The cold weather months make us crave heartier foods… and root vegetables are definitely hearty. They are versatile in flavor, texture and application – as well as budget-friendly and a great source for complex-carbohydrates!

Rutabagas, parsnips, carrots, turnips and beets are all part of this delicious group.

A great crop of root veggies!
(Photo from CookWithWhatYouHave.com)

Roasted Beets are amazing and star in my recipe with an Orange Cumin Glaze. Another option is to roast up a bunch of beets and have them ready to add into salads.

Turnips and carrots mash well together in a root vegetable side dish. And I personally love rutabagas roasted with chicken for a Sunday night supper.

The often overlooked parsnip is featured in my Creamy Roasted Parsnip Soup paired up with chevre and walnut croutons. Pour yourself a glass of Washington wine and you’re all set for a cozy meal.

Fill up with some hearty root veggies! –Kathy

Roasted Beets with Orange Cumin Glaze
Makes about 6 servings.

5 large beets (about 2 lb.)
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1 tsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp honey
1 tsp cornstarch
2 Tbsps butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts
1 Tbsp finely chopped orange zest
2 Tbsps chopped fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Wash the beets and leave root untrimmed. Place beets on a large sheet of foil and seal like a package. Place foil packet on a baking pan and roast in preheated oven until very tender, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Poke beets to make sure they are tender.

As soon as beets are cool enough to handle, slip the skins off and slice into ¼-inch slices.

In a small bowl mix together the orange juice, cumin, vinegar , honey and cornstarch. Stir until cornstarch is well incorporated.

Place liquid mixture in a large, non-stick sauté pan and heat over medium-high heat, whisking – while adding the  butter and salt. Bring to a boil and add the sliced beets. Cook, turning beets as necessary, until they are hot and nicely glazed. Place on a serving platter or in large, shallow bowl.

Mix together the walnuts, orange zest and parsley and sprinkle over the beets.

Chef’s Notes:
You can prepare this recipe part way in advance: Just roast, peel and slice the beets ahead of time. This can be done up to 3 days in advance. Then finish the rest of the recipe procedure per instructions.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Creamy Roasted Parsnip Soup with Chevre & Walnut Crostini
Makes 6 servings

4 cups 1/2-inch-sliced peeled parsnips (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsps butter
1/4 cup thinly sliced shallots
1 stalk celery, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 cup dry white wine
4 cups chicken broth (I used packaged organic broth)
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Croutons
6 1/4-inch-thick slices baguette or French bread
Olive oil
3 ounces chevre (goat cheese)
3 Tbsps chopped walnuts, lightly toasted

Garnish: thinly sliced fresh chives and/or celery leaves

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

First, toast the bread for the croutons: Lay the bread on a baking sheet, brush slices lightly with oil, and toast in the preheated oven for about 3 – 5 minutes, or until just lightly golden. Remove and let cool. (You can do this the day before and keep croutons in a tightly closed container after they cool.)

Toss parsnips and olive oil together in a bowl to coat evenly. Spread out on a baking sheet (you can reuse the one used for the bread), and roast till golden and totally tender, about 30 minutes.

Heat butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sauté shallots and celery until very tender, about 3 minutes; do not brown. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds more. Add wine and bring to a boil. Add chicken broth, cream and roasted parsnips and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium or low, to maintain a slow simmer. Cook for about 5 minutes and then add salt and cayenne. In small batches, puree mixture in a blender. (Be careful; it’s hot!)

Return soup to pan and adjust seasoning if needed. Cool and refrigerate for up to 3 days before serving.

To serve the soup and finish the crostini:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Spread the cheese on the croutons, then top each one with a half-tablespoon of nuts. Press in slightly and bake for about 4 minutes or until cheese is warmed.

Meanwhile, heat the soup, stirring often, over medium heat till hot, making sure it does not stick on the bottom. Serve the hot soup in warm bowls. Top with chives or celery leaf and serve a warm goat cheese crouton on the side.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Clear uncontaminated waters are pivotal in growing high-quality oysters, especially in the Pacific Northwest. The mollusks filter feed gallons of water a day and gain their subtle distinctive flavors from their environment.

Another factor in raising these delectable bi-valves is the water temperature. Did you know that the meat becomes tastier and firmer as the temperature drops? Who knew!

