Need some new d’lish ideas for the big game? I have some tasty recipes for your next big party!
Everyone loves the classics: crab dip, wings, deviled eggs, but how about some new variations?

Warm Crab, Mushroom & Brie Dip is my play on Hot Crab Dip is made with Alaskan King Crab, sherry-sautéed mushrooms, and brie – ooo la la! It can be made the night before and heated up before guests arrive. Just serve with some artisan crackers or slices of baguette. Touchdown!

And it’s not a party without some deviled eggs – you know how much I love these! The 12th Egg – AKA – Chipotle Deviled Eggs – features spicy chipotle for some KICK BUTT flavor.

Photos by Kathy Casey Food Studios®.

And for a new twist on wings try my recipe for Sticky Pomegranate Chicken Wings! A d’lish sweet and zesty finger food, sure to impress the fans.

And the best thing is that all these apps can be prepped ahead so you’re not stuck in the kitchen and have more game time. Now go enjoy the game! -Kathy

Warm Crab, Mushroom & Brie Dip
Dungeness crab meat is tasty but also pricy. Try purchasing Alaska King Crab legs and picking the meat out. It’s easy to do by using a pair of clean scissors to open up the legs. Then just give the meat a very coarse chop to cut it into 1/2 inch pieces.

Dip can be prepared up to 2 days in advance if using very fresh crab and baked when your guests are just starting to arrive. Easy to make Fresh Thyme & Sea Salt Crostini bake at the same oven temperature to make things easy!

Makes about 6 cups — serves about 12 – 24 people

1 small (8 oz wt.) wheel brie cheese
——————————————
2 tsp olive oil
1 cup thinly sliced onion
2 cups thinly sliced crimini mushrooms
2 tsp minced fresh garlic
1/2 cup dry sherry
——————————————-
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise (Note: do not use reduced-fat or fat-free, I like to use Best Foods in this recipe)
3 cups (about 10 oz. wt.) shredded, high-quality parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp Tabasco
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onion
1/4 cup minced sweet red bell pepper (optional)
1/2 cup minced celery
3/4 pound crab meat, drained well (about 2 1/2 cups drained), see note above
Garnish: Minced fresh parsley

Cut the brie cheese into 1/2” pieces, set aside and then let come to room temperature.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook stirring often till half cooked, about 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms and continue cooking until the onions are very soft and the mushrooms are tender, about 4 minutes. Then add the garlic and sherry and continue cooking until the sherry is completely reduced about 8 minutes. (There should not be any liquid left.) Set aside to cool.

Place the room temperature brie in a mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed for about 1 minute or until the cheese softened. Scrape down the sides of the bowl then add half of the mayonnaise. Mix for 3 more minutes on medium-high speed. Add the remaining mayonnaise, parmesan, Tabasco, and lemon juice. Mix together on medium speed until well mixed, about 1 minute.

Remove bowl from mixer and fold-in the cooled mushroom mixture, green onion, pepper, celery and crab meat – being careful not to break up the crab meat. Do not over mix.

Place dip in a 7×11 baking dish, or 2 quart ovenproof serving dish. Smooth out but do not compact it (dip can be covered and refrigerated up to 1 day at this point).

When ready to serve dip, place in a 400°F preheated oven. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until dip just starts to bubble around the edges, heated through and the cheese is melted (be careful not to overcook). If desired, garnish dip with minced fresh parsley. Serve immediately with Fresh Thyme & Sea Salt Crostini, or rustic flat bread or crackers.

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

Sticky Pomegranate Chicken Wings
These chicken wings get a big-flavored, lacquer-y glaze in this low-and-slow method. You can make the sauce a few days ahead of time, but be sure to allow a full hour for cooking the wings.

Makes 24 pieces

3/4 cup pomegranate juice
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 Tbsps very finely minced peeled fresh ginger
1 Tbsp minced fresh garlic
1 Tbsp of lemon zest
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3 Tbsps cornstarch
1 dozen whole chicken wings or 2 dozen drummettes, about 2 1/2 to 3 pounds

Garnish: 1/2 cup pomegranate arils* and thinly sliced green onion tops

In a small saucepan, whisk together the pomegranate juice, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, pepper flakes, vinegar, cornstarch, and water. Set the pan over medium heat and bring to a boil, whisking constantly, to thicken. Mixture will be very thick. Let cool. If not using immediately, store, covered and refrigerated, for up to 4 days.

