There are loads of d’lish food holidays out there! For example, did you know that January 19th is National Popcorn Day? Yum!

I love classic buttered and salted popcorn. It’s the perfect snack to munch on at the movies, during family game night, or as a healthy alternative to chips. And if those little 100-calorie microwave bags leave you craving something a bit more gourmet, try my ideas on how to spice up your snacking!

-Brown some butter before drizzling it on top, and then toss with cinnamon sugar to satisfy that sweet tooth craving – yum!

-If savory is more your style, add a dash of fresh chopped herbs in with some olive oil.

-How about spicing it up with a zesty hit of lime zest, cilantro and Tabasco?

-For the taste adventurer, try this: shake on some curry powder or furikake seasoning to add a truly unique and inspired flavor. Wow!

(Photo from Simply Recipes)

I’m always a fan of kicking classics up a notch and I love to grate sharp cheddar over my popcorn – but why not take it up a level by grating Manchego cheese over it and then seasoning it with sea salt and Spanish smoked paprika or experiment with different flavored seasonings like bacon salt. Just remember to be conservative with liquids like hot sauce when seasoning… no one is a fan of mushy popcorn.

So however you like it, pop up some tasty fun on National Popcorn Day! -Kathy

Maple Syrup! Doesn’t the mere mention of it just conjure up warm food memories? Griddled tall stacks of pancakes drizzled with sweet syrup. Hot, crispy strips of maple-cured bacon… Yum!

But it’s not just for breakfast foods! Maple’s unique flavor is great in all kinds of recipes and different grades of syrup are preferred for different uses. Dark to medium amber grades are perfect for use in cooking and baking; their stronger flavor holds up great. Light and “Fancy” grades are best used where the syrup’s subtle flavor can be appreciated, such as drizzled over yogurt.

The Different Maple Syrup Grades
(Photo courtesy of TheNibble.com)

On the savory side of things, maple syrup is perfect in a marinade for pork; added to a pot of baked beans; or even in a dressing, such as in my recipe for Maple Vinaigrette. It is great tossed with your favorite greens, fresh sliced pears and toasted pecans. It works wonderfully on chicken breasts, too!

For those with a sweet tooth, try my Maple Panna Cotta—a no-bake custard-style dessert! It is simple to make and truly is delectable; and pretty with a pouf of whipped cream and garnished with a maple sugar candy leaf!

So make a resolution to branch out and try this sweet syrup “in” instead of “on” something different this year! -Kathy

Maple Vinaigrette
Makes about 1 cup

6 tablespoons real maple syrup, preferably grade B
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon finely minced shallots
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch of cayenne pepper

In a medium bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, vinegar, mustard and shallots. Combine the two oils and then, while whisking continuously, drizzle the oil into the syrup mixture. The dressing should be well mixed and emulsified. Whisk in the seasonings.
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Rewhisk before using.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Maple Panna Cotta
Makes 6 servings

2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin (this will be less than 1 envelope)
2 tablespoons warm water
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup mascarpone
1 cup real maple syrup, preferably grade B

For garnishing: lightly sweetened whipped cream and maple sugar candy leaves if desired

To make the panna cotta, sprinkle the gelatin over the water in a large heatproof bowl. Let sit for 10 minutes.

Whisk in the cream, mascarpone, and maple syrup and set the bowl over a pan of simmering water. Whisk the mixture until smooth and warmed.

Divide the mixture evenly among 6 martini glasses. Cover each one with plastic wrap. Be sure that the wrap does not touch the tops of the panna cotta. Refrigerate overnight, or for a minimum of 12 hours, before serving.

Top with a tiny pouf of whipped cream and a maple candy if desired.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Today, we have guest blogger and newest KCFS Editorial/PR Intern Meredith McKee sharing her recent visit to Ballard’s Root Table.

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Hi there! My name is Meredith and I am a newcomer to the Ballard area. Moving here all the way from Virginia, adjusting to the Pacific Northwest lifestyle has been challenging but exciting. I have been a professional photographer for the past 5 years and am looking forward to exploring what Seattle and Washington as a whole has to offer! My fiance and I are having so much fun checking out all of the fantastic restaurants in the Ballard area and feel lucky to be a part of such a cool neighborhood!

