may be interested in:
365 Days of Slow Cooking – (Low Cal) Creamy Artichoke Chicken Universal Sauce and Pizza and Pasta Review
Short Pumpy Prep – Make it Easy and Saucy: Shirley J Universal Sauce Mix
Sweeps for Bloggers – Shirley J Universal Sauce Review and Giveaway
What’s Cooking at DD? – A Wonder Powder for Delicious Cooking: Shirley J Universal Sauce Review and Giveaway
Making Family Dinner Hour Possible – Shirley J to the Rescue
Desperately Seeking Deals – Shirley J Universal Sauce Review and Giveaway
I Never Grew Up – Summer Social Retreat Finds Top 5 (Shirley J Beef Slow Cooker)
Project Domestication – Shirley J Wednesday (weekly feature of Shirley J products)
One of the easiest meals you can make on a whim is pasta, especially when the sauce involves Shirley
J Universal Sauce! Most everyone has some sort of stock of pasta, but have you ever thought of keeping a stash of frozen pasta in your freezer? After trying this tortellini recipe, you’ll want to! It’s creamy, cheesy and even gives you a serving of veggies!
Give it a try today!
Asparagus Tortellini
Ingredients
1 c. Shirley J White Cheddar Soup and Sauce Base (or Shirley J Universal Sauce)
3 c. water
1 t. garlic powder
1 c. asparagus (chopped, do not use the ends)
16 oz. cheese tortellini (frozen)
Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Combine the Universal Sauce or White Cheddar base with water, garlic powder and asparagus. Bring to a simmer. Add the tortellini and cook until tortellini is warm in the middle. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
Did you know it’s National Pancake Day?
Shirley J has two great products to help you celebrate National Pancake Day. Try our classic Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix! It makes light and fluffy pancakes fresh from the griddle every time. Make a short stack, or mix in blueberries, chocolate chips or other 
ingredients to make the taste uniquely yours. Simply add water and your imagination.
And..did you ever think about using Shirley J Corn Bread and Muffin Mix to make delicious pancakes? Try it today! So easy and a great way to mix things up.
2 great Shirley J Pancake recipes:
Yellow Corn Pancakes
Sweet Potato Pancakes
What are your favorite add-ins to our pancake and waffle mix? We’d love to see how you use it!
Macaroni and Cheese! It’s comfort food at its best that you know the whole family will love. This time forget the box mix and try Shirley J. We use cheddar cheese in this version, but don’t be afraid to play around. Many of our customers are trying Swiss, Parmesan, Gruyere and even Muenster cheeses! Have fun.
Macaroni & Cheese
Ingredients:
8 oz. Elbow macaroni
3 c. water
¾ c. Shirley J Universal Sauce
12 oz. cheddar cheese (shredded)
1 c. bread crumbs (dry)
¼ c. melted butter
Directions:
In large pot, cook elbow macaroni according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, combine water and Shirley J Universal Sauce in separate, medium sauce pan; bring mixture to a slow boil, after mixture boils remove from heat and place cheese directly into sauce. Stir to incorporate.
After macaroni is cooked, drain well and return pasta to its original pan, add sauce and stir well (cheese does not have to be melted completely). Place into oven proof casserole dish. Meanwhile combine butter and bread crumbs, mix thoroughly to coat breadcrumbs; coat top of casserole with buttered breadcrumb mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until casserole is hot and bubbly.
| February 24, 2010 | ||
| 7:00 pm | to | 8:30 pm |
Shirley J will once again host the Preparedness Pro to teach another popular class at our Studio Test Kitchen.
The topic: The Wonderful World of Wheat. In just 90 minutes you’ll learn all about wheat storage, bread making from scratch and other forms (including how to use the Shirley J Honey Wheat Bread Mix), wheat sprouting, making wheat meat and tips on purchasing wheat.
The Wonderful World of Wheat
Preparedness Pro Cooking Class
Date and Time: Wednesday February 24 from 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Location: Shirley J (15 East 400 South, Orem, Utah)
Everyone is loving this #10 can special! We’ve only got 100 cans left! Come on buy, order online, or give us a call!
Believe it or not, Shirley J Universal Sauce was originally packed in these ten cans. This product is perfect for food storage in many ways. First off, our Universal Sauce is a just-add-water base and will allow you to make hundreds of recipes with pantry and other food storage items. Second of all, these cans will fit right in with your current food storage system! They are the perfect size and shape. Third of all, it’s delicious! Who wouldn’t want this product as part of their food storage system?
Starting today until supplies last you can purchase Shirley J Universal Sauce in number ten cans for $16 each. That’s 25% off of the old retail price!
Act now! This is the last time Shirley J Universal Sauce will be available in number 10 cans! We only have 500 cans left!
To order, call (801) 225-5073, email us at orders@shirleyj.com or visit our storefront in Orem, Utah.
Happy Cooking!
Shirley J
What’s more fun than pizza night? Roll the dough, toss in your favorite toppings, add a dash of fun and you have perfect homemade pizzas—all with Shirley J! We’ve got two great products to help you make the perfect pizza and we’re going to make it easy for you to try both of them.
This week we are offering a special deal on our most popular bread mix: Shirley J Sourdough Bread Mix. When you buy a bag of Shirley J Sourdough Bread Mix you receive a free 2-ounce sample bag of Shirley J Pizza and Pasta Seasoning. That’s enough to make 2 or more pizzas. This seasoning makes the perfect pizza sauce. That’s enough to make three or more pizzas.
And to help you with your next pizza party, try some of these Shirley J recipes:
Weekly Universal Sauce Recipe #7: Vegetarian Alfredo Pizza
Perfect Pizza Sauce
Watch this YouTube video to see how to make the Vegetarian Pizza.
Learn more about Shirley J Pizza and Pasta Seasoning here.
Happy Cooking!
It’s pizza week over here at Shirley J. So naturally we’re going to share a great pizza recipe! Try our Vegetarian Alfredo Pizza. It’s a fun and creamy change to your normal pepperoni pizza!
What’s in it?
Crust
8 cups Shirley J Sourdough Bread Mix (or any of our bread mixes)
2 TB dry active yeast
3 cups warm water
Sauce
1 cup Shirley J Universal Sauce
2 TB Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 cups water
Toppings
3 cups Mozzarella cheese
1 cup yellow squash (sliced)
1 cup broccoli crowns (stems removed)
1 cup bell peppers
1 cup mushrooms (sliced)
1 cup Roma tomatoes (diced)
1/2 cup red onion (sliced)
Directions:
Dissolve yeast in water. Add mix and knead until smooth. If using an electric mixer, mix on medium speed for 10-12 minutes. Let rest in a bowl covered with a damp towel for 15-20 minutes. Then divide the dough into 3 even pieces. Roll each piece out to about 1/2 inch thick rounds and prebake on a sheet pan at 400 degrees F for about 11 minutes. When crusts have cooled to the touch, to each crust add approx. 1 cup sauce, followed by cheese. Add rest of ingredients and bake at 400 degrees F until the cheese has melted, approx. 8 minutes.
Makes 3 large pizzas.
Watch this video for a step-by-step cooking demonstration that has pizza-rific results!
Looking for a last-minute baked good to whip up this weekend? Or are you wanting to make a savory Valentine-themed dish instead? If so, we’ve got two Shirley J recipes for you to try this weekend.
Chocolate Raspberry Muffins
Ham and Egg Heart-Shaped Biscuits
The best part about them…they use Shirley J products and common ingredients you most likely have in your fridge or pantry!
Head on over to our site for the recipes!
Happy Cooking!
Shirley J
*In honor of Presidents Day, the Shirley J storefront and offices will be closed on Monday, February 15, 2010. You can order online at www.shirleyj.com or leave a message at (801) 225-5073.
Looking for a savory way to share your affection on Valentine’s Day? Try these heart-shaped Ham and Egg Biscuits. They are quick and easy to make and you should have most the ingredients on-hand. You and your sweetheart will start the day off right!
Ham and Egg Heart-shaped Biscuits
Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. Shirley J Universal Biscuit & Baking Mix
1/2 c. water
6 slices of ham
3 slices of Swiss cheese
6 eggs (small)
1 1/2 c. Shirley J White Cheddar Soup and Sauce Base (prepared)
1 avocado (cut into 6 slices)
Directions:
Make Shirley J Universal Biscuit & Baking Mix as directed on package. Then in a large greased muffin tin, place a slice of ham in each indentation. Next place about 2 T. of biscuit dough on top of the ham, now put the Swiss cheese on top of that (break it so that it fits inside the tin) now crack an egg on top of each one and bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees F. Allow to cool for 3 minutes. Serve with a slice of avocado and 2 oz. of prepared Shirley J White Cheddar Sauce.
| March 5, 2010 | ||
| 12:00 pm | to | 1:00 pm |
Come taste Shirley J for yourself! We’ll demonstrate the versatility of our flagship product, Shirley J, a Universal Sauce. You’ll be amazed and realize that Shirley J is a must-have kitchen staple. Come hungry and leave a better cook!
Shirley J Cooking Class – Universal Sauce Basics
Date: Friday, March 5, 2010
Time: 12pm-1pm
Location: Shirley J Studio Test Kitchen (15 East 400 South, Orem)
Cost: Free
Type: Demonstration & Tasting
Are you a fan of chowder? Try our poblano corn chowder for a change. It’s got a kick and it’s quick to make!
Poblano Corn Chowder
Ingredients:
1 T. oil
¾ c. yellow onions chopped
3 c. garlic
2 poblano chilies with the skin removed and diced. (You can substitute 6 oz can of diced green chilies)
2 cobs of corn (roasted or grilled, kernels removed) (You can substitute 1 ½ cups of frozen corn roasted in the oven)
4 c. water
1 c. Shirley J Universal Sauce
½ t. oregano (ground or crushed)
1 t. cumin (ground)
1 t. Shirley J Chicken Bouillon
1 ½ c. white or yellow cheddar cheese (grated)
tortilla chips for garnish
Directions:
In a small stockpot, on medium heat add oil, garlic and onions. Cook for 4-5 minutes. Do not allow to burn. Next add chilies and roasted corn, let cook for about 2 minutes. Add water and Shirley J Universal Sauce, whisk until blended. Allow the mixture to come to a slow boil. Add the spices and Shirley J Chicken Bouillon, let simmer for 5 minutes. Turn heat off, add cheese and stir until all is incorporated evenly. Serve, garnish with tortilla chips.
*Just started following our 52 Weeks of Shirley J Universal Sauce Recipes? Check out what other recipes we’ve featured!
