Serenbe Style and Soul

with Marie Nygren

Recipe Articles

Thursday

28

January 2010

0

COMMENTS

Sheep’s Milk Ricotta Gnudi with Wild Mushrooms and Country Ham Broth

Written by , Posted in Linton Hopkins, Recipe Articles


Gnudi
  • 1 fresh sheep’s milk ricotta cheese
  • 1  large egg
  • 1/3 c  finely grated parmesan cheese
  • ½ tsp  salt
  • 3/4 c  all purpose flour plus additional for coating
1)    Drain ricotta for 24 hours to pull out whey

2)     Mix all and let rest for one hour

3)     Roll into small balls, dust with flour and reserve

4)     Heat salted water to a boil and boil gnudi for 1 and a half minutes. Place immediately into ice water to chill.

5)  When cold remove from water and coat with a small amount of olive oil, reserve












Wild Mushroom Saute
  •  2  c  mixed cleaned mushrooms (morels, chanterelles, porcini, wood ears) Use as many types as you would like or just one or two. Cultivated mushrooms work fine, they are just not as flavorful.
  • 1 ea. shallot, minced
  • 1 ea. lemon, zest
  • 4 tbl  unsalted butter
  • ½ c   chicken stock
  • 3 tbl chopped italian parsley
1)   Cut mushrooms into shapes which highlight their variety, Morels are good if split lengthwise and chanterelles if small enough are great whole.  Porcini are good sliced.

2)    Heat butter over medium high heat until foamy, add shallot and sweat for 1 to 2 min.

3)    Add mushrooms in order of density and desired cooking time (they will cook at different rates)

4)     When all mushrooms are in, bring heat to high and add stock. Reduce till glazed on mushrooms.

5)     Season well with salt and fresh ground black pepper. Add parsley and reserve.


Country Ham Broth
  • 1 qt  chicken stock no salt added
  • 1 oz  country ham scraps, including fat
  • 1 ea  shallot sliced
  • 1 ea  bay leaf
  • 1 tsp  sorghum syrup
1)     Heat ham scraps over high heat until just colored.

2)     Add onions and cook one min, add sorghum then bay leaf and stock.

3)     Cook for 20 min at a simmer.

4)     Strain and reduce by half, reduce.


PLATE
Gnudi, Mushrooms and Broth

Parmesan


1)    Heat a few tbl of oil in thick bottomed pan.
2)   Add gnudi and sauté till colored on two sides and warm throughout.
3)   Divide into 6 bowls.

4)    Top with mushrooms and pour over broth.

5)    Shave parmigiano over the top.


Serves 6

Friday

8

January 2010

3

COMMENTS

Southern Trifle

Written by , Posted in marie nygren, Recipe Articles, southern trifle

This is an easy and tasty dessert for a Southern Sunday dinner. It is lovely to use a homemade pound cake but in a pinch, I use Entemann’s.













Items needed for the trifle:
a loaf size pound cake
chocolate pudding (recipe below, it is very easy so don’t let it worry you)
whipped cream- recipe below
glass bowl/pyrex

Chocolate Pudding

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 7 tbsp flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 cups half and half cream, scalded
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup semi- sweet chocolate chips
Mix together sugar, flour, salt, and eggs. Stir in scalded milk. Return to heat and simmer stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat, add vanilla and cool to room temperature.
Whipped Cream
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • powdered sugar
  • vanilla
Beat heavy cream in mixer on high until thickened. Add powdered sugar and vanilla to taste.
**Note: Please never use Cool Whip, click attached link for all the reasons I do not ever use Cool Whip!
Have all ingredients ready for assembly.
Slice pound cake into 1/2 inch slices. In bowl, line bottom with cake. Then spoon 1 1/2 cups of pudding over the cake slices. Spoon 1/2 cup whipped cream over the pudding. Make another layer as before.

Finish with remaining cream and dust with cocoa powder for the finishing touch.

Monday

4

January 2010

5

COMMENTS

Farmhouse Biscuits

Written by , Posted in biscuits, marie nygren, Recipe Articles, Serenbe Farmhouse

The first Monday of the New Year has been a good day. I feel like I was finally able to catch my breath today. After the last two weeks of the holidays, cooking at the Farmhouse, interviewing since I lost my weekend fried chicken cook, helping with new recipes for the Daisy, holiday decorating and several family holiday dinners….. life here in Serenbe has been very full.

This week I am excited about trying out some new recipes the girls want to use at the Blue eyed Daisy. We will try many and have multiple taste testings……. sounds like a lot of fun.

For now though, my thoughts go to the biscuits at the Farmhouse. My plan was to post this recipe this week once I settled back into blogging and by coincidence, we received a comment the other day from a Farmhouse guest who requested the recipe. Perfect timing.

Upon the first bite of a Farmhouse Biscuit, the sound we most hear from guests is always the same…. “YUM”.

They have become a regular favorite at the Farmhouse, and I am happy to share the recipe for you to also enjoy them at home.

The ingredients are few but the flavor is delightful.

After mixing together the flour, butter, sour cream and chives in a large bowl, the muffin tin is ready to fill.