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure eating at Root Table. Located on NW Market Street, Root Table provides a casual yet funky vibe, perfect for a date or night out with friends. This intimate space boasts unique interior design with literal “root” tables made from slabs of knotty wood accented by the flicker of candlelight.

Known for their delicious Asian-fusion small plates, my friends and I opted to share 5 tapas dishes – grilled steak bites with panang curry, stuffed mushrooms, scallop bites, curry corn fritters and grilled prawns with Asian pesto. All were delectable with the perfect amount of spicy kick. If I had to pick one as my favorite, I would have to choose the curry corn fritters. These sweet corn cakes are served with a sweet and spicy chili peanut sauce and pack a satisfying crunch.

I just love tapas style meals – getting to taste several different dishes, sharing tasty bites and lively conversation. You aren’t consumed by individual entrees, but rather have the meal you are sharing as a topic of conversation. We topped the dinner off with a pint of local Seattle beer and a trip down the street to Cupcake Royal. Sounds like a perfect night out in Ballard to me!

To make some tasty Thai-inspired appetizers at home, try Kathy’s recipe for Kinda Retro Bacon-Wrapped Ginger Shrimp with Spicy Thai Cocktail Sauce – because who doesn’t love bacon? –Meredith

Being green is so easy these days! The grocers are teeming with hearty seasonal greens from collard to mustard to Swiss chard … as well as my favorite, Tuscan Lacinato Kale, the one that’s sometimes called dinosaur kale or black kale.

(Photo from Mountain Valley Seed Company)

This winter crop is packed with vitamins and minerals. Just eating a half cup will stock you up with calcium, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, iron and loads of fiber.

I especially like to use this kale in my recipe for Farro with Hearty Greens, Wild Mushrooms & Goat Cheese. This is a great cold-weather side dish, which works well with other greens, too.

In fact, here’s a tip if you want to make it with Swiss chard. Remove the stems and slice them separately, and slice up the greens thin. Sauté the stems in the olive oil along with the mushrooms, and then proceed with the recipe.

Incorporating greens in a robust homemade soup is another delicious and very satisfying way to enjoy them. My recipe for the classic Tuscan Ribollita Soup is easy to make and perfect for busy schedules. The name of this favorite Italian soup, which is thickened with stale bread, means “twice-boiled”—the soup is traditionally cooked, then reheated the next day. The flavorful olive oil, which is always drizzled on top right before eating, acts like a seasoning, giving the soup a special little kick.

Or how about adding a small handful of kale into your next smoothie? Its vibrant color is sure to get the kids interested!

Eat your greens daily—they’re tasty and good for you! -Kathy

Farro with Hearty Greens, Wild Mushrooms & Goat Cheese
Makes 4 to 6 servings

1/2 cup whole farro grains
2 quarts water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup sliced wild or domestic mushrooms
4 cloves garlic, sliced paper thin
pinch red chili flakes
1 large bunch black kale (lacinato) or other hearty green, torn
1/4 cup chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 lemon
1 1/2 to 3 ounces fresh goat cheese (chevre)

To cook the farro: In a medium saucepan, combine farro and water and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to a simmer; cook the grain for about 30 minutes, or until very tender, but do not let it become mushy. Add more water if it gets low. Drain the cooked farro and set aside. (You can do this the day before; refrigerate cooked grain.)

Heat oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. Sauté mushrooms until half cooked, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Add garlic and chili flakes and sauté for a few seconds. Stir in kale. Add chicken broth and cooked farro, and cook, turning greens several times, until greens are wilted.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Squeeze lemon over the dish to brighten flavor. Serve dolloped with goat cheese or grated sexy local cheese.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Ribollita Soup
Makes 6 to 8 servings

3 tablespoons chopped bacon or pancetta
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 cup diced onion
1 cup diced red potatoes
1/8 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup diced carrot
3/4 cup diced celery
3/4 teaspoon dry thyme leaves
2 cups, packed, torn, dark green kale
4 cups rich chicken broth
1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes with juice
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans with liquid
2 cups, packed, rustic Italian bread, preferably stale, torn into bite-size pieces
salt and pepper to taste
extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling

Heat a large soup kettle or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add bacon or pancetta and olive oil and cook until 3/4 done. Add onions and potatoes, and cook, stirring often, for about 2 to 3 minutes. Then add the chili flakes, garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring, for about 1 to 2 more minutes.

