Foodie Suggestions??

To the few readers who are kind enough to glance at my blog...

Middlesex, PA ~ July 2012

What recipes would you love to have?
Is there a favorite ingredient that you absolutely love and can't get enough of?
Have you always wondered what people do with ginger?
Are you trying to find a favorite dish or haven't quite perfected a certain flavor?
Have you been looking near and far for a healthier solution to your favorite dish without loosing the buttery
sweet flavor that initially drew you to it?
Trying to figure out a perfect menu or wine pairing for a party you're hosting?

Let me know!  I'd love to see what I can do to get creative and help solve some foodie problems.
Please leave your comments and suggestions below...I'll choose one or more and we'll go from there!

Story's End is Here!

As mentioned in a previous November post, I have amazing and talented friends.  My roommate from college years 1996-1997 (Ravencrest Chalet) & 2001 (Wheaton College), Marissa Burt has announced the release of her sequel to the young adult fantasy, Storybound.

Story's End was released by HarperCollins on April 2nd and I know of at least one young reader who is psyched about this new installment! Marissa's work has been compared to the work of another Wheaton alumna, Madeleine L'Engle's, A Wrinkle In Time series.  

If you're looking for an adventurous, wholesome read, or are looking for the perfect gift for a tweeny-bopper, this series would be it!  Hopefully, I'll be able to purchase my own copy of Story's End shortly and delve into this fun-filled fantasy world of fairy-tale-characters-in-training.  

Marissa, I don't know how you find the time to write with three young boys in what I'm guessing is a pretty active household and still remain looking so cool, calm, collected, and youthful. You are a marvel.  ;o)  You always did manage your time well!  Congrats on another successful release my friend! 

New Capital Cooking Posts - aka, Why I haven't had the time to post anything here on my own blog. ;o)

Colonial Herb Garden in Yorktown, Va. - May 2012

The wonderful amazing wine tasting that proves that the Wine Cooperative knows what's up in the wine world: Bodegas Resalte de Peñafiel Wine Tasting  at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center.  

The event was presented in collaboration with Pearson's Wine and Spirits, located on Wisconsin Ave, NW.

Also, I had the opportunity to do a cookbook review on 150 Best Desserts in a Jar, written by Andrea Jourdan.

Thanks for reading and I hope you have the opportunity to try one or both...the wine and/or the cookbook!

3 Hoorahs for Chuck!!

If you like electronic tunes or are looking for a new album to run or relax with, check out Chuck Soo-Hoo's new album, "Tiny Elephants." Released in early January, the album was recently selected by indy music review, The Deli Magazine in Washington, DC as the Album of the Month!

Congrats Chuck, super excited for you!

Known as the electronic music artist, Ki Oni, Chuck works with me at Artisphere and in his free time co-runs Joy Pop Records. He recently had a successful art exhibition in Richmond, Va. at Gallery 5 which combined the audio and visual worlds for a unique art experience. 

If you're interest in purchasing his music, visit his page at bandcamp.com - Ki Oni, "Tiny Elephants."  I think my favorite track is "Trees (Bodhi)." $5.00 is a pretty awesome deal for an Album of the Month.  Eat your heart, indy music lovers.

Free Cookbook Download

There's a free PC or Kindle download for the
The Parthenon Cookbook: Great Mediterranean Recipes from the Heart of Chicago's Greektown by Camille Stagg on Amazon.com!  

Enjoy!

New/Old Posts on Capital Cooking's Blog

The National Cathedral ~ Winter 2011
(I had to post this because it's my favorite view of winter in D.C.)

Oh dear, oh dear...Sorry, dear readers, for the lengthy delay in posting anything of significance. I promise a new recipe soon!

February was a busy month for Capital Cooking since Washington, D.C. hosted the International Wine & Food Festival, plus there were a number of restaurant openings, seasonal menu changes and general fun events to attend.

