Southern Soiree

In the South, football is part of our culture (there’s a reason the SEC is the best). In Alabama, it defines you (FACT: First question you’ll be asked when you arrive in Birmingham is “Are you for Auburn or Alabama?”). In Auburn (yes, I know I’m outnumbered), it’s your LIFE. At least for the first four months of the school year…

For me, football is yet another way to enjoy great food with great friends. Nothing beats curling up on the couch with some yummy snacks, a cold beer, and a big TV (all the better for yelling, my dear).

Husband and I will be spending Labor Day weekend at the lake with the WHOLE family (bless his heart, he’s the lone Alabama fan), so I’m already planning the delicious food that will accompany our day ‘o football.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

I first made this dip for the SEC Championship game last December. It lasted MAYBE 10 minutes. It’s everything you want in a Game-Day snack - the delicious combination of spicy wings and cool Ranch dressing, without all the mess. There are several great recipes out there, but this version from the blog “Woman, Wine and Song” is my favorite.

Ultimate Spicy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Adapted from Adrienne Bailey, Mary England and Susie Cromer Clements

Ingredients
1 cup Ranch dressing
¾ cup chopped red onion
2 8-oz packages cream cheese, softened
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded OR one rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 cup of your favorite wing sauce (I like local favorite, Moore’s Buffalo Wing Sauce)
2 cups shredded Cheddar
Tortilla Chips and celery for dipping

Directions
1. Saute red onion in butter until tender (about 10 minutes); remove from heat.
2. In a large bowl, combine chicken, hot sauce, cream cheese, half of shredded cheddar and sauted onions.
3. Mix thoroughly and pour into baking dish.
4. Sprinkle remaining cheddar on top.
5. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly.
6. Serve with tortilla chips and celery (and a cold beer!).

Black Bean, Corn and Feta Dip

With temps still in the high 90’s (come on Fall weather…), a cold, refreshing dip is also a great choice for the first Game Day of the season (a nice side for your Labor Day picnics, too).

* Adapted from Martha Reiser, AU Alum website

Ingredients
1 can black beans
1 can corn, shoepeg
4 oz feta cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Directions
1. Combine black beans, corn, feta, olive oil, sugar and cider vinegar in a bowl.
2. Toss and serve with tortilla chips or Fritos.

*This dip gets better the longer it sits.

Roast Beef and Havarti Sandwiches

This fabulous recipe from Southern Living is a welcome twist on the tried-and-true Ham and Poppyseed Sandwiches. With the creamy Havarti, sweet peach preserves and crunchy walnuts, these are truly addicting (definitely my most-requested hors d’oeuvres!). Bonus: Perfect “make- ahead” snack. Stick a few batches in the fridge on Game Day and heat as needed.

photo from myrecipes.com

*Recipe from Southern Living, December 2008
Yield: Makes 12 to 16 servings

Ingredients
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
2 (9.25-oz.) packages dinner rolls (I use Rainbo Dinner Rolls)
2/3 cup peach preserves
1/2 cup mustard-mayonnaise blend (i.e. Hellman’s Dijonnaise)
3/4 pound thinly sliced deli roast beef, chopped
1/2 pound thinly sliced Havarti cheese
Salt and pepper (optional)

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 325°.
2. Heat walnuts in a small nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, 5 to 6 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.
3. Remove rolls from packages. (Do not separate rolls.) Cut rolls in half horizontally, creating 1 top and 1 bottom per package. Spread preserves on cut sides of top of rolls; sprinkle with walnuts. Spread mustard-mayonnaise blend on cut sides of bottom of rolls; top with roast beef and cheese. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired. Cover with top halves of rolls, preserves sides down, and wrap in aluminum foil.
4. Bake at 325° for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted. Slice into individual sandwiches. Serve immediately.

Need something to serve these yummy snacks on? Be sure to head to Bromberg’s to check out their selection of Auburn/Alabama plates, cups, platters and more! Now all you need is some icy cold beer and  good company, and you are ready for a full day of football-watching.

photo from brombergs.com

War Eagle!

