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Corner Kitchen: A Biltmore Village Restaurant Blog

Archive for October, 2010

Josh and Katie’s Wedding

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

The problem when both bride and groom are employed at the same restaurant is that, inevitably, some of the staff won’t be able to attend the wedding. I was experimenting with my new camera and decided to share some of my photos for those who want to see a bit of what Josh and Katie’s lovely wedding was like. They were married out at The Farm in Candler, NC, on a perfect golden afternoon on October 16, 2010. Best wishes to the happy couple!                (Note: If you’d like to see a picture more closely, just click on it)

Welcome to The Farm

Kevin signs us in...

Autumn colors prevailed...

The Farm, Candler, NC

Waiting for the wedding to begin

Sweet little girl in front of me, waiting patiently

Her twin sister...

Who let the Cat Burglar in here? (Joe Bly)

Terri Lenhart and Joe Scully

The groom, Josh Weeks

The bride, Katie, with her father.

The Big Moment

Katie and Josh

Cara Frieje, maid of honor

Michalene Talley, the evening's lovely bartender

Waiting for the wedding toasts....

Good beer in an old trough --- classic!

Kevin raises a glass to the golden afternoon

A perfect afternoon for a wedding!

Hand-rolled caramel apples as a thank you - delicious idea!

The gazebo where the ceremony took place

Joe Scully and Kevin Westmoreland, the Corner Kitchen masterminds.

Josh and his mother

"Let's get this party started..."

Rocky observes some of the guests

Michelle and Paulie

Katie and company

I LOVE this picture! This is SO Katie! ha ha

For those who wanted to enjoy the sunset

The dining area opened up to join the sunset

The centerpieces glowed warmly

McRae and Christina helping to make sure the evening went smoothly

The dining area had a wonderful rock fireplace at one end

Looking out at the last of the light

First dance as a married couple

I know it's blurry but I liked the feel of this picture

Katie and her father dance together

little dancers

Amy and Kevin Westmoreland

Time to decorate the car using Hank's artistic talents...

little love goats

Cheers!

Candlelight above the fireplace

The bathroom earned points with me because of the old wooden stirrup as the towel holder!

Best wishes for "Happily Ever After", Josh and Katie!

What’s the difference between soup and chowder? / Corn and Crab Chowder, Tomato Basil Bisque

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Have you ever wondered why some soups are classified as “chowders”?

Chowder is a rather loose category, but usually indicates a soup that is rich and creamy with chunks of seafood and vegetables. The most famous, of course, is New England Clam Chowder. The word “chowder” evolved from the French word “chaudiere,” the name of the pot in which French fisherman would boil samples of their catches with potatoes and other vegetables. French settlers in the New England colonies introduced the culinary tradition to America. “Chowder” first appeared in a written recipe in 1751. By the 1800s, American cooks started to use mostly clams instead of fish because of the abundance of shellfish in the northeast.

(Source: http://www.souphoopla.com/chowder-soups.html)

If you feel inspired to connect with our colonial roots, try out our Corn and Crab Chowder recipe. Or, whip up our Tomato Basil Bisque too– just for comparison’s sake.

Corn and Crab Chowder

For the “Base”

Ingredients:

1 each   Red Peppers

1 each   Green Peppers

1 each   Small Jalapeno peppers

1 stalks  Celery, chopped

1 each    Yellow Onion

½  tbsp.  Garlic, minced

¼  lbs.   Butter

½  cups     A.P. Flour

2 lbs.   Frozen Corn

1 qt.     Clam Juice

2 qt.   Water

1 lbs.   Crab Claw meat

Method: Sauté all the vegetables (except corn) in the Butter. Add the Flour and cook for a minute (scrape the bottom of the pot!!!) Add clam juice, Water and Simmer for 20 minutes and remove from heat, Add Corn and Crab, cool and store in a labeled, dated plastic container.