Oysters are best eaten during the cold months when the waters are crisp. Pacific Northwest seafood “guru” Jon Rowley says, “You can tell it’s oyster time when the skies turn oyster grey.”

Pacific Northwest oysters range in size from the tiny Olympia (great for oyster virgins) to the extra-large Pacific (good for frying). Smaller oysters, like my favorite, the Kumamoto, are perfect for slurping.

Kumamoto Oysters
(Photo from Taylor Shellfish)

Oyster purists say there is never a better way to eat raw oysters than unadorned — MAYBE with a squirt of lemon.  For the uninitiated oyster-slurper, this can be a bit scary.  Don’t worry because I have some great ideas to ease you into this.

If you’re brand new to enjoying oysters raw, I have a bevy of simple sauces that you can make that will not mask their delicious flavor. From my Fresh Cocktail Sauce to my Champagne Mignonette Ice, you will love raw oysters in no time.

Don’t fret if raw is not your thing. My Baked Oysters with Savory Mushroom Herb Crust recipe is just for you!

Whether you shuck’em at home or enjoy them cooked or raw at restaurants (such as one of my favorites, the Walrus & the Carpenter in Ballard) get your oysters while the skies are grey.

So get shuckin’ and enjoy! -Kathy

Fresh Cocktail Sauce
Set bowl of Cocktail sauce in the center of a platter of just shucked oysters. Guests can top their oysters with as little or as much as they like.

Makes 2 cups

2 cups ripe tomatoes cut in 1/4″ dice
2 Tbsps very finely minced celery
1 medium, very finely minced shallot (about 2 tablespoons)
1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp hot prepared horseraddish
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp Tabasco (or more if you like it spicy)
1/4 tsp black pepper
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp celery seed

Gently mix together all ingredients.  Chill well before serving.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Champagne Mignonette Ice
Makes about 2 cups ice, enough to top 5 to 6 dozen oysters

3/4 tsp black peppercorns
1 cup Champagne vinegar
1/3 cup water
1 1/2 tsp very finely minced lemon zest
2 Tbsps minced shallot
1/2 cup Brut Champagne

Prepare the mignonette ice the day before or up to 3 days in advance. Enclose the peppercorns between pieces of plastic wrap and crush well with a heavy pot or mallet (or use a mortar and pestle). In an 8-inch square freezer-proof glass casserole dish or stainless-steel bowl, combine the pepper with the remaining ice ingredients and stir. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer. Every 30 minutes or so, remove from the freezer and stir the mixture with a fork. The mixture should start becoming slushy after about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. When the mixture is icy and completely raked into tiny ice crystals, you can stop the stirring process. Let the mixture freeze overnight, then break up the ice crystals with a fork right before serving.

Serve the ice in a small bowl; guests can spoon a small spoonful over the oysters.

Recipe from Kathy Casey’s Northwest Table, Chronicle Books

Baked Oysters with Savory Mushroom Herb Crust
Make sure to use a hearty-textured bread such as Italian or French style – to provide the desired crumb consistency; avoid soft, airy loaves.

Makes 2 dozen medium oysters on the half-shell

2 cups packed diced firm textured rustic bread
1 cup coarse chopped mushrooms
3 Tbsps cold butter, cut small pieces
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 – 1/2  tsp Tabasco sauce
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp minced fresh thyme
1/4 cup (1 oz wt) high quality, shredded Parmesan cheese
2 tsp minced fresh basil
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
2 dozen medium oysters (3 1/2″ long) in the shell

Place bread cubes and mushrooms in food processor.  Add remaining ingredients, except oysters, and process 30 seconds, or until particles are well chopped and pea-like in texture.  Set aside.

Preheat oven to 475 degrees F.

Shuck oysters, cutting muscle but leaving oyster in the deep shell.  Cover each oyster loosely with 1 rounded tablespoon bread crumb-mushroom mixture, covering entire surface of the oyster.

Arrange oysters on baking sheet and place on middle shelf of oven.  Bake 6 – 8 minutes till topping is golden.  Time carefully — they can overcook and dry out quickly!

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Kale has always been one of those polarizing foods: it hasn’t always been on the top of the shopping list.  But the versatile green is making a comeback, not just in the health-food community!

This hippy/hipster green is quickly gaining popularity. It’s loaded with nutrients, minerals and lots of fiber; is budget friendly; and is abundant at farmers markets.