Among my ever-growing list of “B’ham Restaurants I am Dying to Try” (or has Husband likes to call it, “Grown-Up Places That We Save for Special Occasions”), is Little Savannah. Located in the historic Forest Park area, they are known for their innovative Southern cuisine and quaint (but never stuffy) atmosphere. I have always heard fantastic things, but rarely venture that way when dining out (don’t worry- we’re working on it). Lucky for me, I took advantage of their recent “daily deal” through Birmingham Menus and look forward to enjoying a lovely meal there soon (Husband, are you reading??).

Meanwhile (and back to my point of this post), while perusing Little Savannah’s website, I discovered something that got me really excited. And I mean, REALLY excited.

It’s a cooking class. Not just ANY cooking class. A “Market-to-Kitchen”cooking class. Intrigued?

Here’s the deal – you meet up with Little Savannah’s husband/wife team (Chef Clif and Maureen Holt), at Pepper Place Market Saturday morning. They introduce you to their local farmers, while guiding you through the market and teaching you how to choose the best produce and other ingredients. Then, you head back to the kitchen at Little Savannah for an in-depth cooking class, using the fresh ingredients you just purchased. At the end, everyone sits down at one table (Chef Clif and Maureen included) and enjoys the lunch they just cooked together. Yeah, it’s kind of my dream come true, too.

Each class typically includes some basic knife skills and proper uses of certain ingredients or cooking tools. “When we get back to Little Savannah,” Maureen says, “we usually start out at the bar and spend some time asking the class what they want to learn. Is it making sauces, or how to “plate” a dish…it’s very interactive.” Then it’s on with the aprons and into the kitchen to start cooking. “We never make the same lunch twice, there is always an added twist.”

While their last class on August 28th is already full (blast!), Maureen was kind enough to invite me to sit in on the class to take notes and pictures. I was positively euphoric, until finding out that Husband and I have a family commitment out of town (blast, again!).

Bubble bursting aside, I was inspired to adapt this concept to home entertaining. So here’s my challenge to you:

Next time you are throwing a party, FORGET Costco and their gi-normous boxes of frozen hors d’oeuvres (i.e. anything in Puff Pastry- you know who you are). Instead, make a day of it. Gather some friends, head to one of our many local markets to pick out fresh produce, herbs, cheeses, freshly baked bread (and more), then meet back at your kitchen to create a party menu together with the items you purchased, whether it be a brunch later that morning, hors d’oeuvres for a cocktail party or a sit-down dinner. You never know what you will be inspired to create with the fresh and delicious goodies you will find.

After all, entertaining is about more than just a great cocktail or fabulous serving pieces (although, that’s fun too). It’s about creating life experiences, and supporting our local farmers and sharing amazing food with friends is an experience I like to have.

*Sidenote: Even though Little Savannah’s last class is Saturday, never fear- many of our local markets (such as Pepper Place and East Lake) are open until October, so you still have plenty of time for your own “Market-to-Kitchen” party! And now that we are all aware of this amazing opportunity, I’m sure we will reserve our spots early for the next round of classes at Little Savannah. Be sure to check their website frequently for news and events!

Happy Friday!

It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over (don’t freak out – I said ALmost). As usual, the year is flying by. For me, this was an especially enjoyable summer as it was my first REAL summer in years. After being in the event plannning industry for quite some time, I got used to working every weekend and subesquently, missing out on a lot of fun summer activities – trips to the beach, the lake, Saturday morning brunch, etc. I’ve been at my new job just over a year (ok, so I guess it’s not really “new” anymore), and I tell ya- Monday through Friday ain’t so bad.

But I digress…

I’ve enjoyed the last couple of months so much that I wanted to share some of my FAVORITE things from Summer 2010. I hope you enjoy!

Farmer’s Markets

I experienced my very first Farmer’s Market at Pepper Place in May, and instantly fell in love. I know, so dramatic, right? But it’s true. Even though I had known about Pepper Place for years, it was the first time that my eyes were really opened to the amazing local farmers that we have right here in Alabama, producing some of the finest cheeses, herbs, fruits and veggies that I’ve ever seen/tasted. It’s got a cool vibe, with live music, chef demonstrations and people everywhere (dogs, too!). I loved wandering aimlessly around all of the booths, daydreaming about whatever recipe I would make with my goodies when I got home. I look forward to many more weekends at Pepper Place as the summer months come to a close, and anxiously anticipate the Harvest Market in the fall.

