Sunday, April 22, 2012

22 April 2012

It has been a really great weekend. We kicked it off Friday night with a wonderful dinner at Vingenzo's in Downtown Woodstock. This fine restaurant specializes in hand-crafted Neopolitan cuisine with homemade pasta and pizza that is the closest thing I've had to the ones in Italy. We enjoyed a great meal, nice wine and some divine pistachio gelato! I highly suggest this restaurant if you are in the area. We woke up early on Saturday and were at Cracker Barrel for breakfast by 7AM. After breakfast, we went to Autumn Hill Nursery for a workshop on how to grow vegetables in a limited space. We picked up some helpful hints for the garden this year, so we should be planting some herbs, heirloom tomatoes, peppers and a few vegetables in the near future. The friendly folks at Autumn Hill do a great job, and the quality of their plants is very high. Afterward, we ventured back up to MountainValley Farm to stock up on local grass fed beef, heritage pork and free range eggs. As I've posted before, this place is amazing, and Suzy Wright rocks! She informed me that she had a rush of customers after my last post, so I guess someone is reading my blog after all! We purchased some filets, ground beef, eggs, St. Louis spare ribs and the real prize, a heritage Boston butt! I smoked the pork all day before pulling it and serving with some Grant Family secret BBQ sauce. The house smells like Saturday nights when I was a child! I tried to do my daddy proud, and hopefully succeeded. Jeff's parents joined us for dinner, and I paired the pulled pork sandwiches with a Delta coleslaw (no mayo), roasted corn, and Jeff's dad's delicious cowboy baked beans. Jeff made a electable apple pie for dessert, and we had a wonderful dinner. The Canton Farmers Market opens May 12, and I can't wait to have local, organic vegetables to go along with the grass fed beef and pork from Ellijay, Georgia. Jeff has been working very hard on the pool, and we finally got it drained and refilled on Friday. I can't believe how great it looks! We are hoping that we found a work around for the main drain link but should know more after the pool guy comes tomorrow. If so, it will be nice to have the cement pond back in commission for the summer. Now, I am also looking forward to the first homegrown BLT by the pool on a hot summer day! Here's hoping your weekend was equally as productive and delicious! The Menu: - Local Pulled Heritage Pork with Grant Family BBQ Sauce - Delta Coleslaw - Roasted Corn in the Husk - Bill Brown's Cowboy Baked Beans - Jeff's Homemade Apple Pie ala Mode

Sunday, April 15, 2012

15 April 2012






It has been a Titanic weekend! Last night, we attended one of the most exquisite dinner parties I have ever experienced. The party was in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic tragedy. Our hosts were Rick, Elaine and Judson Roberts, and dinner was held at the historic Roberts home in Ball Ground, Georgia. The black tie affair featured the last 11 course meal served in the First Class cabin of the Titanic. The Roberts did an amazing job, and the food and company was divine. The fabulous dinner lasted over three hours, and Rick paired a great wine with every course. It was a memorable evening, so thanks to the Roberts and their other guests for a wonderful evening!

Based on last night's extravaganza, today was mostly about recovery. We did manage to wake in time to join our friends Jennifer Dunn, Carmen Tanner Slaughter and Will for brunch at the Fork and Tavern in Downtown Canton. It was their second week serving brunch, and it was actually really good. We all ate too much and plotted a new reality show based on our antics. It was great conversation, and we all laughed a lot.

After brunch, I took a much needed short nap with Jazpurr. I am not a very good napper, but I really needed one today. I woke up and watered some plants in the garden. Jeff and Cory helped our friend, Jessica Carter, move some furniture into her new apartment, and I managed to make it to Publix and eek out a Sunday Supper. Since last night was so over the top, I wanted to do something simple and comforting. I made an old standby, baked macaroni and cheese. I have tried many recipes, and mac and cheese is not as "simple" as it seems. My base recipe comes from Martha Stewart, and the New York Times has heralded it as one of the best. I loosely follow hers with a few embellishments each time. I served it with a Caesar Salad with homemade dressing and croutons. For dessert, I wanted to do a rutabaga upside down cake because it is in season, but Publix did not have it in stock. So, I made a last minute switch to Pineapple. It was perfect and very light. We enjoyed a nice meal on the Side Porch, and it all starts again tomorrow.

One last note: Cory made a beautiful flower arrangement for the table! Jeff bought some farm roses, and Cory supplemented the arrangement with fresh flowers and greenery from the yard. Everything has bloomed so early this year, and we already have new timber bamboo shoots at One Britt.

Ciao!

