Savory Croustade

I love making a simple butter crust and filling it with delicious savory combinations. The croustade pictured is Blue Stilton with Fig Preserves. The one hiding in back is Asiago with house made olive tapenade. These classic combinations are always winners.

Hors d'Oeuvres Menu

Cold (about 42 pieces)
Smoked Salmon with Cilantro Cream*…$52.00
Vegetable Crudité with 2 Seasonal Dips*…$35.00
Marinated Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Spiced Walnuts*…$38.00
Classic Olive Tapenade*…$20.00
Baba Ghanoush* and Hummus* with Spiced Pita Rounds…$22.00
Sliced Charcuterie…$52.00
Assorted Pâtés (seafood, vegetable and duck)…$52.00
Sesame Chicken with Apricot Dipping Sauce*...$40.00
Antipasti Skewers (artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, olives and cheese)*...$40
Fresh Fruit Skewers*...$45
Peppery Beef Skewers* …$50.00
Lamb with Mint and Cilantro Sauce*…$55.00

Endive with Crab Salad*…$18.00/dozen
Filet Mignon with Horseradish Cream on Crostini...$18.00/dozen
Prosciutto with Asparagus*…$18.00/dozen

Hot (about 42 pieces)
Baked Artichoke and Lemon Dip…$42.00
Baked Brie with Seasonal Preserves…$40.00
Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms*…$38.00
Pine Nuts and Parmesan Stuffed Mushrooms...$36.00
Assorted Frittata Squares*...$40.00
Assorted Phyllo (vegetable, seafood and cheeses)…$40.00
Barbecue Chicken Wings*...$45.00
Buffalo Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese Dressing and Celery*...$50.00

Spring Rolls and Potstickers with Plum Sauce…$12.95/dozen
Pulled Pork Sliders with Cheddar Cheese...$18.00/dozen
Mini Burgers...$20.00/dozen
Wrapped Scallops with Tamari Glaze*…$18.00/dozen

Savory Croustade (about 24 servings)
Goat Cheese and Onion
Tomato and Gruyere
Blue Stilton and Fig
Asiago and Kalamata Tapenade

$30/2 large croustade

*GF and WF (For parties with GF and WF guests I will offer appropriate breads and crackers.)

Summer Salads

With Fourth of July coming soon. I decided to give folks more salads to choose from. It's not to late to get your holiday orders in. Order this week by Wednesday at 5pm for pick up at the Higganum Village Market. Visit their web site for time and location!

Green Salads (2-3 servings)

Arugula with Bacon, Blue Cheese, Mushrooms and Hard Boiled Eggs…$8

Greens with Carrots, Candied Pecans, Cranberries and Goat Cheese…$6

Classic Caesar Salad…$8

Tossed Salad with Calamata, Grape Tomatoes, Red Onion, Cucumber and Carrots…$6

Pasta Salads (one pint minimum)

Farfelle Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Basil and Parmesan…$6

Spinach Fettuchini with Calamata Olives, Artichoke Hearts, Grape Tomatoes, Feta and Dill…$8

Cheese Tortellini and Campanelle Pasta with Basil, Roasted Red Peppers, Green Peppers, Salami and Parmesan…$8

Mini Penne with Broccoli and Roasted Garlic...$3

Potato Salads (one pint minimum)

Red Skins with Shallots and Creamy Dill Dressing…$6

Yukon Golds with Shaved Red Onion, Calamata Olives, Parsley and Lemon Vinaigrette…$6

Potato Salad with Grape Tomatoes, Red Onion, Green Beans, Calamata Olives and Whole Grain Mustard Vinaigrette…$8

Other Salads (one pint minimum)

Organic Wild Rice Salad with Pecans, Scallions, Cranberries and Orange Vinaigrette…$7

Greek Vegetable Salad with Tri-color Peppers, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Feta Cheese and Dill Yogurt Dressing…. $8

Seasonal Fruit Salad…$8 - or - Southwest Fruit Salad...$10

Broccoli Salad with Raisins, Peanuts and a Sweet Creamy Red Wine Vinaigrette…$6

Organic Shredded Carrot and Peanut Salad…$6

Organic Wheat Berry Salad with Zucchini, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Feta and Summer Herb Vinaigrette…. $7

Couscous with Red Peppers, Raisins, Scallions, Carrots and Curried Yogurt Dressing …. $7

Fresh Mozzarella, Garden Tomatoes, Scallions, Feta, Calamata Olives, Basil and Balsamic Vinaigrette…. $10

Classic Tabbouleh Salad...$7

Lunch Salads (one pint minimum)

Tuscan Tuna Salad…$6

Curried Egg Salad -or- Tarragon Egg Salad…$5

Curried Chicken Salad…$8

Tarragon Chicken Salad…$8

Classic Chicken Salad…$6

Classic Tuna Salad…$5

Broiled Salmon Salad with Shallots, Capers and Lemon Vinaigrette…$8

Happy Birthday Laurencia!!

My dearest Laurencia had a birthday last week and I was the lucky baker. Laurencia is the good friend who has made me aware of Celiac Disease along with gluten and wheat intolerance. Needless to say I made a gf/wf cake!!! It was great fun and I hope she enjoyed eating this cake as much as I did baking and decorating it!!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Garden!!!

I think the one thing happy with all the rain has been my garden...

Yellow,

Pink,

Purple,

Green,

and Mr. Rabbit!!!

The Story of Winston

As many of you know Winston is the newest addition to the Jamieson household. Next month will mark the year anniversary of his arrival. Many of you know the story of how he came to live with us, but those who don't, read on...

