Family Around the Table

Gathering Family Around The Table for Good Food and Good Conversation

The Waiting is Over! #BrunchWeek is Here!

by 10 Comments

Click to share!

I’ve been talking, tweeting and posting about BrunchWeek for a while now. If you follow me on Instagram you’ve probably seen the awesome products and gifts from our amazing sponsors. I’ve used a number of these sponsor products in the recipes I will feature this week. Other bloggers will use these products in their recipes so be sure to follow along. All in all there are close to 150 recipes. Subscribe to my blog for email updates of new posts. There’s a box to the right to enter your email address. If you don’t follow me on social media already, the links are in the sidebar and at the end of the page, you don’t want to miss one delicious dish!

BW Logo 2016

The fourth annual #BrunchWeek is hosted by Terri from Love and Confections and Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures. It’s exciting to have you join us this year as we celebrate brunch and prepare for Mother’s Day. 37 bloggers from around the country will showcase their best brunch dishes, from cocktails to cakes, breakfast breads, tarts, and quiche – there is something for everyone! Our amazing sponsors have donated some great prizes for the #BrunchWeek giveaway. Thank you so much, sponsors, for your generosity. There are incredible giveaways described below and we’d love if you would take a moment to read about them and see what you can win!

Prize #1 Red Star Yeast is giving one winner an amazing baking set, which includes a mixing bowl, dough whisk, bamboo spatula, rubber spatula, instant-read thermometer, measuring cup, pizza cutter, tea towel, oven mitt, bench scraper, ‘Knead to be Loaved’ apron, 6 strips of Red Star Yeast, National Festival of Breads cookbook, and The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day hardcover cookbook.

For more than a century, home bakers have trusted the high quality and consistent performance of RED STAR Yeast. Inspiring bakers from novice to professional, our goal is your baking success! Visit redstaryeast.com for hundreds of tried & true recipes, baking tips and how-to videos. Better yeast. Better bread. Every time.

Prize #2 Dixie Crystals is giving one winner 1 case of 2-lb Extra Fine Granulated Sugar, a silicone baking mat, Dixie Crystal’s My First Cookbook, and Dixie Crystals red ruffle apron.

About Dixie Crystals: Since 1917, Dixie Crystals® has been the South’s choice for high-quality sugar and sweeteners. Our pure cane sugar products are all natural, non-GMO and provide consistently delicious results.

Prize #3 Cabot Cheese is giving one winner $50 assortment of Cabot Cheese, one Berghoff Cheese Knife and one Slate Cheese Board

Cabot Creamery Cooperative is a 1,200 farm family dairy cooperative with members in New England & upstate New York making all natural, award-winning cheeses & the “World’s Best Cheddar.”

Prize #4 Vidalia Onion Committee is giving one winner a Martha Stewart Knife Set, cast iron fry pan, cutting board, and fresh Vidalia Onions

About Vidalia Onions: Vidalia onions are unique to a very small region. In fact, they only grow within 20 counties in Georgia (which is also why they are the official state vegetable of Georgia)!
Vidalia onions were discovered back in 1930’s, and just like back then, they are still planted, transplanted and harvested entirely all by hand! Vidalia onions are grown during the winter months, and are only available in stores between April and September,  making them a true seasonal specialty. In order to grow great tasting Vidalias, and to give them their characteristic sweetness, they must be grown in a sandy soil mixture that is low in sulfur (sulfur in soil is what gives onions their hotness). Because of  this sweet flavor, Vidalia onions are incredibly versatile and can be used in any sort of dish; grilling, baking, appetizers, sandwiches, casseroles, and yes, even sweet desserts. Each year, approximately 5-million 40-pound boxes are shipped out around the  entire country – now that’s a lot of onions!

Prize #5 Sage Fruits is giving one winner a Ninja® Mega Kitchen System® with Slicing/Shredding

Sage Fruit Company is a premier grower/shipper of apples, pears and cherries. Not only are they focused on healthy products, but also on helping kids get excited about healthy eating through their free Kids in Force program that helps kids eat more nutrition and get more physical activity.