On my recent grocery adventure, kale for a steal of a price!

As a side dish, kale tastes wonderful when sautéed with garlic. It can also add a rich, hearty element to soups and stews.

Kale seems to be the chef’s “new menu darling”, making appearances in a variety of forms. One of my faves is Capital Hill’s Skillet Café’s Kale Caesar – now that is some fiber for you!

One dish that I love to make is my oh-so-good-for-you Pasta with Black Kale (also know as lacinato) Garlic and Lemon (I like to make it with Tinkyáda rice pasta for a gluten-free alternative). It’s perfect to whip up for a flavorful, quick and easy weeknight meal.

Whether you’re looking to add something new to your meals or looking for a very hearty green, pick up some kale at your local grocer and get cooking! -Kathy

Wheat-Free Pasta with Black Kale, Garlic and Lemon
Makes 4 entrée or 8 side-dish servings

1 12-ounce package Tinkyáda brown rice penne pasta
3 Tbsps extra virgin olive oil
1 large bunch organic black (dinosaur) kale, stemmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (about 6 cups)
4 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 Tbsps fresh lemon juice
1 tsp minced or grated lemon zest
3/4 tsp kosher or sea salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup freshly grated hard cheese, such as Parmigiano-Reggiano or Romano (optional)

Cook the pasta in lightly salted boiling water until just al dente; start checking the pasta at about 4 – 5 minutes. As soon as it is al dente, drain well and place in a bowl toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to keep warm.

Meanwhile, in a large nonstick sauté pan over medium-high heat, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add the kale and cook, stirring often, for about 4-6 minutes until limp. Then add the garlic and cook about 3-4 more minutes, stirring often until the garlic is soft and the kale is well cooked, tender, and some pieces are getting a bit crispy. Add the broth, and cook, stirring, until almost all the liquid has evaporated.

Remove from the heat and stir in the pasta. Then add the lemon juice and zest, salt, pepper, and cheese if using. Toss the pasta well and serve immediately.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so I thought I’d share a few loving ideas and tips.

These days a lot of people like to make “reservations” for their dinner, which can be a great idea. Everyone wants that 7:00 pm time so remember to get your reservations sorted out early!

Sweets for your sweety!

If dining out isn’t your style, you can always make a SIMPLE dinner at home for your honey. Let me stress the easy – you want to spend time with each other, not glued to the stove!

Whether you’re headed out or eating in – try wowing your sweetheart at home with an AMAZING dessert, made with all your burning love – a Flaming Chocolate Cherry Heart!

Flaming meringue!
(Photo from Living 2 Eat)

This can be made up to one day ahead and then finished off right before serving. Cut a  Devil’s Food Cake (you can buy it if you must) into a heart, top it with a dome of chocolate cherry ice cream and then cover in a fluffy meringue (special tip: you can freeze ahead at this point, if not preparing the day of).

When ready to serve, give the meringue a quick golden toasting in the oven. Once out of the oven, drizzle it with rum and carefully light it. Be sure to pay careful attention to the safety details here – AND don’t get too carried away with the flame.

Here’s to a d’lish Valentine’s Day with your honey! -Kathy

Flaming Chocolate Cherry Heart
This actually makes enough for four, so when serving for two, just freeze any leftovers for later nibbling. Also, cut cake into a heart or another cute design if desired.

1 8-inch high-quality Devil’s Food chocolate cake layer, homemade (recipe follows) or purchased, trimmed to a 5-inch heart (reserve cake trimmings for later snacks)
1 pint chocolate cherry ice cream (I like Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia)
4 egg whites
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp 151 rum
High-quality chocolate sauce (optional)

Place trimmed cake on a large freezer-to-oven plate, pie pan turned upside down, or other metal bakeable tray or plate.

Soften ice cream slightly and cut away the container. Turn out onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Drape the ice cream with another large piece of plastic wrap and mold the ice cream into a dome shape, 5 inches in diameter at the base. Place ice cream on the trimmed cake and immediately place in freezer while making the meringue. (The recipe can be prepared to this point up to 1 week in advance. Thoroughly wrap the cake and ice cream with plastic and keep frozen.)

To make the meringue: In a grease-free mixer bowl, beat the egg whites on high speed until frothy. Add cream of tartar and beat until just barely getting peaky. Then beat in the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue beating until stiff and glossy.

