My upcoming article for DList Magazine, out on the stands next month, talks about “putting up” and preserving, and why Kim O’Donnel, the founder of Canning Across America, thinks we should all try canning at least once! Here’s my personal favorite jam recipe – Strawberry Lemon Poppyseed Jam!

Happy canning! -Kathy

Strawberry Lemon Poppyseed Jam
Makes 14 half-pints.

3 quarts (3 pounds) stemmed local strawberries
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3 Tbsp. finely minced lemon zest
1 box MCP pectin
8 cups sugar
2 Tbsp. poppyseeds

Place strawberries in a 6- to 8-quart, heavy-bottom saucepot and crush them with your CLEAN hands, leaving a few nice chunks for texture. Add lemon juice and zest. Add the pectin and stir in.

Place over high heat and bring to a FULL ROLLING BOIL (a boil you can’t stir down), stirring constantly to prevent scorching. (If mixture starts to scorch, turn down heat a bit.) Stir in the sugar and poppyseeds and, as soon as the full rolling boil takes place again, start timing and cook jam for 4 minutes.

Then remove from heat, skim the jam and fill jars as above. Process jars in boiling water bath for 10 minutes (with this method jam will keep for up to 1 year stored at room temperature), or cool and refrigerate jam for up to 3 months.

Recipe ©Kathy Casey Food Studios®.

Basic Jam-Making & Canning Processes
Check jars for nicks and cracks, then wash and rinse thoroughly. Place canning jar lids and rings in a pan of water, bring to a simmer and remove from heat. Let sit in hot water until ready to use. NOTE: Always use NEW lids when canning.

Boil clean half-pint canning jars in a covered water bath canner or a large saucepan filled with water for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand in hot water until ready to use. When ready to use, place sterilized jars on a clean dish towel before filling (this will prevent cracking).

Fill sterilized jars with hot jam to 1/4-inch from tops. Release air bubbles by poking jam to the bottom with a non-metallic spatula. Wipe off jar rims and top of rim so that no jam is there to deter a tight seal.

Cover jars quickly with lids, then screw on rings.

Have water bath canner going at a full rolling boil. With tongs, place jars in rack in water. Bring back to a full boil and cover. (Water should be at least 1 inch above jars.) Start timing now according to recipe.

After processing is completed, remove jars onto a clean dish towel to cool. After they start to cool, you may hear a “pop” that is the lids sucking down and making a vacuum seal. After jars have cooled overnight, check seal by poking lid with finger to see that the center is down and will not move.

Important Note:
Some jams will set up quickly — others may take up to 2 weeks to set. And some may just end up being soft set, depending upon Mother Nature and the sugar content of your fruit.

You’ve for sure seen them at Starbucks. And they do make perfect whipped cream. But there’s so much more you can do with them! Of course I’m talking about iSi Gourmet Whips (as seen to the left, photo courtesy of iSi North America).

There are so many ways you can use your Whip! I tend to geek out and try different things.

Amazon’s Al Dente Blog

Lots of Delicious Travel and Exciting Projects

It’s been another whirlwind of a few months … lots of tasty travel and exciting work as well as the addition of a new mixology associate Andrew Bohrer to the Liquid Kitchen! As a former bartender at Vessel and opening bar manager at the Naga Cocktail Lounge (both listed in Food & Wine’s top 100 bars in the world) as well as most recently the bar manager at Mistral Kitchen, Andrew created national cocktail buzz around his creative libations. We are thrilled to welcome Andrew to our mixology team! Check out his blog at Cask Strength.

Speaking of blogs … on my blog Dishing with Kathy Casey, we will have some new guest bloggers such as Cocktail Quests’ Courtney Randall, Liberty Bar co-owner Andrew Friedman and cake lover Josie Plath. We have new posts and recipes every week and we hope you visit often.

It seems I’ve barely been home for 2 seconds lately, so here is a glimpse of my spring adventures. I’ll be excited to report back mid-summer with new travels, tales and tasty recipes!

Tales of the Cocktail on Tour: Vancouver

Tales of the Cocktail has moved into international territory and broken from its New Orleans roots this past March. Tales Vancouver was hosted at the beautiful Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in British Columbia. Tales on Tour was set for a different, yet fun and refreshing change of pace. (Definitely not as many sun glasses worn at the early morning seminars!)