If using whole wings, disjoint the wings and remove and discard tips; you should have 24 pieces. Put them in a large bowl and set aside.

Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Add the sauce mixture to the chicken and mix well to coat evenly. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray or lightly oil it. Arrange the drummettes and sauce in a single layer in the dish.

Bake for 30 minutes. Stir and turn the chicken pieces over and bake for 20 minutes more. Stir and turn the chickens pieces again and bake for 10 minutes more, or until chicken is tender and sauce is thick and glazed. Total cooking time should be about 1-hour.

Stir the drummettes in the sauce once more, and then transfer the chicken to a serving platter. Sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds and green onions.

*Pomegranate seeds, called “arils”, can be purchased or you can easily remove them from a fresh pomegranate with this trick: cut it across cross-wise and hold over a bowl, smack the back of the fruit with a wooden spoon – the seeds will fall out with ease.

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

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.

Pie. It’s the beloved bring-along holiday dessert! Pie is now more popular than ever with savory and sweet shops popping up all over the city like A La Mode Pies,  Pie Bar and High 5 Pie.

Don’t forget about the ever popular Art of the Pie workshops from pie aficionado Kate McDermott. She even holds Pie Camp® Retreats – now that sounds like a camp I’d like to go to!

But back to the pie – The holidays are coming up and that means lots of pie! Apple, pumpkin, pecan — everyone has a favorite.

Why not get a little creative with the classics? Toss some cranberries into your apple filling, or add a little chopped rosemary. You can have some fun with the crust too: I like to add goodies such as fine chopped walnuts or almonds, citrus zest, or even poppy seeds.

A slice of Apple Cranberry Pie with Cheddar Cheese Crust!
Photo by Kathy Casey Food Studio®.

Maybe everyone wants something different – pecan or pumpkin? Just a little bite of this or a tiny slice of that. Well, I have the perfect fix: my “Gimme Both” Pumpkin-Pecan Pie has a luscious layer of pumpkin filling and another of sweet pecan! Top it with a poof of bourbon whipped cream and everyone wins!

Oh, and one more thing – pie for breakfast? Yes please! It’s the holidays – go ahead and splurge a little!
–Kathy

“Gimme Both” Pumpkin Pecan Pie With Bourbon Whipped Cream
Makes 1 9-inch pie.

1 9-inch uncooked pie shell (recipe follows)

Pumpkin Layer
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
3 Tbsp. sour cream
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt

Pecan Layer
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
3/4 cup dark corn syrup
2 eggs
1 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup pecans, halves or pieces

Bourbon Whipped Cream
1 cup whipping cream
3 Tbsp. sour cream
3 Tbsp. light brown sugar
1 Tbsp. bourbon

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

In a medium bowl whisk together the Pumpkin Layer ingredients. Set aside.

In another bowl combine all the Pecan Layer ingredients except the pecans and mix until smooth, then stir in pecans.

Place the pumpkin mixture into the unbaked pie shell, then very carefully spoon the Pecan Layer over the top, being careful to keep the layers separate. Bake in a preheated 425-degree oven for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake pie for another 25 – 30 minutes or until the filling is slightly puffy and pecan layer is just set.

Cool on a wire rack.

To make Bourbon Whipped Cream: In a large bowl whip cream, sour cream and sugar until lightly whipped. Stir in bourbon.

Serve pie with dollops of Bourbon Whipped Cream. Store pie covered and refrigerated.

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

Seattle wine enthusiasts, make sure to mark your calendars! The 1st Annual Holiday Wine Fest invites all wine enthusiasts to sip, sample, and savor a bevy of local and international wines, ciders, beers, and spirits. There will be plenty of nibbles to try as well as products to buy.

The event takes place on this Saturday, November 12th and this Sunday, November 13th at the Seattle Exhibition Hall. Make sure to get your tickets in advanced for this sipping event!

Seattle Wine & Food Experience has been THE epicurean weekend to sample the best food and wine the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Back for its 8th year (February 20^th and 21^st), this year’s event is bigger and better than ever.

