Posts Tagged ‘culinary’
November 27th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Apple Pie
Nothing tastes better than a slice of homemade apple pie hot from the ovens at Murski Homestead B&B! Add a little Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream and you are really set…..this is one of the easiest recipes, so give it a try.
Super Easy Apple Pie
3/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp. lemon juice
zest of
1 lemon
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbsp. apricot brandy
pinch of salt
Apple Pie
5 baking apples, pared, cored, thinly sliced
2 oz. butter, melted
1 unbaked pie shell, 9-in. diameter
1/2 lb. apricot jam
1 oz. sugar
Combine sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, cinnamon, brandy and salt. Neatly arrange apples in pie shell; pour sugar mixture over. Brush with melted butter. Bake at 450 degrees F for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F; bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden. Combine jam and sugar in sauce pan; heat to boiling. Push through fine strainer; heat to boiling. Brush over baked pie. (I used twists of pie crust on the top of this pie for additional visual appeal and texture.)
Tags: apples, Blue Bell, Cooking, culinary, Desserts, Murski Homestead B&B, pie, ranch, Recipes
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October 27th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
It’s that time of year again! The 2011 Ranch Cooking Class Schedule is now available. This is the perfect time to plan a fantastic Texas Ranch Culinary Vacation to one of our Cooking classes or Foodie Events. Even if you have attended a cooking class before don’t let that detour you.
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Cooking Class Tart
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Cooking Class
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Hors d’oeuvres!
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Ravioli Cooking Class
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Sweet Potato-Maple Cream Soup
Foodie Weekends, are for those who like to cook, for Foodies and for Spectators who love food in all forms! Guests determine the depth of their involvement, with options ranging from a visit to an area farmer’s market, local winery, garden harvest, cooking with me or just enjoying the great food! Whether you are a Foodie, avid cook, spectator or wannabe cook, these events are all about creating memorable experiences in a relaxing atmosphere involving food, spontaneous cooking and creating ways to take the everyday recipe to the next level.
Every class and event is chock full of new recipes that you can duplicate at home! This is a great gift idea for that home cook you know. Itinerary and dates…
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Tags: classes, Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, Food, Murski Homestead B&B, packages, ranch, wine
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September 21st, 2010 by Pamela Murski
We here at the ranch, found this bit of trivia from our local Windy Winery expert to be very interesting…..
The antioxidants found in wine can vary widely depending on the year and region in which the wine was produced. However, two other beneficial components of wine remain relatively consistent: potassium, which helps maintain fluid balance in the body, and alcohol, which may help raise “good” HDL cholesterol, reduce risk of blood clots, and lower blood pressure. The key to obtaining any of wine’s benefits is enjoying your favorite in moderation.
Red Wine (5 ounces)
120 calories 180 milligrams potassium 15 grams alcohol
White Wine (5 ounces)
118 calories 101 milligrams potassium
14.6 grams alcohol
CHEERS TO YOUR HEALTH!!!
Tags: alcohol, culinary, Drinks, Food, red wine, white wine, Windy Winery, wine
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August 13th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Cooking Class Fruit Tart
Fun, fun, fun and lots of good food……that’s how our cooking classes are described by our participants. We just finished up another great weekend of cooking, harvesting, shopping at the Farmers’ Markets, visiting and most of all tasting and eating our way through many dishes. One of the favorites was the Roasted Fresh Fruit Tart made with buttery puff pastry and fresh peaches, plums and berries procured at the Farmers Market!
Tags: activities, Brenham, classes, Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, Food, Fun, Murski Homestead B&B
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June 10th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Dream of coffee, clouds of whipped cream and mascarpone cheese, sandwiched in between soft pillows of lady fingers and coffee liqueur? We love Tiramisu but wanted a version we could make and eat in the same evening and one that didn’t depend on Lady Fingers, given that we live in a small, country town. This recipe
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Tags: classes, Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, Desserts, Food, Murski Homestead B&B, ranch, Recipes
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May 20th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
This incredible appetizer from Spain is called Bunuelos De Bacalao (Salt Cod-Potato Fritters with Garlic Aoli). They are an exceptional appetizer eaten out of hand while enjoying a glass of delicious Sangria! The dish will be added to one of our Foodie Weekends just in case you don’t try them at home….