Add the thyme, kale, chicken broth and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and cook slowly for about 12 minutes.

Then add the beans and bean liquid and bread. Stir in, and cook for about 2 more minutes or until thickened with the bread. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

To serve: Ladle into bowls and drizzle liberally with olive oil.

If making a day ahead, soup will be thicker the next day, almost stew-like, but this is the traditional way. If too thick for your liking, thin out with a little chicken stock when reheating.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Whether it’s a Sunday brunch spent with family and friends or on game day, anytime is perfect for a Bloody Mary!

There are definitely two schools of thought when it comes to this savory cocktail. Some people like to stick to tradition (“If it isn’t broken, then don’t fix it.”) while others love to step outside of the box and mix-it-up with their Mary’s. I personally think there’s always room for both!

Spice up your Mary experience with some new flavors and combinations!  Try adding in some zingy flavors like wasabi or Sriracha. Change up the spirit to tequila, gin or aquavit for a new taste twist.
Take my Bloody Good Vodka: Infuse vodka at home with sun-dried tomatoes, basil and garlic then let it sit for 2 days before stirring with my Balsamic Mary Mix (made with fresh tomato, cucumber and peppers and the flavor pow of horseradish)!

My Bloody Good Balsamic Mary!
For the recipe, check out www.LiquidKitchen.tv

And don’t forget to get creative with the garnishes! For an easy entertaining set-up, a Bloody Mary DIY garnish bar for your guests is a great way to get the party started. Put out some picks and an assortment of lemon wedges, stuffed olives, crispy bacon, celery, pickled veggies, cherry tomatoes, chunks of salami, cheese and pickled onions – now that could almost be brunch itself!

Cheers to the Bloody Mary! –Kathy

Well, the clock is rapidly ticking down… no, not just to Christmas, but to the end of the world! That is, if you believe that the end of the 5125-year Mayan Calendar cycle signals the end of the world.

Everyone from Mayan scholars to NASA have assured folks that we’re not on-course to collide with any rogue planets. And there’s not really anything in Mayan history or lore that foretells of the world’s destruction at the end of this cycle, but there are still a good number of people battening down the hatches in preparation for this potentially impending Apocalypse.

Whether the end of the Great Cycle signifies something cataclysmic or not, I think it calls for a cocktail! After all, if it doesn’t happen, we get to celebrate. And if it does, we’ll probably need a sip of something fortifying anyway!

For the end of the world as we know it, shake up an I Feel Fine. Made with reposado tequila, earthy sage and honey syrup (in homage to the traditional Mayan honey liqueur), this cocktail is sure to keep you in bright spirits. Cheers! – Kathy

Photo by Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen™

I Feel Fine
For more cocktail inspiration, ideas and recipes, check out my blog and cocktail show Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen.

Makes 1 cocktail

1 leaf sage
1 1/2 oz reposado tequila
3/4 oz honey syrup *
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
Garnish: fresh sage leaf

Tear sage leaf and drop into a mixing glass. Measure in the tequila, honey syrup, and fresh lime juice. Fill the glass with ice, cap and shake. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a fresh sage leaf.

*Honey Syrup: mix 1/2 cup honey and 1/2 cup warm water together until the honey is dissolved. Refrigerate up to 7 days.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen™

Sunny winter citrus is just the perfect way to help brighten the season when it gets chilly and the skies turn grey. With cold weather, comes cold and flu season. What a wonderful coincidence, then, that clementines are in season at the same time!

Clementines happen to be an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps support your immune system. Did you also know that they act as an antihistamine? It’s true! Battle those stuffed-up sinuses with as many clementines as you can grab, peel and eat —which might be a lot, considering how small and easy to peel they are!