Remove the cake from the freezer, remove the plastic and place on baking tray. With clean hands, pile the meringue on the frozen cake, covering all surfaces and swirling and making cute peaks in the meringue with your fingertips. Immediately place the cake back in the freezer, uncovered, and keep frozen until ready to serve. (This step can be done up to 1 day in advance.)

Note: Be sure the cake is frozen for a minimum of 4 hours before serving.

Serve and flame the dessert: Preheat oven to 475 degrees F. Place cake in the oven for about 4 to 6 minutes, or until meringue is nicely browned all over and meringue tips are golden browned.

Bring to the table immediately and place on a trivet. Flame immediately: place 151 rum in a metal ladle or large spoon and warm it over a candle. Then light the rum and carefully pour it over the cake. (Be careful not to dribble any 151; it is on fire!) When the flames go out, cut the cake in wedges and serve on plates drizzled or decorated with chocolate sauce.

Chef’s Note: The trick is to keep the whole thing really well frozen before baking the meringue in the oven. Leftover cake can be re-frozen. For serving 4 people, use the entire 8-inch cake layer and double the ice cream and meringue amounts.

Devil’s Food Cake
Makes 1 8-inch round or square cake layer

3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
4 Tbsps (1/2 stick) salted butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
6 Tbsps sour cream
2 Tbsps whole milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8-inch round or square cake pan. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa, and baking powder.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix on low speed, then turn mixer up to medium and mix until batter is smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.

Scrape batter into the prepared pan and bake on the middle rack of oven for about 25 – 30 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick poked in cake comes out clean.

Let the cake cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the side of pan and turn cake out onto a rack to cool thoroughly.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Sipping hot cocoa brings up cozy, winter memories for me: my mom mixing up Hershey’s cocoa powder with warm milk and a dash of cinnamon (or vanilla) in her old copper-bottomed Reverewear pan. Ooh and my favorite part! The big fluffy marshmallow floating on top… yum!

I still love making My Mom’s “Old School” Cocoa when it’s freezing out. Kids of all ages love it when they need something to warm up with or to relax to.

Cocoa is the perfect vehicle for flavor experimenting from fragrant spices like cinnamon and cloves to the totally unexpected profiles like Indian curry and cardamom.

For the recipes, continue reading on Amazon’s Al Dente Blog.

PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur announced the launch of the Best Home Bar Star Contest! They are looking for a cocktail enthusiast  to create a killer cocktail that is balanced and delicious.

Grand prize is a trip for two to the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen in June 2012 with $2,000 spending money and the opportunity for their recipe to be presented in front of thousands of attendees at the Grand Tasting Tent. Their recipe will also be featured on PAMA’s website. Wow!

The contest runs until February 29 and submissions need to include a recipe and photo of their original drink creation. Here is the judging criteria:

-Originality/creativity
-Unique use of PAMA
-Ingredient combination
-Appropriateness of the cocktail name

For a full list of rules and to enter, go to www.PAMALiqueur.com/HomeBarStar. Good luck to all those who enter!

When the weather gets chilly and the sky turns grey, sunny winter citrus can be just the thing to help brighten the season!

With cold weather, comes cold and flu season. What a wonderful coincidence, then, that oranges are in season at the same time! They 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 oranges, clementines and mandarins as you can grab, peel and eat!

I love Cuties! They are sweet, easy to peel and seedless. And have you seen those cute commercials this year on TV? Cuties is also running some super fun contests – check them out at http://cutieskids.com/contests/.

Add orange zest to your biscuit or shortcake recipe and then layer in slices for a citrusy shortcake. A smear of lemon curd would be tasty to add too!

Peeled and segmented mandarins, clementines and oranges make a perfect any-time snack, but they’re more versatile than that. Cooked into hot dishes, blended up in a breakfast smoothie, layered in sweet shortcake or incorporated into a salad dressing, citrus brings a deliciously tart sweetness to the table!

My Clementine Salad with Fennel, Feta and Honey Citrus Dressing

In my Clementine Salad with Fennel, Feta and Honey Citrus Dressing, clementines are sliced into the salad and blended whole into the zesty dressing. Perfect for healthy eating!

For a quick and easy appetizer, combine diced clementines with tomatoes, calamata olives, minced red onion and fresh basil to top my d’lish Cuties Bruschetta with Goat Cheese. Great for on-the-fly entertaining!