Week #1 – Shirley J Queso
Week #2 – Cheesy Asparagus and Rice
Week #3 – Black and White Chili
Week #4 – Shirley J Fondue
Week #5 – Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
Visit our www.shirleyj.com for more information and recipes!
Shirley J owner and president, Kelly Olsen will be on KSL’s “Speaking on Business” radio show tomorrow. Hope you can tune in…if not, we’ll give you a recap and post a link where you can listen to it online!
Weekday Broadcast Schedule
Wasatch Front – KSL 102.7 FM, 1160 AM (7:23 a.m., 11:47 a.m., 5:23 p.m.)
Logan – KVNU 610 AM (7:43 a.m., 5:28 p.m.)
Manti – KMTI 650 AM (8:15 a.m. and 5:25 p.m.)
Moab – KCYN 97.1 FM (7:40 a.m., 5:20 p.m.)
Monticello – KAAJ 103.5 FM (7:50 a.m., 5:10 p.m.)
Richfield – KSVC 980 AM (8:20 a.m., 5:22 p.m.)
Price – KOAL 750 AM (7:30 a.m., 5:18 p.m.)
St. George – KDXU 890 AM (7:25 a.m., 5:25 p.m.)
Vernal – KVEL 920 AM (7:45 a.m., 5:15 p.m.)
About Speaking on Business
Zions Bank presents “Speaking on Business“, a radio program highlighting the diverse businesses of both Idaho and Utah. Business expert Fred Ball hosts the program and discusses the intriguing stories behind everything from homegrown startups to large corporations.
Shirley J was recently featured in the January/February 2010 issue of Wasatch Woman Magazine as part of the Editor’s Picks. We are delighted to be featured as we think this is a great publication for women locally. If you’ve never picked up a copy, let us recommend it to you!
Here’s what Wasatch Woman editor and publisher, Pam Baumeister had to say about Shirley J:
“Meals made simple: What’s for dinner? Whether you’ve had time to shop or not, having a Shirley J mix and some fresh ingredients on hand will save you the hassle of whipping up a white sauce or soup from scratch. Locally owned Shirley J has a large array of versatile, easy-to-use, just-add-water mixes. Use Shirley J Universal Sauce in place of butter, flour and milk or cream in any recipe–like Alfredo sauce, enchiladas, Thai curry and any typ of creamy soup. Stock up with a 48-ounce container of Universal Sauce for just $24.95. Order any one of dozens of mixes online at www.shirleyj.com or call 801-225-5073.”
It’s been an exciting day over here at Shirley J! This morning Chef Brian made three quick, easy and delicious meals on Good Things Utah! All three dishes began with our best-selling product, Shirley J Universal Sauce. And what’s even more unique about our cooking segment: all three dishes were made in less than five minutes! Here’s a little run-through of our morning via pictures.
Chef Brian prepping for the segment. The Good Things Utah kitchen is a nice one!
The teaser shot of the three Shirley J dishes. Left to right: Chessy Asparagus and Rice, Farfalle Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato and Peas and Butternut Squash and Apple Soup. Of course, the shot wouldn’t be complete without a bag of Shirley J Universal Sauce behind it. We love how all three dishes started out with this one product! It truly is universal.
Chef Brian and Good Things Utah host, Nicea Degering on the cooking segment set. Doesn’t Nicea look like she was meant to wear that Shirley J apron? We think so!
Here’s Chef Brian, the hosts of Good Things Utah and the real Shirley J on set.
We were very lucky to have the real Shirley J, Shirley Jensen Smith on the set with us. Shirley is the namesake of our company and the wife of the original owner and creator of Shirley J, Don Smith. She is nothing but a joy and we feel so blessed as a company to have such a great relationship with her. Thanks, Shirley!
If you missed our cooking segment, you can watch it on the Good Things Utah Web site, here or below.
Click on the links below to get the recipes!
Cheesy Asparagus and Rice
Farfalle Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Peas
Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
This creamy and buttery soup is perfect for winter. And since you’re using Shirley J Universal Sauce, it’s one-fourth the calories compared to making the cream sauce part of the soup from scratch. Enjoy!
Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
Ingredients:
1 c. Shirley J Universal Sauce
4 c. water
1/2 t. Shirley J Chicken Bouillon
4 c. cooked butternut squash (blended smooth)
1 c. apple sauce (blended smooth)
¼ c. brown sugar
¼ t. nutmeg
¼ t. cinnamon
Directions:
In a saucepan on medium heat, add water, Shirley J Universal Sauce and Shirley J Chicken Bouillon. Allow it to simmer and thicken. Next, add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for five minutes.
| February 5, 2010 | ||
| 12:00 pm | to | 1:00 pm |
- Come taste Shirley J for yourself! We’ll demonstrate the versatility of our flagship product, Shirley J, a Universal Sauce. You’ll be amazed and realize that Shirley J is a must-have kitchen staple. Come hungry and leave a better cook!
Shirley J Cooking Class – Universal Sauce Basics
Date: Friday, February 5, 2010
Time: 12pm-1pm
Location: Shirley J Studio Test Kitchen (15 East 400 South, Orem)
Cost: Free
Type: Demonstration & Tasting
Catch Chef Brian on Utah’s popular morning show, Good Things Utah on Monday, February 1! He’ll be making three delicious meals using Shirley J Universal Sauce!
Good Things Utah – ABC Channel 4
Monday, February 1, 2010
10 a.m. MST
The cooking segment will also be recorded and posted on the Good Things Utah Web site later that day. We’ll keep you posted when it is online!
The super bowl is less than two weeks away. Do you know what’s on your menu? Let’s make this simple: use Shirley J!
Football fans of any team will love this line-up of hearty and hand-held dishes. Our spread of recipes includes appetizers, finger foods, burgers and more.
BBQ Pork Sandwich with Sour Cream Flat Bread
Hawaiian BBQ Meatballs
Sticky Honey BBQ Wings
Shirley J Sliders
Sausage Jalapeno Rolls
BBQ Smokies
Shirley J Fondue
Check back soon because we’ll have some step-by-step videos to show you how to make some of these dishes!
So you’ve tried Shirley J Universal Sauce – and used it in some recipes like broccoli cheddar soup, Alfredo sauce, biscuits and gravy and maybe some other classics that we all love. You’ve even purchased some of our other products and are ready to expand your horizons!
Just in time for some weekend cooking, Shirley J is here to help! You can now download 50 of our favorite Shirley J recipes…for free! Just locate this nifty graphic on the right hand column of our community, Shirley’s kitchen or company pages and click to download or save to your computer. Print away.
You are just seconds away from having 50 great recipes in your hand! Recipes use a variety of Shirley J products in many different applications like main dishes, sides, salads, breads, sauces and desserts!
We can’t wait to hear what recipes become your new favorites!
This upcoming Tuesday night, the Preparedness Pro will be teaching a class at the Shirley J Studio Test Kitchen. You are all welcome to attend this free class. You’ll even learn to make a pot roast in under 45 minutes! Here are the details!
Pressure Cooking Class
Date and Time: January 26 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Location: Shirley J (15 East 400 South, Orem, Utah)
Did you know you can cook a complete pot roast dinner in under 45 minutes? Try doing THAT in a microwave! Frozen chicken and a bottle of BBQ sauce can deliver a mouthwatering meal in less than 15 minutes—tender, tasty and juicy. Have a rich and creamy risotto in less than 10 minutes. Heck, you can even make a CHEESECAKE in a pressure cooker! WOW!
Today’s pressure cookers are nothing like your grandmother’s. They are safe and easy to use and cut cooking time down even less than your microwave does while still retaining nutrition, tenderness, and taste!
Pressure cookers also preserve fuel, electricity, water, and seasoning and they are ideal to use everyday as well as in an emergency!
In this presentation, you will learn how to use your existing pressure cooker properly.
You will learn how to properly select a pressure cooker for purchase.
You will sample at least three great recipes made right in front of you.
You will receive a full color handout with at least 12 great pressure cooking recipes.
Kellene has been teaching this class for nearly 10 years. It’s fun, interactive, and very popular.
Call (801) 788-4133 to register. Admission is FREE!
While you’re at it. Make sure to browse the Shirley J store and take advantage of getting up to 35% off!
Happy Cooking.
For week three of our 52 Weeks of Shirley J Universal Sauce Recipes we decide to go with one of our most popular chili recipes! This hearty chili has the perfect balance of texture, spice and creaminess. It also convenient and economical as it uses common pantry items. Give it a try this week!
Black and White Chili
Ingredients:
1 TB oil
1 ½ cups yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 TB Shirley J Chicken Bouillon
1 TB cumin
1 6oz can of diced green chilies
4 cups water
1 cup Shirley J Universal Sauce
2 15oz cans of cannelloni beans
1 15oz can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
2 12oz cans of chicken
Directions:
In a medium stock pot, on medium heat, add oil, onions, and garlic. Let it cook for about 5 minutes. Stir to avoid burning. Next add green chilies, bouillon, and cumin, stir and let cook for 2-3 minutes. Add water and Universal Sauce, and whisk until smooth. Bring the soup to a simmer as it thickens. Add the rest of the ingredients.
Here’s to week two of our 52 Weeks of Shirley J Universal Sauce Recipes! This cheesy asparagus and rice dish makes a wonderful side for a week night or even Sunday dinner!
Cheesy Asparagus and Rice
Ingredients:
2 cups long grain rice
3 ½ cups water
1 TB butter
3 cups water
1 cup Shirley J Universal Sauce
1 cup fresh asparagus, chopped
16oz processed American cheese
Directions:
In a small saucepan add water and Universal Sauce and bring to a simmer for about 4 minutes. Add asparagus and cheese, stir until cheese is melted and remove from heat.
In stockpot with a lid add rice water, and butter and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and cover for about 15 minutes and remove from heat and add asparagus mixture. Cover and let stand for 5 more minutes. Stir and serve (do not over stir)
During last night’s conference call Shirley J CEO and owner, Kelly Olsen annonced the new theme for Shirley J in 2010.
See it… taste it… try it… love it!
We love this new theme. It speaks volumes of how we feel about Shirley J products, especially our Universal Sauce.
See, we’ve found that once someone tastes Universal Sauce, they’ll see just how delicious, smooth and universal it is. Then when they try it, or rather, make it for themselves they’ll know just how easy it is to use.
After tasting and trying Shirley J Universal Sauce chances are anyone will love it!
For 2010 we’re going to feature a weekly Universal Sauce recipe.