Roasted Tomatoes

Speaking of goodies from the market,  I developed a newfound appreciation for my oven when I made a batch of these:

photo property of Southern Soiree

Slow-roasted tomatoes. I’d never roasted anything in my life (at least, not intentionally). Who knew that a hot oven and a couple hours could produce such a heavenly flavor? I’ve roasted many things since then (particularly loved some eggplant that I purchased at the Urban Cookhouse market), but nothing beats that first day, standing in front of the oven, impatiently waiting for the tomatoes to be perfectly caramelized, then standing over the counter and eating them one after another right off the pan, savoring the sweet, intense flavor (and not caring that I burned the roof of my mouth). They also make an easy and fabulous appetizer. Just roast some fresh garlic with the tomatoes and serve with crostini and fresh basil. Simple, but SO delicious.

photo property of Southern Soiree

The B.A.L.T.

photo property of Southern Soiree

Ok, so this is really two of my favorite things- my new favorite sandwich (everything good about summer rolled into one- local tomatoes, buttery avocado, Applewood Bacon and lettuce with mayo and classic white bread) and my new favorite restaurant, Urban Cookhouse (actually, make that three – I crave their fresh Strawberry Lemonade on a daily basis!). The restaurant started off with a bang and has been packed ever since. I love to see Birmingham supporting restaurants that are totally committed to the “farm-to-table” approach of serving food, and I partly credit UC with igniting my own passion to buy and eat local (hence telling Husband that we are never eating at “chain” restaurants again and him looking at me like I’d lost my mind). As their menu says, “Buy Local. Eat Urban.” And don’t forget – they cater, so call them for your next event.

Canebrake Gouda

photo property of Southern Soiree

This creamy and delicious cheese from Wright Dairy Farm in Alexandria, AL is the perfect addition to your pre-dinner cheese tray or hors d’oeuvres menu. Better yet - pair it with a glass of wine and enjoy it for lunch, which is what I did (and not ashamed to admit I almost ate the whole block in one sitting. My sister helped).

Watermelon Mojito

photo property of Southern Soiree

This is the quintessential summer cocktail. It’s cool, minty, refreshing, delicious, pretty…need I say more? Oh yeah, it’s on special at Jinsei every Monday night. So you can get two.

I could go on, but I haven’t eaten lunch and I’m afraid that drooling over the keyboard cannot be a good thing. So it’s your turn! What are some of YOUR favorite things from this summer? Share below!

I don’t know about you, but I am pretty great at procrastinating. Not because I work better under pressure (although that’s a nice excuse); it’s just in my nature to wait until the very last minute. Drives my mother CRAZY. Which is funny, because I’m pretty sure I inherited that trait from her…ANYway.

I’m bringing dessert to a cookout tonight and in true “Southern Soiree” fashion, I have only just begun to think about what to bring. Naturally, this leads me to what I like to call a ”Carrie Bradshaw” moment (say it with me) – I couldn’t help but wonder, what are some of the best quick and easy desserts to pull together for summer entertaining?

Enter the Banana Pudding. Some say its boring, I say dependable (which is totally different than boring. Totally). My standard go-to recipe is this low-cal version that my Aunt Dianne introduced me to (it makes me feel so much better about eating the entire bowl by myself), but it’s also fun to experiment by changing just a few ingredients. Use small cubes of pound cake instead of Nilla Wafers. Add some Nutter Butters to create the taste of a PB&B sandwich (a fave from my childhood…and maybe adulthood). For a more grown-up version, add a splash of Banana Liqueur to the pudding, or take it one step further and cook the bananas in Rum and Brown Sugar, “Bananas Foster” style. See? Not so boring anymore. And if you have a few extra minutes on hand, take the presentation up a notch by serving the dessert in individual glasses. I love the look of these parfait glasses featured in Southern Living. I like to serve mine in stemless Cosmo glasses (easier to eat out of).

photo from myrecipes.com

This dessert doesn’t necessarily scream “summer”, but we serve Chocolate Eclair Cake at the lake a lot and it ALWAYS disappears quickly. It’s easy, light and great for a crowd. I like the recipe on the Kraft Foods website; although, sometimes I cheat and use canned chocolate frosting. Ssshhhhh……

photo from kraftrecipes.com

Of course, you CAN’T have a summer dessert in the South without using our delicious Chilton County peaches. When you’ve already got the grill fired up, why not use it for dessert, too? This recipe from Epicurious is a favorite of mine – Grilled Peaches with Fresh Raspberry Sauce. You can make the Raspberry Sauce ahead (provided you are not a procrastinator extraordinaire, like yours truly), and the rest only takes a few minutes. Serve it over ice cream or pound cake for a simple, but impressive dessert.

photo from epicurious.com

Pick up some fresh peaches at the farmer’s market this weekend (Pepper Place, East Lake or Urban Cookhouse/Homewood are my personal faves) and try it out!