Scrumptious Fritters and Garlic Aoli
Bunuelos De Bacalao (Salt Cod Fritters)
1/2 pound skinned and boned dried salt cod
1 pound medium potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Salt
Pepper
2 egg yolks
Solid vegetable oil, for frying
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Tags: Appetizers, Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, fish, Food, Murski Homestead B&B, potatoes, Recipes
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May 4th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Do you have Rosemary growing in your garden? Are you a Martini fan? If you answered yes to those questions, you will want to try this recipe, one of Murski Homestead B&B’s signature drinks! Cooking class participants at the ranch oohed and aawed over this cocktail (any leftover Rosemary syrup can be used over pound cake, in iced tea, over fresh fruit, to make a sorbet or ice cream…..so don’t throw away a single drop!)
Rosemary-Peach Martini
Martini Time!
1/2 oz. peach syrup
1/2 oz. rosemary simple syrup***
1/2 fresh squeezed lemon
ice
Put all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into Martini stem, garnish with fresh lemon slice and serve immediately.
***Rosemary Simple Syrup: heat 2 cups of water, 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 6 (4 inch) sprigs fresh rosemary. Bring to boil, cover, turn off heat and let steep 20 minutes. Strain syrup and store in refrigerator in clean sterilized bottle.
Tags: Brenham, Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, Drinks, Food, Herbs, Murski Homestead B&B, ranch, Washington County
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April 24th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
You love that incredible chewy dense delicious texture of French bread but don’t have the time or patience for all the kneading, then this no knead recipe is for you! It delivers all that same great taste experience you know and love. We recently featured this bread in one of our cooking classes at the ranch. We made an extra loaf just in case….. It was a good thing we did because there were only a few crumbs left!
No Knead French Bread
Crusty No-Knead French Bread
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Tags: activities, Bread, Brenham, Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, Murski Homestead B&B, ranch, Recipes
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March 24th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Dill is a herb that reseeds in our gardens in southern regions of Texas and comes up in early Spring, bolting by early to mid summer depending on the weather. In some locals it can be overwintered if no serious freeze occur. It is one of the herbs we love using in spring and summer classes at the B&B during our classes and for our on cooking pleasure.
Cooking Instructor, Pamela Murski
Recently, Pamela Murski, cooking instructor and innkeeper at Murski Homestead, gave a Dill cooking demonstration during a program for the Herb Society of America, Pioneer Unit hosted by her culinary group. Use my recipe below as a dip for crudites, as a sauce on poached/pan fried fish or thinned with a little whole milk for a delectable dressing for fresh spring greens…..
Creamy Dill Dressing
1 cup mayo
1 cup sour cream
3/4 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs. lemon olive oil
2 tsp. sriracha chili sauce (Thai hot sauce)
1 Tbs. minced shallots
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 cup fresh snipped fresh dill
1 tsp. salt or to taste
Fine grind black pepper to taste
Combine ingredients (except salt & pepper) in a small bowl and whisk to blend. Season with salt and pepper.
Store in covered container in refrigerator up to 5 days.
Tags: classes, Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, Dill, Food, Herbs, Recipes, sauces/dips/spreads
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March 20th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Spring at our Ranch B&Bin Brenham, Texas is just around the corner and after this crazy, wild winter we are planning on a bumper crop of spring herbs. Some of our favorites include Aussie Sweetie Basil, African Blue Basil, Biergarten Sage, Lemongrass, Rose Pelargonium, Dill, Fennel, Cilantro, Italian Flat Leaf Parsley, Mexican Mint Marigold and Lemon Thyme, to name just a few. Our Bay Laurel trees have survived the frigid temps of this winter in fine form, as well as the Thyme, Rosemaries, some of the Sages, Parsley, Fennel, Sweet Marjoram and more. If you try any of these, they will definitely get you started on the road to flavor!
