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December 30, 2011

Champagne Ginger Cocktail

Ted Allen – the Emmy Award-winning host of Food Network’s “Chopped” – combines sugar and spice in this sweet cocktail. Perfect for a New Year’s Eve partygoer who appreciates a kick!

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What You’ll Need

Ginger-Infused Simple Syrup:
½ cup water
½ cup sugar
½ cup sliced ginger (about 2 ounces)
½ cup vodka

Cocktail and Garnish
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 lemon, sliced into wedges
3 Tablespoons candied ginger, cubed for garnish
1 bottle chilled sparkling wine

What You’ll Do

For the syrup: Simmer water, sugar, and sliced ginger in a small saucepan for 10 minutes. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in vodka. Chill for 2 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, strain to remove the ginger pieces.

For the garnish: Spread the sugar into a thin layer on a plate. Coat the rim of the glass with the juice from the lemon wedge and immediately dredge in the plate of sugar. Add a few pieces of candied ginger to each glass.

Pour 1 Tablespoon of the ginger-infused simple syrup over the ginger pieces and top with the sparkling wine until the glass is 2/3 full.

Makes 8 servings.

December 28, 2011

Bacon Water Chestnut Wraps

Planning your New Year’s Eve party menu? Here’s a sure winner to add to the lineup!

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Bacon Water Chestnut Wraps
allrecipes.com

1 pound sliced bacon
2 (8 ounce) cans whole water chestnuts, drained
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup chili sauce

Cut bacon strips in half. In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until almost crisp; drain. Wrap each bacon piece around a water chestnut and secure with a toothpick. Place in an ungreased 13-inch x 9-inch x 2-inch baking dish.

Combine the brown sugar, mayonnaise, and chili sauce; pour over water chestnuts. Bake, uncovered, at 350º for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Yields 10 servings.

December 27, 2011

Peppermint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

What are you going to do with all those candy canes that were never eaten during the holidays? Here’s a great suggestion…

Any time we can think of an excuse to try one of Giada’s recipes, we sprint into the kitchen and throw on an apron. And with the holidays in full swing, it’s not hard to find reasons to whip up seasonal sweets – holiday parties and hostess gifts to name a couple.

The celeb chef’s peppermint-chocolate sandwich cookies are the extremely delicious solution to all of the above situations. Gooey mint-infused chocolate is squeezed between two sugar cookies topped with crunchy candy cane flakes – they’re (almost) too pretty to eat!

abv_recipes_20111203_0097-344

Peppermint-Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis, abullseyeview.com

1 (16.5 ounce) tube refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1/4 cup all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
Decorating suggestion: crushed candy canes
Special equipment: a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, and a 1/2-ounce cookie scoop

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven.

In a medium bowl, knead together cookie dough and 1/4 cup flour until smooth. Lightly flour a work surface. Roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thick. Using a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out circles from the dough. Knead together any scraps of dough and roll out again. Continue to cut out pastry circles until there are 24 pieces in total.

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Place the dough circles on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until cookies are slightly golden around the edges, about 10 minutes. Cool and transfer to a wire rack. Reserve 1 parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Combine 1 cup of chocolate chips and cream in a small bowl. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Whisk in the peppermint extract and refrigerate mixture for 1 hour.

Using a 1/2-ounce cookie scoop or a tablespoon measure, place the chocolate mixture in the center of the flat side of 12 of the cookies. Place the remaining cookies on top and gently squeeze to distribute filling evenly. Place on a baking sheet and freeze until filling has set, about 25 minutes.

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Combine the remaining chocolate chips and the vegetable oil in a small bowl. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.

Dip the top of each cookie in the melted chocolate and return to baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with crushed candy canes. Refrigerate until firm and serve!

Yields 1 dozen sandwich cookies.

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December 23, 2011

Christmas Eve Champagne Punch

A great traditional Holiday Champagne Punch to serve on Christmas Eve with the family!

