Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2014 i Taste of the South

King Bean Coffee Once exclusive to the best restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina, this sought-after coffee is now available to rev up your morning routine. Owner Kurt Weinberger roasts every batch right in the Palmetto State using an Italian-made Petroncini roaster—the only one in the Southeast. Try the Southern Pecan blend— it boasts an intense pecan flavor that pairs divinely with your favorite holiday desserts. $12.99 for a 12-ounce bag; kingbean.com Church Street Vanilla Syrup Handmade in small batches in Birmingham, Alabama, from cane sugar and Madagascar vanilla beans, this perfectly sweet syrup is great for stirring into coffee and tea, but we love brushing it on cake layers before frosting them. $10.95 for a 16-ounce bottle; churchstreetshop.com My Family Cookbook Create your own family heirloom with this customizable cookbook…

SLOW COOKER SAUSAGE AND SEAFOOD GUMBO Yield: 8 to 10 servings 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced, such as Conecuh 1⁄2 cup vegetable oil 3⁄4 cup all-purpose flour 2 cups chopped yellow onion 2 cups chopped celery 1 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic(about 4 cloves) 1 jalapeno, minced 4 cups chicken broth 2 tablespoons chopped freshthyme, divided 1 teaspoon salt 1⁄2 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 bay leaves 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roastedtomatoes, undrained 2 pounds medium fresh shrimp,peeled and deveined, tailsleft on 3⁄4 pound fresh steamed crab claws 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning Cooked rice, to serve Garnish: sliced green onion 1. In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet, cook sausage over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until browned, approximately 7 minutes. Remove sausage from skillet. Set aside. Discard rendered…

The Blackbird ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA The modern minimalist atmosphere of The Blackbird in downtown Asheville is warmed by locally made, hand-crafted furniture and décor, like pecan-wood tables and blownglass light fixtures. Luckily, as much craft goes into the menu as the surroundings, especially when it comes to their coconut cake. Their old-world recipe creates a three-layer cream cake, filled with coconut custard and covered in cream cheese frosting and toasted coconut. Can’t finish the whole slice? Don’t worry: the leftovers are great for breakfast the next day! 47 Biltmore Ave. 828.254.2502 theblackbirdrestaurant.com Wren Bistro & Bar Beaufort, South Carolina The coconut cake at Wren Bistro & Bar is tried and true—owner Anne Sergent was raised on it. The cake has made an easy transition from family staple to customer favorite.…

SAUSAGE AND SPINACH BREAKFAST CASSEROLE Recipe courtesy of Madelyn Harris, Water Valley, Mississippi Yield: 10 to 12 servings 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed 1 (6-ounce) package fresh baby spinach, torn 1 (16-ounce) loaf day-old sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch pieces 11⁄2 cups shredded fontina cheese, divided 3⁄4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage 1⁄2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped 3 cups whole milk 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1⁄2 teaspoon salt 1⁄2 teaspoon ground black pepper 8 large eggs 1. Spray a shallow 3-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. 2. In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until browned, approximately 8 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook 1 minute. Drain. Let cool slightly. 3. In a large…

TIPS & TRICKS — FROM OUR — TEST KITCHEN HOW TO PREP FENNEL Don’t fear fennel. Its anise-flavored bulb can be sliced thinly for salads or chopped and roasted. Here’s how to break it down. Step 1 Using a sharp knife, remove bottom and stalks. Remove outer portions, if desired. Reserve fronds for garnish. Step 2 Slice bulb in half vertically. Using the tip of your knife, cut a small wedge from the base of each half to remove core. Discard. Step 3 Chop or thinly slice as desired. Taste Test Give fennel a try with our recipes for Citrus and Shaved Fennel Salad (page 44) and Roasted Root Vegetables (page 45). HOW TO MAKE AN ICE RING No festive holiday punch is complete without an ice ring. Follow these…

Menu Citrus and Shaved Fennel Salad with Sherry-Herb Vinaigrette Red Wine-Braised Beef Short Ribs Smoked Gouda Grits Garlic Green Beans Roasted Root Vegetables Coffee Crème Brûlées RED WINE-BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS Yield: approximately 8 servings 2 tablespoons canola oil 6 pounds bone-in beef short ribs, cut into 2-inch pieces 4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided 2 teaspoons ground black pepper, divided 2 cups chopped yellow onion 1 cup chopped carrot 1 cup chopped celery 1⁄4 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 (750-milliliter) bottle red wine,such as Cabernet Sauvignon 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeledplum tomatoes, drained 2 (8-ounce) packages creminimushrooms, quartered 1 head garlic, peeled (about 12cloves) 1 bunch fresh thyme, tied withkitchen twine 2 cups reduced-sodium beef broth 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar(optional) Smoked Gouda Grits…

