Holiday Cooking Class

Among one of the calls I received for holiday baking orders

was a request from Sustainable Harvest to do a

Cooking Class/Dinner as a Christmas Celebration for their staff

I knew with a name like Sustainable Harvest we would get along

fine with a menu of local, seasonal ingredients but I hadn't done

any holiday decorating!

I dug out a few treasured items I have saved through the years

And went outside to snip a few branches of evergreen and found some

rose hips on a rugosa over by the garden

It's amazing what tucking a few of these things around 

does for the room.  Instant Holiday!!

and it took me about 20 minutes

I had planned the menu and laid out the ingredients

so that as soon as they arrived we could get started

Menu 

Citrus Rosemary Spritzers 

Lentil Pate with Garden Carrots 

Cheddar Pecan Crisps 

Carding Brook Farm Mesclun with

Grapefruit, Pecans, Red Onion and

Yellow Birch Farm Feta 

Fresh Caught Diver Scallops,

Seared and served over

Cauliflower Puree 

Old Ackley Farm Red Cabbage

Sautéed with ginger, scallions

and sesame oil

Poached Pears with honey

and chocolate sauce

They wasted no time getting down to business

And, as often happens (thankfully)  I learned

a trick or two - here Florence is showing us how easy

it is to peel ginger with a spoon - SLICK!

They made beautiful salads while nibbling

on the appetizers they made upon arrival

and we did a few basics, like searing scallops,

and sautéing cabbage, in the "hot" kitchen.

I then freed them to go and sit at the set table and relax

as I served them the food they had prepared

Bravo ladies!

I returned home last night to a wonderful surprise.

Renee had made three wreaths and hung them around the house

We hang them inside the house, in the dining room,

kitchen and living room.

It creates such a warm and toasty atmosphere

I love simple and hope that you are all having

a really good time.

I've included the recipe for Lentil Pate 

they made last night.

Enjoy!

Kyra

LENTIL PATE

½ cup French green lentils

1 cup shallots, roughly chopped

3 cups stock

¼ tsp smoked paprika

¼ tsp kosher salt

2 T olive oil

3 T chopped cilantro

Simmer lentils and shallots in stock (salt if needed), covered,

until tender.

Drain, keeping any remaining liquid

Puree in food processor with paprika and salt, adding liquid as necessary for desired consistency.

Add oll.

Stir in cilantro

Allow to chill before serving