They make a perfect any-time snack, but can also be incorporated into a stuffing, blended into a breakfast smoothie, or for a quick and easy appetizer. Just combine diced clementines with tomatoes, kalamata olives, minced red onion and fresh basil to top my d’lish Cuties Bruschetta with Goat Cheese. Great for on-the-fly entertaining!

(Photo by Kathy Casey Food Studios®)

Or how about jazzing up that holiday stuffing? Flavorful clementies are tossed in my Overnight Wild-Rice & Sourdough Stuffing— made with cooked wild rice, sourdough bread, toasted almonds, drained cranberries, mushrooms and fresh herbs.  Yum!

(Photo by Kathy Casey Food Studios®)

So whether you’re whipping up a delicious snack or trying something new for the holiday table – pick up some clementines. They’re sure to brighten up any dish! -Kathy

Cuties Bruschetta with Goat Cheese
The flavors of mandarin, calamata olives and fresh basil and the creaminess of goat cheese all play off each other nicely in this easy entertaining appetizer.

Makes 20 pieces

1 artisanal baguette
extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling
kosher salt as needed
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4 Cuties clementinese
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup chopped vine-ripe tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 Tbsp. minced red onion
1 1/2 tsp. finely minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped pitted calamata olives
pinch of red pepper flakes
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4 oz. chèvre-style fresh goat cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut baguette into 1/4-inch slices—you want about 20 nice-sized pieces. Lay out on a baking sheet. Lightly brush or drizzle bread with olive oil then sprinkle lightly with kosher salt. Bake for about 5–7 minutes, or until toasty. Let crostini cool.

Meanwhile, peel Cuties and dice 1/4 to 1/3-inch. In a medium bowl, toss Cuties with 2 tablespoons olive oil, tomatoes, basil, onion, garlic, olives, and pepper flakes. Set aside.

To serve: Smear each piece of crostini with a heaping teaspoon of goat cheese. Place on a platter and immediately divide the Cuties mixture between the crostini (drain off any excess juice).

Note: Top crostini right before serving so they do not get soft.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Overnight Wild-Rice & Sourdough Stuffing
With big flavors and textures, this stuffing is great with game hens, turkey, chicken, holiday ham or pork chops.

Makes about 8 servings

6 cups water
2 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 cup wild rice
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6 Cuties clementines
4 cups 1/2-inch-cubed rustic sourdough bread
1/2 cup toasted, coarsely chopped almonds
6 Tbsp. salted butter
1 cup 1/4-inch-diced onion
1 cup 1/4-inch-diced celery
2 cups sliced cremini mushrooms
1 tsp. kosher salt (or more to taste)
1/4 tsp. fresh-ground black pepper
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 tsp. finely chopped fresh thyme
1 1/2 tsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh sage
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
2 eggs, beaten

In a large pot, bring water and salt to a boil. Stir in wild rice and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer rice, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until very tender. Drain and cool.

Meanwhile, peel the Cuties, cut in half crosswise, then break into half segments. Place in a large bowl with the bread and almonds, and set aside.

In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, melt butter, add the onion, celery, and mushrooms, and season with salt and pepper. Sauté for about 7–8 minutes, or until tender. Remove from heat and add cranberries, broth and herbs.

Add mushroom mixture and cooled rice to bread mixture. Toss to mix evenly, then add the beaten egg and toss until bread is thoroughly coated. Cover and refrigerate overnight to let flavors develop.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with pan spray.

Re-toss stuffing, transfer to baking pan, and let sit for 30 minutes to come to room temperature while oven preheats. Bake in preheated oven for 35–45 minutes, or until cooked through.

Chef’s Note: When roasting a stuffed chicken or game hen, cook until internal temperature at the center of the stuffing is 165 degrees F.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

The holidays are always a joyous occasion to celebrate with family and friends. Make sure to check out the Seattle Times for some of my easy holiday entertaining tips and recipes! This week check out my  appetizer recipes for Overnight Rosemary Ham & White Cheddar Strata Bites and Lemon Grass Chicken Meatballs With Sassy Peanut Sauce!

Stay tuned next week for my dessert recipes!