Champagne Punch 051
image: betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

Christmas Eve Champagne Punch
tastebook.com

1 container of Raspberry, Orange or Rainbow Sherbet (or whatever flavor you prefer)
1 two liter bottle of Ginger Ale
1 Magnum bottle of Asti Spumante Champagne (our favorite)
1 bag of frozen fruit (strawberries/peaches)
Freeze a pretty mold of ice

Empty one container of sherbet in a large punch bowl, add the fruit. Pour in the 2 liter bottle of Ginger Ale and one bottle of Champagne. Gently put in the ice mold.

Let the Holiday CHEERS begin!!!

December 22, 2011

Foolproof Standing Rib Roast

Divinely Delicious Foolproof Standing Rib Roast! A virtually stress-free recipe for a Christmas favorite!

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Foolproof Standing Rib Roast
Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen

1 (5-pound) standing rib roast
1 Tablespoon House Seasoning, recipe follows

Allow roast to stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 375°. Rub roast with House Seasoning; place roast on a rack in the pan with the rib side down and the fatty side up. Roast for 1 hour. Turn off oven. Leave roast in oven but do not open oven door for 3 hours.

About 30 to 40 minutes before serving time, turn oven to 375° and reheat the roast. Important: Do not remove roast or re-open the oven door from time roast is put in until ready to serve.

House Seasoning
1 cup salt
¼ cup black pepper
¼ cup garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Serves 6-8. Great paired with a rich, intense wine like Cabernet Sauvignon.

December 21, 2011

Almond Roca Cookies

Now what would Christmas be without special holiday cookies? I’ve been as busy as one of Santa’s little elves rolling, cutting, frosting, painting, and sprinkling my way through batches and batches of cookie dough. What fun! My husband came home from shopping yesterday and stopped dead in his tracks when he hit the kitchen. Bless his heart, he valiantly waded through the ravages of my reckless abandon and got to work tidying up, muttering something under his breath about how one woman could wreak such havoc in a kitchen. (Who me?) His efforts were justly rewarded with a cup of Joe and an Almond Roca cookie (recipe below) and all was forgiven. (Easy mark, huh?)

Historically, cookies were created by accident. It seems cooks would take a small portion of their cake batter to test the oven temperature before making a regular sized cake. These little test cakes were called “koekje”, which means “little cake” in Dutch.

Cookies by modern definition are made with sweet dough or batter and baked in single sized servings to eat out of hand. They are consumed in an estimated 95.2% of all United States households and Americans are reported to enjoy over 2 billion cookies a year, which comes out to be about 300 cookies per person. Up your count and try one of these delicious treats!

almondrocacookies

Almond Roca Cookies
Paula Anderson

FOR THE COOKIES:
2½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup dark brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package (12 ounces) toffee bits
1 cup coarsely ground almonds

FOR THE GLAZE:
4 ounces milk chocolate
½ Tablespoon vegetable oil

To prepare the cookies: Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside. In a large bowl, blend sugars together on medium speed of electric mixer. Add butter and mix to form a grainy paste. Add eggs and vanilla and mix at medium speed until light and fluffy. Slowly (low speed) add the reserved flour mixture and then the toffee bits. Mix until just blended being careful not to over-mix.

Place ground almonds in a small bowl. Using hands, roll pieces of dough into 1½-inch balls, and then roll in the almonds. Place on parchment lined baking sheets several inches apart. Bake in a preheated 300° oven for 22 minutes; transfer cookies to a cooling rack.

To prepare the glaze: Combine milk chocolate and vegetable oil and melt in microwave on HIGH using 10 second increments, stirring until smooth. Using a small spoon, drizzle melted chocolate over cooled cookies. Let stand until chocolate is firmly set.

Yields 4 dozen cookies.

December 20, 2011

Holiday Subscripton Offer 2011

What’s the perfect gift for… the foodie on your list? The relative or friend who is currently a Mainer in exile, longing for a taste of their home state? The person who has everything? Yourself?

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It’s not too late to order the gift of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, a gift that will continue giving all year long with great recipes, local chef profiles, in-depth articles, and stunning photography.

Give the gift of Maine’s original food magazine, and make someone smile this holiday season. We’ll send the recipient a gift letter stating this gift is from you. Subscribe today for yourself or someone special on your holiday list!

Happy Holidays to you and those you love!

