Serenbe Style and Soul

with Marie Nygren

marie nygren

Monday

7

September 2009

0

COMMENTS

Tomato, Vidalia Onion and Watercress Salad

Written by , Posted in cooking blog, marie nygren, Recipe Articles, serenbe, Serenbe Farmers Market, tomatoes


If you are looking for a way to enjoy a last blast of your summer tomatoes, this salad recipe makes a lovely addition to your collection.

Tomato, Vidalia Onion and Watercress Salad with Buttermilk Vinaigrette
  • 6 large ripe heirloom tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 large Vidalia onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 bunches watercress
  • 1 buttermilk vinaigrette recipe (see below)
On a platter, scatter the watercress. Lay the tomatoes on watercress and scatter onions across tops of tomatoes. Pour vinaigrette over entire salad.
For the Buttermilk Vinaigrette dressing, I love Frank Stitt’s recipe. He is one of my favorite Southern chefs.
  • 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar or cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 shallot, finely minced
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 cup of mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, lemon juice, shallot, and salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the buttermilk, mayonnaise, and sour cream. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Taste and adjust the seasoning. (The vinaigrette can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.)

Tuesday

1

September 2009

1

COMMENTS

Bringing Serenbe style to Quinn’s house

Written by , Posted in black bean casserole, marie nygren, Recipe Articles, serenbe


Recently I took my youngest daughter back to school at the University of Colorado-Boulder to set up her first house and kitchen. Quinn has a house on campus with two girlfriends. All three girls invited their mom’s to help them set up.
Upon leaving Atlanta Quinn said to me, “Mom, you are going to bring Serenbe style and soul to this house, aren’t you?” With that I responded, “Of course!!

It was a fast filled two and a half days setting up their house. Luckily one of the girls moms got the kitchen organized with three sets of pans from each girl. It was so evident that the girls liked to cook as each had their own set of cookware, utensils, etc. Probably the best set up kitchen for three college seniors, fully equipped with a Cuisinart, wonderful knives, coffee pots, rice cookers, etc.


The one thing Quinn really wanted was for me to show her how to make her favorite childhood dish that I created when my girls were little. When they were growing up one of their favorite things to eat were black beans and rice. One day it came to me to make a casserole, kind of like a Mexican lasagna. So simple and easy to make and best to make in a Lodge black cast iron skillet which I will tell you more about in my post below this one!

Here is the recipe for my Black Bean Casserole:

  • 12 6″ corn tortillas

  • 1 lb. bag of black beans, cooked or 2 cans black beans (rinsed)
  • 1 4oz. can chopped green chiles
  • 3 cups cooked rice
  • 3/4 lb. pepper or monterey jack shredded cheese
  • 1 1/2 – 2 cups salsa (depending on taste)
  • 1 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 375º. Mix cooked rice with black beans, salsa, sour cream and green chiles. Using a 12″ Lodge cast iron skillet layer 4 tortillas, then rice mixture, then shredded cheese.

Repeat with remaining tortillas, filling and cheese. You will have a total of three layers. On the top layer add additional salsa. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted.


Friday

28

August 2009

0

COMMENTS

Southern Chef Series with Natalie Dupree

Written by , Posted in inn at serenbe, marie nygren, nathalie dupree, serenbe, Southern Chef Series

We have updated some of our original dates for our Southern Chef Series with Natalie Dupree.

Our new schedule is Sunday, October 11- Monday, October 12.
Natalie will be teaching “mastering the art of southern cooking” to a group of 10 guests. Days will be spent with Nathalie both cooking, learning her favorite recipes and hearing her wonderful stories of her many cooking adventures. 
 The chef series features Sunday and Monday afternoon cooking with Nathalie, lunch and dinner including wine and a one night stay at the Serenbe inn for each guest will be $295.
Please call the Serenbe inn at 770.463.2610 for more information and reservations.
We are very fortunate to have this opportunity to share Nathalie with 10 lucky guests! Please don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity. This will be a wonderful event to plan with your friends for a lovely little get-a-way.
As a personal friend, stay tuned to my blog for some memories and stories I have of Nathalie and her history with my mom.

