Corn & Black Bean Chicken

I like to make dishes that are not only quick and easy but I also like to make enough for another meal. This recipe is doubled so it makes a enough for two meals. ENJOY!

Ingredients

2lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 pkg Taco Seasoning Mix
1 tbsp Tastefully Simple Fiesta Dip Mix (1/2 cap full - if you like it spicier add a whole cap full)
1 each green and red pepper, cut into strips
1 cup frozen corn
1 jar Tastefully Simple Corn & Black Bean Salsa
2 cup Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese
Sour Cream


Easy To Make

TOSS chicken with taco seasoning and place in slow cooker. Stir in vegetables and salsa; cover with lid.

COOK on LOW 6 to 8 hours (or on HIGH 3 to 4 hours).

STIR just before serving; top with cheese and if desired sour cream.

SERVE over rice with tossed salad and corn bread

DAY TWO: This dish freezes well so you can put half away for another meal or serve it the next day for lunch wrapped in a flour tortilla.

Comments are always welcomed....enjoy!

I HEART MY CLIENTS...pt 1

One thing I'm focused on this year is client care. I have a pretty good reorder business from some faithful clients but I want to increase that this year. I mean if we have 98% company wide satisfaction from our client surveys why am I not following up for reorders? This year that is one area I'm placing my focus, client care!

The last person to buy from you is the most likely to buy again and soon but if you don't follow up they will order from the next consultant who offers it to them or not at all. A repeat customer does not happen by accident. A repeat customer is the result of a relationship you have built up through customer service. Care for your customer and they will return...care for your merchandise and they won't. The point is...what are you doing to bring your customer back? Good customer care matters because keeping existing customers is easier than finding new ones, and satisfied customers will do a lot of advertising for you. Most people consider doing business with a certain company because of a recommendation by a friend or acquaintance.

Julie Lee helped me by saying she has struggled in her business and instead of putting the focus on all the wrong she has done she was putting the focus on "start where you are". Those four little words have rang in my head over the past few months. We all have things we "wish" we would have done differently but we can't do anything to change the past, we're only in control of the future.

START WHERE YOU ARE - Facebook and emails are great tools but nothing is better then picking up the phone and making that personal contact. Yes, I know, everyone hates to do it, but if you want to grow your business, its a must!

GETTING STARTED - The first thing I did to get started on client care is print a few reports. You can log into My HQ, click on Reports, then click on Client Care Listings. From there you can print client reports on many topics. I printed clients who placed $50 orders and above for 2011, I was shocked how many clients that generated. Why am I not contacting them? They love it enough to place a large order so I bet they are ready for a reorder!

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND - Why print the reports? Well, as the old saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. Often I don't have time to sit for an hour or two at the computer to make client calls (and really, who does?). I like to print the reports so I can have them with me. If I have a few minutes, I pull out the report and make a few phone calls. I'm on the go a lot so I like to keep the list with me. If I'm waiting on the boys getting a hair cut, Dad at the doctor, soccer lessons, magic meeting..etc. I don't waist the time just sitting. I use that time to make client care calls.

SET A GOAL - Set a goal how many calls you want to make a day or a week. My goal is 25 a week. Now that does not mean 25 messages left, that mean 25 actual contacts made.

WHAT TO SAY - One reason we hate to make the calls is because we may not know what to say when we call. This week I'm calling and putting the focus on our clearance items, our stoneware and our 50% more host rewards in January. I start by introducing myself, ask it they have a moment then go right into I'm calling to let you know we have a few items on clearance such as our Southwest Season & Rub is marked down from $8.99 to just $5.06. I see you ordered ____ back in ____ and just wanted to follow up to see if you were ready for a reorder. If they ordered seasonings I mention we have the Essential 4 collection for $39.99 which give you three spices and of course our beer bread. Once we've talked I ask would you like to add clearance items (keep a list in front of you).

If they say they are broke I always say something like....

• "I completely understand, the holidays took a lot out of all of us. Have you ever considered owning your own TS business? With our additional host rewards this month we could book a party and all your host rewards plus 50% more can go towards owning your own business to help you earn an additional income.



• "I completely understand, why don't we get you booked for a party then you can earn your favorite goodies FREE as well as earn up to 5 collections or gift sets half off and if we get you booked for a January party TS is going to increase your rewards 50%. Is January a good month for you?
  

These are just a few things I've been saying. You can find more training and scripts on My HQ under training and support. Once you start making the calls you'll loose the fear of it, so, lets get started!!

Discount or Not?

I saw this and was so impressed with the discounts that I wrote them down in my catalog so I can share at parties!! Selling collections is a great way to boost your sales!

Heather Reynolds - VT - Aug 17, 2011
Ok its that time of year again, new catalog with new gifts, so how much can you save by purchasing a gift over the items individually? I've done the math!