Melanie Hyatt & Jim Bazin

Alfajore Sandwich Cookies

How is it that I have lived thus far in ignorance of the Alfajore cookie?

I’ve just returned from South America with most of my travel time spent in Argentina. In a country that is 85% European heritage, it’s not surprising to find strong ties to different cultural heritages, German being one.

Sometimes called Alfajores Danubio, these cookies seem to be the national snack of Argentina and consist of a lemon or almond shortbread sandwich cookie nicely glued together with a generous dollop of Dulce de Leche, which is literally translated “milk jam” and regularly eaten for breakfast.

Argentina is the world’s largest producer of Dulce de Leche, (which Ben and Jerry’s ice cream may have helped to get on America’s radar). Now McDonald’s, Smuckers, Ben and Jerry’s, Haagen Dazs, and Hershey all use this flavor, which tastes like caramel.

Dulce de Leche is made by simply cooking down whole milk with a bit of sugar and vanilla to make a thick and delightfully fattening caramel filling. Some bakeries finish off the sandwich cookie with a quick roll in coconut on the sticky edge. These are beyond good and I like them best eaten in this traditional form. Now, of course, bakers are guilding the lily and offering Alfajores dipped in chocolate, sandwiched with homemade jams, for which Argentina is rightfully famous, or filled with mousse, etc. But give me the original any day of the week for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

My travel companion and I began to joke early on in our trip “Dulce de Leche, it’s not just for breakfast anymore!” You may agree.

I plan to add this new cookie revelation to my Christmas cookie tray this year.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Laura Cabot and the staff of Laura Cabot Catering!

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image: flamingomusings.com Continue reading “Alfajore Sandwich Cookies” »

December 19, 2011

Blitzen’s Chocolate Cocktail

I confess to being rather a purist when it comes to cocktails – my two fave indulgences are either an icy cold Grey Goose martini (stirred and NOT shaken) or a glass of really good bubbly (Piper Heidsieck in case you every want to gift me a bottle!) but every once in awhile, I get really bodacious in the booze department and enjoy something totally different. This holiday cocktail is so delicious that it can be served in place of dessert after a holiday meal. Cheers!

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Blitzen’s Chocolate Cocktail
Paula Anderson

2 ounces semisweet chocolate
1/3 cup chocolate flavored sprinkles (“Jimmies” as we know them in Maine)
1 cup chocolate ice cream
2 ounces (1/4 cup) Bailey’s™ Irish cream liqueur
1 ounce (2 Tablespoons) dark crème de cacao liqueur
1 ounce (2 Tablespoons) vodka
Grated chocolate for garnish (optional)

Place semisweet chocolate in a microwave-safe container and melt in microwave on HIGH using 10 second increments until smooth, stirring often. Dip the rims of eight 1-ounce shot glasses in the melted chocolate and then dip in the Jimmie’s. Chill until serving time.

Combine ice cream, Bailey’s, crème de cacao, and vodka in blender. Cover and blend until smooth.

Pour into prepared glasses and garnish with grated chocolate. Serve immediately.

Makes 8 (1-oz.) servings.

December 18, 2011

Antipasto Kabobs

These do-ahead appetizers are always a hit. Great for holiday parties!

kabobs
Antipasto Kabobs
image and recipe courtesy of tasteofhome.com

1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini
40 pimiento-stuffed olives

40 large pitted ripe olives

¾ cup
Italian salad dressing
40 thin slices pepperoni

20 thin slices hard salami, halved

Fresh parsley sprigs, optional

Cook tortellini according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the tortellini, olives and salad dressing. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Drain and discard marinade. For each appetizer, thread a stuffed olive, folded pepperoni slice, tortellini, folded salami piece, ripe olive and parsley sprig if desired on a toothpick or short skewer.

Yields 40 appetizers.

December 15, 2011

Horseradish-Crusted Steak Roulade

This impressive dish will wow your friends and family. Roll peppers, herbs, and cheese into flank steak, then coat with breadcrumbs for a crisp crust. When you slice the roast, each piece shows off some of the red and green filling.