For service

2 qt.   Corn and Crab Chowder base

2 cups   Half and Half

1 cup    Heavy Cream

To taste   Lime Juice

To taste    Salt and Pepper mix

As needed   Cornstarch Slurry

Method: Combine, base, and dairy products. Bring the soup to a simmer, season to taste and thicken if necessary.

Note: This soup should have a “slow burn” and be relatively thick. The Lime juice is used to keep it from being too flat and/or heavy

Tomato Basil Bisque

Yield: 10 portions

Ingredients:

2 quarts     Diced Tomatoes in Juice

1 each         Yellow Onion, small, chopped

½   tbsp.    Garlic, minced

1 Tbsp.      Fresh basil, chopped

¼  cup     Extra Virgin Olive Oil

½  each   6 ounce can Tomato paste

1 each    Bay Leaves

1 qt    Heavy Cream and Half & Half

to taste     Salt & Pepper

Method: Sauté onions in olive oil, add garlic, tomato paste. Add Diced tomatoes, bay and basil, Simmer for fifteen minutes. Puree, add cream and season to taste.

Chocolate and Almond Biscotti

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

As the air gets cooler in the mountains, consider using this recipe to make your own biscotti to dip in your hot coffee or tea.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups blanched whole almonds
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 7/8 cup white sugar
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons whiskey

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Toast the almonds in a shallow pan for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking the pan a few times, until almonds are lightly colored. Set aside to cool.
  2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 or 3 cookie sheets with aluminum foil, shiny side up.
  3. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar. Place 1/2 cup of these dry ingredients into the bowl of a food processor. Add about a half cup of the toasted almonds and process for about 30 seconds.
  4. Return the mixture to the bowl of dry ingredients and stir in the remaining almonds and chocolate chips. In a large measuring cup, beat the eggs, vanilla and whiskey with a fork to blend. Stir into the dry ingredients until moistened. Wet your hands and divide the dough into four portions. Keeping hands wet, form each quarter into strips about 9 inches long, 2 inches wide and 1/2 inch high. Round the ends. Place two strips crosswise on each of the cookie sheets.
  5. Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven. If baking more that one sheet at a time, reverse the sheets top to bottom halfway through cooking time.
  6. Using a metal spatula remove the slabs from cookie sheets and let cool for 20 minutes on cutting board. Reduce oven temperature to 275 degrees F.
  7. With a serrated knife, carefully cut at an angle into slices about 1/2 inch wide. Place the slices, cut side down, onto cookie sheets.
  8. Bake 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the biscotti is crispy and lightly toasted.
  9. Turn oven off and open the oven door, allowing the biscotti to cool in the oven. When cool, store in an airtight container.

Asian Vinaigrette Dressing

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Ingredients:

½ Cup    Sweet Thai Chili sauce

1 Cup      Rice vinegar

1 Cup       Sugar

½  Cup    Soy Sauce

2 Tbsp.   Chopped Cilantro

2 tsp.    Sesame Oil

¼  cup   Lime Juice

¾ Quart  Vegetable Oil

Method: Combine all.

This is a very easy to love salad dressing to be used in any number of dishes.

Ginger Sweet Potato Soup

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Ingredients:

2 #      Sweet Potatoes, peeled and diced

1 each    Yellow Onion, chopped

1/4 cup    Ginger, peeled and chopped

2 ounce     Olive Oil

1/2 Gallon     Water

1 each     Bay Leaf

1 qt.     Half & Half

1 qt.     Heavy Cream

1 tsp.    Tabasco.

to taste    Salt & Pepper

Method: Sauté onions and ginger in olive oil, get them transparent but not very much color. Add Potatoes , water, and bay. Simmer until potatoes are fully cooked. Pull bay leaves, puree, and season to taste.

Note: A savory topping enhances this soup. Our favorite is to whip 1 cup of cream with the addition of a good sprinkle of cinnamon. Before it is too stiff add salt and white pepper to taste. Dollop this into the soup

Grits, Basic and Beyond

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Stick with the classic Southern style, or spice it up!

