Entertaining…that is what we have always done. Moving to this historic home, and restoring it to is glory, has made us hesitant to go back to entertaining like we had previously done. This weekend was a beautiful one full of sunshine and comfort. This home still has much to be done, but it is ready to welcome those who want to be here. Cleaning the house, putting more things away up in the attic to make room for the guests, and preparing the menu.
Usually we begin with Bloody Marys and mimosas, and then a fritatta for the main dish. One of the things that I love about entertaining, is to have a good spread of food. Food and drink along with a collection of good conversation makes for a wonderful day. Our kitchen is the one room that is almost completely renovated; full of new appliances, cabinets and solid surface counter tops, which also serve as eating spaces. This kitchen allows for a gathering of food and friends in a comfortable space, a mixture of old and new.
This weekend was also the celebration of a milestone of a friend. She has been cancer free for 9 years as of yesterday and as someone who is in her early 30's, that is a big deal. Not only is she a strong female, role model and cancer survivor, but she is also a consummate professional. We are thankful to have her in our lives, and was honored to celebrate this special day with our first brunch gathering in the Humphreys House.
One of the items that has been a blast to prepare in this kitchen are individual apple pies. Beginning with some small crisp apples, that have been peeled and cubed, I put them in a skillet to soften them, along with lots of butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, a splash of spiced rum and vanilla. Cooking for just a bit, I then pulled them out and spooned them into the individual pies. Instead of the traditional pie crust or pastry dough, these pies are made with eggroll wrappers. Once the apples are spooned into the wrappers, and wrapped up like eggrolls, they were baked in the oven until golden. With the drippings from the apples, I added more butter, cinnamon and a little half and half. Once that was slowly brought to a boil and simmered on low, it came to a caramelized consistency to drizzle over the apple pies.
Check out the Shorebread recipe in our Bread Box.
Cooking for friends and family is a love of mine, and being together with those loved ones while in our new home has been wonderful.
