Sometimes it seems kind of perfect that I sell Measuring Spoons and Cups for a living when you consider that I am obsessed with brownies! As I have mentioned before, I collect brownie recipes – I actually have a spread sheet about Brownies (hand-written, of course, before I even knew that Excel existed…).

My latest and best recipe is for Triple Chocolate Brownies so I must share! Here it goes:

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate – chopped

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate – chopped

1 1 /2 sticks unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

4 large eggs

1 tsp. salt

1 cup flour

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

-Melt both chocolates and butter in a saucepan over low heat – stirring until the mixture is smooth and melted.

-Remove from heat. Add sugar, vanilla and eggs – 1 at a time – stirring briskly. (I’m always worried that I will get

scrambled eggs in my brownies so I stir like a mad woman!)

-Stir in the salt and the flour.

-Stir in the chocolate chips.

-Pour into a well-buttered and floured 13 X 9 inch baking pan and smooth the top.

-Bake at 350 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes.

-Let cool completely in the pan on a rack. Then cut into squares.

If you don’t think these are amazing, then I hope you will send me a recipe that tops these!

We are giving out mystery gifts and FREE Measuring Spoons….Here’s what’s going on…

Although online shopping has changed our lives, most of us still LOVE to hit the payment and do some real old-fashioned shopping! Our middle daughter is visiting San Fransciso with her husband right now and you can be 100% sure that they are shopping the boutiques there…looking for something special to bring back to Oregon.

We get inquiries all of the time from people – like you! – who would like to purchase our products locally. However, it’s a big country and there are a lot of stores that we don’t know anything about. Therefore, we are asking YOU to suggest the name of your favorite local shop where you feel our products would be a perfect fit – and we will see what we can do to get our products placed there.

If your suggestion looks like a good possibility, we will send you a free mystery gift. If your suggestion turns into a new location for us, we will send you a FREE set of Measuring Spoons!
If you know the store owner, be sure to include his or her name.
Any additional information – like why you think we would be a good fit there – would also be helpful.

Hopefully, we will soon be in a store near you! Although online shopping is fun, it can be a lot faster – and more of an experience – to shop locally!

I consider myself to be a pretty competent baker and yet – until just a couple of weeks ago – I could NOT succeed at your basic Chocolate Chip Cookie! Brownies, Pies, Coffee Cakes – no problem! But Chocolate Chip Cookies – failure after failure! Until I finally learned these two really helpful tips –
1) Use half Crisco – not all butter (say what?!)
2) Refrigerate the dough over night

So, now I am proud of my Chocolate Chip Cookies!

If you have ever struggled, try this recipe:

MEGA CHOCOLATE CHIPPERS

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup Crisco
1 cup brown sugar – packed
2 large eggs
1 T. vanilla extract
1 tsp. salt
2 3/4 cups flour
2 cups semisweet chocolate
*I use over-size Ghiradelli chips. (You can see how big they are. This chip almost fills up our 1/4 teaspoon!)

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening, and sugars.
Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until mixed well.
Add the baking soda and salt and beat until mixed well.
Gradually add the flour and mix until blended.
Stir in the chocolate chips.

Refrigerate overnight.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Drop 3 tablespoons of dough (these are large cookies!) onto an ungreased cookie sheet – 3 inches apart.
Bake until the edges are golden – do NOT overcook!

Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet and then transfer to cooling racks.

And remember…give up half of your butter and try crisco!
Enjoy!

Last week we learned that we were approved by the U of O licensing dept. to move one step further on our adventure to making licensed products. In a couple of weeks, we hope to be able to launch this new line!

After 25 years in business, I finally decided it was time to start working with sales reps to get our products into a store near you! Nearly every day we get a call from someone who is trying to find our products in his or her town.

We now have a whole fleet of reps who will be visiting stores in your towns. If there is a store in which you would like to see our products, be sure and send me an e-mail: info@crosbyandtaylor.com and I will see what I can do.

Here is the beautiful showroom in Atlanta where the southeast Reps are showing off our products.

Tango showroom in Atlanta

2011 was a year of highs and lows for the Crosby & Taylor family. 2011 marked our 25th year in business and here are about to embark on 2012. What will the future hold?

Here is are some of our highlights from 2011

January
I ring in the new year on a 2986 miles roadtrip with our exchange student, Lea. We began our journey at the Pacific Ocean, and found our way to the Atlantic Ocean!

We also introduced a new line for Valentines Day: Heart to Heart Measuring Cups & Spoons!

February
We introduced our new Jewelry Collection for the pewter loving fashionistas!

