Serenbe Style and Soul

with Marie Nygren

serenbe

Wednesday

28

October 2009

0

COMMENTS

Halloween Pumpkin Glow

Written by , Posted in "pumpkin glow", serenbe

Pumpkin Glow in Serenbe is one of the great highlights of our year! As you can see, the neighborhood starts early in getting their decorations ready for the big night.
Our night will begin with a lovely party at one of our resident’s homes and will be followed by a dance party on the Selborne green where we have our weekly farmer’s market.
These are just a sampling of what you’ll see in Serenbe for Halloween.

Come down and join the fun! The dance party is from 9- 12 midnight with our own DJ and everyone in costume.

Wednesday

28

October 2009

0

COMMENTS

The many faces of Serenbe

Written by , Posted in "turkey vultures", "wildflower meadow", goats, serenbe

The turkey vultures graced us with their presence about a year ago and have been with us ever since. These amazing birds spread their wings to let the sunshine aid in keeping them clean and germ free.
The wonders of nature never cease to amaze me.
Some of our goats at the Inn at Serenbe.

Nature is such a beautiful sight, no words need to be spoken.

On an evening walk this is a typical sight in our wildflower meadow!

Thursday

22

October 2009

2

COMMENTS

Nathalie’s Arugula and Herb Salad

Written by , Posted in marie nygren, nathalie dupree, Recipe Articles, serenbe, Southern Chef Series

Here is one of the wonderful recipes from Nathalie that we cooked during our Southern Chef Series. I know you will enjoy it as much as we did!
Nathalie Dupree’s Arugula and Herb Salad



    Dressing
  • 1/4 cup sherry vinegar

  • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil


    Salad

  • 4 dried figs, cherries, or cranberries
  • 1-2 Bosc pears
  • 8 cups wild and/or fresh arugula, baby spinach, Bibb and/or Boston lettuce
  • 1 cup lemon balm leaves, mint, thyme, and/or basil
  • 1 fennel bulb, sliced
  • 1/2 cup toasted pecan pieces (optional)
  • 3/4 cup croutons (optional)
  • 1/2 cup sliced or roughly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese



Whisk vinegar and mustard together; add salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in olive oil until dressing is emulsified. Cut off tough parts of figs and chop into small pieces. Peel and core pears and slice. Add fruit to dressing to soften figs and keep pears from turning color. Toss cleaned and stemmed greens and herbs together and set aside. Just before serving, add dressing to greens gradually, spooning in fruit. Toss until leaves are coated but not soggy. Taste and season with salt and pepper if necessary. Toss well with pecans, croutons, and cheese.

Saturday

17

October 2009

0

COMMENTS

Wednesday

14

October 2009

3

COMMENTS

Wednesday

14

October 2009

1

COMMENTS

Thursday

1

October 2009

0

COMMENTS

Recipe Contest!

Written by , Posted in "green beans", marie nygren, serenbe, Serenbe Farmhouse

Time is up for the October contest. Please check back in November for the chosen ingredient to submit your favorite recipe!

I am excited to tell my blog readers about a great new contest starting today and continuing each month for an entire year.

Beginning on the first day of each month, I will ask my readers to email a recipe featuring one specific ingredient that I choose.

For October we will be featuring green beans which are currently plentiful here at Serenbe Farms.

I would love the recipe you submit to have a southern flavor or twist. Each month I will be accepting recipes from the first of the month until the 20th of the month.

At the end of each month, the winning recipe will be featured on the blog and will also be featured as a part of my Farmhouse menu! In addition to the acknowledgement of using your recipe, I will also be inviting you and a guest for a complimentary dinner here in Serenbe at the Farmhouse restaurant.
At the end of the year I have a big bonus for our Grand Prize winner. The winner will be chosen from all 12 recipes used throughout the year and you will receive a complimentary weekend stay for two at the Serenbe Inn. A panel of judges will have a taste testing day where we cook all the recipes and choose the grand prize winner!
Please email your recipe to marie@serenbe.com.

Friday

25

September 2009

0

COMMENTS

Poetry as soul food

Written by , Posted in marie nygren, Rumi, serenbe


I recently read in Parade, the Sunday magazine in the AJC, a reader’s question on why the United States paid for a Poet Laureate when “no one reads poetry anymore.”
I was taken aback at his supposition because I and many of my friends read poetry, some even write their own. For me, poetry is a great source of “soul food.” I often turn to my books of poetry for inspiration.

My favorite poet is Rumi, a 13th century Persian poet and theologian whose visions, words, and life teach us how to reach inner peace and happiness, stop the continual stream of hostility and achieve true, global peace and harmony.


Food has always been an object of beauty for me- its colors, textures, tastes and smells. That beauty inspires me every week when I am creating the menus for the Farmhouse. I love seeing the combinations I visualized the week before together on the plate and create a delicious meal for my guests.


Each week’s bounty from the Inn’s gardens and Serenbe Farm provides ample inspiration. And when our gardener and farmers brings in their harvest, it is is time to get to what I love- cooking!

Monday

21

September 2009

0

COMMENTS

Sign up now to cook with Nathalie Dupree and me

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


The Southern Chef Series Welcomes



 Nathalie Dupree

Sunday, October 11 & Monday, October 12
                       The Inn at Serenbe

An intimate group of 10 guests will settle into their accommodations at the Inn at Serenbe on Sunday afternoon, then walk through the wildflower meadow to my home, where you will prepare dinner side-by-side with beloved Southern chef, cookbook author, & James Beard award winner, Nathalie Dupree. Dinner will follow this hands-on experience, complemented by wine and Nathalie’s stories of food and cooking.

On Monday morning, participants will enjoy breakfast at the Inn at Serenbe, then work with Nathalie & me to create a farm-fresh lunch for the group. The afternoon will be spent with Nathalie, sharing secrets and stories before heading back home that evening.
Update: the event with Nathalie has sold out. Please call the inn if you are interested in being placed on a waiting list in case of any cancellations.

To register, please call the Inn at Serenbe: 770.463.2610

Check out more stories about my friend Nathalie throughout my blog.

Saturday

19

September 2009

0

COMMENTS

Southern Women are great cooks

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


My mom, Margaret Lupo was invited to be a guest on Nathalie Dupree’s cooking show when she was here in Georgia and doing her show, New Southern Cooking for Georgia PBS.
Mom went on the show to cook fried okra which was a specialty at Mary Mac’s so mom demonstrated in a cast iron skillet how to make corn meal crusted fried okra, a major southern delicacy.
While on the show mom told one of her favorite stories from her days at Mary Mac’s which was in the late 70’s when she had a streaker run through the entire restaurant.

One of the elderly female patrons who was dining in the restaurant, upon seeing the streaker, didn’t hesitate to blurt out a very revealing comment which mom told on live television!

 After sharing the story on her show, Nathalie received more mail about the streaker story episode than any of her other 300 episodes. It was and still is a well loved episode of Nathalie’s show. In fact, just last week at the Serenbe Inn we had a conference with Chick Fil-A and one of the executives who was attending related to me that was the one show he had seen and recalled  just how funny and charming it was. His favorite memory was how watching  two icon southern cooks was a great treat.
For more information on spending 2 days with Nathalie when she teaches in Serenbe, click here!
From Nathalie’s book here is a copy of my mom’s fried okra. To see the full recipe, click onto arrow on the right side of the box.

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About Marie Nygren

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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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