Thursday

27

August 2009

0

COMMENTS

Atlanta Magazine

Written by , Posted in atlanta magazine, farm to table, grits, inn at serenbe, marie nygren, Recipe Articles, serenbe, The Hil

This month Atlanta magazine is featuring a wonderful farm to table local eating guide which is very exciting for me because it features both the Farmhouse and the Hil restaurant both located in Serenbe.

The Hil is owned and operated by the restaurant’s namesake Chef Hilary White and husband Jim White. The Hil is their vision for a refined, yet informal, neighborhood restaurant, with a dedication to serving simple, farm-fresh cuisine.

The magazine also features two of my recipes that I know you will enjoy! One is for my grits souffle and the other is for a wonderful summer salad with Cucumber, Fennel, Onion and Mint with a delicious Buttermilk Vinaigrette.


“This dish has been a favorite at The Inn at Serenbe since we opened in 1996. It works great for breakfast, a brunch, or even dinner. I love using fresh collards from Serenbe Farms, but kale works well also. The addition of stone-ground grits, we use JennyJack Grits, adds a lovely texture.  And, the beauty of the dish is it can be made the day before.”

Here is my Grits Souffle recipe for you to enjoy.


  • 1 lb. grated sharp chedder cheese or goat cheese
  • 6 farm fresh or free range eggs, lightly whipped
  • 2 cups cooked Jenny Jack grits**
  • 1 cup cooked collards, chopped and drained
  • 2-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or pressed
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2-4 dashes of tabasco
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until well blended. Pour into a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Bake in a 350º oven for 35-40 minutes until golden brown.

** Grits
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup grits
  • Boil water. Add grits and cook 5 minutes

Please click Atlanta Magazine for the summer salad recipe.

Friday

21

August 2009

0

COMMENTS

Harvey’s Garlic Coleslaw

Written by , Posted in inn at serenbe, marie nygren, Recipe Articles, Serenbe Farmhouse

My father only made two things in the kitchen his entire life.
One was popcorn and the other was his garlic coleslaw. To this day, people rave about his coleslaw and it is still one of my favorites.
Harvey’s Garlic Coleslaw
  • 1 head cabbage
  • 3-6 cloves of garlic
  • 1/2 cup of mayonnaise (either Duke’s or Hellman’s)
  • 1/2 cup of Heinz white vinegar
  • salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Slice cabbage with mandolin set at 1/4. Chop the garlic and rub along bottom and sides of bowl. Add the cabbage and mix with your hands. Mix the mayonnaise and vinegar well.

Pour small amount at a time into the cabbage and work with your hands until slightly wet.
Add salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.
One tip I always give everyone is, please do not allow any substitutions in the brand of mayonnaise or vinegar you use. It really does make a difference. And always use fresh ground pepper.
And if you really love garlic, I have been known to add up to 10 cloves per recipe!
The response I received from the eggplant souffle recipe was overwhelming so thank you for that. Going forward I will try to add recipes on a weekly basis so check back often for those.

Wednesday

19

August 2009

0

COMMENTS

Soul Food

Written by , Posted in "soul food", "vidalia onions", marie nygren, serenbe, Serenbe Farmhouse

Soul food feeds you on lots of different levels.

It’s all about soul nourishment, when you see a thing of beauty such as a plate of tomatoes or you smell caramelized Vidalia onions cooking, it’s just another example of nourishment for your soul.
For me the kitchen is the most soulful place in the house. It is the one room where you can play to all five senses. And those five receptors are channels into the soul.
“I feel when all five senses are charged, it just opens you up to so much of the beauty of life, to the creativity of life, the joy and the fun and the grace of it all.”
How do we honor those senses everyday? For me there is no better place to honor who we are than in the kitchen.
That is what I love about the kitchen. It has always been the center of all my houses because when you are cooking, what you are really doing is sharing your heart with others.
Creating a simple nutritious meal is about caring and loving one another. It says you love yourself and your family. It tells others you want to sit down with them and hear how they are. People don’t care if you make an elaborate 10 step soup. They just want to share.
That for me is the essential part of cooking: sharing your heart and soul with another.