March
Our daughter Petrel (owner of The Wedding Cottage) and her husband moved into their new town house in Portland-and did we have some fun decorating.

April
We introduced our Made for Mothers Pewter Measuring Cups and Spoons to honor Moms and grandmothers everywhere. An important design element in this new collection came from our Facebook Fans. We asked them to submit names which they use for their moms and/or grandmothers. The response was amazing!

May
I traveled to Switzerland for my grandson’s 5th birthday where I enjoyed making cupcakes with him. Meanwhile, Jim packed up and traveled to Atlanta, GA for the The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show!

June
We introduced our wonderful Treat Jars for Kitties, Small Dogs, and Large Dogs. had some fun with our first ever- “Dog Days of Summer” Just for Pet Lovers Giveaway!

July
Petrel and I traveled to Atlanta where we embarked on a fabulous road trip to Savannah! Read about our adventures on our blog. July also brought us hot sun, and fun at our Team Barbecue Lunch. On the last Thursday of each month, we have a Crosby & Taylor team lunch.

August
We introduced the Made in Oregon line!

September
Jim and I become “empty nesters” as we send off our youngest to college (sniff sniff). We introduced new designs for The Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove.  Our Crosby & Taylor Fleur De Lys Measuring Spoons were featured on Steamy Kitchen and our Vineyard Measuring Spoons with Pewter Display Post were featured in the very lovely food site: bella’limento.

October
Was all about Oregon Ducks Football and trick or treaters everywhere.

November
We introduced our new holiday product- “Angel Spoons” which were featured in Paula Deen Magazine and a number of food blogs including

Two Classy Chics
Kitchen Confidente
girlichef

Also in November, our Thanksgiving Weekend Holiday sales were the busiest in our 25 year history!

December
I don’t know where the time went! The entire Crosby & Taylor team is working over time to keep up with the holiday demand! What a way to end the year!

We wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Today is the first day that we have even had time to catch our breath. We just had the busiest Christmas rush ever! We have had a lot of Christmases as small business owners…25, in fact! But we have never seen one like this.

We thank all of you who chose something artisan-made for your gift-giving this year. We are honored that you chose one of our American-made products.

Our shelves are pretty much bare. However, we do have some ornaments left. Knowing that everyone likes a little after-Christmas sale, we have marked our 2010 Ornament Collection down by 50%. No coupon codes are needed but quantities are limited to those on hand. Here are a couple of our more popular pieces from this Collection:

Holy Family

Peace

Joy

Christmas is only a few days away and I thought it would be nice to take some time today to express our sincere gratitude for the support we have received these past 25 years.

As a company, we have worked hard, but we would not be here today without all of the wonderful shops, galleries, and catalogues that have carried our products throughout the years. To them, we give a big round of THANKS!

We also send a big THANK YOU to all of the individuals who have shopped at those businesses.

Finally, we must THANK all of the individuals who have contacted us directly to make a purchase. We are always touched by those of you who then take the time to tell us how pleased you are with your order.

A Happy Customer!

This is really an exciting year for us since it is our 25th year in business!  We began as Tin Woodsman Pewter in a small studio down the street from our house and have grown significantly through the years. Like any small business, we have gone through a lot of changes and a lot of ups and downs.  Take a stroll down memory lane with me……

We have been in lots of catalogues:

Some have made me especially proud – like Sundance! (I hope someday we will be in it again.)

Sundance Catalogue pages

We have exhibited at lots of trade shows.

Atlanta!

Portland!

We have been featured in many magazines – like Paula Deen, Skywest, and Lucky.

Skywest Magazine

Lucky magazine!

We have had many wonderful employees.

Some have stayed a short while and some have been with us for nearly 11 years – like Nancy. She came to us as a young college girl.  She has been with us through her marriage and two pregnancies – and is now the proud mom of two!

Nancy 8 years ago

We have moved our shop multiple times – each time to a bigger and better place!

1375 Pearl Street

252 Taylor Street - our current location

This week, we celebrate the 1st birthday of Nancy’s little girl, Evelyn. Here we are last year – just before Evelyn entered this world. Nancy worked day after day until the big moment came!

Nancy is one dedicated employee!

Nancy - one year and a few days ago

I blog a lot about Nancy but the reality is that I spend more hours with Nancy, my Operations Manager, than my own daughters. After all, we are together 6 – 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. When you get your order on time and you are pleased with everything on it, you probably have Nancy to thank. She keeps everything humming around here.

Here she is on Halloween this year with Evelyn, her husband, Matt, and her son, Oliver (who she brought to work with her until he was nearly 3! I still miss seeing his sweet face everyday).

Nancy on Halloween