And check out my Candied Clementines – a 14-day process I learned in Italy years ago! They are amazing to serve with cheese, cut up on ice cream or pound cake or just nibbled on!

So peel up some winter citrus and say hello to some sunshine! -Kathy

Cuties Salad with Fennel, Feta and Honey Citrus Dressing
This salad is great as a starter, or as an entrée topped with grilled chicken or shrimp. When in season, a scattering of pomegranate seeds is a festive addition.

Makes 4 entrée servings or 6–8 starter servings

1 large or 2 small fennel bulbs, trimmed
6 Cuties Clementines
6 cups spring mixed greens (about 5 oz.)
Honey Citrus Dressing (recipe follows)
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Finely shave fennel with a sharp knife or mandolin, and keep crisp in ice water for 10 minutes. Spin dry before using. Peel and cut Cuties Clementines, trim away all white pith, then cut fruit into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Set fruit aside.

Toss greens and fennel with 1/2 cup of dressing to coat nicely. Serve salad on a large platter or divide among individual plates. Top with sliced Cuties and sprinkle with feta. Drizzle with a little extra dressing if desired.

Honey Citrus Dressing
Makes 2 cups

2 Cuties Clementines, peeled and segmented
1/2 cup cider vinegar
2 Tbsps minced shallots
1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 Tbsps honey, like my Liquid Kitchen™ “5130” Honey
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup olive oil

Combine all ingredients in a blender (I love my Vitamix!) and blend until smooth. Keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Cuties Bruschetta with Goat Cheese
The flavors of mandarin, calamata olives and fresh basil with 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
————————-
4 Cuties Clementines
2 Tbsps extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup chopped vine-ripe tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 Tbsps minced red onion
1 1/2 tsp finely minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped pitted calamata olives
Pinch of red pepper flakes
————————-
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®

Farewell 2011, here’s to a zesty 2012!

Another year has come and gone by so quickly! Last year was filled with exciting travels and delicious experiences. As we welcome in 2012, I hope you enjoy reading about my fun foodie adventures this year and all the new things we are up to and have on the horizon. — Kathy

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Tasty Travels

Spring travels in 2011 took my crew and me to Ocean Shores where I hosted the 5^th Annual Razor Clam Fest — and ate a LOT of chowder! Then it was off to New York to present at the  with Charlotte Voisey and Jamie Boudreau as well as Small Screen Network for our seminar, Three Mixologists — Three Cocktails — Three Ways.

My crew and me on our way back from the Razor Clam Fest at Ocean Shores!

Then I was off to Austin for the annual IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) Conference where I presented a seminar on bitters. This annual event brings in a slew of professional culinarians from all over the world. In our downtime I zipped around the city with chef pals to check out the Austin Food Trailer scene — cool stuff!

A flight of bitters for our presentation at IACP

Summer travels started off in New Orleans where I presented a hit seminar on H2O Cocktails with Tony Abou- Ganim at Tales of the Cocktail. Our seminar was picked as one of the top by our peers! H2O cocktails were so well received that there was a slew of press and blogs featuring them. Check out Difford’s Guide and Camper English’s blog Alcademics and my guest article for Liquor.com. (I’m excited to start planning for 2012’s Tales of the Cocktail — it will be their 10th anniversary — but in the meantime check out Tales of the Cocktail on Tour: Vancouver this Feb in Vancouver B.C., Canada.)

Then it was off to Newport Beach, California for the Flavor Experience Conference where my team and I presented a seminar on Creativity and Creating New Cocktails and cooked up lots of great ideas with our client Monin, including our Soda Jerk Station! Here’s what we served:

Flash Carbonated Vodka and Sour Cherry & Lime Soda

Red Velvet Milk Shake
Dark chocolate, vanilla ice cream and bites of red velvet fudge cake
topped with a cream cheese frosting whip

Pineapple Split Milk Shake
Roasted pineapple and banana mingle with vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate
topped with marshmallow whip, nuts and a cherry

Berrylicious Chocolate Chip Shortcake Bites
Bite-sized chocolate chip shortcakes smothered with summer berries
crowned with a dollop of double berry whipped cream

Cameo, Me and Heather dressed up as soda jerks during the Flavor Experience!