And just in case you are wondering, I’m going with the Grilled Peaches tonight.

For all you fashion-forward foodies out there, you probably know that in the dessert world the next big thing is (wait for it…)….

Whoopie Pies.

I can’t even say it with a straight face (yes, I am a 5th-grader). But as humorous as the name may be, these yummy treats are perfect for entertaining – easy to make, small enough to pop in your mouth and the possibilities are endless. It’s like a glorified Oreo- a delicious filling sandwiched between two cookies. Except the cookies are really more like cake. And they are called pies. So…..where was I?

Check out this new cookbook dedicated solely to Whoopie Pies – the Table of Contents is appropriately titled “Makin’ Whoopie!”.

If that’s not reason enough to make you go out and buy it, I don’t know what is. Except maybe this…

photo from amazon.com

Tempting, yes? So go ahead…make some whoopie!

Fave Birmingham Patios

The Garage
I have a special place in my heart for this laid-back and eclectic spot on 10th Terrace South. It was on this very patio that I started hanging out with the people who would become my nearest and dearest in Birmingham, including my husband. At night they have live music and a long list of adult beverages, and during the day they are known for making one of the best sandwiches in town.

J. Clyde
This always-crowded pub boasts arguably the most impressive beer menu in the city. But the best part is the charming, covered patio in the back, which provides a great atmosphere rain or shine.

Bottega Café
I’m a little biased because this is hands-down one of my Top 5 favorite restaurants in town, but I love dining on the front patio of Frank Stitt’s “casual” version of Bottega on Highland Avenue. Enjoy one of the signature cocktails (I prefer the Cellotini with Limoncello and Vodka) and addictive homemade focaccia, and you’ll almost forget that you are in Birmingham; although, who would want to?

Parkside Cafe
I haven’t actually been to this Avondale bar yet, but I’ve been hearing a lot about it lately so I put it on the top of my list of places to try. Their Facebook page says that the huge patio is the perfect place to unwind. Sign me up!

La Casa de Southern Soiree
Ok, so I’m more than a little biased here because this one is my own. Husband just finished painting our quaint (read: tiny) patio at our condo – a project that was a long time coming, but don’t tell him I said that. I’ll admit that I brought the meaning of “nagging wife” to new heights when it came to this task. So naturally, when Husband declared it dry enough to use, I immediately poured two icy cold adult beverages and led us outside to our charming bistro set (courtesy of Home Depot) to enjoy our very first “patio time”. And then I started daydreaming about the parties we’ll throw when we have a house one day with an even BIGGER patio. No, I don’t struggle with contentment…

 Ok, maybe a little. But no matter. It was lovely. I foresee many enjoyable evenings ahead.

Outdoor Entertaining Essentials

photo from www.crateandbarrel.com

Love these drink dispensers from Crate and Barrel, perfect for a self-serve beverage station. I love even more that they are on sale. Stock up on two or three and offer both kid-friendly and adult-only drinks for your guests. Some of my favorites are Raspberry Lemonade  and Peach Mojitos, both from myrecipes.com.

photo from www.crateandbarrel.com

Also from Crate and Barrel, these citronella tea light candles are both festive and functional. The multi-colored assortment provides a fun, summery palatte for your outdoor lighting needs, while the citronella oil protects from pests.

photo from www.pier1.com

These white platters from Pier 1 are the perfect entertaining pieces to make your menu pop; especially when you serve this vibrant and colorful summer side- Caprese salad with local tomatoes and fresh mozzarella and basil.

photo property of Southern Soiree

So what are you waiting for? Show your patio some love with an outdoor party this weekend. Before we know it, non-patio season will be upon us and we’ll be longing for the sweltering days of summer, frizzy hair and all.