We are starting off with nothing more simple than an awesome queso. It really doesn’t get easier than this recipe!
Ingredients:
1 lb. Velveeta cheese, microwaved until soft
1 cup Shirley J Universal Sauce
4 cups water
2 cups pico de gallo
1 cup Jalapenos, finely diced or sliced
Directions:
1. Mix Shirley J Universal Sauce with water. Blend with wire whisk. Bring to a boil
2. Add microwaved cheese to mixture.
3. Add pice de gallo and jalapenos and stir.
4. Continue to heat on lower setting until desired consistency is reached.
5. Serve over nacho chips or use as dip.
Have you tried this Shirley J Queso recipe? Let us know how you like it in the comments section!
Shirley J loves Facebook. It allows us to connect and communicate with our friends and product enthusiasts wherever they may live.
…it also gives us great ideas on how to use Shirley J products.
Check out a new creation that Sharon Emero made using Shirley J Chicken Bouillon and food from a leftover holiday vegetable tray!
Are you on Facebook? Become a fan of Shirley J!
Happy New Year, Friends of Shirley J!
2010 is sure to be a great year for Shirley J. We are happy to announce that we will now offer free shipping on orders over $200.
Here are the details:
Home Chef, Executive Chef and retail customers: Orders over $200 will receive free shipping to any location in the US. All A and B packs qualify for free shipping when purchased by a new EC or HC signs-up for the first time. Normal UPS rates apply for orders under $200.
Happy Cooking!
What is Shirley J?
We get that question all the time…and here’s how we like to answer it. Watch this short video and learn just what Shirley J Universal Sauce is, how to use it and see how it really is the building block for thousands of recipes.
Hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful month of December. We’ll be closing the office for Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations. Here’s our holiday hours:
2009 Holiday Hours
December 23, 2009 – closed at noon
December 24, 2009 – closed
December 25, 2009 – closed
December 31, 2009 – closed
January 1, 2010 – closed
We are four days away from one of our most exciting Shirley J Cooking Classes! Join us this Friday at noon or next Tuesday at 7 pm for a Christmas Hors D’oeuvres Cooking Class!
The month of December is full of holiday gatherings with friends and family. Chances are you have food assignments for most of them. So, let Shirley J help you out. Chef Brian has come up with a great menu that has a good variety of tastes and textures.
You’ll learn to make:
* Onion Tartlets (using Shirley J Universal Biscuit & Baking Mix and Shirley J Chicken Bouillon)
* BBQ Chicken Skewers (using Shirley J BBQ Sauce Mix)
* Spinach Pinwheels (using Shirley J Honey White Bread Mix and Shirley J Pizza & Pasta Seasoning)
* Clam Dip (using Shirley J Universal Sauce)
* Onion Dip (using Shirley J Onion Seasoning)
* Chocolate Peppermint Cookies (using Shirley J Universal Cookie Mix)
Here are some teaser pictures to get you excited!
Hope to see you there! You’ll learn some great new cooking and baking skills and leave with some great recipes!
Christmas Hors D’oeuvres Cooking Class
Friday, December 11, 2009 (12-1 pm)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 (7-8 pm)
Location: 15 East 400 South, Orem
Cost: FREE
Phone: (801) 225-5073
Can’t make it? Click here for the recipes and we’ll post the YouTube videos Friday afternoon.
Tuesday night’s Shirley J cooking class had the perfect theme to kick off December. We’ve always said that Shirley J makes the greatest gift..in our Holiday Gift Loaves cooking class, Chef Brian showed us a new way to use Shirley J Universal Muffin Mix.
For years, neighbors have exchanged goodies during the holiday season. Cookies, veggie platters, cheese balls…you name it. And, chances are you’ve been handed some of that classic or rather notorious fruit cake.
Well, Shirley J thought we’d take that fun tradition and mix it up, and better yet…simplify it.
To start off, Chef Brian talked about the Universal Muffin Mix and quick breads in general. And in light of the theme, he brought up two volunteers to help make some “fruitcake.”
Each cooking volunteer was able to choose from a large variety of ingredients that are usually included in traditional fruitcake.
After that Chef Brian started right into three different type of holiday gift loaves.
Apple Cinnamon
Get the Apple Cinnamon Bread recipe here.
Cherry Chocolate Bread
Get the Cherry Chocolate recipe here.
Lemon Poppy Seed Bread
Get the Lemon Poppy Seed Bread recipe here.
Chef Brian even taught us how to zest a lemon, rather any citrus, in this video. Don’t miss it!
Chef Brian’s tips for making quick breads and using the Shirley J Universal Muffin Mix:
The fun with gift loaves and quick breads doesn’t end here. Play around with different flavors. And as Chef Brian said, he often gathers recipe inspiration from childhood memories. So think back and start experimenting. The possibilities are endless.
See other tips that were tweeted live during the demo on the Shirley J Twitter page!
Watch this video to learn more about Shirley J Universal Muffin Mix!
..and let us know what you thought of the class. What flavor combinations have you tried?
Just a reminder to join the fun tomorrow at the Shirley J baking class.
Details:
*Baking Class: Holiday Gift Loaves
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
- Learn how to make quick and easy bread loaves for the holidays, using the Shirley J Universal Muffin Mix. We’ll explore all different flavors and textures like pina colada, pumpkin, poppy seed, cherry, chocolate and more!
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Instructor: Chef Brian Richter, Shirley J Corporate Chef
Type: Demonstration & Tasting
Location: Shirley J (15 E. 400 S., Orem, Utah)
Can’t make it? No worries. We’ll post the recipes and videos online later this week!
Give the gift of Shirley J this holiday season! Nothing says it quite like Shirley J—it’s a gift that will keep on giving, meal after meal, smile after smile!
When you purchase a full case of any product we will toss in six gift bags and tissues while supplies last. Gifting has never been easier. Just purchase your case of product, slip them into these bags, add the pretty tissue and you are ready to go.
**Offer available while supplies last. Large and small bags available.**
We’ve got what you’ve been waiting for…watch Chef Brian make two completely different dishes using Shirley J Universal Sauce on Studio 5!
Get the recipes:
Thai Peanut Sauce over Rice Noodles
Turkey Chowder
If you love Shirley J Universal Sauce, you’ll love Shirley J White Cheddar Soup & Sauce Base. It’s got the same versatility as our Universal Sauce but it packs a punch of gourmet white cheddar flavor.
Watch this video to learn all about Shirley J White Cheddar Soup and Sauce Base!
Make one of our favorite recipes, using Shirley J White Cheddar Soup & Sauce Base: Spicy Cheese Sauce over Empanadas this week!
Headed to the Utah Chocolate Show this weekend? Come watch Shirley J Corporate Chef, Brian Richter make chocolate mole, using our Universal Sauce on The Chocolate Stage, Friday at 3:30 pm. You’ll see just how universal and delicious our Universal Sauce really is! …and who doesn’t love chocolate?
The 6th Annual Utah Chocolate Show 2009
November 20 & 21
11 am to 9 pm
9575 South State Street, Sandy, Utah
Tis the season…for great food and fun! Hope you’ll join us in December for our cooking classes. We are happy to introduce a new series: Hand-on Baking!
December Cooking Class Schedule:
*Baking Class: Holiday Gift Loaves
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
- Learn how to make quick and easy bread loaves for the holidays, using the Shirley J Universal Muffin Mix. We’ll explore all different flavors and textures like orange, banana, pumpkin, poppy seed, chocolate and more!
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Instructor: TBA
Type: Demonstration & Tasting
* Christmas Hors D’oeuvres
Friday, December 11, 2009
- The holiday season is full of gatherings and that means one thing for sure: food. Chef Brian will teach you how to please a room full of friends (and hungry appetites) with these delicious, festive and simple hors d’oeuvres.
Time: 12-1 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Instructor: Chef Brian Richter, Shirley J Corporate Chef
Type: Demonstration & Tasting
* Christmas Hors D’oeuvres
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
- The holiday season is full of gatherings and that means one thing for sure: food. Chef Brian will teach you how to please a room full of friends (and hungry appetites) with these delicious, festive and simple hors d’oeuvres.
Time: 7-8 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Instructor: Chef Brian Richter, Shirley J Corporate Chef
Type: Demonstration & Tasting
* Shirley J Universal Sauce Basics
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
- Shirley J Universal Sauce is the building block to thousands of recipes. Come watch Shirley J Corporate Chef, Brian Richter make delicious, easy and fast dishes using Shirley J Universal Sauce.
Time: 7-8 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Instructor: Chef Brian Richter, Shirley J Corporate Chef
Type: Demonstration & Tasting
Hey there!
We’ve had two great Thanksgiving cooking classes over the last few days.
First class: Thanksgiving Baked Goods with Shirley J taught by Doug Dunford, Certified Master Baker and creator of our just-add-water bakery mixes!
Tonight, Mike Olsen and Chef Brian Richter showed us how to make a delicious and simple Thanksgiving dinner using Shirley J products. We had quite the feast! Hope you’ll give these recipes a try!
Click on the title for complete recipe!
Cinnamon Apple Crisp
Orange Marmalade Rolls
Sesame Seed Dinner Roll
Parkerhouse Dinner Rolls
Crescent Dinner Rolls
Roasted Turkey, Giblet Stock & Giblet Gravy
Bleu Cheese & Bacon Potato Salad
Creamy Rosemary Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Sauce
Thanksgiving Yams
Shirley J Cornbread & Sausage Stuffing
Happy Cooking!
Tune into tomorrow to the popular Utah morning show, Studio 5, to watch Chef Brian make two delicious dishes featuring Shirley J Universal Sauce. We can’t wait to see how Brooke and Darin like our products! Here are the details!
Studio 5 – KSL Channel 5
Thursday, November 12, 2009
11 a.m. MST
The cooking segment will also be recorded and posted on the Studio 5 Web site (http://studio5.ksl.com) later that day. We’ll keep you posted when it is online!
We just got done shooting our product information videos today. It was a lot of fun and so great to hear Mike teach us more about these amazing products.
Take a moment to watch this video all about Shirley J Universal Sauce. Trust us, you’ll learn so much!
Find more videos including cooking classes, events and these product information segments on our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/ShirleyJvids.
We’ve got some great news that is literally hot off the press!
Shirley J is featured in the Holiday issue of Utah Valley Magazine! So head on out right now and go buy your copy, it’s a beautiful edition full of holiday fun, memories, recipes ideas and of course…Shirley J! You can find us on pages 23 and 41.