Mass cocktail swag from TOTC: Vancouver!!!!

The whole event kicked off with a Canadian Professional Bartenders Association (CPBA) Welcome Reception held at the Vancouver Aquarium. Master mixologist David Wolowidnyk of WEST Restaurant & Bar as well as Director & Treasure of the CPBA shook up and stirred lots of great drinks while demonstrating his mastery and finesse of the Japanese bartending techniques.

Mixologist David Wolowidnyk stirring a tasty concoction!

The rest of my time there was spent attending amazing seminars by such cocktail luminaries as tiki god Jeff “Beachbum” Berry. Jeff is a total tiki beverage historian. His CSI-style seminar took us through the various origins of the Mai Tai cocktail and helped us come to our own conclusions. Too fun!!!

Beachbum Berry holding up his book Sippin’ Safari!

I then geeked out with Dave Arnold at The Science of Cocktails: New Techniques Behind the Bar followed by an informative and fun seminar on The History and Importance of Ice in Cocktails by renowned mixologist Charlotte Voisey and Jon Santer.

It was definitely great to have Tales up in the Pacific Northwest- my neck of the woods. I can’t wait for Tales of the Cocktail this summer, July 20-24 in New Orleans, Louisiana where I will be presenting a seminar on H2O Cocktails with the Modern Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim and master distiller Thomas Kuuttanen from Purity Vodka. Come shake some fun up with us and get your tickets soon!

Mom 2.0 Summit Conference

In April I headed to the Mom 2.0 Summit Conference! This huge conference was held in beautiful New Orleans, Louisiana. (I sure seem to be spending a lot of time there!) My team and I were there with Almond Accents. We whipped up lunch for 400 people, passed out some delicious snacks and bites at the booth and met lots of great people. Check out my recipe for the Calypso Cous Cous Almond Salad with Shrimp that we made for the lunch.

Dale DeGroff comes to Seattle!

“King Cocktail” Dale DeGroff was shaking it up at my Food Studios-Liquid Kitchen this past spring for a Cointreau event. He guided attendees through a spirited tasting of orange liquors and a sampling of Dale’s cocktails. Cointreau also announced the 2011 Mix-Off Competition where I get to be an expert mentor for the finals at Tales of the Cocktail. If my mixologist wins not only do they get a trip to France – but I do too! Afterwards we served up some of Dale’s cocktails. It’s always an honor to see Dale and watch him work.

Dale and I enjoying a cocktail!

Here is a one of my favorite Dale DeGroff cocktails:

Bitter Rose
1/2 oz Cointreau
2 ounces Plymouth Gin
1/2 oz Roses Lime Juice
1/4 oz fresh lime juice
1/4 oz Fernet Branca
Dash of Grenadine
Garnish: rose petal

Directions: Assemble all ingredients in a Boston shaker filled with ice and shake well. Strain in to a chilled martini glass and garnish with a rose petal.

TV, Books, and More!

I’m so excited to have been chosen as one of the 101 featured mixologists in the legendary spirit writer Gary Regan’s newest book, Annual Manual for Bartenders, 2011, which includes the recipe for my Bollywood cocktail. It’s an amazing book for any mixologist or budding bartender. So please support this great writer and order your copy today!

If you missed my latest episode on New Day Northwest all about what to do with that extra Easter candy you can still catch the video and recipe here.

If you’re still thirsty then try out my Tea’Thyme cocktail recipe found in the Food & Wine: Cocktails 2011 book due out this summer! I penned the vodka chapter – so stay tuned for more…

Food Bank Gourmet!

Family Works Food Bank had an amazing and successful fundraiser event in late March. They asked celebrated chefs and restaurant owners Rachel Yang of Joule/Revel and Amy McCray of Eva to team up and lead an interactive cooking demo using only food bank ingredients. I was happy to be asked to emcee the event. It was amazing to see and taste the amazing dishes they cooked up for a great cause. Please remember to support your local food banks!

Chef’s Rachel Yang, myself and Amy McCray!

