Fredericksburg with Fourteen Fun Friends

We place the reporting of the Spain Adventure on hold to write about "Fredericksburg with Fourteen Fun Friends." Early on the Thursday before Easter fourteen friends of Gourmet Gallery loaded onto a luxury coach from Brazos Valley Travel that took us on a four day adventure.

You know us! Emphases--food and wine. We have some recommendations to pass on to our friends who did not get to go with us. And let me tell you that you missed a great time with lovely travelers.

Three Cheers for the Top Three 

1. The three wineries:

 Texas Hills Winery, Johnson City. Kathy Gilstrap gave us a private tour and we tasted five wines for $5.00. Their Kick Butt Cab is one of their best-known wines and one of our favorites. (They also had some cheap Pinot Grigio that accidentally missed a step in the wine-making process. The Cab was better.) A mid-sized winery, the grapes are grown there and in other parts of Texas,.
Becker Winery, just off of US 290. We bought sandwiches from Dutchman's Meat Market, and had a picnic under the porch. The lavender was in bloom, a band played part of the time we were there. Six wines for $10 and we got to keep the glass. Many of Becker's wines are available here and in some restaurants in Fredericksburg. A beautiful setting, a lot of visitors on that day before Easter.
Sister Creek Winery, just north of Boerne at Sisterdale. David, the tasting room manager, had an employee who knew the wines well, conducted the tasting. The Burgundy and Bordeaux wine-makng techniques are used for making the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines. These traditional wines are aged in 60 gallon oak barrels for up to three years. Look for the old cotton gin between East and West Sister Creek. Not fancy buildings, but some good wines. They also have a tasty pinot grigio.
We made a surprise stop at Pedernales Cellars. this winery is being enlarged; so, there was more construction than wine-tasting. A glass of viognier a treat on the front porch and the view was quite nice.

Now to the food:

August E's,  San Antonio Street, Fredericksburg. This was recommended and worth the visit. Our group's food choices ranged from egg rolls to New Zealand lamb. The service was near perfect, the food well above the average and the wine list offered an adequate selection.

Fredericksburg Herb Farm,  on Whitney Street. This lunch stop was included in the cost. I had eaten there more than once and was confident of the quality. We were given the choices of quiche and fruit, chicken salad and fruit, meatloaf and veggies and chicken potpie. I was a little dubious of the meatloaf, but all the offerings were tasty. One drink order was confused, but that was easy to correct. Flowers were in bloom, the gardener helpful with explanations, and the new Sunday Houses are a charming addition to the property.
Cabernet Grill, on the Kerrville Hwy just across from the airport. Food was excellent from the crab cake, Curried Pheasant, Sausage and Apple Chowder to the sesame crusted fried shrimp with mango slaw, or the pan-seared trout or the Golden Fried Eggplant Pirogue topped of with Chicken Fried Pecan Pie with Jack Daniels ice cream. Wonderful food and perfect service! Many Stars!

Food and wine were the focuses, but other adventures included the First Friday Art Walk, a performance at the Rockbox Theater, a late night stop at the Lincoln Street Wine and Cigar, a little time for shopping, quick lunch and viewing of the poppies and other blooms at the Wild Seed Farm, a drive over the Willow Loop Road (the bluebonnets were in decline, but the white poppies were spectular) dinner at the Gin on Nolan's Creek in Belton.

A busy four days with fourteen great traveler--the bus driver included. Now aren't you sorry that you missed it!!!

I am including the recipe for the chowder at served at Cabernet Grill.

Curried Pheasant, Sausage and Apple Chowder

1/3 salad oil

1 cup celery, cut in 1/2 dice

1 cup carrots, peeled and cut 1/2 inch dice

1 1/2 cup, yellow onion, cut 1/2 cide

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 Tablespoons madras curry powder

1 teaspoon thyme leaves

2 bay leaves

1/3 cup flour

5 cups pheasant braising liquid, chicken stock or water

1 1/2 cups potatoes, cut 3/4 inch dice

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup smoked polish sausage, sliced

2 cups braised pheasant meat

Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

1/2 cup dried apples, diced

Heat salad oil in a heavy bottom soup pot over medium heat and add in celery, carrots, onions and garlic.  Cook the vegetables slowly, stirring frequently, until the vegetables start to soften and onions begin to turn translucent

Add curry powder, thyme and bay leaves to the pan and stir into the vegetables.  Allow to cook for about three minutes stirring frequently until the mixture becomes very fragrant. Do not burn the spices.

Add the flour to the pan and stir until incorporated

Add the braising liquid or combination of liquids to equal five total cups) to the pan one cup at a time, stirring in each time until fully incorporated.

Add the potatoes to the soup and allow soup to simmer for about twenty minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

Add cream sausage and pheasant to soup and simmer for about five minutes.

Adjust season with kosher salt and black pepper.

Add a little dried apple to each cup or bowl and ladle hot soup over. Serve immediately.

If you are completely out of pheasant, braise chicken thighs and drumsticks with salt, yellow onion, carrots, celery, bay leaves and thyme and chicken stock or water. Substitute the shredded chicken for the pheasant. Different taste, but entirely pleasant!