Here are two such events that I was fortunate enough to attend through Capital Cooking. I can't thank Lauren DeSantis enough for allowing me to attend these events. They were spectacular!!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 -
Uncorked: Regional Food & Wine Celebration
Wow! Talk about a lot of wine and food. I thought I'd never need to eat again...but then I saw the dessert table.
Woosh!
Appetite immediately returned.
Funny, how that happens.

Saturday, March 2, 2013 -
Uncorked: Peter Lehmann Wines
I must state here, so that it may be publicly known, that if you EVER have the chance to attend a future showcase dinner offered through the DC International Wine & Food Festival and/or the Wine Cooperative, it is absolutely, positively worth the money. (Full Stop.)

This was the best meal I've had in a long time. It was well thought out, balanced and perfectly paired with the featured wines, yet could easily have stood on its own as a masterpiece menu.

Also, worth noting: A good friend of mine informed me that due to my colorful description of this event and Peter Lehmann Wines, she purchased a bottle or two of Lehmann's Shiraz for about $10.00 a bottle. It was a complete hit at her party!

No one guessed it was so inexpensive. Her guests even asked where she purchased the wine thinking it came from a boutique wine merchant. How often does a $10.00 bottle of wine buy so many compliments?

Better yet, knowing the wine is from the Barossa region of Australia may make you feel even more classy and wine knowledgable. If you didn't know that this info. mattered, now you do. You may even start self-proclaiming the title of Household Sommelier. Lehmann also offers several wonderful Rieslings besides their well-known and more widely distributed Shiraz varieties.

Foodie Hints -
If you view yesterday's Capital Cooking blog post, you'll see a scrumptious recipe for Barry's Guiness Braised Beef Short Ribs.  Guiness and beef?
Talk about a perfect pairing!
YUM.

Recipe: Ginger Creamy Carrot Soup

Last month was soup month and I missed it!  

This post is in honor of the all the soups I missed posting.

This savory soup is a creamy comfort for cold winter's days. It is uniquely light and simple in flavor and balances well with the cauliflower. Don't tell the kiddos it's healthy!

 Delaplane Cellars ~ Delaplane, Va.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 Tablespoons of Butter
• 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil
• 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 2 Shallots large, chopped
• 1-1 1/2 Tablespoons of Fresh Ginger, minced (equivalent to a knuckle and a half of ginger root)
• 2 Pounds of Carrots, julienned (cooks faster than chopped), may be substituted for 3 1/2 Cups of Butternut Squash, cubed
• 1 Medium Head of Cauliflower, rough chopped in 1-inch pieces
• 2 Dashes of Pepper, freshly ground
• 6 Cups of Chicken Broth (Vegetable Broth may be used as a substitute)
• 2 Cups of Heavy Cream OR 3 Cups of Milk, plus 2 extra Tablespoons of Butter
• Dash of Cinnamon
• Salt & Pepper to taste

prep time:

30

cook time:

45 minutes

total time:

90 minutes

Makes 6-8

DIRECTIONS

• 1
  In a deep stock pot, sauté Butter, Olive Oil, Garlic, Shallots and Ginger until the Shallots cook clear. (Olive Oil cooks at a higher temperature and prevents the butter from browning.)
• 2
  Add in the Carrots and Cauliflower and stir until all vegetables are mixed together and heated through.
• 3
  Add in a couple dashes of salt and freshly ground pepper.
  
• 4
  Pour in the Chicken Broth and bring ingredients to a rolling boil.
  
• 5
  Turn heat down to slow boil and cook for 30 minutes or until vegetables are fork tender.
• 6
  Using a hand blender, carefully pureé ingredients and incorporate Cream. You may use Milk as a substitute, but be sure to add the extra butter to give the soup the proper creamy flavor.
• 7
  Add a dash of Cinnamon to enhance the Ginger.
  
• 8
  Salt and pepper to taste.

NOTES

May be served hot with a sprig of thyme or cold with a dallop of sour cream
and a squeeze of lemon on top.