On page 23 you’ll see that we are featured as one of six homegrown creations in Utah Valley’s section “the best made in utah valley”
Now for a close up of the feature:
Here’s what the editors had to say about Shirley J:
BACK TO THE ‘BASES’
For more than 30 years, professional chefs have been using (and loving) Shirley J products. Now, Shirley J’s time-tested items are available to the public at the Shirley J retail store in Orem. The popular universal sauce starts as a just-add-water mix and is an easy base to build upon. Once the sauce is made, bakers use their creativity to develop culinary masterpieces. Shirley J’s new bakery line includes bases for muffins, bread, cookies, brownies and delicious sweet rolls. The mixes solve the problem of limited time to create delicious holiday treats and meals. Recipe ideas and products can be found at the store (15. E. 400 South, Orem), or at www.shirleyj.com
The next mention on page 41 in the magazine features a holiday food memory from our namesake, Shirley J. You know, the real Shirley J!
Shirley shared a holiday food memory that she and Don (the original found and food developer of Shirley J products) came up with when they first were married:
Shirley Smith
“A tradition my husband Don and I started after we got married involved a delicious Christmas breakfast of pork pie – a recipe from Don’s mother. It’s a family favorite that everyone loves and looks forward to. We’d wake up, open presents and then enjoy pork pie – it took care of breakfast and the family had fun. The great thing about pork pie is that you can make it ahead of time and just warm it up in the morning – and you know how that is on Christmas morning with children! What makes this pie so special besides the tender ground pork roast and the perfectly flaky pie crust is my chili sauce, which includes tomatoes, Granny Smith apples, onions, red peppers cider vinegar, sugar, salt and pickling spice. Something about the combination of the two keeps everyone looking forward to the savory sweet aroma of Christmas morning.”
- Shirley Johnson Smith, namesake of Shirley J
…and you should know that she and Don used Shirley J Pork Slow Cooker & Dutch Oven Seasoning to season the pork roast. We should have that recipe up on our site shortly.
Head on out to your local bookstore, grocery store or wherever magazines are sold to pick up your copy of the November/December issue of Utah Valley Magazine! You can also subscribe to the magazine here.
***Correction: Shirley Jensen Smith is the namesake of Shirley J
HAPPY HOLIDAYS & HAPPY COOKING!
Give the gift of Shirley J this holiday season with these perfectly festive and pretty gift bags. Gifting has never been easier! Just pick up some Shirley J product, slip them in these bags, add some pretty tissue and you are ready to go! Shirley J products fit perfectly into both sizes.
Holiday Gift Bags & Tissue
Lg Bag & Tissue (10 pack): $25.00
Sm Bag & Tissue (10 pack): $18.00
Bags are available now available at the Shirley J storefront and by phone. Available for online ordering later this week.
We’d like to thank everyone who came to last nights cooking class. Chef Brian Richter taught us how to make three delicious fall soups, all using Shirley J Universal Sauce! The test kitchen was full of great smelling food, fun people and a wealth of culinary information.
We’ve posted all the recipes online at Shirley’s Kitchen, just click on the links below for each soup. Below each recipe you’ll find hot tips Chef Brian shared during the demo. We’ve added photos to both our Flickr and Facebook pages! Please enjoy!
New England Clam Chowder
* Be sure to add your onions first. Let them brown before you add the garlic.
* Don’t burn the garlic, or it will become bitter. Always add the garlic after the onions because garlic has a higher sugar content. Garlic is not forgiving.
* Cumin – Chef Brian loves incorporating cumin into savory dishes that are creamy. The cumin brings out the creaminess.
* 5 minute rule on dried herbs – add dried herbs (like cayenne) a little at a time. Start small, wait 5 minutes. Then test and adjust.
* You can chop the potatoes and boil side by side as you start to saute the vegetables in this recipe
Tomato Parmesan Soup
* Diced tomatoes – Chef Brian suggests using diced tomatoes as oppposed to crushed. Crushed has a higher water content and changes the texture of the soup.
* Garlic – Make sure to add garlic after the onions have browned because garlic has a higher sugar content and may burn.
* Dried Herbs – Adding the basil and thyme to the sauteed vegetables before adding liquids allows the herbs to awaken and aides in a more developed flavor.
Midwestern Chowder
* Potatoes – Chef Brian prefers russet potatoes because they bring a better texture and are not as crumbly in soup.
* Cutting Vegetables – When cutting vegetables, always keep in mind that they should fit on your spoon.
Hot tip on using Shirley J Universal Sauce: If you have any cream-based recipe, just subtract the milk, cream, flour and/or butter and add Shirley J Universal Sauce in it’s place! You can still add all your favorite ingredients and make soup from scratch! It’ll save you time and a few calories!
And don’t forget…this Friday at nooon we are having another cooking class: “A Shirley J Halloween!” Come hungry, leave a better cook!
This is just one of the many improvements we’ve made to our storefront and offices! Check back next week for more fun pictures! You just may get to see the new test kitchen!
Friends, foodies, tweeters and home cooks across the globe, I’d like to be the first to say hello and welcome you to the world of the NEW Shirley J!
After six very quick months and gallons upon gallons of Shirley J Universal Sauce, we are ready to launch our new business, new product formulations, new packaging and new storefront! We haven’t been this excited since well, since we discovered Shirley J.
Please take a moment to check out our newly redesigned Web site, browse this blog and watch our cooking demonstrations on our YouTube channel. As the month goes on we’ll have open house events and some delicious cooking demos. So stay tuned and subscribe to our blog!
Happy Cooking!
Join us this Thursday, September 17th at 7:30 pm MDT for our first-ever Shirley J Conference call. This week’s call will be hosted by our Shirley J co-founder Mike Olsen and will focus on the products of Shirley J and our exciting launch on October 1, 2009. The call will last about 30 minutes.
Feel free to share this information with anyone that might be interested in becoming a better cook, saving money or interested in representing Shirley J products in their local area. You don’t want to miss this conference call. If you have any questions please call us at 801-225-5073 or e-mail at support@shirleyj.com
Conference call Dial in number: (712) 432-0111
Participant Access Code: 103110#
Come on over to Shirley J this Friday to learn more about Shirley J and taste our Universal products! Chef Brian has developed a brand new menu and will teach you how to use Shirley J Universal Sauce in several different ways! You’ll also get the chance to try recipes using our other savory blends and bakery line products. You’ll learn how Shirley J products are Universal, Simple & Fool Proof, Economical, Healthy and Delicious!
Here’s the menu!
Taste Shirley J Universal Sauce in these 5 different ways…
* Mushroom Rosemary Meatballs
* 3 Bean Soup
* Avocado Spinach Toast Points with Cheese Sauce
* Sausage and Peppers over Pasta
* Stuffed Cannelloni
Chef Brian will demonstrate this recipe during the demo:
Lemon Mint Sauce over Ravioli
Discover Shirley J Pizza & Pasta Sauce in these dishes:
* Avocado Dressing over Greens
* Ratatouille
Shirley J Bakery Mixes are sure to be a hit at this demo. You’ll see just how versatile our bakery line is!:
Jalapeno Cheese Rolls
Sun Dried Garlic Bread
Pan Pizza
And for something sweet:
Variety of Cookies using Shirley J Universal Cookie Mix, including: Caramel Nut and Sundae Cookies!
See you Friday!
Shirley J Cooking Demo & Product Discussion
Location: Shirley J Storefront & Offices
15 East 400 South, Orem , Utah
Time: 12 – 1 pm
Date: Friday, September 11, 2009
Join us this Thursday, September 10th at 7:30 pm MDT for our first-ever Shirley J Conference call. This week’s call will be hosted by our CEO, Kelly Olsen and will focus on the vision of Shirley J and our exciting launch on October 1, 2009. This will be the first in a series of calls leading up to our launch. The call will last about 30 minutes.
Feel free to share this information with anyone that might be interested in becoming a better cook, saving money or interested in representing Shirley J products in their local area. You don’t want to miss this conference call. If you have any questions please call us at 801-225-5073 or e-mail at support@shirleyj.com
Conference call Dial in number: (712) 432-0111
Participant Access Code: 103110#
Good Morning, Friends of Shirley J!
Come on over to Shirley J this Friday to learn more about Shirley J and taste our Universal products! Chef Brian has developed a brand new menu and will teach you how to use Shirley J Universal Sauce in several different ways! You’ll also get the chance to try recipes using our other savory blends and bakery line products. You’ll learn how Shirley J products are Universal, Simple & Fool Proof, Economical, Healthy and Delicious!
Here’s the menu!
Taste Shirley J Universal Sauce in these 6 different ways…
1. Seafood Burritos
2. Pesto Alfredo over Linguine
3. Creamy Tomato and Orzo with Cheese
4. Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
5. Asparagus and Tortellini
6. Clam Chowder
Chef Brian will demonstrate this recipe during the demo:
Lemon chicken over couscous with Jalapeno herb sauce (using Universal Sauce)
You’ll also be able to try these delicious recipes:
Breads
1. Mini Pizza
2. Hush Puppies
3. Garlic Knots
Desserts
1. Lemon Squares (cookie mix)
2. White Chocolate and Walnut Bread
Shirley J Cooking Demo & Product Discussion
Location: Shirley J Storefront & Offices
15 East 400 South, Orem , Utah
Time: 12 – 1 pm
Date: Friday, August 28, 2009
This Friday, Shirley J will host another delicious and informative cooking demo. Chef Brian has created a creative menu that utilizes Shirley J Products in ways you’ve never imagined.
We’ll teach you step-by-step how to make Thai peanut Sauce over Rice Noodles, using Shirley J Universal Sauce!
The Menu:
Twice Baked Potatoes
Roasted Tomato Alfredo
Creole Shrimp over Rice
Risotto
Chicken Asparagus & Potato Casserole
Roasted Carrot Soup
Thai Peanut Sauce over Rice Noodles
Corn, Cilantro and Lime Chicken Pizza
Bread Sticks with Cheese Sauce & Marinara Sauce
Zucchini Bread
Sweet Berry Rolls
Hope to see you at the demo this Friday at noon. Details below.
Shirley J Cooking Demo & Product Discussion
Location: Shirley J Storefront & Offices
15 East 400 South, Orem , Utah
Time: 12 – 1 pm
Date: Friday, August 14, 2009
Shirley J is excited to announce a special interim price for our Bakery Line products. As you know we are currently improving both our product formulations and packaging for a new and improved Shirley J this fall. Because we want our customers to be become more familiar with these universal and economical products, we are offering huge savings on most of the products in the Shirley J Bakery Line.