Prize #6 Nielsen-Massey Fine Vanillas & Flavors is giving one winner a set of their pure flavors: 2-oz each of Orange, Lemon, Peppermint, Almond, Chocolate, Coffee, Rose Water, and Orange Blossom Water.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has been crafting the world’s finest vanillas and flavors since 1907. Each of Nielsen-Massey’s all-nature pure flavors are crafted with premium ingredients, sourced from around the world and chosen to meet the utmost quality standards. From lemon to peppermint to coffee or chocolate, Nielsen-Massey’s pure flavors offer convenience, quality and consistency to ensure your favorite recipes taste delicious every single time. All products are gluten-free, allergen-free, GMO-free, all-natural and Kosher.

Prize #7 KitchenIQ is giving one winner a Lid & Mitt, Edge Grip Quick Prep Knife Sharpener & Pairing Knife Combo, IQ Smart Wireless Nutri Scale, Edge Bug Scissor Sharpener, and Prep & Measure Tool

KitchenIQ, the new houseware branch of Smith’s Consumer Products, Inc., embraces Smith’s long-standing reputation for innovation and quality. KitchenIQ is committed to producing smarter products for the kitchen.

Prize #8 Le Creuset is giving one winner one Egg Carton in Caribbean, a Heritage 4 Qt Rectangular Baking Dish in Caribbean and a Revolution Spatula Spoon in Caribbean.

Le Creuset is focused on inspiring and empowering people everywhere to make joy through cooking. From our original enameled cast iron cookware to stoneware, stainless, silicone and more, Le Creuset has grown to offer products across a range of materials and categories that guarantees the right tool for the right job.

Enter through this link: a Rafflecopter giveaway

BrunchWeek Beverages:

BrunchWeek Breads, Grains and Pastries:

BrunchWeek Fruits, Vegetables and Sides:

BrunchWeek Egg Dishes:

BrunchWeek Main Dishes:

BrunchWeek Desserts:

Disclaimer: Thank you to #BrunchWeek Sponsors: Red Star Yeast, Dixie Crystals, Cabot Cheese, Vidalia Onion Committee, Sage Fruits, Nielsen-Massey, KitchenIQ, and Le Creuset for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #BrunchWeek. All opinions are my own. The #BrunchWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up only. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Eight winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The #BrunchWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.

Vidalia Onion Cornbread Muffins

by Leave a Comment

Click to share!
Vidalia Onion Cornbread Muffin
Vidalia Onion Cornbread Muffin

Week 11 of the 52 Week New Recipe Challenge – still trying to catch up from my surgery and not bombard you with sweets because it seems I’ve made a lot of sweets lately. So I went to my “try me file”, which is overflowing, and found this recipe. These Vidalia onion cornbread muffins were a great accompaniment to my fried chicken. They would also be perfect with chili or for a picnic. You can easily serve these warm or at room temperature. The recipe starts with the convenience of a cornbread mix with the other ingredients probably already in your refrigerator. If you don’t have Vidalia onions on hand, any sweet onion will do.

Vidalia Onion Cornbread Muffins

1/4 cup butter

1 large Vidalia, or other sweet onion, chopped

1 (8 ounce) cornbread muffin mix

1 egg, beaten

1/3 cup whole milk

1 cup sour cream

1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese, divided

1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Spray a 12 well muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and saute the onion until tender but not brown, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the muffin mix, egg, milk, sour cream, half the cheese and the salt. Stir to combine. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full and top each muffin with some of the remaining cheese, trying to distribute evenly. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until set and a toothpick inserted in the center of muffins comes out clean. Serve warm or at room temperature.

 

French Onion Soup

by Leave a Comment

Click to share!

A few years ago we were traveling through South Carolina and found a Le Creuset factory store! I bought crocks in a lovely shade of purple with the intent of making French onion soup. I finally got to use them with this recipe. It’s week 2 of the 52 Week New Recipe Challenge and I tried a new French onion soup recipe from a cookbook in my collection, The Good Housekeeping Cookbook – Sunday Dinner Collector’s Edition. The weather here in Florida got chilly so I seized the opportunity to make soup. I’ve made a few French onion soup recipes in the past but this one will go into my recipe box. It is necessary to have oven-proof bowls so you can melt the cheese. Of course, I use only the best Vidalia onions when they are available in my grocery store.