Foster Farms’ Fresh Chicken Cooking Contest!

Foster Farms is looking for recipes! If you have an amazing chicken recipe that you think is great and deserves some recognition, make sure you enter the Foster Farms’ Fresh Chicken Cooking Contest. Recipe applicants have until May 31st to turn in recipes for a chance to win a grand prize of $10,000 and a year’s worth of Foster Farms’ chicken! For contest info, click here. A family owned company since 1939, Foster Farms prides itself in raising locally-grown fresh chicken available in grocery stores on the West Coast. The Washington state finals will be held at my Food Studios and I am lucky to be a judge again this year!

2010 Judges: Jamie Peha, myself and Cynthia Nims!

Where to catch Kathy next:

Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen™ Season Two – Coming Soon!
I’ll be filming Season Two of my cocktail show Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen soon with Small Screen Network! I’ll be creating some refreshing summer cocktails and d’lish appetizers. In the meantime, check out past episodes for some libacious inspiration.

May 13 – 17: Manhattan Cocktail Classic: New York, New York
The Manhattan Cocktail Classic is just around the corner! This part conference, part cocktail party and part festival-style liquor and spirits event is open to the industry and to the public! I’ll be presenting the seminar “Three Mixologists, Three Cocktails, Three Ways (or Cocktail Ménage á Trois)” and teaming up with Small Screen Network and fellow renowned mixologists Charlotte Voisey and Jamie Boudreau as we each give our spin on the French 75, a Margarita and the Old Fashioned while discussing the history of the classic versions and our inspiration for our modern versions. For event and ticket info, click here.

June 1 – 4: International Association of Culinary Professionals Conference: Austin, Texas
The IACP Conference is an annual conference where worldwide culinary professionals get the chance to meet up and take part in lively discussions/seminars about the latest trends in the culinary world. I’ll be presenting a seminar this year titled “It’s Better to be Bitter” where we will be tasting bitters and discussing the growing bitters phenomenon. For those industry friends, I hope to see you in Austin. For more information, check out the IACP site.

I’ve also been blogging for Amazon’s Al Dente so I hope you will visit there as well to see what new things I am cooking up this summer. Here’s wishing you all a tasty and d’lish summer! – Kathy

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Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@KathyCaseyChef), Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog or find Sips & Apps on Facebook for all my tasty travel tidbits.

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For some reason, the French Macaron has developed a bit of a reputation as a tough cookie… to make, that is. This is due to the fact that they can be a little finicky, requiring more attention to detail than a regular cookie. They need to sit out before baking (long enough to form the perfect skin), the batter should flow like lava and don’t forget the coveted ‘feet’ that have to form in the oven.  Like anything, though, practice makes perfect and once you’ve mastered them, the doors are wide open! The great thing about these divine treats is that they are infinitely customizable; you can flavor them to your heart’s content and fill them with just about anything you can think of. While there are some traditional flavors like pistachio, vanilla and chocolate, the macaron is the perfect vehicle to try new and unexpected combinations.

Personally, I love raspberries, so I can’t think of anything tastier than some super-fun Raspberry Macarons with Pink Champagne Buttercream filling! This recipe was created by my Food Studio associate Jessica Duncan – an avid baker!  These are a sweet, pretty little treats that practically beg to be set out for anything from a birthday party, a bridal shower or an afternoon tea party. Even better, surprise mom on Mother’s day with this beautiful sweet treat! The tartness of the raspberry plays wonderfully against the smooth sweetness of the buttercream. Pink sanding sugar sprinkled on top gives them a little extra bling – fabulous!

So forget what you’ve heard about troublesome macarons and give Jessica’s recipe a try – your go-to dessert list will gain a sweet addition you won’t regret!  -Kathy

Raspberry Macarons with Pink Champagne Buttercream
Food Studio culinary associate Jessica Duncan loves to bake sweet treats – her passion for macrons is almost rivaled by her love of cupcakes. She shares her recipe with us today. Thank you Jessica!

