Posts from July, 2018

Coleslaw with everything!

Ah, coleslaw – the picnic staple. How do you like it: sweet and tangy, vinaigrette-style, or creamy? Everyone has a favorite.

It’s a great counterpart to a multitude of dishes, whether cozied up next to classic fried chicken or riding shotgun next to barbecue ribs. It’s also tasty tucked into a sandwich or atop tacos.


Photo from Inspired Taste

These days slaws are showing up made with a variety of cabbages from brilliant red to tender Nappa. Not only tasty in coleslaw, cabbage is healthy for you. It boosts your intake of vitamin C and other nutrients, and definitely adds some good roughage to your diet.

Changing up your slaw ingredients can be fun and oh-so-tasty! Try savory savoy cabbage mixed with a sweet-and-tangy vinegar-based dressing, toasted sesame seeds and green onions. Or spike traditional mayo-based coleslaw dressing with zingy horseradish and toss in some dried cranberries for a sweet counterpart.

But I love a cooked thickened dressing. Why? Well you know sometimes when you dress your slaw it gets kind of weepy and then bland. Well a cooked and thickened dressing takes care of that as it stays coated to the cabbage. Just thicken a simmering vinegar and sugar mixture with a little cornstarch, cool, and then add into mayo with your seasonings.

So shake up your standard slaw and try my Poppy Seed Pineapple Slaw recipe for a twist on an old favorite – perfect for your next summer BBQ! –Kathy

Poppy Seed & Pineapple Coleslaw
Makes 6 cups

1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple with juice
1/2 tsp. salt
tiny pinch red pepper flakes
1 tsp. finely minced fresh ginger (optional)
1/3 cup cider vinegar
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 (1 lb. ) bag coleslaw greens or 8 cups of mixed shredded green and red cabbage
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 large carrot, grated
1 1/2 tsp. poppy seeds
1/4 cup light or regular mayonnaise

In a small saucepan combine the crushed pineapple with juice, salt, red pepper flakes, ginger, vinegar, sugar and cornstarch. Whisk together well until the cornstarch is dissolved. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil while constantly stirring; cook until dressing is thickened. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

Place coleslaw greens, green onion, carrot and poppy seeds in a large bowl. Stir mayonnaise into cooled pineapple mixture, then mix into coleslaw, coating salad well.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios® – www.KathyCasey.com

Posted by Kathy on July 19th, 2018  |  Comments Off on Coleslaw with everything! |  Posted in Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog, Kathy Casey, KOMO Radio, Recent Posts, Recipes, sides

Tales of the Cocktail 2018 Spirited Awards!

Tales of the Cocktail sample drinks

Calling all cocktail enthusiasts! What do you get when you combine thousands of mixologists, spirit industry professionals, bar enthusiasts, and lots of libations all in one week? Tales of the Cocktail, of course! This week, I’m heading south to New Orleans, the birthplace of the cocktail as we know it today, for a spirited gathering of industry elite from around the world!


TOTC 2018 Cocktail Competition Winner, Spiced Nashi by Willy Estrada

Held annually, the week features seminars, parties, and cocktailing galore in this boozy 24-hour playground. It can be a liver workout – trust me! And every year they hold a cocktail completion around a classic libation – this year it was the best twist on a French 75, one of my all-time favorite cocktails.

But the big event of the week is the Spirited Awards. Since their debut in 2007, the Spirited Awards have recognized the best and brightest in the cocktail and spirits industries, from bartenders and brand ambassadors to bars and writers. It has become one of the most coveted honors an industry professional can receive! Each year, a panel of over 140 industry experts (including yours truly!), take part in a month-long voting process to choose their picks for Awards finalists. Check out the full listing of this years Top 4 Nominees in Each Category Here!

“These finalists are representative of the best and brightest in our industry and it’s incredible to see their accomplishments recognized,” says Neal Bodenheimer, Board Member of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. “We look forward to welcoming them to New Orleans and celebrating their contributions to the industry.”

Not only is the festival SO much fun, it’s a great place to see and taste the latest and greatest trends and new spirits. And good news- tickets are open to the public. So if you’re looking for a reason to expand your liquor knowledge and visit NOLA- Tales of the Cocktail is the perfect excuse.

Can’t make it this year? No problem! You can still get in the spirit by making a New Orleans Classic Cocktail like the Sazerac! (Recipe below)

So, wherever you might be this week, raise a glass with me to magical New Orleans, and all my friends at Tales of the Cocktail! -Kathy


Photo by Nan Palermo.

Sazerac
The Sazerac Coffeehouse where this cocktail earned its name, made the switch from the original brandy to rye and gained a dash of absinthe. The rest, as they say, is history!

Makes 1 cocktail
1/4 oz Ricard or absinthe
2 oz rye
1/4 oz Simple Syrup
4 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Garnish: Wide lemon disk

Rinse a chilled Old Fashioned glass with Ricard or absinthe; set aside. In a mixing glass, measure in the rye, syrup and bitters. Fill mixing glass 3/4 full with ice and stir swiftly for 20 seconds. Strain into liqueur-rinsed glass without ice. Squeeze lemon disk over top of drink then drop in.

Posted by Kathy on July 12th, 2018  |  Comments Off on Tales of the Cocktail 2018 Spirited Awards! |  Posted in Conferences, events, Kathy Casey, KOMO Radio, Lifestyle, Recipes, Tasty Travels

Edible Flowers

With summer well under way, it’s hard not to notice all the blooming flowers. But did you know that some flowers are edible, too? Note: Not all are, so double-check before you go into your yard and start munching away!

One of my favorite edible varieties is nasturtiums. These lovely flowers have a pleasantly peppery note – try their tasty petals torn over grilled shrimp, veggies or fish.

Toss some brilliant yellow marigold petals into an arugula salad with goat cheese and sunflower seeds – their subtle citrus flavour adds a new dimension to an everyday meal.

And guys, I’ll let you in a on a secret: making a meal using edible flowers is a great way to impress us ladies.

So a rose may be a rose by any other name, but I’ll call it d’lish! By the way, roses are edible too and are fun and tasty sprinkled on desserts or drinks.

Or how about making my Flower Petal Berry Butter to finish off your next meal – it’s a show stopper!

Edible flowers are available at farmers markets, some grocery stores or in your own garden. Just be sure that your edible flowers are pesticide free.
-Kathy

Flower Petal Berry-Butter
Borage, Johnny-jump-ups, calendula and rose petals make a pretty combination for this recipe.

Makes 3/4 cup (6 oz. wt.)

1/4 pound lightly salted butter, cut in 1/2-inch pieces
2 Tbsps. seedless berry jam
2 Tbsps. sour cream
1 1/2 tsp. sifted powdered sugar
Dash of ground cinnamon
3 Tbsps. lightly chopped, unsprayed edible, mild flavored, flower petals

Whip all the ingredients except flower petals in a blender, food processor or mixer until well blended. Fold in the flower petals. (Or I like to roll the butter into a log in plastic wrap then chill a bit then roll into the flower petals to coat. Wrap and chill – then slice for serving!)

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Posted by Kathy on July 5th, 2018  |  Comments Off on Edible Flowers |  Posted in Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog
Untitled