Fall travels took me to back to California, this time to Napa Valley to present at the Culinary Institute of America’s Worlds of Flavor conference with Paramount Citrus. Heather and Travis shook up over 4,000 cocktails that week including my Pacifica, made with fresh pressed pineapple, kaffir lime leaves, freshly squeezed Paramount lime juice, agave nectar, silver tequila and mandarin-infused vodka, then all topped with coconut foam!

Fall and Winter travels took me all-over North America from San Francisco to Dallas to Chicago to Toronto to Miami — but the highlight was my trip to France with Cointreau. But to backtrack a little bit, I was a mentor again for the annual Cointreau Bar-Star Mix-Off Competition at last year’s Tales of the Cocktail. Four finalists are challenged to create a cocktail on the fly from a table of fresh ingredients in front a panel of judges. With the help of their mixologist mentor, the finalists go at it for a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to France! New York’s Luigi Tarantino chose me as his mentor and we were off. After much discussion, he created the winning cocktail (recipe below)! Not only did he win a trip to France but as a mentor, I won a trip to France too!

Luigi and me after they announced the winners!

The Winning Cointreau Cocktail by Luigi Tarantino

Cointreau’ling Kamikazes
Created by Luigi Tarantino (Now on the menu at Tosca Café, Bronx, NY)

1 thyme sprig
5 raspberries
3/4 oz Cointreau^®
3/4 oz Campari
1/4 oz yuzu juice
1 oz Woodford Reserve bourbon
1/2 oz simple syrup
Garnish: Sprig of thyme, raspberry

In a mixing glass, muddle thyme and raspberries, add remaining cocktail ingredients. Fill with ice, cap and shake, Strain into a martini or coupe glass. Garnish.

Citrus peels used in the making of Cointreau

Visiting Cointreau headquarters just outside of Angers in the Loire Valley was super amazing — I can still smell the beautiful orange peels as I write this!

After touring around the French countryside and eating and drinking way too much, we headed back to Paris where I was able to meet up with my Twitter friend @52Martinis for cocktails. If you’re headed to Paris in the future, be sure to check out her blog for all the best places to drink in the city.

Alfred Countreau leads us on a tour of the distillery

Then it was back to reality and the frenzy of setting up for our Annual Holiday Extravaganza & Open House at the Food Studios. Once a year we open our doors and invite everyone to come and enjoy some sips and apps and offer our “Over 21” Real Fruit Cakes made with Maker’s Mark, housemade preserves, and Dish D’Lish^® and Liquid Kitchen™ retail items as well as candies and baked goods. Whew — we had a huge turn out and it was so great to see so many friends and end the year with a bang!

One of the many d’lish goods we made for my annual Holiday Extravaganza

“Over 21” Real Fruit Cakes made with Maker’s Mark

For the new year, I’ll have to pack extra warm…
because I will be heading next month to Kiev, Ukraine to help open the brand new Fairmont Grand Hotel! Make sure you follow me on Twitter (@KathyCaseyChef) where I’ll make sure to keep you all updated with fun news and tasty pics from Kiev!

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Serious Sippin’ with the Liquid Kitchen

I’m excited to announce that we’ll be filming the 3^rd Season soon! I covered lots of libatious drinks during the 2^ndSeason, including a Zen Garden, a Platinum Sparkle (which was also feature in Food & Wine: Cocktails 2011 in which I wrote the Vodka Chapter) a Spirited Chocolate Covered Cherry Milkshake and a crowd pleasing Spiked Iced Tea Punch. Guest episodes include a spot with Tim Master of Frederick Wildman & Sons to educate us on mezcal and share his Maguey Harvest cocktail.

And if you’ve ever wondered how maraschino cherries were made — follow me on an episode that takes you from Orchard to Jar. Stay tuned to Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen, for a new episode every Tuesday!

Tim Master and me getting ready to make a tasty Maguey Harvest cocktail

Want to make a cocktail at home just like the pros do, but can never find the right restaurant/bar quality tools? Look no further than my Liquid Kitchen Cocktail Kit! It’s all the equipment that I use. It comes with a Liquid Kitchen logo’ed Boston tin shaker and pint glass, a channel knife, a metal two sided jigger, Hawthorn strainer and a julep strainer. All you need is the booze, ice and you’re on your way to a faboo drink!

And to help get you started with a great winter cocktail recipe, I penned this guest article for Liquor.com. I write all about winter citrus and share my recipes for a Citrus 75 and Grapefruit Negroni.