Monday

17

August 2009

1

COMMENTS

Saturday

15

August 2009

1

COMMENTS

Margaret’s eggplant souffle

Written by , Posted in "margaret lupo", eggplant, marie nygren, Recipe Articles, Serenbe Farmhouse

I love to share with people why I am so passionate about cooking and what it brings to my life and others. Today while doing my cooking demo at the Serenbe Farmer’s market, you only had to see this small boy’s face when he tasted my mom’s eggplant souffle to understand. My demo today was “everything eggplant” and a young boy approached my table with his mom. When asked if he would like to try a sample he said no and insisted he did not like eggplant. I told him this wasn’t like regular eggplant and thought he would enjoy it. After some thought, he gave in. With hesitation in his eyes he took his first bite, chewing slowly and looking very serious. Finally he looked up at me, flashed a huge smile and proclaimed “I like it!”

Here is my mom’s eggplant souffle recipe:

Preheat oven to 350. Peel and cut into 1-inch cubes: 1 medium eggplant 
Bring to a boil in a heavy saucepan: 2 cups of water

1 teaspoon of salt
Add eggplant, simmer, covered, 10 minutes. Drain and mash. You should have about 1 1/2 cups of pulp.

Cut crusts off: 1 slice of white bread
Soak bread in: 3/4 cup of milk
Add:
2 beaten eggs
1 tablespoon of grated white onion
2 tablespoons of melted butter
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of white pepper

Add eggplant, mix well, and pour into 1-quart buttered baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees on the middle rack until souffle seems “set” in the middle, 30-45 minutes.

Friday

14

August 2009

0

COMMENTS

Serenbe Farmers market

Written by , Posted in Blue Eyed Daisy, cooking, farmhouse, inn at serenbe, marie nygren, serenbe, Serenbe Farmhouse

Tomorrow morning (Saturday, 8/15) at 10 am I will be having a cooking demo at the Serenbe Farmers market!

Come join the fun and shop around for beautiful art work, planters, fresh herbs and of course a wonderful selection of home grown veggies from Serenbe farms as well as other local farmers.
After shopping at the market, don’t forget to stop by the Blue eyed Daisy bakeshop for breakfast.
Tomorrow’s demo will be “all things eggplant”! So many people always tell me they don’t know what to do with eggplant or are afraid to cook it. Come see me and learn how to make three different dishes including my mom’s famous eggplant souffle. 
Stop by for a sample taste! I look forward to saying hello to you tomorrow.

Thursday

13

August 2009

0

COMMENTS

Hi/Lo

Written by , Posted in "serenbe style", home decor, ikea, marie nygren, serenbe, style, target

“Beauty does not come with a price tag”.


One of my favorite things is what I call Hi/Lo.

So often, people think that to get great style it has to be expensive. I love to tell people about my finds: a great deal on dining room chairs to go with my repurposed dining table, or that wonderful inexpensive floor lamp to add the finishing touches to a living area.
Some of the best places to shop for items that I just love are Target and Ikea. Did you know that Target on- line features eco friendly home decor at affordable prices? Or that Ikea has wonderful dining chairs to go with your dining table?
            
Recently we added some furniture to one of our green homes in Serenbe and came up with a wonderful mix of hi/lo. Imagine a designer dining table with $69 dining chairs from Ikea. Or a beautiful over sized wall clock for $100 from Target for a contemporary feel.
Look around you and there are so many lovely things you can add to your home to bring beauty into your life. Style doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to be a reflection of who you are and what you wish to share with others.
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About Marie Nygren

MarieNygrenBio-200x300

When people ask me what I do, I tell them I’m the co-founder of the Serenbe community and the Inn at Serenbe. But, the truest Read More...

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