Sunday, October 10, 2021

Brunch Today

CCC


I am hosting a brunch today in my lanai and thought I would share what I will be serving. First up is the Blood Mary - I love a great Bloody Mary.


via Back Pocket Provisions

My favorite Bloody Mary mixes are from Back Pocket Provisions. I highly recommend you ordering the four pack to start if you want to try them - I love them all. I am having a make your own Bloody Mary Bar, and offering all four mixes plus gourmet garnishes and rimmers. Vodka choices are Grey Goose or Tito's.


Back Pocket Provisions


Take a look at this Bloody Mary above from Orchard Creek Restaurant in Waynesboro, VA. Chef Fred Gorman starts with your choice of Back Pocket mixes, then adds candied bacon, pickled shrimp, Kalamata olives, pepperoncini, and a JO Spice rim. 

I am copying all of these ideas. Also celery stalks, dill pickle spears, lemon and lime wedges, pickled okra, cornichons, fresh dill, and pickled asparagus. Pretty much a meal in a glass.

And individual tiny bottles of tabasco. These are two inches tall and adorable. I have one at each place setting and more at the Bloody Mary Bar. So cute.


Mini Tabasco

Bamboo Knot Picks for Garnishes


This is the main dish. I have made this before and it's easy and wonderful.


Green Shakshuka with Avocado and Lime

This easy twist on classic North African shakshuka (traditionally eggs baked in tomato-pepper sauce, with cumin, paprika and cayenne) starts with an onion-garlic-chard sautéed until gently wilted: a nest of sorts for steam-poaching eggs. Once the eggs go in, be sure to keep the flame low and keep the pan covered while cooking, so the eggs stay soft and almost oozy at their yolk, and the Cotija melts a bit. The chard and the half-and-half create a sort of light broth at the bottom of the shakshuka, which holds so much flavor and is one of the dish’s charms. Lastly, be daring with smoked hot sauce at the end: it’ll push the creamy avocado, cheese and eggs to their peak.

 INGREDIENTS

3  tablespoons olive oil

1  yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced

2  garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1  large bunch/1 1/2 pounds Swiss chard, stems and leaves separated and chopped (about 9 cups)

½  teaspoon salt, plus more as needed

⅓  cup half-and-half or heavy cream

8  large eggs

¼  teaspoon black pepper, plus more as needed

3  ounces cotija cheese or queso fresco, crumbled (about 3/4 cup)

1  avocado, sliced, for serving

1  small jalapeño, thinly sliced, for serving

 Chopped cilantro, for serving

 Smoked hot sauce, for serving

 Corn tortillas, toasted, for serving

1  lime, cut into wedges, for serving

PREPARATION

Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook until softening, 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 5 minutes more.

Raise the heat to medium-high, add the chard stems, and cook to release some liquid, 5 minutes. Add the chard leaves, in batches, adding more as they wilt, and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until completely wilted, 3 to 5 minutes more. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, pour in the half-and-half and stir loosely together.

Make eight small hollows in the cooked chard with the back of a spoon. Gently crack an egg into each hollow. Cover with a lid or foil and cook on medium-low until the eggs are just set, but still soft, about 7 to 9 minutes. Remove the lid, sprinkle with salt, pepper, cotija, avocado, jalapeño and cilantro. Serve with smoked hot sauce, toasted tortillas and lime wedges.

(via NY Times Cooking)

Dessert is my favorite - Key Lime Pie from Publix with fresh whipped cream.

I'll open the entire wall of sliders between the lanai and the great room and set up everything in the kitchen, and everyone can serve themselves. Then we are watching the Bucs play the Dolphins. Would it be too decadent to have a TV installed in the lanai? Asking for a friend.





36 comments:

  1. Tell your friend that a television in the lanai is perfectly fine. In Florida, it’s an extension of your great room!

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  2. Your brunch sounds like it’s going to be lovely! Have fun😊

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  3. Al Spok Looks Like a GREAT Party !!! 10/10/2021

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  4. Brunch is one of my favorite things, along with afternoon tea. I've tried all the Back Pocket Provisions Bloody Mary Mixes at your recommendation, Beth, and they are terrific. That shakshuka looks delicious. I will definitely try that too. Hope it's a good game!

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    1. It was a great game - headed to the Super Bowl again I hope. Glad you like the Bloody Mary mixes. I love supporting a Virginia small business and family farms.

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  5. Every time we visit my mother-in-law in Florida we head straight to Publix for a key lime pie. Such a treat! Got her a delicious chocolate cake with cannoli cream filling there too for her 95th birthday. Their bakery is amazing!

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    1. Their bakery is indeed amazing. Everything is first rate.

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  6. This dish looks incredible! Wondering if spinach would work? I don't have any chard today. Your brunch sounds fantastic!

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    1. I think spinach would work great. I make a similar dish that uses spinach. Great idea!

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  7. Your back yard is incredible - it looks like a botanical garden.

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  8. I can’t wait to try this dish!!! I made your sweet potato and collard soup and it was amazing!

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  9. Publix key lime pie is always sublime! Good choice! My daughter has a TV on their lanai/pool area and it is wonderful.

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    1. I love Publix - especially the bakery and their amazing subs. Good to know on the TV. Thanks.

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  10. This looks delicious, I can’t wait to try it. Love a Sunday brunch, such a great time to entertain.

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  11. Being a Virginian, I'm familiar with Back Pocket bloodies, SO good. Thanks for that spectacular-sounding recipe -- I'm going to use spinach, that should be fine, right? BTW, did you hear that Mt Vernon Antiques on Route 1 burned to the ground?😱

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    1. Glad you know Back Pocket. I think spinach would be great. They burned to the ground in 2018 and arson was suspected but they couldn't prove anything. It just burned again??? Wow.

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  12. Not at all uncommon in California to have a patio TV. Great for crowd-watching weekend football. Don’t know Back Pocket mixes. Will have to search for them here in So Cal.

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    1. Back Pocket ships free FYI. A TV does sound wonderful.

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  13. Enjoy your day Beth and brunch sounds divine!

    Yes to TV on lanai! Overlooks your beautiful grounds.
    -linda, nyc

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    1. Thanks - I think the TV will be a Christmas gift to myself. LOL

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  14. I’ve spent time outside at my daughter’s house in Ponte Vedra the last few days, sitting out in the area overlooking their pool. It’s covered there, sort of a lounging area, and there’s a nice TV. Perfect. Go for it.

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  15. That all looks so DIVINE!!!! Lucky invitees!!! Yes to the television on the lanai. I think you will enjoy it aa thousand times over! Go Bucs!!!

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    1. Thanks so much. Champa Bay. On to the next Super Bowl.

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  16. Our last home was waterfront so everyone did their living in the back on the water. We had a tv on our back porch as did many/most of our neighbors. In our present home one neighbor has the porch tv. That’s Florida living. The only issue is the volume and what you’re watching. Sports are fine but news cast or talk shows are annoying. Your back yard is beautiful. Do you leave the blue and white ceramics out all the time or just for the brunch? Pamela

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    1. I have massive hedges separating my property from the neighbors and I believe this would also help with the sound traveling. Thanks so much. I have a dozen blue and white Chinese porcelain pieces and leave them out 365 days a year including for decades in NOVA.

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  17. Looks amazing! I'll definitely need to check out the mixes and Publix Key Lime Pie. You are such an inspiration, Beth, and always deliver! Thanks!

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