GENA’S FAVORITE HOLIDAY FOOD GIFTS Georgia Olive Farms Olive Oil georgiaolivefarms.com Nora Mill Stone- Ground Grits noramill.com Lauri Jo’s Peach Pepper Jelly laurijos.com The holidays can be hectic. The kids are out of school, plus there’s Christmas shopping to be done and a house to decorate. During busy times like this, I need a night out with friends to relieve a little day-to-day stress. A few good laughs, a nice glass of wine, and delicious food is certainly in order. Christmas is a time for celebration, so why not jazz up supper club this month by including spouses (if you usually gather with just the ladies). Ask everyone to dress in holiday attire and bring a fun food gift. The South is full of amazing food artisans, so be…

COCONUT PECAN CAKE Recipe courtesy of Chef Frank Stitt, Bottega and Chez Fonfon, Birmingham, Alabama Yield: 1 (9-inch) cake Cake: 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut, firmly packed 3⁄4 cup pecan halves, toasted 2 cups sugar, divided 21⁄4 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 3⁄4 teaspoon salt 3⁄4 cup unsalted butter, softened 1⁄4 cup cream of coconut 4 large eggs 1 teaspoon coconut extract 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut milk Filling: 2 large egg yolks, lightly beaten 3⁄4 cup sweetened condensed milk 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon cream of coconut 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut Simple Syrup (recipe follows) Icing: 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1⁄4 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 teaspoon coconut extract 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut, toasted 1. Preheat oven to 350°. 2. For cake:…

VERY MERRY GIFTS Pages 59-66 Wooden crate from World Market, 877-967-5362, worldmarket.com; Weck jars available at Sur La Table, 800-243-0852, surlatable.com. PARTY PERFECT PUNCH Pages 29-32 Punch glasses from Tricia’s Treasures, 205-871-9779, triciastreasures.us. CHRISTMAS EVE FIRESIDE FEAST Pages 33-38 Vietri Lastra white handled bowls available at At Home, 205-879-3510 athome-furnishings.com; Marble and wood cake stand from World Market, 877-967-5362, worldmarket.com; Wood pedestal bowl from Ballard Designs, 800-367-2810, ballarddesigns.com. Location Courtesy of Mallory Smith of Mallory Smith Interiors, Birmingham, Alabama. EASY & ELEGANT CHRISTMAS DINNER Pages 39-46 Antlers available at World Market, 877-967-5362, worldmarket.com; Mercury vases and Vietri Bellezza white dinner and salad plates available at At Home, 205-879-3510 athome-furnishings.com; Gold rimmed stemless wine glasses available at West Elm, 888-922-4119, westelm.com; gold lacquer chargers available at Pier1, 800-245-4595, pier1.com. Location courtesy…

Paula Deen has delighted folks for years with her Southern recipes and down-home personality. Never one to back down from taste, Paula doesn’t shy away from using real ingredients, and fans love her for it. With her newest online venture, the Paula Deen Network, subscribers have access to recipes, new and classic cooking shows, and much more. Check out some of Paula’s holiday traditions below, and don’t forget to sign up for more Paula at pauladeen.com. Go-to holiday appetizer? My red pepper jelly over cream cheese What is your favorite Christmas Eve tradition? I love getting together with family and friends. We always play the “Dirty Santa” gift game. Your family’s most-requested holiday dish? I always have to make a standing rib roast for the family. What do you plan…

Cool and creamy with a blissfully smooth texture, panna cotta is a simple dessert that you can make days in advance. Our gently lightened version swaps heavy cream for coconut milk and half-and-half, offering just the right amount of richness. COCONUT MILK PANNA COTTA Yield: 6 to 8 servings 3 tablespoons cold water 3 teaspoons powdered gelatin 1 (13.6-ounce) can reduced-fat unsweetened coconut milk 3⁄4 cup sugar 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise seeds scraped and reserved 1 cup half-and-half 3 cups reduced-fat plain yogurt 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Orange-Pomegranate Compote(recipe follows) Garnish: toasted sweetened flakedcoconut 1. In a small bowl, stir together 3 tablespoons water and gelatin. Let stand at least 5 minutes. 2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine coconut milk, sugar, and vanilla bean and reserved…

Filled with great party ideas, Martina McBride’s first cookbook, Around the Table, is the perfect addition to your cookbook shelf and a great gift idea. Martina shows off her party-planning acumen and shares mouthwatering recipes that everyone will love. Her great tips, tricks, and timelines will help you throw the perfect holiday party and prepare you for entertaining throughout the year. Tell us about your first party. I started entertaining by just having a few friends over for dinner and worked my way up from there. (I was probably really nervous about making sure everything was right.) I think it is natural for people to worry, and I hope this cookbook encourages people to overcome their anxiety over the planning that goes along with entertaining. It can be stressful, but…