The Menu:

- Baked Macaroni and Cheese

- Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing and Croutons

- Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Pineapple Whipped Cream

Sunday, April 8, 2012

08 April 2012 – Easter







It has been a beautiful Easter Sunday in Canton, Georgia! It was also a busy weekend in Canton's Historic Downtown Loop. We held our April First Friday, and it was another huge success. There were over 150 classic cars, and all of the restaurants were slammed. Several of our good friends stopped by the Store at Grant Design Collaborative, and we sold enough goods to pay for the wine. On Saturday, we held the 3rd Annual Easter Festival, and tons of kids showed up to hunt eggs. Afterward, we came home to do some chores. Jeff continued to clean out the pool. We finally got it drained, and the leak detection service will be here on Thursday to try to find the leak in the main drain. We shall see what happens and if the "cement pond" can be fixed without a major expense. I am skeptical but hope for the best. While Jeff was scrubbing the pool, I prepared deviled eggs for his family's Easter gathering today. It was the first time I had made them since I do not really eat them because they have mayonnaise as an ingredient – one thing that I despise. I know my fellow Southerners are appalled by this revelation, but what can I say? I don't even like having mayo in the refrigerator! The eggs got good reviews, and of course, I topped them with a little bacon for posterity! We had Easter lunch at Jeff's grandparent's house and proceeded to Jeff's parents' house for the Easter Egg hunt. The kids had a great time, and it was a beautiful afternoon on the farm.

Tonight, we came home to prepare a relatively simple and healthy Sunday Supper. For the entree, I cooked another recipe from the Liv Wise cookbook – free range chicken with orange and ginger stuffing. It was really one of the best chicken recipes I've ever cooked! I paired it with steamed rainbow carrots, an organic green salad, and fresh steamed corn on the cob. The healthy part of the meal ended with dessert. I have been craving Banana Cream Pie, so I made my first one yesterday. It was a delicious Easter treat! After dinner, we are watching a holiday classic, Easter Parade, with judy Garland and Fred Astaire! I have never seen it, so it should be entertaining.

Even with all the holiday festivities, the significance of Easter is not overlooked. As a good Facebook friend inquired this week, "you don't seem like a "church" person to me." Granted, I am not necessarily one for the business of organized religion, but I am, indeed, a very spiritual person, and I find hope in the promise of renewal that Easter represents. So, today, hope springs eternal, and during this time, I am always drawn to a performance of "He's Alive" by Dolly Parton. I recall seeing her perform this version on an awards show years ago, and it is still as moving today. Thank goodness for YouTube and for a true believer, Dolly Parton. When she sings it, she means it...

Even with a great Sunday Supper, a classic movie and Dolly, our hearts are a bit heavy tonight at the passing of our dear friends' son, Mark Mullet. Sandy and Gary's son passed away on Saturday from liver cancer at the all to early age of 44. So tonight's Sunday Supper is dedicated to Mark, Sandy, Gary and their family. Peace be with you.

The Menu:

- Pompelmo Spritzers

- Organic Greens with Organic Cashews and Simple Jar Dressing

- Orange and Ginger Stuffed Free Range Chicken

- Steamed Rainbow Carrots

- Husk Roasted Corn

- Banana Cream Pie with Graham Banana Crust

Sunday, April 1, 2012

April Fools 2012 – Hopelessly Devoted







Today is the first day of April, and it hit 83 degrees in Canton! I can't imagine what the summer will bring, but today was picture perfect. We have spent most of the day attempting to drain the cement pond. Summer before last, we discovered a leak in the main drain. The pool is well over 50 years old now, so the main drain is a huge iron pipe that runs down to the pump house. The pool has been the bane of my existence since the day I arrived at One Britt, but when it is working and the weather permits, it can be glorious. We have someone coming out on April 12 to run a scope down the drain to see where the leak is located. If it is not under the gunite shell, it can probably be repaired. We shall see what transpires, so stay tuned...

As an April Fool's trick, I am preparing a very healthy dinner from my new cookbook, "Livwise: Easy Recipes for a Healthy, Happy Life" by Olivia Newton-John. Yes, my two guilty pleasures, cooking and Olivia, have come together for tonight's Sunday Supper! All the proceeds from her cookbook benefit the new Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in her hometown of Melborne, Australia. Olivia has been a breast cancer survivor for over twenty years and has become a huge advocate for cancer care. She has raised millions of dollars for this hospital which combines Western and Eastern medicine to treat, and hopefully, cure cancer. Recipes in Livwise tap Olivia's own experience in the kitchen with the help of nutritionists, friends and chefs from Gaia, her Australian health retreat and spa. I WILL visit this place at some point in my life, and I have always wanted to travel to Australia. Tonight, I will settle for her food, even though I did not use any butter, sugar or oil in any of the recipes!

For tonight's Sunday Supper, I selected some of the Asian-inspired recipes from Livvy. I made a fresh coleslaw with cashew nut dressing, Thai barbecue chicken with jasmine rice, and a mango tart with date and macadamia nut crust for dessert. John and Cory joined us for dinner, and John compiled a lovely bouquet of flowers currently in bloom at One Britt. We had dinner on the side porch and enjoyed a beautiful spring evening. We have to believe we are magic!

Love and light,

Bill

The Menu:

- Coleslaw with Cashew Nut Dressing

- Thai Barbecue Free Range Chicken with Jasmine Rice

- Fresh Mango Tart with Date and Macadamia Nut Crust