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image: Con Poulos

Horseradish-Crusted Steak Roulade
recipe and image courtesy of foodnetwork.com

For the Steak:

2 red bell peppers, stemmed, halved lengthwise and seeded
3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 leek, white and light-green parts only, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1  2¼-to-2½-pound flank steak, trimmed
½ pound sliced provolone cheese (about 8 slices)

For the Crust:

¾ cup breadcrumbs
3 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
3 Tablespoons drained horseradish
3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Prepare the stuffing for the steak: Preheat the broiler and place the peppers cut-side down on a foil-lined broiler pan. Broil until the skin is charred, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover with a plate, and set aside until cool enough to handle. Peel the peppers with your fingers or a paring knife. If necessary, lightly rinse to remove any remaining skin and pat dry.

Preheat the oven to 425°. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leek and garlic and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, and season with salt and pepper. Let cool.

Gently pound the steak with the flat side of a mallet or heavy skillet until ¼ inch thick. Lay out on a cutting board with the long side facing you and season with salt and pepper. Place the roasted peppers evenly over the meat, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Top with the cheese slices, then the leek mixture. Roll the meat away from you into a tight cylinder, tucking in the filling as you roll.

Make the crust: Mix the breadcrumbs, rosemary, parsley, horseradish, olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste in a medium bowl until moistened. Brush the steak roll with a bit of olive oil and press the breadcrumb mixture over the top and sides. Tie the roll with twine in three or four places, making sure it’s not too tight (you want the crust to stay intact).

Place the steak roll on a rack in a roasting pan and roast until the crust is golden and a thermometer inserted into the center registers 130° for medium-rare, about 45 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 15 minutes. Carefully cut off the twine, then slice the roll crosswise into 1-inch pieces.

Serves 4.

December 14, 2011

Tom and Jerry

Invented in the early 1850s by “Professor” Jerry Thomas — the Bolívar of American drinking — at the Planters’ House hotel, St. Louis, the Tom and Jerry was a holiday favorite for a century.

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Tom and Jerry

image and recipe from esquire.com

12 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 bottle brandy
Pinch of ground allspice
Pinch of ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground cloves
1 bottle dark rum
Milk

Nutmeg

Separate the eggs. Beat the whites until they form a stiff froth, and the yolks — to which you have added the sugar — “until they are as thin as water,” as the professor advises, gradually adding 4 ounces brandy (spiceaholics will also add a pinch each of ground allspice, cinnamon, and cloves). Fold the whites into the yolks.

When ready to serve, give it another stir and then put 1 Tablespoon of this batter in a small mug or tumbler. Now add 1 ounce brandy (although some die-hard Dixiecrats prefer bourbon) and 1 ounce Jamaican rum, stirring constantly to avoid curdling. Fill to the top with hot milk and stir until you get foam. Sprinkle a little grated nutmeg on top. This one may require practice and a certain amount of fiddling, but it’s well worth the effort.

Note: Some people find the milk too rich and filling, so they use half hot milk, half boiling water.

December 13, 2011

Peppermint Semifreddo

For those of you without an ice-cream maker, this recipe is a way for you to make a sophisticated frozen-dairy dessert without having to make the appliance purchase.

peppermintsemifreddorecipePeppermint Semifreddo
recipe and image from 101cookbooks.com

1/2 cup peppermint candies (divided), I like the vintage looking ones, and buy the ones made with natural dyes when I can find them.
3 large organic eggs, separated
1/2 cup granulated sugar (divided)
1/3 cup peppermint liquor
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled

Start by putting the peppermint candies in a paper or plastic baggy – crush them into little chunks (not dust) with a rolling pin.

Now you are going to whip the cream. Pour all of the cream into a medium-sized bowl and whisk until soft, floppy peaks form – they should be lazy peaks, if they look pert and perky, you’ve gone too far. Place the whipped cream in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.

Prepare an ice bath by filling an extra-large bowl with water and ice cubes. I don’t like to sacrifice all those perfectly good ice cubes so I usually throw a couple bags of frozen corn (still in the bag) into the water instead. Set the ice bath aside.