Last night, some girlfriends and I attended “An Evening at Urban Cookhouse”, benefiting Cornerstone Schools of Alabama. As I mentioned in my previous post, I’ve been wanting to try the food at Urban Cookhouse since it opened last month; this was the perfect opportunity to do so while supporting a great cause.

For those of you who are not familiar with Cornerstone, it is a Christian school that serves underprivileged kids in Birmingham (specifically Woodlawn, Center Point, Inglenook, East Lake and downtown), by providing them with a challenging and character-building academic environment. The majority of the students’ tuition is provided through the Cornerstone Partner Program, while 95% of the school’s budget is raised through donations, grants and fundraisers (their annual Schoolhouse Rock is always a blast!). For more information on Cornerstone and how you can help support this worthy cause, check out their website at www.csalabama.org.

Urban Cookhouse provided a casual, intimate space for the event. For reasons unknown, the girls and I decided to sit outside and enjoy suffer through a typical Alabama summer evening (heat lightning and all). Luckily, the food was delicious and distracted us from the heat and bugs…mostly.

Tara, one of the wonderful employees at Urban Cookhouse, made sure that we got plenty of food to  sample (all of which are items on their regular menu). I might have had 7 orange rolls. They were so delicious that I wasn’t even embarrassed when Tara asked if I just wanted the whole tray. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that I actually like them better than the “famous” orange rolls at The Club (shocking, I know). They are both equally addicting, but I sometimes find the orange flavor in the rolls at The Club overpowering. These had a softer, more subtle flavor, which to me made them more enjoyable. No wonder it was easy to eat so many.

Millie Ray's Orange Rolls (http://millierays.com/index.php)

We also tried two of the sandwiches on the menu – Chipotle Braised Pork with Urban Aioli and Housemade Pickles,  and Grilled Pineapple Ham with a hot-sweet mustard. Both were absolutely delicious and served on warm yeast rolls- I can’t wait to try to full-size version.  

Grilled Pineapple Ham

The highlight of the night was definitely the much-talked about Half-Baked Cookie. Served in a mini cast-iron skillet, it’s exactly how it sounds. A warm, gooey, chocolate-y cookie topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce. Umm, yes please! BONUS: They cater! Be sure to call them when planning your next summer soiree!

Half-Baked Cookie (aka, Heaven in a Skillet)

All in all, it was a great evening- both for Cornerstone and Urban Cookhouse. Be sure to check out their websites to see what they are up to and how you can support both!

If you are looking for a fun night out for a good cause, head to Urban Cookhouse tonight from 6:30-10:30 for an event benefiting Cornerstone Schools of Alabama. I am especially excited because I have been dying to try the restaurant and have yet to make it over there. For those unaware (read: living in a box), Urban Cookhouse  is a new restaurant in Homewood that is dedicated to the “farm-to-table” approach of serving food. They even host a farmer’s market in Homewood every Saturday morning, where you can purchase produce, artisanal cheeses and more from the farmers they work with.

Tickets for the event tonight are $20 a piece, which will go directly to Cornerstone schools, and include tasty food, drink and live music. Click here for more information. See you there!

I’m back from a whirlwind vacation in Vegas, just in time to post an easy and delicious dessert for your 4th of July shindigs! My friend Melissa made this for a party a few months ago, and I immediately thought it would be the perfect summer dessert. Even better- it’s from Cooking Light! No need to feel guilty here (it is still swimsuit season, after all). This original recipe calls for just strawberries, but Melissa added raspberries and blackberries to hers to mix it up a little. Throw in a few blueberries as well, and you’ve got the perfect patriotic treat!

Ingredients

Crust:

• 36  honey graham crackers (about 9 sheets)
• 2  tablespoons  sugar
• 2  tablespoons  butter, melted
• 4  teaspoons  water
• Cooking spray

Filling:

• 2/3  cup  light cream cheese
• 1/4  cup  sugar
• 1/2  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1/4  teaspoon  almond extract

Topping:

• 6  cups  small fresh strawberries, divided
• 2/3  cup  sugar
• 1  tablespoon  cornstarch
• 1  tablespoon  fresh lemon juice
• 2  tablespoons  sliced almonds, toasted