Makes about 35 macarons

4 egg whites, room temperature
2/3 cup almond flour
1 cup powdered sugar
Pinch of cream of tartar
1/8 cup super-fine sugar
1 Tbsp. strained raspberry puree
3-4 drops pink gel food coloring
1/8 cup pink sanding sugar (available at cookie and cake decorating stores)
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Pink Champagne Buttercream (recipe follows)

Separate your egg whites and, in a covered bowl, let them come up to room temperature.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a food processor, pulse together almond flour and powdered sugar until fine powdered, then sift thoroughly. Set aside.

In an electric mixer on medium speed, mix whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar and whip whites to soft peaks. Be sure not to over-mix at this point to avoid macarons being too dry.

Reduce mixer to low speed and incorporate super-fine sugar, increase to high speed and whip mix to stiff, glossy peaks, about 8 minutes.

Remove bowl from mixer and sift dry ingredients in 1/3 at a time, very gently folding in with the egg whites until just incorporated. Add pureed raspberry and food coloring and fold in. Test a teaspoon of your batter on a plate – if it smoothes out immediately, your batter is ready. If there are still peaks, whisk on low for another 30-45 seconds.

Transfer batter carefully to a piping bag fitted with a 1/4-inch, round tip. Avoid over-handling the batter as it can begin to deflate. On a sheet tray lined with parchment, pipe out 3/4″ rounds, (at least 1 inch apart) being sure to pull the tip to the side rather than leaving a small peak in the center. Tap the baking sheet firmly to release any air bubbles. Sprinkle generously with pink sanding sugar. Let sit at room temperature for at least 45 minutes, or until a skin forms on the rounds.

Bake about 10 – 12 minutes or until macarons are just firm, but not browning. Baking time may vary depending on your oven, so watch them closely. Once done, remove from the oven and let cool completely – at least 30 minutes. Remove carefully and sort macarons into same-sized pairs.

Transfer buttercream frosting to a piping bag with a 1/4-inch round tip. Pipe a 1/2″ round of filling on to a macaron and sandwich together with its mate. Serve immediately or store at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for up to three months between sheets of parchment.

Pink Champagne Buttercream
Makes about 3 cups

2 egg whites
2/3 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
5 Tbsp. champagne or sparkling wine
8 oz butter (two sticks), room temperature
1-2 drops pink gel food coloring

Bring a medium pot (one that your bowl will set on) of water to a simmer.

Meanwhile; in a heat-safe bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer), whisk the eggs by hand until light and foamy. Add the sugar, salt and champagne. Place the bowl over the pot of simmering water and whisk until the mixture registers 160 F degrees on a candy thermometer and the sugar has dissolved. Test the texture between your fingers – it should be smooth, not grainy.

Remove bowl from heat and place on the counter –or attach to stand mixer. With an electric mixer use the whisk/beater attachment, mix on medium speed until the bowl is cool to the touch, about 5-6 minutes.

Increase to medium-high speed and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 6 minutes. Reduce to medium speed and one piece at a time, incorporate butter until mixture has come together to a thick frosting consistency. Mix in food coloring to desired intensity. Use immediately. (You can refrigerate covered for up to 3 days – just bring to room temperature before using and give it a few turns with a mixer to fluff it up).
Recipe by Jessica Duncan

Having a blast in New Orleans! I’m currently at the Mom 2.0 Summit Conference with Almond Accents dishin’ out d’lish bites! Here’s one of my tasty treats, my Toffee Almond Jumbles! Enjoy! -Kathy

Toffee Almond Jumbles
Makes 16 pieces

1 package Almond Accents Butter Toffee Glazed sliced almonds
2 cups Wheat Chex^®
1 cup broken pretzel sticks (about 1/2-inch pieces)
1 1/2 cups butterscotch chips
1/2 cup chocolate chips
sea salt for sprinkling (optional)

In large bowl, mix Almond Accents, Wheat Chex and broken pretzels. In a 4-cup microwavable cup, microwave butterscotch chips, uncovered, on medium for 10 seconds; stir and repeat in 10-second intervals until mixture can be stirred smooth. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.

On a wax-paper lined cookie sheet, form mixture into 16 “stacks”; if mixture begins to cool and crumble, return to microwave for 10 seconds then continue.