Set a large heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. You need to move quickly here, so have everything right on hand. Add the egg yolks and 1/4 cup of the sugar, and quickly start whisking – whisk until the mixture starts to pale, 30 seconds or so. Add the peppermint liquor and whisk like you’ve never whisked before until the mixture starts to thicken (somewhere between 30 seconds and 2 minutes depending on the heat). Quickly move the bowl from the stove and set it in the ice bath. Whisk the mixture until it is cool to the touch. Keep the pot of water simmering.

Take another heatproof bowl (you can use the one from your electric mixer if you’ve got one) and set it over the simmering water, whisk the egg whites and the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Start whisking, you want the sugar to dissolve and the egg whites to warm up a touch – the heat makes it easier to whip them. After a minute or so remove them from the heat and whisk the whites until they have glossy peaks – four or five minutes. They should be structured and stiff.

Time to put it all together: Gently fold the egg-whites into the egg yolk mixture. Pull the whipped cream from the refrigerator and fold that in as well. Add half the crushed peppermint candies, and fold in with as few strokes as possible. One of the reasons I add the peppermint candies in the end is because I don’t want them to stain everything pink. If you stir them too much you are going to get pink.

Spoon the mixture into serving glasses.

This dessert is rich in heavy cream, so I like to do tiny portions of it served in little vintage shot-shaped glasses. Just the right amount of sweet to end a meal without putting you over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining peppermint candies and place in the freezer until it firms up, an hour or so.

This recipe will make a dozen or so desserts, depending on the size of your glasses.

December 10, 2011

Brie and Roasted Garlic Appetizer

Quick, festive, great flavor combinations = a perfect party appetizer!

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image: bakedbree.com

Brie and Roasted Garlic Appetizer
recipelink.com

2 whole garlic bulbs
1 (12-ounce) round Brie cheese, room temperature
1 (6-ounce) jar roasted red peppers or 2-3 whole roasted peppers, drained and cut in bite-sized strips (can use 2-3 home-roasted peppers)
Small bread slices of your choice (I’ve used French bread and miniature pitas)
Chutneys (optional)

Preheat oven to 375º.

If the garlic has several layers of skin, remove all but a couple (don’t peel it down to the cloves). Place the garlic on a baking sheet (or in a fancy garlic roaster if you have one) and bake for about 45 minutes or until cloves are soft.

Place the Brie in the center of a serving plate. Separate the garlic cloves and surround the brie with them.

Serve with the peppers and breads.

To eat, spread a bread slice with the brie, squeeze on roasted garlic and spread and top with a slice of roasted pepper or chutney.

December 6, 2011

Orange Ale Eggnog

There are as many different types of eggnog as there are people who love the drink. The recipe featured here is a refreshing rendition.

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image: janeausten.co.uk

Orange Ale Eggnog
from eggnogaholic.com

2 quarts orange juice, chilled
½ cup lemon juice
6 eggs
¼ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cloves
1 quart vanilla ice cream
1 quart ginger ale, chilled
Nutmeg

Mix together 3 cups of the orange juice, the lemon juice, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in a very large mixing bowl. Gently beat with a mixer or rotary beater. Stir in remaining orange juice; cover and refrigerate.

Just before serving, pour eggnog mixture into large punch bowl. Carefully scoop ice cream into bowl. Add the ginger ale. Blend all with wire wisk. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Makes about 30 – ½ cup servings.

December 5, 2011

Appetizer Wreath Recipe

If you’re looking for an easy and fun appetizer to take to your holiday party, well here it is!

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Appetizer Wreath Recipe
cdkitchen.com

2 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent rolls
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon dill weed
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 cup chopped fresh broccoli florets
1 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
Celery leaves

Remove crescent dough from packaging (do not unroll). Cut each tube into eight slices. Arrange in an 11-inch circle on an ungreased 14-inch pizza pan. Bake at 375º for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before carefully removing to a serving platter; cool completely.

In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, dill and garlic powder until smooth. Spread over wreath; top with broccoli, celery and red pepper. Form a bow garnish with celery leaves.

Serves 16.