Just out of the oven, the muffins should be a nice golden brown.

Ready to serve!

Farmhouse Biscuits

  • 2 cups Lily White Self Rising Flour
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 sticks melted butter 
  • 1/4 cup chives
Preheat oven to 375º. Melt butter. In a bowl, combine flour, sour cream and chives and melted butter. Stir gently until combined. Put 1/4 cup mixture into greased muffin tin. Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden brown.

Makes approximately 12 biscuits.

Sunday

27

December 2009

0

COMMENTS

My mom’s Seafood soup

Written by , Posted in "margaret lupo", "mary mac's", Recipe Articles, seafood soup

Makes about 15 cups
Bring to a boil in heavy Dutch oven:
  • 5 cups chicken stock or canned chicken broth
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground white pepper
  • 2 dashes Tabasco sauce
  • 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
Add:
  • 1 bunch (about 12 ounces) well-washed fresh leeks (all but browned leaves), chopped
  • 1 bunch scallions, chopped
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced fine
Simmer for 30 minutes and add:
  • 3 large Idaho potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled and diced

Simmer for another 30 minutes. Mash potatoes and onion mixture in the stock thoroughly with a potato masher.

Add:
  • 4 cups milk
  • 2 cups heavy cream

Taste and reseason. This should be a thick, heavy, creamy soup. If too thick, thin with milk and taste for seasonings.

Add:
  • 2 cups cooked crabmeat, shrimp, or scallops**

Simmer soup for 5 minutes, and you have my favorite meal.

To steam crabs, place in pot with 2 inches of boiling water, 1 teaspoon of vinegar, and 2 teaspoons of salt. Cover and steam on high heat for approximately 30 minutes. Cool crab under cold tap water. Pick crab and drop crabmeat into soup.

If you use shrimp or scallops, sauté them quickly in butter, then add to the soup.

**my favorite addition is crabmeat. Steam live crabs and pick the meat from them or use pasteurized or frozen crab meat as a last resort. No canned seafood, please. The soup would be better with no seafood at all than with canned seafood.
From the cookbook: Southern Cooking from Mary Mac’s Tea Room by Margaret Lupo.

Wednesday

16

December 2009

1

COMMENTS

November Contest Winner!

Written by , Posted in cooking demo, inn at serenbe, marie nygren, Recipe Articles, Serenbe Farms

I am excited to announce the winner of November’s recipe contest featuring Sweet Potatoes.


I received many wonderful recipes so again I thank all who participated. Sent in by Tina Collins Eib, the combination of ingredients makes this one a real treat sent.


Sweet Potato Compote

  • 2 medium-sized sweet potatoes, peeled
  • 2 medium Fugi apples, peeled
  • 2 medium red pears, peeled
  • 1/4 cup dried red cherries
  • 1/2 stick non-salted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (fresh is great)
  • 2 Tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons toasted pecan pieces (optional)


Cut potatoes and fruit (omitting cherries) into bite-size pieces then cook potatoes first on med.-low heat in the butter until nearly soft, but slightly firm. Add the apples and pears sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cherries and continue cooking on medium heat, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, or until dried cherries have plumped and apples are nearly soft, but retain some firmness. Stir in pecan pieces.
Serve piping hot!



Serves 4-6.

Thursday

3

December 2009

0

COMMENTS

Butter Pea and Kale Gratin

Written by , Posted in "frank stitt", farm to table, kale, marie nygren recipes, Recipe Articles

I adapted this recipe from Frank Stitt’s original recipe with white beans and collard greens.

My favorite pea is the butter pea and my favorite green is kale so decided this combination would be simply delicious. We sampled this last night during our prep time in the kitchen and the aroma alone made our mouth water.

We are featuring the gratin on the Farmhouse menu this week as one of our side dishes.

Butter Pea and Kale Gratin

  • 4 garlic cloves chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 small red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch dice
  • 1 large bunch Kale (about 1 pound), thoroughly washed, blanched in boiling salted water until tender, drained, and chopped (to make two cups)
  • 3 cups butter peas, 1/2 cup cooking liquid reserved
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 rosemary sprig, leaves removed and finely chopped
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 450º.  In a large sauté pan, heat  the oil in medium-high heat. Add the onion and red pepper and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Add the kale and sauté for another minute, stirring to coat.

Transfer the sautéed vegetables to a large mixing bowl and add the butter peas, half of the Parmigiano, a splash of olive oil, the rosemary, and salt and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning and add a little of the reserved pea broth as needed to moisten.

Spread the pea mixture into the gratin dish. Top with the remaining cheese, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the top of the gratin is golden and crusty.

Serves 8-10.

Monday

23

November 2009

0

COMMENTS

Corn Pudding

Written by , Posted in corn, Recipe Articles

Here is another one of my favorite recipes we featured last week at the Farmhouse. It will make a wonderful addition to your holiday meal.













