TLC FOODS – Layered Bean Dip
I have the best customers and so many have become friends. Love that. Weaving Friendships is all about connecting and sharing our love of Longaberger. This month I made a few TLC Foods for everyone to sample and we had a drawing for a Candy Corn Mug. I remembered to take a few snapshots and wanted to share the night with you.
First off…the prep. TLC FOODS make it so easy. This time I did a take on the old traditonal 7 Layer Dip and Key Lime Vanilly Cups. Yum-O!
Layered Bean Dip with a Longaberger Twist
- 1 lg can refried beans (I use no fat)
- 2 tbls. TLC’s Southwest Seasoning Blend (you can add more but this is plenty spicy)
- 1 lg avacado
- 1 can diced green chilies
- 1 can sliced black olives
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup TLC Sweet and Spicy Salsa
- 1 80z light sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups of grated cheese (love to use pepper jack cheese for this)
- 1 lg diced tomato
Mix 1 tbls of Southwest Seasoning Blend with the can of refried beans. Spread into the 9 x 13 Baking Dish. Mix together the avacado and green chilies, spread on beans. Spread Sweet and Spicy Salsa on next. Add 1 tbls of Southwest Seasoning Blend to the sour cream. Spread over the salsa. Add the black olives, then the cheese and top with diced tomato. Refrigerate until ready to eat. Serve with your favorite taco chips.
Say Goodbye to Longaberger’s Medium Gathering Basket
This basket was one of my very first purchases way back when. It has since become a daily user and has multiplied over the years. But who’s counting and don’t tell my husband!
Medium Gathering Basket ($82) in Warm Brown, Rich Brown and Deep Brown is retiring August 31st. If you already have this basket, you may want to get an extra protector ($13) or update your Liner ($26).
First of all the Gathering Basket was designed to fit between the garden rows…it was affectionately called the Pick and Kick basket. Pick and Kick the basket on down the garden row. Get it?
Here’s my Top 10 Uses:
1. Holds magazines
2. Use on top of your fridge for snacks
3. Will easily hold 2 loaves of bread
4. VHS tapes (does anyone have these?) or DVD’s/CD’s
5. Great for gaming stuff
6. 9 ax 13 Baking Dish w/cover fits inside for easy transport – did you know that wood is a “natural insulator” so your food will stay hot or cold, longer in a Longaberger Basket?
7. In and Out Basket for mail
8. Fill it as a seasonal centerpiece. Gourds and pumpkins are beautiful in the fall. Bulbs and greenery for Christmas.
9. Flower or veggie picking basket (use a protector!) Yes, I do use my baskets outside.
10. I often use it for buffets, filled with ice and several crocks (taco bar!), bowls or a pie plate.
Here’s a great story about the Longaberger’s. JW’s favorite dessert was Strawberry Shortcake. When it was late spring and time for berry picking, JW would take the kids to Mitchell Hill for picking. With rope and twine, he would tie the kids together in a line so their hands would be free to pick berries, and they would all be safe and stick together. They also picked berries along the old RR track area of Dresden. I guess with 12 children, he had to do something to make sure they all got home to Grandma Bonnie in one piece.
One Hundred + One Uses for the One Pint Crock
Got to get you one of these crocks! You can bake in it, freeze in it, microwave in it and it goes in the dishwasher for easy clean-up! Sized just right at 4 ¼”d x 3 ½”h, it holds a perfect 16 oz! Heat it up to keep foods warm longer or chill in the freezer to keep foods cold. Honestly, I have burned several candles in mine and then baked or added a dip mix or salsa to it. The non-porous glaze makes this possible.
- Plastic utensils or the real deal silverware
- Plastic Cups
- Smaller utensils on your counter
- Store measuring spoons
- Great sugar bowl
- Seasoning Packets
- Serve nuts or candy
- Cream Cheese, Butter or Cheese Spread
- Melted Cheese for Nachos
- Individual servings – soup or chili
- Condiments – pickles, olives, etc.