Prices effective starting today until September 30, 2009 or until supplies last.
Fine Texture Honey White Bread Mix: $13.50
Fine Texture Honey Wheat Bread Mix: $13.50
Heirloom Sourdough Bread Mix: $14.93
Doug Dunford’s Famous Sweet Roll Mix: $15.75
Universal Muffin Mix: $15.75
Universal Cookie Mix: $15.75
Cornbread / Muffin Mix: $15.75
Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix: $13.50
You can order these products right now online at www.shirleyj.com, or call (801) 225-5073 between the hours of 8 am – 5pm MST.
This last month our namesake, Shirley J, celebrated her 85th Birthday! Here she is with 85 beautiful red roses!
Shirley, we hope you had a wonderful birthday! Thank you for being an inspiration to Don and now to everyone over at our company. We are so happy to carry your name to the households of America.
Want to read the Shirley J story? Click here.
This week we have been shooting all the photography for our first-ever Shirley J Catalog. It is going to be an amazing piece and schedule to come out in September as part of our official launch.
We’ve hired J.Schmid, one of the premier catalog marketing companies in the nation to help us with the project. We also have hired a great team of fabulous photographers, a food stylist and executive Chef who has been developing recipes. It’s been nothing but a dream to see everything come together. We feel that this catalog illustrates the endless possibilities of Shirley J Products and gives a great look to the future of our company. It’s amazing to think that we’ve brought all this together in a short four months.
Here’s a behind the scenes look at the photo shoot this week:
We’ll start out in the prop room:
You wouldn’t believe all the lovely dishes and backdrops.
Look at all the pretty linens.
More bowls and plates.
Meet Chef Brian Richter. He brings loads of culinary expertise and experience to the Shirley J table. Almost all of the recipes featured in this upcoming catalog were developed by Brian.
I bet you’re wondering where all this is happening. Well folks, it’s all happening right at the Shirley J Office & Storefront. We are remodeling a section of our building to become a teaching kitchen. Right now we have some of the equipment in for the photo shoot, it is wonderful!
Here’s a shot of the catalog layout. You’ll notice some of the shots we took are taped up on there. Isn’t it going to be lovely! The catalog is more of what we like to call a magalog. It’s a wonderful mix of a traditional catalog with various qualities of a high-quality magazine. You’ll learn more about our products, our company story and get great recipes!
Does this scene look familiar? It should. It’s the same pizza spread shot you saw in the sketch above!
Some of our our crew working on the BBQ spread shot. Left to right, Suzy, Food Stylist; Teri, Art Director from J.Schmid and Stan, Photographer.
Hope you enjoyed this behind the scenes look. Head on over to our Flickr account to see more photos. You can also follow us on Twitter for even more updates and photos.
The July Home Chef Blogger Recipe Contest is centered on Shirley J BBQ Sauce Mix. We chose this product because we found it to be the perfect product to feature during this hot summer month. Grills are out and people have barbeque on their minds. Whether or not you are entering the recipe contest, we’re sure you’ll find these tips useful.
Here’s a little info about the product:
Shirley J BBQ Sauce Mix is one of the most unique and versatile products ever. This product is terrific because you keep one product on your pantry shelf that becomes both a delicious, tangy BBQ sauce, and a perfect BBQ seasoning that you can use as a rub or seasoning for use with a variety of meats or vegetables.
Imagine delicious BBQ ribs, chicken, brisket, pulled pork sandwiches, Dutch oven and slow cooker BBQ and BBQ seasoning for dips casseroles roasted veggies all from the same mix. This is truly a Shirley J classic!
Right now our BBQ Sauce recipe calls for water and vinegar. Many Shirley J product experts have found that you can alter the sweetness or tangyness of the sauce by the amount of vinegar you use. For a tangier sauce double the amount of vinegar.
Looking for a great recipe using Shirley J BBQ Sauce Mix? Try our BBQ Chicken Pizza today!
Hey all you Home Chefs! Don’t forget to enter the BBQ recipe contest, the deadline is tomorrow, July 31 at midnight, EST.
The Shirley J Home Chef Blogger Recipe Contest continues! For the July 2009 challenge we want you to come up with the ultimate BBQ main dish! We are right in the heart of summer and are eager to make the most out of that grill! This is a quick turnaround challenge so grab that BBQ seasoning and fire up! We can’t wait to try your spin on kabobs, pulled meats, steaks, grilled veggies and more! The possibilities are endless!
Official Shirley J Home Chef Blog Recipe Contest Rules:
1. Develop or adapt a main dish recipe using Shirley J BBQ Seasoning Mix
2. Create a NEW post on your blog about your recipe with the following:
(a) complete recipe with specific instructions
(b) original picture of the complete dish
(c) link to the Official Shirley J Blog
(d) link to the Shirley J Web site
(e) post must be dated between July 20 and July 31, 2009 (NEW RULE!)
3. Blog post must be up by designated date: July 31, 2009 at midnight EST
4. Email me at beckyo@shirleyj.com with a link to your post
5. Have fun, experiment and make it tasty!
Each Home Chef entering a recipe will receive $5 and finalists will receive $10. The Home Chef who submits the winning recipe will receive $25 and have their recipe featured on the official Shirley J blog.
*There is not a limit on how many recipes a Shirley J Home Chef can submit. However, each submission recipe must have it’s own blog post and meet all of the above requirements.
If you do not have a blog and want to know how to start a blog, please contact me beckyo(at)shirleyj(dot)com.
One of the funnest days over at Shirley J are the days we get to sample recipes that our Home Chefs have developed or adapted. This month’s recipe contest featured Shirley J Pizza and Pasta Seasoning. We’ll cut to the chase. The winning recipe is Meatball Subs by Home Chef Jessica Olsen of Michigan.
This recipe was hands down the winner by our selection committee! The Meatball Subs used Shirley J Pizza & Pasta Seasoning Mix in both the meatballs and a homemade marinara sauce. It was delicious and messy, just as Jessica promised. Our favorite part about it (besides the taste) was that you can make this meal in less than 60 minutes. Congrats, Jessica. Your cash prize is on it’s way! Try Jessica’s recipe below and don’t forget to check out her blog, Taste Every Season for more of her Shirley J cooking adventures.
Meatball Subs
Serving: Makes 6-8, 6 inch Subs
Ingredients:
Meatballs-
-1 1/2 pounds of lean ground beef
-1 egg, beaten
-1/2 cup finely chopped onion
-1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
-1/4 cup SHIRLEY J Pizza and Pasta Seasoning
-2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
-1/4 teaspoons black pepper
-1/2 teaspoon salt
15 Minute Marinara Sauce:
(If you want to save time you can use store bought pre-made Marinara Sauce like Prego. However, I strongly recommend making this sauce.)
-2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
-4 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
-1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
-A handful flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped, about 2 tablespoons
-1 teaspoon Shirley J Pizza and Pasta Seasoning
-1 (28 ounces) can crushed tomatoes
-1 (14 ounces) can chunky style crushed tomatoes
-Salt and freshly ground black pepper
-Bread: you need bread that is crusty so that the sandwich does not turn soggy. I like to use: French Baguettes or Ciabatta bread and cut them into 6 inch parts. You can buy the bread at your grocery store or I like to get mine at Panera Bread(Midwest) or Kneaders(Utah). You will need 2 loaves of the bread you choose to fill all of the meatballs.
-2 1/2 cups Italian 4-cheese blend
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. Mix all of the meatball ingredients together in a large mixing bowl until all combined, trying not to over-mix. Roll into golf-ball size (or smaller) balls. Place them on a greased cookie sheet. Cook for about 10 minutes, turning half way through.
3. For 15 Minute Marinara Sauce: Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add oil and garlic. When garlic starts sizzling, add seasoning and crushed pepper. Allow oil to infuse for half a minute, then stir in the tomatoes and season sauce with salt and pepper. Bring sauce to a bubble, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Combine meatballs and sauce and pile into crusty rolls or bread, 4 meatballs per sub. Top with shredded cheese and place subs under broiler to melt cheese.
Enjoy!
Let’s not forget our other finalist: Annalee Larsen of Utah. Her avocado salsa was delicious and a very inventive way to use our Pizza & Pasta Seasoning Mix.
Stay tuned for the next recipe contest! We hope you all will participate!
Learn more about the Shirley J Home Chef Blogger Recipe Contests here.
Join us tomorrow for a great Shirley J Product Discussion and Cooking Demo!
Here’s what’s on the menu:
Twice Baked Potatoes
Broccoli Au Gratin
Macaroni & Cheese
Spinach Rice Casserole
Smoky Chicken & Vegetable Soup
Roasted Garlic and Chicken Pizza
Empanadas with Creamy Pepper Sauce
Garlic Herb Focaccia
Parmesan and Asiago Rustic Rolls
Grilled Vegetable Lasagna
Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Pumpkin Bread
See you there!
This contest is a tricky one…decisions, decisions! Give us a few more days and we’ll announce a winner! Check back the beginning of next week!
Have a great weekend and make something with Shirley J!
Congratulations Annalee! You won the Shirley J Apron! Here’s what Annalee had to say:
“I love it! I can never have too many aprons!
I love mixing bowls [in all different sizes], tongs [I love tongs], and heat proof silicone spatulas!”
Annalee, thanks for entering…and we hope to get mixing bowls and all the other kitchen goodies available in Shirley J colors soon. Go ahead and email beckyo(at)shirleyj(dot)com with your address and we’ll ship it right over!
**winner decided by random.org**
Thanks to all our friends who joined us last Thursday for a successful cooking demo. We’ve had many requests for recipes–please enjoy!
* Wilted Spinach & Bacon Salad
* Vegetable Lasagna
* Chicken Enchiladas (coming soon)
* Creamy Black Bean Turkey Chili
* Pasta Alfredo
* Chicken Braid (coming soon)
* White Chocolate & Cranberry Cookie Bar
Time after time we get incredible feedback from our Home Chefs and customers. It’s no surprise though, because Shirley J Products are versatile, time-tested, budget friendly, easy to make and delicious. We truly believe that all you have to do is taste Shirley J for yourself and you’ll be convinced that we’ve got some of the best food products around. Here’s what our customers have been saying.