In another small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, uncovered, on medium in 10-second intervals, until chocolate can be stirred smooth. Drizzle chocolate over snack-mix stacks and lightly sprinkle with sea salt if desired. Refrigerate until just set. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Recipe created by Kathy Casey Food Studios^®

I always know spring is here when the fennel starts to come up in my urban garden. We have wild growing fennel tha  t grows along our back gate here in Seattle – it is non-bulbing but provides us a lot delicious pollen for sprinkling and plenty of seeds to harvest every year! Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is indigenous to the Mediterranean but it thrives anywhere with fairly dry soil. Everything from the bulb to the pollen is staple ingredients in culinary traditions from Greece and India all the way to Northern Europe. It grows best in moderate to cool temperatures (60’s-70’s), which thankfully we get in abundance here in the Pacific Northwest. Fennel shares family ties with other classic aromatics such as carrots, celery and parsley. Of course it is also popularly known as one of the three main ingredients in absinthe!

Continue reading on Amazon’s Al Dente blog!

Picking the right wine to go with a meal can be a daunting task in the first place, but Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein, four-time James Beard Award nominee, wants you to take a few risks and try something a little less ordinary. In his book Daring Pairing, the exciting new companion to Perfect Pairings, Goldstein teams up with thirty-six acclaimed chefs to highlight less conventional wine choices with perfectly tailored dishes. A “down to earth guide to wine’s less-travelled terrain”, Daring Pairings visits countries all over  the world to explore their unique varietals, like Txakoli, the light-bodied, frizzante white from Spain’s Basque region, Greece’s obscure dark and fruity Xinomavro and the spicy, earthen Barbera from Italy’s Piedmont region.

Of course, it takes two to tango, and you need food to pair these spectacular wines. The chef-tailored recipes in this book are elegant without being fussy. Each one, from start to finish, would be equally as appropriate for a dinner party or a weeknight meal, but with Spring right around the corner, I want to share Loretta Keller’s offering from the book, Mushroom Salad with Warm Goat Cheese Toasts, which Evan suggests pairing with the versatile, slightly acidic Chenin Blanc. He also recommends a diverse list of Chenin producers, grouped by price range such as ‘everyday’, ‘premium’ and ‘splurge’ so you can tailor the suggestion to your own tastes!

So next time you’re perusing the wine section, keep Evan’s spirit of adventure and discovery in mind and pick up something you’ve never tried before!  Salut!

-Kathy

Chenin Blanc and Mushroom Salad with Warm Goat Cheese Toasts
Makes 4 salad-course of first course servings

6 oz white button mushrooms, trimmed
1/2 cup crème fraiche
6 drops fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp grated lemon zest
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 celery stalk
4 slices coarse country bread
2 Tbsps extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, halved
1/2 lb fresh goat cheese, at room temp

Herb Salad
1 Tbsp fresh tarragon leaves
1 Tbsp finely slices fresh chives
1/4 cup fresh chervil leaves
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 Tbsp coarsely chopped fresh dill
1/2 cup small-leaf arugula
1 cup mache
2 Tbsps extra virgin olive oil
2 tsps fresh lemon juice

Using a mandoline or a sharp knife, thinly slice he mushrooms, then place in a bowl. Add the crème fraiche, lemon juice, lemon zest, and a pinch each salt and pepper. Gently combine the ingredients, being careful not to break up the mushrooms. Set aside.

Using a vegetable peeler, remove the strings from the celery stalk, then thinly slice the stalk crosswise with the mandolin or knife. Add the mushrooms and gently toss to mix.

Toast the bread slices, and brush one side of each slice with the olive oil. Drag the cut side of the garlic clove across the oiled side of each bread slice once or twice. Spread one-fourth of the goat cheese one each slice of toast.

Working quickly now, make the herb salad. In a bowl, combine all of the herbs, the arugula and the mache. Drizzle with the olive oil and lemon juice and toss to mix. Season with salt and pepper and toss again.

Divide the mushroom salad evening among 4 plates. Scatter the herb salad over the top, and place a slice of warm goat cheese toast on the side. Serve immediately.

Recipe by Loretta Keller found in Daring Pairings: A Master Sommelier Matches Distinctive Wines with Recipes from His Favorite Chefs, University of California Press, Los Angeles

I gathered up the team and we headed for Vegas, baby! And the VIBE was great!