- A bag of Hershey Kiss fits perfectly! I do know this!!!
- Sweetener Packets
- Napkins
- Bread sticks
- Pretzels
- Pretzel Rods dipped in Chocolate – yum-o!
- Dips for veggies, salsa or hot caramel
- Ice Cream toppings
- Individual Desserts
- Toppings for Baked Potatoes
- Berries or Grapes
- Holds Crystal Light drink mixes
- Coffee filters for those smaller pots
- BQ fixings
- Great for using with a taco bar
- Filled with homemade fudge or cookies for a gift
- Mini birthday cake (fill 2/3 full and lightly grease)
- Carrots and celery sticks
- Can of veggies
- Freeze individual desserts
- Paprika Crock – ketchup
- Butternut Crock – mustard
- Ivory Crock – mayo
- Sage Crock – relish
- Sea salt or kosher Salt
- Holds a citronella candle on the patio
- STRAWS! a must have at our house!
- Mini zucchini bread or other nut bread (fill 2/3 full and light grease it)
- Bacon grease – store in the fridge
- On the stove as a spoon/utensil rest while cooking
- Tea bags
- Snacks at bunco or bridge tables
- Use several for a center piece, with berry garland or silk ivy around them
- Swizzle sticks
- Cotton balls
- Qtips
- Eyeglasses on your nightstand
- Reading glasses in each room of the house.
) - Make-up brushes
- Toothbrush and toothpaste holder
- Spare change
- Set one on the dryer for surprises found in the laundry.
- Drink holder on my desk – this is one of my favorite!
- Pens and pencils
- Vase for fresh flowers
- Planter for herb plant or silk greenery
- Potpourri to freshen a room
- Candle holder
- Crayons – for the little guy
- Store artist brushes
- Add some water for artist brushes
- Holds paint tubes
- Great in a craft-room for those little things
- Safety pins
- Push pins and Tacks
- Cell phones
- Remotes on an end table
- Stamps
- Calculator
- Craft punches
- Rubber bands
- Lose nails/screws/picture hangers
- Add it to my basket to hold my drink on the go
- IPod and earphones
- Holds craft scissors
- Holds markers
- Holds stickers
- Holds brads or eyelets
- Holds embellishments for scrapbooking
- Glues and other adhesives
- At the sink for a sponge and scouring pad
- Stores basket salts or decorative salts
- Bathroom necessities
- Lipsticks and lip glosses
- Nail care supplies
- Foot spa supplies
- Utility Scissors
- Guys pocket junk
- Scotch tape
- Hair clips
- Bars of soap at sink
- Jewelry
- Brushes and combs
- Hair scrunchies
- Set on a woodstove and add some candle tarts. The heat will melt the tarts so you can enjoy the aroma
- Plant a plant for a co-worker’s birthday
- Teacher’s gift
- Under $20 Gift Exchange
- Post-it notes and pens by the phone
- Great off to college gift/first home gift. Fill it with just about anything for an affordable but functional gift.
You must have one of these crocks! At $15 each, the hardest decision will be what color and just how many!?
1 Pint Crock – A daily user is retiring!
Oh, so sad to see this little gem retire. The 1 Pint Crock is another daily user at our house. It’s vitrified, so you can burn a candle in it one minute, rinse it out with soap and water and put your dip in it the next. I’m going to start a list of 100 uses. Feel free to add to the list and I’ll get it posted by the end of the week.
Weaving Friendships
Love our monthly customer gathering on the 4th Tuesday of each month. Sometimes we have a “crowd” and other times it’s just a few, but it’s always great fun to talk shop…or baskets in this case. See what’s new, what’s on sale and share ideas with my customers. Everyone gets a punch card and with each punch, gets closer to earning Longaberger product for FREE! The 1 Pint Crocks and Wrought Iron Easels have been a favorite and now I’ve added a Dash Bowl to the selection. Sept 1st, TLC Foods will also be a choice. Super munchies and/or dessert are always on the menu and we often have adult beverages! This week we’ll be sampling TLC Foods and sharing recipes. And did I mention a Door Prize or two? Stop by and stay awhile…
A Longaberger Pie Plate is a Girl’s Best Friend!