I was at the vets for Henri's annual check up. Due to the fact that Henri doesn't like cats I sat as far away from "Buttons" as possible. I had Henri on his flexi lead and as I was talking to Cathy he made his way over to the kitten cage. To my surprise I heard the audible "ahhhh" from everyone in the waiting room. Henri and Buttons were nose-to-nose and as happy as two friends could be.

I have always wanted a cat, but everyone always says, "NO." I had been begging ever since I moved in with Matthew. I have said it all, "we need a mouser, the dog's need a friend, I promise I'm not allergic, a barn cat, a house cat... So maybe I was the reason we were sitting sooo far away. The temptation always "kills me," they are sooo cute. I always made the excuse that I was allergic (but how can I house sit and have them sleep on my pillow, chest, face...) the dogs too aggressive (Henri proving me a liar.)

Cathy having know me for years says, "you can hold him for a minute while you wait." I knew as soon as I opened the door he was going to be mine.

I called Matthew, who was busy at work and at the beginning of their summer season. (My husband installs swimming pools. Summer is not a good time to call his cell phone with frivolous requests.) I got the "not right now" line, but I hadn't even asked the question. So, I made an executive decision and ran into the vets and announced, "He can come home with me!!!!"

Cathy being a sweat heart let me bring him home "just" for the night. We wanted to make sure Matthew was going to be "ok" with the new addition. I headed home with Henri on my lap and Buttons in the crate. Brody didn't take to him as fast as Henri, but Buttons could care less. He walked all around the house in true cat fashion, knowing he owned the place. He used his makeshift litter box, drank water out of the "giant" water bowl, ate some dinner and curled up in Matthew's old sweatshirt that I grabbed from upstairs. Soon I had two happy dogs and a snoozing kitten. I heard Matthew's truck pull in the drive way and I ran outside to greet him and give him a gentle warning and promise.

The promise I made was; "you can say no, no questions asked, no tears, I'll bring him back in morning."

He gave me that look that says, "I'm too tired for this," and said, "What's him?"

"Oh just wait, you don't want to ruin the surprise," was all I said and ran back into the house.

Matthew trudged in behind me. Buttons by then had woken from his nap and was back for more water. If you have ever seen a kitten drinking from a "giant" water bowl before you know it's just about the cutes thing ever.

"What's that?" Matthew asked.

"A kitten!"

"I know that, what's it doing here?"

"Can we keep him, he's sooo cute, he already uses a litter box, he's a rescues, he was the only one left, he loves Henri, Henri loves him, I'll take care of him....." The reasons were endless and before we were through with dinner he was our little "Buttons!"

Well, that's pretty much the story. I did change his name that night after watching a documentary on Winston Churchill. I have an obsession with naming pets after historical figures. Henri doubles for Henry the Eighth and hockey's great Henri Richard. I even had a Guinea Pig growing up named Charlemagne and a rabbit Philip. Well, that's a whole other silly story and silly we are.

My Sister

Well, you all know that I'm a caterer, but did you know my sister's a photographer! Krista Carlson Photography to be exact. Take a look at her site and blog, her work speaks for itself.

Great Time!!!

A great time was had by all at the 2nd Annual Chester Eco Arts Fest!!! A special thanks to all who attended!!!

I have to say I had an oops. The cheese used yesterday was Bridgid's Abbey, not Bridge's Abbey. Please visit Cato Corner Farm, they are at many local shops, markets, restaurants and at their farm on Saturdays and Sundays!!

Eco Fest!!!

Be sure to visit the Eco Arts Fest today at the Chester Meeting House. I spent the last week preparing tasty vitals for all to enjoy!!! My menu is on the blog, but there may have been some changes, not major but a tweaking here and there. It's hard when cooking local ingredients to be sure exactly the menu. The only thing you can be sure of is super fresh and double yummy!!

Sorry for those I missed at HVM, if you need to place an order come on down to Chester or shoot me an email.

Chester Eco Arts Fest Menu

I left the menu very similar to last year, but added some tasty additions. By popular demand I have included a soup and a heartier sandwich. I made these black bean wraps for my parents "now" annual fishing derby. They were loved by all.

(Even my meat loving father!)

Breakfast
Cranberry and Almond Scones…$2
Pecan Coffee Cake…$2/slice
Baked Frittata with Spinach, Potatoes, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Pleasant Cow Cheese…$3
Baked Frittata with Beef Kielbasa, Potatoes and Pleasant Cow Cheese…$4
Lunch
Chilled Carrot and Dill Soup (vegan)...$3
Zucchini, Spinach, Roasted Red Peppers, Chick Peas and

 Lemon Yogurt in Whole Wheat Wrap…$6.50

Black Beans and Chipotle Spiced Rice  with Cheddar and 

Cilantro Pesto in a Garden Spinach Wrap...$6.50
Grilled Bridge’s Abbey on Wheat…$4
Organic Peanut Butter and Organic Strawberry Jam on Wheat…$4
Sides
Pasta Salad with Kalamata Olives, Roasted Artichoke Hearts and Parmesan…$3
Lemon and Basil Potato Salad with Shallots…$3
Curried Couscous Salad with Raisins, Carrots, Scallions and Red Onion...$3
Snacks
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies…$1.50/2
Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chips and Almonds…$1.50/2
Cream Cheese Brownies...$2
Lemon Bars...$2

This year's menu is proud to include ingredients from Sankow's, Four Mile River Farm, Scott's Yankee Farmer, Cato Corner and People's Bakery.

Double Whammy

Find me in two places this weekend!!! I will be at the Higganum Village Market on Friday and Chester Eco Arts Fest on Saturday. (The Chester Eco Arts Fest is at the Chester Meeting House at 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.) There is fun to be had at both events with great vendors, music, food and more...
Don't forget to place your order for the Higganum market by Wednesday 5 p.m. Find the full menu here!