“Why buy a large jar of pasta sauce when you can by little cans of tomato sauce/pasta and add in flavors. Since I only cook for myself, this product helps me save money and not be wasteful! It’s long self live ensures that I will always have the perfect pizza sauce or pasta sauce! The rich flavor of spices tastes fresh, like I picked them from my own garden. Shirley J Pizza & Pasta is the perfect necessity for anyone’s kitchen!” – Amy C., California
“Since I started using Shirley J products I’ve not only been inspired to make new dishes, recreate old ones but I’m finding ways to actually use what I have in my fridge and pantry. You know, those items that usually just sit in the cupboard…the items you bought without having a plan or recipe to use them for…well now they are meals thanks to Shirley J Products.” – Rebecca O., Utah
“I love Shirley J, mostly because it is so easy and I can use it with everything and for any meal! Since I started using Shirley J products, my grocery bill has been cut in half!” – Amber K, Utah
“I tried Cream of Potato Soup with onion, bacon and golden new potatoes. There were four of us eating and one person was allergic to onions. It was great to be able to add the potatoes and bacon and remove a portion for that one person to then add the onions to the rest of it. It turned out perfectly. We all thought it was delicious. The person who couldn’t eat the onions ate the whole pan full that I had taken out for him.” – Beth J., Utah
“I have just discovered the best kept secret in the kitchen to making the most amazing meals in a cost-friendly time saving manner! I’m no experienced cooker, hell I’ve only been married for 7 months, but with these products it makes me feel like I can cook anything and I know the hubby will like it! I highly recommend purchasing Shirley J Products, especially to all the newly weds out there, and have fun inventing your own recipes!”
- Megan G. SLC, UT
“My son hates soup of any kind. And normally I don’t feed them soup because I don’t want the argument. My mother dropped of some creamy turkey chili she had made using Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce Base. I didn’t feel like making anything else that night so I gave the kids the chili. The whole time my son keep saying, “Mom, this is good! I don’t like soup but I like this!” The son that has always hated soup, slurped this chili right up! In fact, both he and my three-year old daughter finished their entire meals, which never happens!” – Ali H., Utah
We’d love to hear your experiences with Shirley J Products. Go ahead and comment or send an email to beckyo(at)shirleyj(dot) com with your testimonial, name and city.
Shirley J is welcoming in the summer with our Independence Day special! From now until July 3 you can receive a 10% discount on our Fourth of July BBQ products. These products have been hand selected to design a great Summer BBQ Menu. Check out the Shirley J Independence Day Menu:
* French Onion Dip
* Wilted Spinach and Bacon Salad
* BBQ Potato Wedges
* Best Grilled Burgers
* BBQ Grilled Chicken with Shirley J BBQ Sauce
* Steak with Shirley J Steak Butter
* Peach Cobbler
You will receive a 10% discount on these Independence Day BBQ products:
* Shirley J All-Purpose Seasoning
* Shirley J Pizza & Pasta Seasoning
* Shirley J BBQ Seasoning
* Shirley J Beef Slow Cooker/Dutch Oven Seasoning
* Shirley J Buttermilk Biscuit Mix
*Offer is valid Monday, June 29 through Thursday, July 3. Home Chef and customer must mention this promotion to sales representatives in order to receive discount. Online orders must redeem discount by using the promotion code “july4bbq.“
This Thursday, Shirley J will host it’s bi-weekly Cooking Demonstration and Product Discussion. Join in on the fun, learn to cook with Shirley J Products and eat a delicious lunch. You’ll learn how to use your garden vegetables in new ways, make a homemade alfredo and we’ll even introduce you to the amazing bread braid! The possibilities are endless with Shirley J Products!
Here’s what’s on the menu.
* Vegetable Lasagna
* Chicken Enchiladas
* Creamy Black Bean Turkey Chili
* Macaroni and Cheese with diced ham
* Alfredo Pasta
* Chicken Braid
* Fudgy Brownies
* White Chocolate & Cranberry Cookie Bars
See you, Thursday!
Shirley J Cooking Demonstration & Product Discussion
Thursday, July 2, 2009
12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
15 East 400 South
Orem, Utah 84058
801-225-5073
Last Friday’s Demo was a sure hit. We had a full house and lots of food. Many have requested the recipes, here are a few…enjoy!
Peach Cobbler
Ingredients:
2c Shirley J Buttermilk Biscuit Mix
2/3c Milk
¼ c White Sugar
½ c Large Grain Sugar
2 Cans of Peach Pie Filling
½ g Vanilla Ice Cream
Directions:
In a bowl combine, Biscuit mix, milk, and sugar. Do not over mix.
In a 9×13 pan, pour both cans of peach pie filling and evenly top with biscuit dough. Sprinkle with the large grain sugar. Bake for 15-18 minutes at 425. Top each serving with vanilla ice cream.
Black and White Chili
Ingredients:
1T Oil
1 ½ c Yellow onions chopped
3 Cloves Garlic chopped
1T Shirley J Chicken Bouillon
1T Cumin
1 6oz can of diced Green Chilies
3c water
1c Shirley J Universal Cream Base
2 15oz cans of Cannellini Beans
1 15oz can of Black Beans (drained and rinsed)
2 12oz cans of chicken
Directions:
In a medium stock pot, on medium heat. Add oil, onions, and garlic. Let it cook for about 5 minutes. Stir to avoid burning. Next add green chilies, bouillon, and cumin, stir and let cook for 2-3 minutes. Add water and Cream base, and whisk until smooth. Bring the soup to a simmer as it thickens. Add the rest of the ingredients.
Spinach Dip
Ingredients:
1C Yellow Onions, diced
1T Garlic, minced
¼ t Cayenne
½ t Black Pepper, fresh ground
1t Shirley J Chicken Bouillon
3C Water
1C Shirley J Cream Base
1# Cream Cheese
1/2# Mozzarella Cheese
1/2# Parmesan Cheese, shredded
1/2# Fresh Spinach, shredded
Directions:
Cook the onions, and garlic until the onions start to brown. Add the cayenne, black pepper, chicken bouillon, water and cream base, to the pot and bring to a simmer, stir constantly. When the mixture is thickened remove it from the heat and set it aside.
Add mozzarella, Parmesan, and spinach together and pour the cream mixture over the top, partially stir together, next rip small pieces of the cream cheese off and add them to the mixture, be careful to not over stir. The dip is best when the cream cheese is not completely intergraded. Allow this to cool and portion out a serving at a time and bake in at 375*F or until the top of the dip starts to brown. Serve with bread or vegetables.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Ingredients:
4 cups Shirley J Sourdough Bread Mix made according to directions
1 cup Shirley J BBQ Slow Cooker seasoning
½ cup hot water
2 TB vinegar
3 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cubed
5 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
1 onion diced and cooked with bacon
½ cup Ricotta cheese
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
Directions:
In crock pot, add BBQ seasoning, hot water, and vinegar. Stir together and add chicken. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Make Sourdough as directed for pizza dough using a large pizza pan (14 inch)
Meanwhile, mix together chicken, bacon and onion. Spoon BBQ sauce over mixture.
Spread Ricotta over partially baked crust, add Chicken mixture and sprinkle top with mozzarella cheese. Bake as directed
Shirley J’s Gourmet Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients:
3T Butter
4 Cloves of chopped Garlic
1c Yellow Onions chopped small
3c Water
1c Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce Base
½ t Shirley J Chicken Bouillon
¼ t Cayenne
½ t Black Pepper
½ c Graded Parmesan
Directions:
In a medium sauce pan on medium heat add butter, garlic, and onions. Cook for 5 min or until onions start to brown. Add water and cream base, mix thoroughly and bring to a simmer. Add bouillon, cayenne, and black pepper. Remove from heat, stir in parmesan. Add to your choice of pasta.
Cheese Asparagus & Rice
2c Long Grain Rice
31/2c Water
1T Butter
3c water
1c Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce Base
1c Fresh Asparagus Chopped
16oz Processed American Cheese.
Directions:
In a small sauce pan add water, and cream base and bring to a simmer for about 4 minutes. Add asparagus and cheese, stir until cheese is melted and remove from heat.
In stock pot with a lid add rice water, and butter and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and cover for about 15 minutes and remove from heat and add asparagus mixture. Cover and let stand for 5 more minutes. Stir and serve (do not over stir)
Join us for our next cooking demo on Thursday, July 2 at noon!
Attention all cooks! The Shirley J Apron is now available. It’s hot off the press, or rather hot off the sewing machine!
The Shirley J Apron is a must-have item in the kitchen that shows your love of Shirley J Products and Systems. It’s a durable yet classy apron that displays the Shirley J logo. It’s perfect for everyday use and home chef cooking demonstrations.
Available in white. One size. Price: $19.95
Buy it here!
Want to win a Shirley J Apron? Give us some feedback!
We hope to have many other Shirley J kitchen tools and apparel items available in the near future. Leave a comment and let us know what items you are most interested in and you’ll be entered to win a Shirley J Apron.
Deadline to enter is Wednesday, June 30 at midnight EST.
Come taste Shirley J Products for yourself! We’ll demonstrate the versatility of Shirley J products and feed you lunch. If you haven’t attended any of our Shirley J Cooking Demos or Product Discussions then this Friday’s event is the one to attend!
Mike Olsen and Margie Guest will discuss our products in depth and teach you how to Unlock Your Pantry using Shirley J Products. Come hungry an
d leave a better cook!
Dishes we’ll be serving and demonstrating:
* Rice Pilaf
* Spinach Dip with Sourdough Crostini
* Black and White Chicken Chile
* BBQ Chicken Pizza
* Pasta Alfredo
* Cheese Potato Soup
* Sourdough Bread Bowls
* Peach Cobbler
* Muffins
See you Friday!
Shirley J Cooking Demo & Product Discussion
Friday, June 19, 2009
12-1 p.m.
(801) 225-5073
15 East 400 South Orem, Utah
Buongiorno! The June 2009 Home Chef Blog Recipe Contest features Shirley J Pizza and Pasta Seasoning.
Put on your apron, tie that hair back and get that Shirley J Pizza and Pasta Seasoning out of the cupboard! Get creative and channel that inner Italian chef. Grab some fresh tomatoes, herbs, prosciutto, pasta, eggplant and get working that pizza dough! Remember, you are only limited by your imagination! All types of dishes are welcome!
Official Shirley J Home Chef Blog Recipe Contest Rules:
1. Develop or adapt a recipe using Shirley J Pizza and Pasta Seasoning
2. Create a post on your blog about your recipe with the following:
(a) complete recipe with specific instructions
(b) original picture of the complete dish
(c) link to the Official Shirley J Blog
(d) link to the Shirley J Web site
3. Blog post must be up by designated date: June 20, 2009 at midnight EST
4. Email me at beckyo@shirleyj.com with a link to your post
5. Have fun, experiment and make it tasty!
Each Home Chef entering a recipe will receive $5 and finalists will receive $10. The Home Chef who submits the winning recipe will receive $25 and have their recipe featured on the official Shirley J blog.