 

Saturday evening kicks off with Pop! Bubbles & Seafood experience located at the elegant McCaw Hall. Pop! features the bounty of the Pacific Northwest’s seafood paired with sparkling wines and Champagne. This is sure to be a sparkling evening!

 

At Sunday’s Wine & Food Experience get ready to sip and taste your way through an amazing event line up!

Some favorites and must check outs are:

• –‘Brews and Ewes‘ – where select breweries are paired with top chefs’ lamb creations! Yum!
• -“Riesling Challenge” at the Ste. Michelle’s booth – you can and determine which wine pleases your palate – Dry, Off Dry or Sweet.

No matter which day you decide to attend (or maybe make a weekend of it!), you’ll have the opportunity to try hundreds of wines, beers, ciders, and local chef dishes. Now, doesn’t that sound like fun? Visit event website for info on tickets and full line-up of exhibitors.

Cheers! -Kathy

Ballard, long known for its rich Scandinavian heritage, has a new exhibit at the Nordic Heritage Museum called SKAL (pronounced “sk-OOL”) Scandinavian Spirits.

This exhibition explores the cultural history of Scandinavian libations, the most famous being aquavit (sometimes spelled “akvavit”). I can tell you that it’s delicious! And being a good Scandinavian myself, I’ve drank my fair share of it and I am thrilled to see this sip become hip.

But what is it? Aquavit, like vodka, is a spirit distilled from either grain or potatoes. After distillation, it is distinctive flavor comes from a blend of herbs and spices like caraway, fennel, and dill.

Great for sipping, I also like to add this into cocktails from Nordic-themed Bloody Mary’s as well as in my Citrus Scandi (aquavit, vodka, Cointreau, orange, and fresh grapefruit).

Citrus Scandis & fresh oysters with a Citrus Splash!
For recipes, check out this episode of Liquid Kitchen.

What’s really exciting is that the Northwest is producing some pretty great aquavit: Portland’s House Spirits produces Krogstad and in Seattle the Old Ballard Liquor Company crafts several unique styles of aquavit.

Old Ballard Liquor Company proprietor Lexi is also the visionary behind the pop-up restaurant Tumble Swede, which celebrates a mash-up of Scandinavian and Pacific Northwest cuisine. Make sure to keep an eye out for her next pop-up.

So stop on by the Nordic Heritage Museum the exhibit runs until February 28th.

Skal! -Kathy

 

In 1895, the US Federal Commissioner of Labor combed through the census to gather info on laborers. There were 55,000+ men behind the bar and only 147 women. That all changed after Pearl Harbor when Rosie the Riveter was matched by Bessie the Bartender!

Did you know that one of the most famous bartenders in history was a woman? London -1899, Ada Coleman created the Hanky Panky Cocktail and soon became the head bartender at the illustrious American Bar in The Savoy Hotel.

Ada making her Hanky Panky cocktail at The Savoy

Back to today: on January 31st (mark your calendars) some serious stirring and shaking is about to happen in Seattle, thanks to the return of Speed Rack. This all-female speed-bartending competition raises money for breast cancer education, prevention, and research.

Women bartenders from Seattle and Portland will go head to head in round robin mix-offs, while the crowd sips and cheers their favorite contenders on! This is defiantly a spirited event – in all ways.

The Winner of the upcoming Seattle event will then get the opportunity to compete in the Grand Finals, where the champion will be crowned Miss Speed Rack USA!

I’m looking forward to judging and seeing all our NW ladies shine! Make sure to get your tickets! -Kathy

Hanky Panky Cocktail
Makes 1 cocktail

1 1/2 oz gin
1 1/2 oz red vermouth
2 dashes Fernet Branca
Garnish: orange peel twist

Measure the gin, red vermouth, and Fernet Branca into a mixing glass. Fill with ice then stir. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an orange peel twist.

Great article in In The Mix Magazine covering one of my fave hospitality industry events: the Hospitality Executive Exchange! Held on both the east and west coasts, these events are a great balance of educational seminars, networking, fun, and fundraising – like Cutthroat Cocktails at the East Coast event benefiting Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE).

Beam Suntory’s Philip Raimondo and I were sabotaged (No Talking – duct tape covering our mouths) while making up a blended 50 Shades of Pink’olada!