Happy traveling and happy eating.

How About Pancakes?

by Jo Ann Miller (Karyn's mom)

Well, how about them? You've probably eaten some version of them most all of your life, and  have not given  a second thought to the fact that this quick bread has been around on this earth about as long as any food made with grain. Crushed grain mixed with a liquid and baked on a hot stone was probably the first pancake (or stonecake.) In the United States we call them flapjacks, pancakes, griddlecakes or hotcakes. They may be made with white, wheat, oat or buckwheat flour. Johnnycakes are a variation made with ground corn. Different names in different countries: French crepes, German Pfannkuchen, The Netherlands Pannekoekenk, Swedish pannkakor and on and on and on. If you are interested in all the variations in all the world, Check http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancakes.

My experience with them started when I became engaged. I was teaching a Home Economics class, and one of my students wanted to know how to make pancakes. I confessed that I had never made them,  He said, "Well, Miss Orr, if you are getting married, you'd better learn." This was good advice since pancakes were my husband's favorite food. And I've made many a pancake in the last 55+ years. They are quick, easy, versatile and so wonderfully delicious in so many different variations.

After we had children we had pancakes EVERY Sunday Morning. Pancakes, sausage and syrup. It's our tradition!! When we had company, I would simmer sliced apples or peaches with butter, cinnamon and sugar.. Just slather THAT on the pancake for a company meal! Throw in a few blueberries to the batter before baking. Sprinkle some chopped pecans on the top when the pancake is poured on to the griddle. We had orange, thyme pancakes at a B&B in Maine; my friend makes wonderful ones from a biscuit mix. There are as many ways to make and serve as there are kitchens--almost.

On Shrove Tuesday, March 8, beginning at 8:30 a.m. we will be serving the British Isles version of pancakes along with some American ones from my "old family recipe." (Come and enjoy. No confessions required.)

The following is the British Isles pancake recipe:

1 cup flour
2 eggs
2 cups milk
Pinch of salt
Butter for cooking

Whisk together milk, eggs and salt.
Fold in sifted flour a little at the time and whisk until smooth.
Let rest for 10 minutes.
Heat a small amount of butter in a small skillet until it almost smokes.
Pour enough batter to thinly coat the pan.
Cook until lightly brown. Turn and brown on the other side.
Serve with lemon juice and sugar.
Note: the first one will be a disaster. It's the "one for the dog." The first one seasons the pan.
(Our neighbor always said that kids are like pancakes. You practice on the first one and pitch it out.)

My basic recipe is as follows:

l cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons cooking oil

In a medium mixing bowl whisk together all dry ingredients.
In a smaller bowl or a large measuring cup mix the milk, egg and cooking oil.
Pour liquid mixture into the dry ingredients and stir. Do not over mix, Mixture will have some lumps. Let rest about 5 minutes.
Drop by spoonfuls on a preheated griddle (about 375F.) that has a bit of cooking oil to prevent sticking.
Turn when light to medium brown and cook on other side to desired doneness. Remember that the first one seasons the pan, and the others will be better. To keep hot while cooking the entire batch, place a cookie sheet in a warm oven and place cooked cakes on that. That way maybe the cook can eat when everyone else eats.
Serve with butter, syrup, jams, jellies--with any of the variations mentioned or any other food that strikes your fancy.

Cold Weather Warm Soup

Once in awhile I run across a dish or a recipe that creates calm out of chaos. I guess this is what "comfort food" really is. Our chef, Rachel Solano, introduced me to Thai Cocanut Chicken Soup, a fabulous soup recipe that may rival Grandmom's Chicken Soup. Here it is. Thanks, Rachel!

Check out our website at www.GourmetGalleryWaco.com. We post new recipes regularly.

Happy Cooking!

Karyn Miller
Gourmet Gallery


Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

This Thai soup is so delicious and unique, you may find yourself replacing your old chicken noodle soup!

Serves: 6 -8 Time: 40 – 45 minutes

2 T Vegetable oil
2 T Grated Fresh Ginger (or Gourmet Garden’s her b blend in 4 oz tube)
2 T Fresh Lemongrass (or Gourmet Garden’s herb blend in 4 oz tube)
3 T Red Curry Paste
1 ½ T Fish Sauce
1 ½ T Soy Sauce
2 T Sriracha Chili Sauce
6 c Chicken Broth
1 T Light Brown Sugar
2 14 oz Cans Coconut Milk
1 lb Chicken Breasts, cut in 1 inch cubes
¼ - ½ lb Sliced White Mushrooms
4 T Fresh Lime Juice
Salt to taste
Large Handful of Fresh Cilantro Leaves

In a large Dutch oven or stockpot, heat vegetable oil over medium heat.
Add ginger, lemongrass, chili sauce, and curry; cook for 1 minute.
Add about a cup of chicken broth to dissolve curry mixture.
Add the remaining broth, fish sauce, soy sauce, and brown sugar and simmer for 10 min.
Add the coconut milk, chicken, and mushrooms and simmer 5 – 10 min to cook the chicken.
Finally, stir in the lime juice and add salt if necessary.
Serve over steamed white rice and a few tablespoons of the cilantro.