*There is not a limit on how many recipes a Shirley J Home Chef can submit. However, each submission recipe must have it’s own blog post and meet all of the above requirements.
If you do not have a blog and want to know how to start a blog, please contact me beckyo(at)shirleyj(dot)com.
Hello Shirley J Home Chefs and Friends! I’m here to announce the winner of the first-ever Shirley J Home Chef Blog Recipe Contest!
About a month ago, all home chefs were challenged to create an original recipe or adapt a favorite recipe using Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce Base. We were delighted with the creativity and use of the key ingredient. We received entries for everything from chicken divan and enchiladas to classic casseroles and Thai Curry.
After a delightful tasting and much debate (yes we love to eat Shirley J dishes here at work! ) we decided on a winner!
The winning recipe was Creamy White Chicken Chili submitted by Shirley J Home Chef Jessica Olsen of Michigan. Jessica’s chili recipe was a hit at our tasting. We also found it to use Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce in a very palate pleasing, simple and economic way. The recipe echoed our Pantry Management philosophy of using common household ingredients in the pantry, food storage as well as fresh produce and proteins. We’ll post the recipe here, but hope you’ll visit Jessica’s blog, Taste Every Season for more of her Shirley J creations. Congrats, Jessica. You’ll receive your $25 cash prize shortly!
Creamy White Chicken Chili
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce Base
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts(3-4), cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 1/2 TB garlic powder
1 TB oil
2 cans (15 1/2 ounces each) Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cup of made up Shirley J Chicken Broth (see Shirley J Chicken Bouillon label for recipe)
2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chilies
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cup water
Directions:
In a large saucepan, saute chicken, onion and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add beans, broth, chilies and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Make Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce in separate pan. Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream and Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce mixture. Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired. Serve immediately. This is especially good served with tortilla chips, lettuce, and tomatoes.
Makes about 6 servings.
We’d also like to recognize our two other finalists who will receive a $10 cash prize. Be sure to check out their blogs and snag the recipes:
Red Thai Curry by Candy Brandon
Chicken Enchiladas by Annalee Larsen
Our next recipe contest will be announced on Monday. So make sure to come back to the Official Shirley J Blog. One hint: Italiano!
Last Friday Mike Olsen and Margie Guest hosted the latest Shirley J Product Discussion & Demo. We had a full house and a great time. Mike and Margie talked about Shirley J Products more in-depth and taught those attending how to make each of the following dishes.
* Chicken & Dumplings
* Creamed Tuna
* Shirley J Alfredo Sauce
* Zucchini Alfredo
* Shirley J Focaccia Bread
* Marinara Sauce
Here’s the recipe to make Zucchini Alfredo!
Zucchini Alfredo
Ingredients:
2 large zucchini, julienned in long strips
1 recipe Shirley J Alfredo
Directions:
1. Julienne zucchini into long strips, using a vegetable stripper. Make strips like long noodles. Stop peeling when you reach seeds.
2. Bring pot of water to boil. Add zucchini strips to water and boil for 1-2 minutes.
3. Immediately remove strips from water.
4. Drain and serve immediately with Shirley J Alfredo Sauce.
Shirley J Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients:
1 cup Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce Base
3 cups water
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Directions:
1. Whisk together Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce Base and water. Bring to a boil.
2. Turn down heat and bring to a desired consistency.
3. Stir in cheese and serve.
When thumbing through cookbooks and recipes you may run across the term “mother sauces”. This unusual term dates back to the early 1800s when French chef Antonin Careme broke down sauces into five categories, which he called the five mother sauces. These sauces provide the foundation for literally hundreds of different sauces, most of which have caused many an amateur cook to scratch their heads in frustration. By learning the basics of each mother sauce you can be well on your way to mastering a better understanding of the building blocks of good cooking.
Mother sauces originated in the 18th century when lack of refrigeration caused foods to spoil much faster. Sauces were often used to cover up the less than perfect flavor of meats, poultry and seafood. The five mother sauces include
* Béchamel sauce – chicken stock thickened with roux
* Veloute sauce – milk thickened with roux
* Espagnole sauce or Brown sauce – roux, veal stock, roasted veal bones and mire poix.
* Hollandaise sauce – heated egg yolk and clarified butter
* Tomato sauce – tomatoes of course, often paired with olive oil and garlic or onions
These sauces are also collectively known as “sauce meres” or “ grandes sauces”. Each sauce has a distinct characteristic: Bechamel sauce is white, Veloute is blonde, Espagnole sauce is brown, Hollandaise sauce is buttery and tomato sauce is red. One look at a sauce and you can tell from which mother sauce it sprang. The reason that mother sauces have withstood the test of time is that they are incredibly versatile and provide the basic foundation on which you can build dozens of other sauces and create thousands of recipes.
The Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce Base is a simple and easy-to-use Bechamel sauce. Often referred to as a white sauce, this versatile creation is the building block for many of the recipes you remember coming from mom’s kitchen. Classic favorites like biscuits and gravy and a gratin potatoes; comfort foods such as tuna casserole or creamed peas and potatoes, or more contemporary fare such as creamy clam chowder, or a tasty sauce to top a French crepe. Hundreds of other dishes are prepared using a basic Bechamel or white sauce.
Our Universal Cream Sauce Base lets you create your own masterpieces without the frustration that often accompanies building a high-quality cream sauce from scratch. Our sauce will not break or curdle when kept at a simmer for long periods. It reheats and freezes beautifully. Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce Base will not lump, needs no seasoning and blends flawlessly with water to produce a perfect sauce or soup every time. Our unique formulation accepts and compliments the flavor of any added ingredient, making homemade creations virtually foolproof, and so simple that we can confidently say that if you can boil water you can create a perfect white sauce or cream soup, every time!
Michael Olsen, President of Shirley J Ventures Institutional Division, is a food professional with a career that spans more than thirty years of management in virtually all facets of institutional, and commercial food service. Michael is a Certified Executive Chef (CEC) and a Certified Food and Beverage Executive (CFBE).
His recent professional life has seen him create and operate an 11 unit international restaurant concept, direct the foodservice operations at high volume, business, education and industry locations, and manage commercial kitchens, bakery, vending and catering operations. In his current position with Shirley J Ventures he is responsible for the Institutional division of the company, providing Shirley J products to the commercial food service community. Michael also oversees the Shirley J product line including quality, applications, and product offerings.
Michael lives in Orem, Utah with his wife Debbie; they are the parents of 6 children and the grandparents of 14 grand children.
Hey Shirley J fans, our Sourdough Bread Mix has arrived! This distinctive flavor of sourdough bread is something that used to take hours to prepare and years to master. Shirley J Sourdough Bread is a delicious easy-to-make bread that smells and tastes like you have been using an old family sourdough starter.
Call at 801-225-5073 or go online now at www.shirleyj.com and try and this amazing mix.
Are you looking for the perfect add-water brownie, cookie or pancake mix? Look no further, Shirley J has the highest quality add-water mixes around. Shirley J’s bakery line is affordable, stores well and guarantees a smile on every mouth that takes a bite.
Shirley J’s add-water bakery line can now be ordered online!
Spread the word and order today!
New dates for upcoming product demos have been added to the blog events page.
Shirley J Product Demos
Every other Friday at 12 pm
May 22, June 5, June 19, July 3, July 17 and July 31
Location: Shirley J Office, 15 E 400 South in Orem, Utah
*Come taste Shirley J for yourself! We’ll demonstrate the versatility of Shirley J products. Dishes prepared include pasta sauce, soup, casserole, stew, breakfast item and a main dish–all from the same sauce base! Classes also include in-depth discussion of Shirley J products.
We’re happy to announce that Shirley J has chosen a date for our “coming out” party! We’ll be hosting our national launch event in Salt Lake City August 14 & 15.
During these events Shirley J will officially unveil all of the new products, materials, new packaging, programs and systems. We will invite all of our customers, Home Chefs, friends and family, along with the media and industry representatives to take part in this event.
We’ll keep you posted on the exact location of the event, along with other lodging and accommodation information as time goes on! For now mark those calendars!
If there’s one thing to know about Shirley J Products, it’s that they are completely universal! Shirley J products are not only easy and affordable but you can actually use them everyday in a variety of ways. Right now, we are in the process of judging our first-ever recipe contest for our Home Chefs. Each Home Chef was given the opportunity to create or adapt a recipe using our number one selling product: the Shirley J Signature Cream Sauce Base.
We have seen some wonderful recipes: new takes on old classics, original recipes and more. We can’t wait to announce our winner next week! In the meantime, we’ll share a recipe using the universal cream sauce base.
Here’s the story. A few months back I found a wonderful turkey chili recipe out of Shape Magazine. It’s called Firehouse Turkey Chili. An owner’s wife had tried it and thought that with a few adjustments, it would taste just like her favorite black bean chili at the Deer Valley resort. She basically swapped the kidney beans for black beans and added Shirley J’s Universal Cream Sauce Base and water.
This example wonderfully illustrates the way the universal cream sauce base (and really, any Shirley product) can add variety to your recipes. The simple addition of the cream sauce base completely changed the look, feel and taste of the end product. Enjoy!
Creamy Black Bean Turkey Chili
adapted from Shape Magazine’s Firehouse Turkey Chili Recipe
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large clove garlic, smashed
1/2 cup chopped scallions, divided
1/2 pound ground turkey
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1 can (15 ounces) black bean, rinsed and drained
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1 cup carrot, diced
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 cup Shirley J Signature Cream Sauce Base
1 cup water
Directions:
In a large saucepan heat oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Toss in garlic and all but 2 tablespoons of the scallions and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute.
Add turkey and continue to cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in chili powder and cook for 1 more minute. Add tomatoes, kidney beans, bell pepper, carrot, brown sugar, and salt to taste. In a separate bowl combine Shirley J Cream Sauce base and water and mix. Add Shirley J Cream Sauce Base and water mix to chili. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Divide among 4 bowls and garnish with the remaining 2 tablespoons of scallions. Top with nonfat sour cream if desired.
Have you adapted any recipes using Shirley J Products lately? Please share!