French onion soup takes time to make. Patience is key. If you want it for lunch, and want to eat at 12:30, don’t start cooking at noon! Plan for a little longer than 2 hours, prep and cook time, with this recipe.

French Onion Soup
French Onion Soup

French Onion Soup

4 tablespoons butter

6 medium onions, thinly sliced, I prefer Vidalia

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 cups water

1 can (14.5 ounces) beef broth

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

4 diagonal slices (1/2-inch thick) French bread

4 ounces Gruyère or Swiss cheese, shredded (1 cup)

In a non-stick, 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add onions, salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are very tender and begin to caramelize, about 45 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until onions are deep golden brown, about 15 minutes longer.

Transfer onions to 5 quart Dutch oven. Add 1/2 cup water to same skillet and heat to boiling, stirring until browned bits are loosened from bottom of skillet. Add to onions in Dutch oven. Add remaining 3 1/2 cups water, broth and thyme to onions and heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange bread slices on cookie sheet and bake until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Place four ovenproof bowls in jelly roll pan for easier handling. Spoon soup evenly into bowls and top with toasted bread, slightly pressing bread into soup. Sprinkle shredded cheese (Gruyère or Swiss) evenly on top. Bake until cheese has melted and begins to brown, 12 to 15 minutes.

Makes about 5 cups or 4 first course servings.

Green Beans with Bacon and Caramelized Onions

by 2 Comments

Click to share!

This recipe is a family favorite. It’s a great side dish for so many entrees but we love to serve it with prime rib, ham and roast chicken. It was on our Christmas menu this year as a side to our prime rib. While the recipe requires multi-tasking and a watchful eye, the effort is worth the result! I prep the onions prior to starting anything and then prep the green beans while cooking the bacon. Don’t rush caramelizing the onions. My favorite onion to use is Vidalia. If Vidalia onions are not available in  your area, substitute another sweet onion variety such as Walla Walla. Don’t substitute anything for the cider vinegar. It makes a difference. Read through the recipe before beginning so you understand all that is involved. This recipe is perfect for company too! It makes 12 servings but can easily be down-sized for a smaller group.

Green Beans with Sauteed onions and bacon
Green Beans with bacon and caramelized onions

Print
Green Beans with Bacon and Caramelized Onions

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 slices bacon
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 4 medium sweet onions, cut into thin wedges
  • 2 cloves garlic, cut into thin slivers
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 2 pounds fresh green beans, washed, trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Instructions

  1. Cook bacon until crisp in a large skillet. Remove bacon, drain and crumble, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in the skillet.
  2. Add butter to drippings in skillet. Cook and stir over medium heat until melted. Add onions and garlic to skillet. Cover and cook over medium-low heat about 12 minutes or until onions are tender, stirring occasionally. Uncover, add vinegar and brown sugar. Cook and stir over medium-high heat about 4 minutes or until onions are golden.
  3. Meanwhile, cook green beans in a large saucepan in a small amount of lightly slated water about 10 minutes or just until crisp-tender. Drain.
  4. To serve, toss green beans and onion mixture together. Transfer mixture to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon.
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by Yummly Rich Recipes
https://familyaroundthetable.com/2014/12/31/green-beans-with-bacon-and-caramelized-onions/

Copyright Notice 2010 – 2017

Ellen Folkman and Family Around The Table 2010-2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of material contained within this blog, either photographs or written copy, without express and written permission from this blog's author (Ellen Folkman) and/or owner (Ellen Folkman) is strictly PROHIBITED. Excerpts and links may be used, provided full and clear credit is given to Ellen Folkman and Family Around The Table with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. If unauthorized content is found on the world wide web, owner of copyrights (Ellen Folkman and Family Around The Table) will take appropriate action under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Google+

Yum Goggle