We just recently got back from Vegas and had an amazing time at the VIBE Conference! This is the 2nd annual spirits and liquor industry conference where beverage industry leaders, national restaurant accounts and spirit brands come together to discuss all things beverage, showcase tasty new products, learn new things and get inspired. This year I shook it up for the opening night’s Celebrity Mixologist event at the William Grant & Monin “Americana themed bar” with Charlotte Voissey, a world-renowned mixologist! My drink was a play on the soda fountain: the  ROOT n’ Rye Float made with ROOT liquor, Hudson Rye, Sailor Jerry and a dash of Fee’s Old Fashioned Bitters. This was shaken and served up with a beautiful “float” of foam made with Monin French Vanilla Syrup. And of course I had to have a little bling bling in there… a dusting of edible gold flakes!

Charlotte Voissey and me at the VIBE Celebrity Mixologist Event

The next day I led a workshop-style seminar with my team about Cocktail Alternatives: Raising the Bar – Without Raiding the Bar! (a tasting discussion on non-alcoholic drinks). We held a lively discussion on what’s new on the non-alcoholic horizon, sampled mocktails such as the Yuzu Mizu and discussed all the cool beverages I have seen on my travels to the Middle East and Asia. The seminar ended with participants making their own non-alcoholic concoctions. You can see a brief overview of the seminar at the VIBE website.

My Yuzu Mizu mocktail

After all that, there was still time to party, eat at great restaurants, dance and party some more! If you’re in Vegas…you might as well live it up! Yeah! We can’t wait for VIBE next year!

My team and me having a blast in Vegas!

It’s Clammin’ Time!

My friend Scott and I cleaning razor clams

Last Saturday, March 19th was the 5th Annual Razor Clam Festival! I hosted this year’s festivities once again which kicked off with a Firemen’s Pancake Breakfast. There were a lot of  chowders to taste for this year’s Clam Chowder Cook-Offs — the professional and amateur competition! My chef team and I tasted and judged close to 30 chowders altogether! After a great festival, it was time for some clam digging! Stay tuned for a detailed blog with the official winners Clam Chowder Cook-Off competition winners and recipes!

Dancing the night away with a Rosemary Mandarin Tango!

Seattle Dances! was a hit! Plymouth Housing Group’s second annual auction and dinner event brought in lots of people to watch a new group of Seattleites dance their pants off… but not literally! If you remember, last year I put on my dancing shoes and danced the Charleston! This year, I put my dancing shoes away (thankfully!) and shook up some fun with my tasty Rosemary Mandarin Tango cocktail! This blends in the complex character of Moon Mountain vodka with the sweetness of a Cuties Clementine and the herbal note of fresh rosemary.

Rosemary Mandarin Tango
Makes 1 drink
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1/4 Cuties^® Mandarin
1 1/2 oz Moon Mountain Vodka
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz honey syrup*
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1 oz brut champagne
Garnish: small sprig of rosemary

Bend rosemary sprig and drop into mixer glass. Squeeze and drop in Cuties Mandarin.
Measure in the Moon Mountain Vodka, lemon and honey syrup. Fill with ice. Cap and shake vigorously.
Strain into a large martini glass. Add a splash of champagne. Garnish with rosemary.
* To make Honey syrup combine 1 part local honey and 1 part hot water. Stir to combine. Store refrigerated.
Recipe © Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen™

Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen

The first season of my cocktail show Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen^TM on Small Screen Network was a hit and I appreciate all the great responses! If you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet log in today and try out my Luxury Piña Colada; a little taste of summer which is just around the corner! We start shooting the next season this spring!

As you may know, I had a fantastic trip to Kuala Lampur over the holidays to develop the bars and nightclubs at Mandarin Oriental Hotel. It was a crazy-busy visit but I did get a chance to sit down with Time Out: Kuala Lampur to talk about mixing up my favorite spirits with some d’lish flavor pairings! Make sure you check it out to get some ideas about unique taste combinations… don’t quote me on that Dr. Pepper comment, though!!! I swear I DID NOT say that!