Congratulations to our winners of the first-ever Shirley J blog give-a-way! Each of these bloggers will recieve one of each product in the Shirley J product line! We can’t wait to see what you make and what you think about Shirley J products. We know you’ll be amazed at how these products will help stretch your food dollar and ignite a passion for cooking!
The lucky winners are
Jen M.
Lindsey F.
Nathan W.
* winners selected by random.org*
We’d also like to announce the storefront give-a-way winner: Mary F. of Provo! Mary will also recieve the entire Shirley J product line.
If you didn’t win this time, don’t fret. We’re having another give-a-way at the moment inside the Shirley J storefront.
We’ve decided to extend our first give-a-way till the end of our open house. You now have until Saturday, April 11 at midnight to enter to win the entire Shirley J product line! See this post for all the details. You don’t want to miss out!
Want to learn more about the new Shirley J Home Chef Program?
Come to the new Shirley J Storefront in Orem at 15 East 400 South on Monday, April 6 at 1 p.m. Our CEO, Kelly Olsen, along with other owners will teach you all you need to know about the Home Chef program and training.
We can’t wait for you to be a member of our team! We know you are anxious to share your passion for Shirley J products, pantry management and teach others how to stretch their food dollar…all while earning some income.
It’s official my friends! As of last night, Shirley J launched the Home Chef Program. What does this mean? It means that you can now become part of the Shirley J team by becoming an independent business person that represents Shirley J products and systems.
You’ll be able to purchase Shirley J products at a discounted price and earn an extra income sharing the products you use and love everyday!
We have a limited number of Home Chef spots, so if you’re interested give us a call at (801) 225- 5073 for more information!
We’re guessing you are ready to try Shirley J Products by now! And we don’t blame you…how could you not want to? Shirley J products taste great and make you a better cook! They serve as building blocks for hundreds and hundreds of recipes. Shirley J products are and have been the standard in restaurants, cafeterias and homes for more than 30 years…and master chefs and moms recommend them.
Well let’s do this. We want you to try our products and we want to give them to you for free. All you have to do is help us spread the word about Shirley J and our upcoming open house!
You can win all these Shirley J Products!
Shirley J Signature Cream Sauce Base
Shirley J White Cheddar Sauce Base
Shirley J All-Purpose Seasoning
Shirley J Natural Dough Enhancer
Shirley J Pizza & Pasta Seasoning
Shirley J Slow Cooker & Dutch Oven Chicken Seasoning
Shirley J Slow Cooker & Dutch Oven Beef Seasoning
Shirley J Slow Cooker & Dutch Oven Pork Seasoning
Shirley J Slow Cooker & Dutch Oven BBQ Seasoning
Enter to Win the Entire Shirley J Product Line
Complete all these steps and you’ll be entered to win the entire Shirley J Product Line.
* Write a post on your blog, telling your readers about the Shirley J Open House. Your post must include the following:
- Link to Shirley J Blog
- Link to Shirley J Official Web site
- Mention the Shirley J open house in your post. Include the open house dates of March 30- April 11 and that we’ll have product samples and demonstrations!
- Browse the Shirley J products page and tell your blog readers which product you are most excited to try.
- Leave a comment on this post with a link to your blog post
***If your blog is private, please take a screen shot and email it to beckyo@shirleyj.com***
Want to increase your chances? Earn extra entries:
Each of these is worth an extra entry.
- Add the Shirley J blog button to your blog
- Tweet about the give-a-way using @Shirley_J
- Leave a comment telling us about your extra entries, please include links.
All entries must be completed by Friday, April 3 at midnight
Three winners will be selected and announced on Tuesday, April 7.
*Contestants must live in the United States to qualify*
Grab your Shirley J blog button! Share the best kept kitchen secret with your friends and family!
<a href="http://www.shirleyj.com"><img style="border:none;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JP9OEi0gIvc/Scv5akCnGiI/AAAAAAAAB_g/_5B9Rt8WKw4/s400/Shirley_J_button.gif" alt="ShirleyJ" /></a>
We’ve added the new logo and feel of Shirley J to the blog! What do you think? (We can’t wait for you all to see the new site!)
We’re excited to announce that Shirley J has officially been accepted as a Utah’s Own Company!
The Utah’s Own program was established to create a consumer culture of choosing Utah products at grocery stores, restaurants; everywhere they shop. When Utah consumers purchase locally produced products it builds our Utah economy and enhances our Utah environment. Read more about Utah’s Own here.
Check out this article in the Deseret News about Shirley J! Valerie Phillips the DesNews food editor included us in her column this week. She talked about two Utah food companies that are expanding their lines and wanting to get reacquainted with the public. I’ll paste the part about Shirley J below, but don’t be shy to visit desnews.com and comment on the story!
by Valerie Phillips, Deseret News
Two longtime Utah food companies are making some changes and want to get better acquainted with the public…
Another company, Shirley J, has been making soup base and seasoning products since 1978, selling them mostly to restaurants, cafeterias and other food institutions. Shirley J was founded by food scientist Don Smith and named after his wife. In January, it was sold to Kelly Olsen, founder of Tahitian Noni International, certified executive chef Mike Olsen and Shon Whitney, former vice president of marketing for Tahitian Noni International, according to a company press release.
The company is hosting a public open house at its new headquarters, 15 E. 400 South, Orem, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 30-April 3, and again April 6-11. There will be cooking demonstrations at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on April 2, 7 and 11, where Mike Olsen and Margie Guest, a home economist, will demonstrate budget-stretching recipes. Shirley J’s major product is a “universal” powdered white-sauce base that can be used to make creamy soups, gravy, casseroles and sauces. In other words, all those things that cream of mushroom soup is often used for! There’s also a cheese soup/sauce base, a dough enhancer for bread-baking, pizza/pasta seasoning, all-purpose seasoning and bouillon mixes. The company’s goal is to expand from restaurants and institutional use to home cooks. In the next few weeks, it plans to roll out a “home chef” program to distribute the products, with information on its new Web site, www.shirleyj.com. As company spokesman Becky Olsen said, “We’re ready to flood the world with cream sauce!” E-mail: vphillips@desnews.com
It doesn’t take much to understand the simplicity and versatility of Shirley J Products. For instance, you just have to look through the comments section of our blog posts to see what our customers are saying. Read it for yourself.
“I love Shirley J products, I have been using them for years and they are amazing. I can’t wait to see the new website and order direct from the web. ” – Shelly W.
“Just used Shirley J’s pizza sauce mix on four pizzas, and my family loved them! The taste was just like a delivered pizza, but much cheaper. Also, last week I made chicken, celery soup from the basic base, and I couldn’t believe how easy, and delicious it was. Fantastic products!” – Arlene O.
“Shirley J soup mix is far superior to the canned soups on the grocers’ shelves today. I love it.” – William M.
Once of the coolest things about Shirley J is the company’s history. Each day we are finding old customers who have been using our products for years, each of them telling us how they use our products. We’re also meeting new customers who are discovering that cooking really is made easy when using Shirley J products, we chat for a while, swap recipes and build new friendships. We’re even finding friends of Don and Shirley J! Every once in a while we fall upon a little gem like this article from the Deseret News circa 1983.
The article is all about Shirley J’s Natural Dough Enhancer. It was written by Kristen Rogers and was published April 20-21, 1983 and even includes a whole wheat bread recipe! We’re hoping we can find an actual newspaper copy, but for now this xeroxed version will do.
Happy Cooking and Happy Weekend!
Well friends, it’s been a few weeks now since you began following the official Shirley J blog and started to learn a little bit more about us and our product line. I bet you’re getting anxious to try our products, see our Orem store, meet the new owners and talk recipes! Well I’m happy to report that you don’t have to wait much longer!
Shirley J invites each of you to our open house at our new location at 15 East 400 North in Orem, starting Monday, March 30 through Saturday, April 11. Bring your family and friends, because it’s going to be a fun event!
Learn about our ultimate universal cooking base and other great products! We’ll have cooking demonstrations, free recipes, balloons for the kids and a 10 percent discount for everyone that stops by!
We’re still working out some details so keep reading the blog and following us on Twitter for the latest updates.
Are you curious to see what our products look like? Or do you want a sneak peek of our location? How about our new logo? We know you want to see it…and we want you to see it!
We are so excited about the resurgence of Shirley J and want you to join us every step of the way! Check out our flickr photostream to see our products, pictures of the recipes we’ve been trying and the transformation of our storefront!
“What’s for dinner tonight?” That’s the question everyone asks and the question many home cooks dread.
Over here at Shirley J we are convinced that we could come into any home and make dinner with what is already in the pantry and fridge. Impossible? No. The key is our famous cream soup, sauce and gravy base. It is the one ingredient that unlocks your pantry and opens the door to endless meal possiblities.
For instance, do you have rice, chicken and spices? There you have it! A meal. What about broccoli and ground pepper? Now you have broccoli soup! In the mood for some noodles and alfredo? Just start boiling the water for the pasta and Shirley J will help you with the rest.
One of the greatest facts about this product is that you basically just add water! Our cream soup base is positively the most versatile, economical item in the kitchen. It blends perfectly with no lumps and in only minutes it will give you a perfectly silky, seasoned sauce for use in countless soups, sauces, casseroles and gravys. Anyone who can stir and boil water can make a perfect cream sauce or soup every time. Cream sauce is one of the most widely used of all sauces and is the base for literally thousands of recipe applications, ours is simple to make, will not break or curdle and reheats beautifully.
Hungry for more recipes? Check them out on the Shirley J Web site.
You can now follow Shirley J on Twitter. We’ll be tweeting multiple times a day with Shirley J updates, fun new recipes, using our soup base and seasoning products and more!
Sign up for your free Twitter account, search for Shirley_J and follow us today! (If you’re already on Twitter leave your profile name in the comments section and we’ll start following you. We can start recipe swapping in no time!)
When Don Smith first blended together our now-famous creamy soup base in the late 1970s, he knew he had created something special. He knew that his products were unlike any other, and he also knew he needed a name that would represent the care and dedication to quality that he put into every container.
He decided that only one name could accurately represent his life’s work: that of his dear wife Shirley J.
We at Shirley J imagine it was his tribute to a wonderful woman, thus leaving Shirley J’s mark on everything he did and everything the company and its products would become.
We feel that simply having the name “Shirley J” on our products represents exactly what we are striving to become, and that is a company dedicated to quality, and one that encourages home cooks to become their best and most creative self, providing affordable, quality products their families will love.
We’d like to think that everyone using our products will imagine Shirley J in the kitchen whipping up her delicious tasting soups and meals for her family. Read more about the Shirley J story here.
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