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)
Archive for October, 2010
Josh and Katie’s Wedding
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010What’s the difference between soup and chowder? / Corn and Crab Chowder, Tomato Basil Bisque
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010Have 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, 2010As 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:
- 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.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 or 3 cookie sheets with aluminum foil, shiny side up.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the biscotti is crispy and lightly toasted.
- 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, 2010Ingredients:
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, 2010Ingredients:
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, 2010Stick 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, 2010Ingredients:
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, 2010Ingredients:
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.




































