It’s Tea Thyme! You read that right… Food & Wine online is featuring my lovely Tea Thyme cocktail. It marries English breakfast tea-infused vodka, a little splash of lemon juice, local honey like my own Liquid Kitchen “5130” Honey, and a pretty sprig of thyme for garnish to add a fresh, herbalicious note. This classy cocktail is perfect for a grown-up tea party! Cheers!

Savory Chicken Cupcakes?? Yes indeed! And a $10 thousand dollar recipe contest!

This year’s Seattle Food & Wine Experience was a sell-out hit! With wines from over 10 countries and lots of fantastic nibbles from local culinarians there was a lot to see and taste! I was at the Foster Farms booth where my team was serving up my Savory Chicken & Bacon “Cupcakes” with Tabasco Cream Cheese Frosting while I was signing complimentary copies of my Northwest Table, courtesy of Foster Farms. If you weren’t able to attend or did and didn’t catch the recipe, look no further as I’ve included it below, and if you fancy yourself a great cook and are a resident of Washington, Oregon or California then get creating and enter the Foster Farms recipe contest.

Kathy Casey’s Savory Chicken & Bacon “Cupcakes” with Tabasco Cream Cheese Frosting
Makes about 24

Cupcakes
1 cup small diced Foster Farm’s raw chicken breast (about 12 oz wt.)
3 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cup each 1/8-inch-diced onion, celery and red bell pepper
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
3/4 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. Old Bay seasoning
2 eggs
1/3 cup whole milk
1/3 cup sour cream
1/2 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed and drained well
8 strips cooked bacon, chopped fine (about 1/2 cup chopped)

Frosting
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. Tabasco sauce
Garnish: 2 thinly sliced green onions

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F

To make the cupcakes: Spray nonstick mini–muffin tins with cooking spray. Set aside.

Cut chicken breast into 1/4-inch small pieces. In a small skillet or sauté pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the chicken breast and sauté for about 3 minutes moving around the pan with a spoon. When chicken is three-quarters cooked then add the onion, celery, and bell pepper for about 3 to 4 minutes more, until vegetables are just starting to get tender. Add the garlic and sauté about 30 seconds more. Let cool.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and Old Bay seasoning; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, and sour cream.

Once the cooked mixture is cooled, add the cornmeal mixture to the egg mixture, and mix lightly. Fold in the drained corn, bacon, and cooked chicken and vegetables. Do not overmix; fold in just until evenly distributed.

Divide batter between the prepared mini muffin cups, fill to the top – you will get about 24 cupcakes. Bake the cupcakes for about 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in cupcake center comes out clean.

Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then carefully remove them from the pan and let cool briefly on a wire rack before frosting. The cupcakes can be made up to 1 day in advance, covered, and refrigerated before frosting. Refrigeration is imperative if making in advance. (If reheating them, warm them for minute or so in a 350-degree F oven before frosting.)

To make the frosting: In a small bowl, mash the cream cheese with a fork, then whisk in the milk and Tabasco until smooth and creamy. Top each cupcake with about 1 teaspoon of frosting then sprinkle with green onion for garnish. Serve warm.

© 2011 by Kathy Casey Food Studios® – Liquid Kitchen™ www.kathycasey.com

Where to catch Kathy next:

April 14th – 16th: New Orleans, Louisiana
I’ll be cooking it up in New Orleans for the Mom 2.0 Summit this year! The Mom Summit is an annual event between moms, marketers, and social media specialists. I’ll be there with Almond Accents sharing my tips for delicious almond-related recipes! Check out this year’s event schedule and ticket info!

May 13th – 17th: New York, New York
If you happen to live or be in the area of Manhattan on those dates, make sure that you stop by the Manhattan Cocktail Classic! This is a part conference, part cocktail party and part festival-style liquor and spirits industry event. The best part: it’s open to the public! Come stop by and attend my seminar: Three Mixologists – Three Drinks – Three Ways (or Cocktail Ménage á Trois!) For event and ticket info, click here.

It’s been a whirlwind month so far and shows no signs of stopping with all the super-fun events coming up, so make sure you stay tuned to catch all the details of my adventures! Cheers! – Kathy

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