Longaberger Pie Plates are not just any old pie plate! You will find yourself reaching for it over and over for so many things. Here is a fabulous recipe, kindly shared by another Longaberger Consultant, Carol Lane of Indiana. Yum-o! Doesn’t this sound delish?! Can’t wait to make it next weekend for my CAbi Show! Enjoy and thanks to Carol for sharing!
FRITTATA – a crustless quiche
- Use any veggies and meats you have in the fridge. About 1 cup total. Saute the veggies and drain. If you don’t drain, your frittata may get soggy in the fridge if you don’t eat it all the first time. (can’t imagine this, can you?) :o)
- Mix veggies with 1 cup shredded cheese (your choice) and 1 1/2 cups egg substitute or 6 large eggs
- Pour into your Longaberger Pie Plate and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until a knife comes out of the center dry. Let set 10 minutes before cutting.
- One pie plate will never do…you must get at least two!

Baked beautifully in a Longaberger Pie Plate. The Pie Plates come in Ebony, Butternut, Sage, Paprika, Ivory, Eggplant, Tomato, Cornflower and coming soon CHOCOLATE!!
Fresh and Stylish
Everyone is loving the NEW Signature Weave featuring Longaberger’s 3 stain colors. Warm, Rich and Deep Brown…Medium Market Basket, Small Laundry Basket and Village Basket will be available through the Fall/Winter WishList available September 1st.
BONUS! Wednesday, August 25th you can also purchase a Signature Cake, Cracker, Bread and Holds It All Basket. (this one’s a biggie!)
Longaberger Appetizer Plates
I just love these! Sized just right at 9 1/2″l x 7″w x 1 1/4″ h, they are perfect for so many things. And you get 2 for $29 in all of our awesome colors. Some suggested uses: French Dip Sandwiches, Hot Dog and Chips, Veggies and Dippin’ Sauce, Cheese and Crackers. Great mini tray to use in the bathroom or bedroom. Perfect for kids, but sized big enough for adults too. The New Seasonal Fall/Winter Fabrics change up the look of the different pottery choices. Love our colors and you will too! APPETIZER PLATES AVAILABLE IN AUGUST ONLY at myShop.
Dash Bowls also come in sets of 2…for $28. For those of you who are lucky enough to have the Retired Dessert Bowls, I thought you may like to see how they work well with the Appetizer Plates too. Enjoy!

Added a Paprika Dash Bowl to the Appetizer Plate in Ebony. Setting on my new favorite Fabric called Savannah Floral.
Quickly Becoming A Longaberger Favorite!
I am LOVING the New Plate Stands. I have reached for them several times to use while entertaining. Adds height to any table and they are great for Plant Stands too. At first I thought I would try them without the WoodCraft Shelves and see what I can do with them. I compromised with using my Pizza Pan, Dinner Plates and an older WoodCrafts Lid. Not ideal, but it worked. So excited that September 1st, ALL of our WoodCraft Shelves come in Black! The Black goes beautifully with the Wrought Iron and I’m looking forward to getting my NEW BLACK WoodCraft Shelves to go with the Plate Stands. I’m pretty sure you will want the Shelves too…so order them together and pick the color of stain that works best for you.
A Little Dash of This and A Little Dash of That
Salt and Pepper Shakers are a must in everyone’s household. Longaberger has a cute little Wrought Iron Holder for our Shakers, but it’s fun to mix it up with setting them in a Dash Bowl. A different look and you can pick the colors you like.
Eggplant is back and it’s big! Remember how it used to be said that you need a touch of “red” in every room? Well now it’s purple! It’s so on trend and some call it the “new black” in decorating. While I’m still a red girl at heart…I have to admit this purple thing is growing on me.



