Always remember, if its in a box its not a discount:
Everyday Goodness, Warm Gatherings, Perfect party are not less expensive than
purchasing the products individually (my guess is because of the cost of the box)

Now for the rest of the products, this is how it breaks down:

-Ultimate Seasonings $74.95 for the set, $83.89 individually, savings of 10.7% ($8.94)

-Party Time $89.95, individually $110.35, savings of 18.5% ($20.40)

-Sweet Appreciation $49.95, individually $60.91, savings of 18% ($10.96)

-Bountiful Baking $29.95, individually $37.43, savings of 20% ($7.48)

-Souper Douper $26.95, individually $29.92, savings of 10% ($2.97)

- Cookies & Cocoa $19.95, individually $25.92, savings of 23% ($5.97) -- just a
clarification here I took the price of each cocoa individually, not the price for the cocoa pals

-Cozy Comfort $19.95, individually $24.92, savings of 20% ($4.97)

-Its That Simple $14.95, individually $18.43, savings of 19% ($3.48)

-Popcorn Party $16.95, individually 20.93, savings of 19% ($3.98)

- Cocoa Pals $11.95, individually $13.98, savings of 14.5% ($2.03)

So that's the gift breakdown! I hope this helps you sell more gifts!!! Seriously who doesn't LOVE a sale?!?

Pesto & Chicken Pasta

Ok, I admit it, so I'll just say it here....I'm Rachel, and I'm a DT&GP alcoholic!! I've been selling TS for 5 years and just in the past year I've become addicted to this delicious jar of goodness!! I've always used it on my roast but holy cow, its AMAZING on so much more!!

I don't know about you but I'm so busy now days I don't have time to think sometimes! That was the case last week! We had revival, my husband was off work and I several parties and business obligations to enjoy. I forgot to plan the menu one evening so I was in a rush when I realized it was 4:30 and we needed to leave at 5:30!! I created this recipe and let me just say...it was a huge hit!!

Ingredients:

1 Box Linguini Noodles
3 T Dried Tomato & Galic Pesto (made into pesto as directed on bottle)
1 T Garlic Garlic
2 T Butter
1 lb Cooked Chicken
2 T Seasoned Salt
Diced Tomatoes
Whole Black Olives
Shredded Cheese (I used an Italian blend of cheese)
Garlic Bread

Cook and drain linguini noodles

Add pesto mix to noodles, mix well

Cook chicken with butter, Seasoned Salt & Garlic Garlic until done. Add tomatoes and olives to chicken and warm

Mix all ingredients together

Plate and top with cheese

ENJOY!!!

What's Your Score

Read this story while guest’s add up the points.

* If any selling you have done, put down 10 for the start of our fun.
* If you have a car, and are able to drive, the thing you must do is just add 5.
* If some extra money is what you would like, add 10 more, which is just right.
* A little spare time will add to your score, for this you may add 15 more.
* If you like people and think they are grand, add 6 more to see where you stand.
* Add 10 points if you think parties are fun, and when you add this, you are almost done.
* If you score the highest, it is plain to see, that part of our Tastefully Simple family you should be.
* Add 25 to your score if you want to know more ~ about becoming a Consultant like me…learn how you can make money AND get lots of this FREE! (then direct them to mark the box on their order from that says Interested in becoming a TS consultant)

Crock Pot Refried Beans

Ingredients Needed:

1pk - Pinto Beans

2T (one cap full) - Garlic Garlic

2T (one cap full) - Onion Onion

1T (half cap full) - Seasoned Salt 

1 Med Onion

Place crock pot liner in crock pot (available at Wal-Mart)

Wash beans until water is clear

Place beans and spices in crock pot

Add just enough water to cover

Cook on high until boil starts

After boil starts turn on low and simmer until tender about 6-8 hours

Continue to add cold water as needed

Let cool and store in the refrigerator overnight (you can skip this if you want to serve the same day)

In the morning saute onion in a little butter until tender, add to beans

Mash beans and let simmer until ready to serve - if needed season to taste

Who Wants Tickets?

Give away tickets for different things at the party; the person who arrives first; someone who brings a guest, etc. You can decide what you want to “reward” them for. When guest arrive, hand out slips of paper. Then during the presentation, ask them to write down the name of five friends, and the first person finished gets a ticket. Do the same with neighbors, relatives, co-workers etc or use a list of descriptive phrases like, someone you know that is pregnant, or a mom of 3 or someone who works and would love a girls night out.

At the end of the party, the person with the most tickets wins a prize. The guests think they’ve played a game, but what they’ve really done, is fill out their guest list. When you ask them to book a party and they say no, ask them what they plan to do with their guest list. Can the guest next to her have it to use at her show? Of COURSE NOT! They usually will reconsider when they realize the hard part of making a list of “who to invite” is already done.

You can purchase a large roll of tickets at Wal-Mart and they now have them 250 tickets for a $1 at Dollar Tree. They are with the party supplies. I like the ones from Dollar Tree becasue they are flat and fit nicely in my bag.