Corn Pudding

  • 2 1/2 cups corn, preferably Silver Queen
  • 1 cup half and half cream
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 tsp pepper
  • 3 tbs butter
  • 5 eggs, well beaten
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tbs cold water
Preheat oven to 350º. Simmer corn and cream for 10-20 minutes until reduced. Add butter and set aside to cool for 15 minutes. Mix the eggs, milk and seasonings well. Pour over corn and stir. Mix water and cornstarch to make a paste, add to corn mixture and pour into baking dish.
Cook until set, for about 1 hour.
Serves 8
** frozen corn can be used if fresh is not available.

Sunday

22

November 2009

0

COMMENTS

Getting ready for Thanksgiving

Written by , Posted in caramelized onions, marie nygren, Recipe Articles, sweet potatoes, thanksgiving

The holiday season is upon us and everyone this week is busy cooking, shopping, preparing for a special Thanksgiving day. The holidays remind me of the significance of sharing not only with your family but the community around you and how food is often the core of that sharing.

Food has always played a significant role in our household but we have also seen the subtle circle of energy it creates, the foundation it gives for enriching and nourishing a community on more than one level.

“And when I sit here and think about food, I think about how many people use it to bring people together. 

What is the subtle message with food?”

Perhaps because food is a common element for everyone. In community, food becomes another shared experience. The table also has a subtle energy; it become a container, a common space to discuss and share with others. Meals create a base for discussion and food is that common binding element.

A wonderful meal always gives people a reason to gather. Whether or not it is just for a few minutes, or an elaborate state dinner, food is the one element that continues to bring people together.

As you are gathering your recipes for your Thanksgiving meal, I thought I would share one of mine that is not only simple but also delicious.

Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Onions

  • 2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream, warmed
  • 1/2- 1 cup caramelized onions (click link to see how how to cook the onions)
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste
Bring the potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and water to cover to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, 15-20 minutes. Drain the potatoes with the butter and cream until smooth. Add 1/2- 1 cup of caramelized onions to taste. Season with salt and pepper.

Thursday

19

November 2009

0

COMMENTS

Culture Club in Serenbe

Written by , Posted in marie nygren, Recipe Articles, serenbe

 The Serenbe Culture Club came about when three of our residents decided to form a group where neighbors could gather, share their talents and  teach each other a craft. A couple of days ago John Graham had agreed to having his living room re-styled. Dana and David Widmer wanted to teach the group how to take the existing things in your home, rearrange them a bit and create a whole new look for your home in just a few hours. 




Here is a picture of John’s bookcase before it was restyled and one after. 


You can see how well they are now displayed and just by simply grouping them together it really shows off his art objects.                                                                                


                                                          


We also had a contest for people to bring their most stylish appetizer. John and I were the judges and we decided it would be a real treat to feature the winning recipe on my blog.


Julie McKinney, a very creative Serenbe resident made a wonderful appetizer featuring baby portabella mushrooms. Not only was it delicious but the presentation made her the winner for the most stylish appetizer.




Baby Portabella Spinach Salad Appetizer
  • 1 lb. fresh baby portabella mushrooms
  • 1 bag spinach
  • 1T garlic
  • 1/4 lb. bacon ( I used apple smoked), chopped into small bits
  • 1 Granny Smith apple
  • horseradish (jar)
  • 1 t salt
In a skillet, fry up bacon bits. (retain grease)
Clean mushrooms, removing stems.
Remove bacon bits from grease, and place mushroom heads in skillet and heat on med for five minutes. Drain on paper towel.
Then add 1 bag spinach w/ 1T garlic, and 1t salt, stir on med heat until wilted.

To mushroom heads add:
granny smith apple slice, approx. 1/4″x 1/2″
cooked spinach, just enough to cover apple
1/4 t horseradish
bacon bits



**photos courtesy of Janice Barton

Friday

13

November 2009

2

COMMENTS

Cooking day with Good Mews

Written by , Posted in good mews animal foundation, inn at serenbe, marie nygren, Recipe Articles

A wonderful day of cooking was in store for a group of volunteers from Good Mews Animal Foundation. Good Mews is a non-profit, no-kill, cage free shelter for cats in Marietta and when my friend Dana asked if I would arrange a cooking day for some of the volunteers, I knew we would have great fun.
My usual menus always include southern cooking but we decided to go for something different for this group of friends. The menu included 2 pasta dishes; linguine with caramelized onions, mushrooms and parsley and penne with corn, tomatoes and caramelized onions. We also made homemade breadcheese soufflé, arugula salad, and blueberry cobbler for dessert.
I couldn’t let the day pass without teaching the beauty of adding caramelized onions to a dish to add a special twist. We even cooked scrambled eggs with the onions for everyone to sample and then added a small amount of cider vinegar for an added twist.

I think everyone would say it was a fun and delicious day. Click onto all of my links for the recipes to some of the days treats.

Here is the salad recipe:

Arugula, Pear, Pecan and Bluecheese salad w/ Apple Cider vinaigrette
  •  6 cups of arugula
  • 2 ripe pears
  • ½ cup crumbled blue cheese
  • ½ cup toasted pecan pieces
Apple Cider Vinaigrette

  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
Wash 6 cups arugula and dry. Place greens in large salad bowl. Slice pears and add to greens. Toss salad with vinaigrette. Top with pecans and blue cheese.

Note: Granny smith apples may be substituted for pears. Serves 6.