Ingredients:

1 part    Stone Ground Grits

3 parts     Water

to taste    Heavy Cream

to taste    Salt and pepper

optional      Cheddar Cheese

optional      Jalapenos (chopped)

Method: Bring the water to the boil. WHILE BOILING, Sprinkle in the grits. Keep stirring until thoroughly combined. Simmer for around twenty-five minutes. Season and cream. Add the cheddar and/or jalapenos.

Gaspacho

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Ingredients:

1 Cup      Yellow or red onion (diced 1/4 inch)

2 each     Celery stalks (diced 1/4 inch)

1/2 cup     Red peppers  (diced 1/4 inch)

1/2 cup   Green Peppers    (diced ¼ inch)

1/8 cup    Jalapenos

1 each    Euro Cucumbers

1 Tbsp.    Garlic (minced)

4 slices    White bread (trimmed and fine chopped in the cuisinart)

1 quart     Tomato Juice

1 quart     Bloody Mary Mix

1/4 cup    Lime Juice

to taste    Cilantro

to taste    Salt & Pepper

to taste    Tabasco

to taste    Sugar

Method:  Combine and Puree about ¼ of the mix.

Lavender Chicken

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Ingredients:

2 ½ lbs.    Chicken (marinated, grilled and fully cooked)

1 each     Red Onion (1/4 moon slice)

¼ bunch     Celery (cut the same shape as the onions)

½  cups     Toasted Pinenuts

2 Tbsp.    Lavender herb mix (see recipe)

2 each    Lemons (filleted and tossed in sugar and salt & pepper)

¾  cups     Apple cider vinegar

½  cups     Olive oil

To taste   Salt & Pepper

Method:

Method:  Cut the chicken in fine strips.  Toss with all other ingredients.

Lavender Herb Mix:

Ingredients:

¼  cup     Lavender (picked)

¼  cup      Rosemary (picked)

1/8  cup    Thyme (picked)

1/8 cup      Oregano (picked)

1/8 cup      Sage (if available)

¼  cup      Parsley

Method:  Combine and chop all.

Marinade for Lavender Chicken:

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp.    Lavender (chopped measure)

1 Tbsp.    Rosemary (chopped)

1 Tbsp.    Garlic (puree)

2Tbsp.    Honey

1 ounce    Lemon Juice

¼  cup     Olive Oil

to taste    Salt & Pepper

Method:  Combine all.

Roast Mushroom Soup

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

**Yields 1 gallon of soup (16 portions)

Ingredients:

1 lb.     Mushroom (white or cremini), sliced

2 Tbsp.   Vegetable Oil

1/4 cup    White wine

1/4 lbs.     Butter

1 each       Medium onion, diced

4 Tbsp.      Tomato Paste

1/2 cup      AP flour

2 qts.          Water

2 cups         Heavy cream or Half & Half

to taste      Salt & Pepper

Method:

Toss sliced mushrooms in the oil and white wine. Roast in the oven (350F), stirring occasionally until uniformly golden brown. Melt butter in a large saucepot. Add onions and cook until slightly browned. Add tomato paste, cook slightly and add flour. Add water, and bring to simmer. Simmer for twenty minutes. Combine cream and soup. Heat, season and serve.

Note: A good topping is a savory whipped cream with Sherry or Port.

White Bean Soup

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

**Yield: 10 portions

Ingredients:

1 pound       White Beans (Dry) Great Northern or Cannelini Beans

1 pound       Diced Tomatoes in Juice (Hunt’s Petite)

1 each      Yellow Onion, large, chopped

½   tbsp.     Garlic, minced

¼  cup       Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 quarts      Water

1 each       Bay Leaves

Salt & Pepper to taste

Fresh herbs and/or prosciutto for garnish.

Method:

Soak beans overnight in water (at least one inch over dry beans). Drain.

Sauté onions in olive oil, add garlic, tomato paste. Add Diced tomatoes, bay and simmer for one to three hours. Season to taste.