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Libatious Reads

If you’re inclined to cozy up to a good read about cocktails, read up on my good friend Jim Meehan’s new book The PDT (Please Don’t Tell) Cocktail Book. Fashioned around the famed NY bar, it’s filled with over 300 cocktail recipes and a few behind the scenes moments of his bar.

Another couple of must have cocktail books are the “new” Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide. Mixologist Jonathan Pogash updated this bar classic and added new recipes from a wide variety of other mixologists and bartenders, including my recipe for a Rosemary Clementine Sparkle.

For those of you that geek out over ingredients and like to get down to the specifics, bitters enthusiasts will love Brad Thomas Parsons’ book BITTERS and if you’ve just always wanted to know everything about vermouth then Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown’s The Mixellany Guide to Vermouth and Other Apertifs is the book for you. I got some ink in with my Tuscan Martini that has a grappa & lemon-infused dry vermouth in it.

If you’re looking for spirited news about the Pacific Northwest, then be sure to check out Sip Northwest magazine. Covering all things from new distilleries and spirits to the latest and the hottest craft cocktail bars, Sip Northwest is a new must read quarterly magazine. Make sure you check out my feature column Shake, Swizzle & Stir — this issue I shake it up with Aviation Gin and Woodinville Headlong White Dog Whiskey, and visit Liberty Bar in Seattle and Clyde Common in Portland.

Dishing with Kathy Casey – On-Air and Online

Catch me throughout the weekend for Dishing with Kathy Casey on KOMO News Radio to hear about what’s in season, recipe tips as well as neighborhood hot spots and restaurant news. Link back to my blog Dishing with Kathy Casey for everything I dish up on the show, recipes, links and other helpful info.

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Cook Up Some Fun with Cuties Citrus!

^{Photo by Kathy Casey Food Studios}

Clementine Salad with Fennel, Feta and Honey Citrus Dressing
This salad is great as a starter, or as an entrée topped with grilled chicken or shrimp. When in season, a scattering of pomegranate seeds is a festive addition. Whole Cuties are blended in the dressing for a zesty twist!

Makes 4 entrée servings or 6-8 starter servings

1 large or 2 small fennel bulbs, trimmed
6 Cuties Clementines
6 cups spring mixed greens (about 5 oz.)
Honey Citrus Dressing (recipe follows)
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Finely shave fennel with a sharp knife or mandoline, and crisp in ice water for 10 minutes. Spin dry before using. Cut peel off Cuties, trim away all white pith, then cut fruit into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Set fruit aside.

Toss greens and fennel with 1/2 cup of dressing to coat nicely. Serve salad on a large platter or divide among individual plates. Top with sliced Cuties and sprinkle with feta. Drizzle with a little extra dressing if desired.

Honey Citrus Dressing
Quick and easy this dressing can be easily doubled or tripled. It’s a snap to make in a Vitamix blender.

Makes 2 cups

2 Cuties Clementines, peeled and torn into quarters
1/2 cup cider vinegar
2 Tbsp minced shallots
1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt or Dish D’Lish French Seasoning Salt
2 Tbsps honey
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup olive oil

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios^®

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Where to Catch Kathy Next

Foodportunity: Monday, February 6^th, 6:00pm — 9:00pm
Palace Ballroom – Seattle

Come join me for Frantic Foodie Keren Brown’s next Foodportunity event. I’ll be on a special panel alongside chef Lisa Dupar, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese’s Kurt Beecher Dammeier and CakeSpy’s Jessie Oleson. There will be lively conversation and lots of tasty bites offered by the Palace Ballroom, Rover’s and Luc, Local 360, The Coterie Room and so much more. Make sure you get your tickets soon and I hope to see you there!

Save the Date:
VIBE Conference – Las, Vegas, NV – March 13^th & 14^th
6^th Annual Razor Clam Festival – Ocean Shores, WA – March 24^th
Flavor Summit – Greystone, CA – April 19^th – 21^st

Cheers to a bright and flavorful 2012! — Kathy

Don’t forget to check my D’lish column with DList Magazine and my posts on Amazon’s Al Dente blog too!

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Follow on Twitter @KathyCaseyChef. Blogging: Dishing with Kathy Casey. Like on Facebook: Sips & Apps andKathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen. Watch: www.LiquidKitchen.tv.

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