November 25, 2011

Hartstone Inn For the Holidays

If you are looking for a truly magical dining experience for yourself and those you love this coming holiday season, look no further than Camden’s Hartstone Inn. Publisher Jim Bazin, my son, Jacob, and I enjoyed fine dining at its best there for an afternoon seating of Thanksgiving this year.

The menu was heavenly, and every dish was a rare treat of the most perfectly blended flavors.

For starters, our taste buds were awakened by the Shrimp Timbale with Roasted Butternut Squash and a Thyme-Cream. Beautifully presented and mouth-watering.

ShrimpTimbale_7158Shrimp Timbale with Roasted Butternut Squash and Thyme-Cream.

On to the next course, a Sweet Potato, Rutabaga and Green Apple Soup with a Maple-Cream. We heard an exclamation of “mmm” from around the dining room. Another perfect fusion of flavors and another work of art.

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Caught in the act: Savoring the Sweet Potato, Rutabaga and Green Apple Soup with a Maple-Cream. My son Jacob said “This is so good it could be dessert.”

A Cranberry-Lemon Sorbet came to clear our palates, a small portion but an appropriate tangy taste of the holidays which prepared us for the main course, Rosemary-Roasted Turkey with a Pecan-Apricot Dressing and Shallot Smashed Potatoes. The Turkey was so moist, the dressing, potatoes, squash, and stuffing divine. I knew Chef Michael Salmon was in the kitchen.

And lo and behold, the master appeared at our table to say hello and serve us his signature souffle dessert, this one a Pumpkin Soufflé with a Spiced Crème Anglaise. It was to die for!

I must make note here that the wonderful service put this already amazing meal over the top. Our warm and attentive servers made sure our every need was catered to, and we greatly enjoyed our time talking with Chef Michael’s wife, Innkeeper Mary Jo. We enjoyed their genuine hospitality, warm atmosphere, and superb feast.

The Hartstone is offering special dining all this winter with weekly specials, and check out their amazing Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Menu.

Spend some time at the Hartstone Inn this season and add more wonderful memories to your holiday!

Pumpkin Lasagna

Trying to please a mixed crowd this year for the holidays? With my gatherings, there are often a couple vegetarians, a vegan or two, and several gourmands. This recipe for Pumpkin Lasagna will suit everyone but the lactose intolerant.

We love this dish because it may be made ahead, frozen or not, and packs a bundle of seasonal flavor. I can even imagine it layered with a savory stuffing, and cutting back on the noodles…if carbs didn’t matter. If you grew pumpkin this year use your freshly cooked sugar pumpkin or a dry squash like buttercup. Canned works well, too. Make sure you grab the plain pumpkin purée and not the pie mix! The flavors of this lasagna remind me of a sage butter dressed butternut ravioli and is so much easier!

Perfect on its own, this dish does play well with others and I can use my still flourishing Swiss chard as an ingredient. What’s better than eating out of the garden?!

Pair with a Pouilly Fuisse or another great white.

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image: lifecurrents.dw2.net Continue reading “Pumpkin Lasagna” »

November 23, 2011

Hot Sausage Stuffing

This Thanksgiving, try making Betsy Allport’s Hot Sausage Stuffing!

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image: kitchenparade.com Continue reading “Hot Sausage Stuffing” »

Flagstone’s Fruit Compote

Every family has certain dishes that a holiday meal just wouldn’t be complete without, and this very unusual fruit compote fits that description for my family. There would be a major uprising if this side dish was not served with the ham for Easter and the turkey on Thanksgiving.

My late uncle, Paul Hodgdon, was the Executive Chef at Flagstone’s Restaurant in Newington, New Hampshire (a few miles from Portsmouth) when I was a child. I’m not sure whether he developed this recipe himself or if it was an in-house recipe, but the restaurant became famous for this fruit salad. My Mom has passed the recipe down to my sisters and me and we are all carrying on the tradition of serving it during the holidays. Flagstone’s burned down more than 30 years ago but whenever we drive by the location, I have to smile as I remember the wonderful food Uncle Paul prepared, both at the restaurant and in the kitchen with my Nanie, who was also a fabulous cook. (Who says being a foodie isn’t a genetic condition?)

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image: delish.com Continue reading “Flagstone’s Fruit Compote” »