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Tags: antique rose emporium, Brenham, Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, Food, gardens, Herbs, Murski Homestead B&B, plants, Spring
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January 28th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
February 4th kicks off our Cooking Classes Luncheon Series for 2010 which are now posted for Murski Homestead B&B Ranch. Whether you want to learn more about cooking or just enjoy some great food and take home some delicious recipes, the cooking classses offered by instructor/Innkeeper Pamela Murski are sure to please. Our classes are small, interactive fun and delicious and geared toward personal attention. Cooking shouldn’t be something to fear rather something to enjoy and bring people together……it is a fantastic journey through life using all one’s senses. Click Here to see our class schedule and register or call to book 877-690-0676.
Tags: classes, Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, Food, Fun, Herbs, Murski Homestead B&B, Recipes
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January 26th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Moroccan food is redolent with aromatic spices and seasonings such as garlic, tumeric, saffron, anise, chilis, cardamom, cumin, lemons and more. The food is delicious, fun to make and better when shared around the table with friends. The is another example of what guests might encounter during one of our cooking classes. The Tagine, though a staple cooking vessel in Moroccan homes, is not an absolute necessity to have. You can subsitute a good quality covered clay pot or heavy cast iron covered pot. We made the following items for our luncheon menu (The Shish Kabob recipe is included as it is fabulous!)…..
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Tags: Appetizers, classes, Cooking, culinary, Food, Herbs, Lamb, Moroccan food, Recipes
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January 22nd, 2010 by Pamela Murski
We are all about good food at the Murski Homestead B&B Ranch! Whether with a group of good friends or making new friends, nothing says TEXAS better than a great meal and relaxation around the table and in the kitchen……Our 2010 schedule for our fantastic “Foodie” Weekends is now posted. Guests determine the depth of their involvement, with options ranging from a visit to an area farmer’s market, garden/herb harvest to cooking with me. Regardless of how much you get involved, these weekends are all about kicking back with some great food & drinks! Click Here for our scheduled dates and booking your stay for a fun and delicious foodie vacation!
Tags: Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, Food, Fun, gardens, Herbs, lodging, Recipes
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January 19th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Texas Wine & Ranch Life
Cooking Class instructor and Murski Homestead B&B Innkeeper, Pamela Murski, has teamed up with Windy Winery for our Winter-Spring 2010 “Dinners With The Vinter“. These special events are all about wine, food and fun. Windy Winery specializes in wine made only from Texas grapes! Come to the ranch and enjoy a four (4) course wine pairing dinner with the vintner in a casual, yet fun and delicious atmosphere to learn all about wine from the experts themselves!
January 22
February 11
March 15
April 13
May 10
Advance reservations and an overnight stay are required for these special events! Call us at 877-690-0676 or reserve your place at the table online.
Tags: culinary, culinary travel, Fun, Murski Homestead B&B, packages, Texas Wine, wine dinners, Wine Travel
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January 16th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
” …We love getting your recipes – but would you mind sharing your scrambled eggs with rosemary that you made us when we stayed with you?….”
We received this request from a wedding couple after they stayed with us and had their wedding here at the ranch. We are asked often for this recipe so
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Tags: Breakfast, Cooking, culinary, eggs, Elopements & Weddings, Food, foodies, Herbs, ranch weddings, rosemary
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January 12th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Our first wine dinner with the Vintner for the new year is just around the corner, Friday January 22, 2010! Enjoy a multi course dinner and wine pairing while discussing the wines, the food and the vintners process. Afterwards, retire to your king size bed private room for a delicious night of sleep after being completed satiated…. This special occasion is for anyone interested in wine, from the beginner to the well versed! Reserve your room now to ensure your place at the table for this fun, informative and delicious event.
Tags: b&b lodging, classes, Cooking, culinary, culinary getaway, Food, wine, wine dinners, wine pairing
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January 5th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
One of our most favorite desserts from the kitchen is German Chocolate Cake, a specialty of my Mom’s! It was a dessert we always had during the holidays and is a tradition we pass on….. if you’d like the recipe, let me know.
German Chocolate Cake at Murski Homestead B&B
Tags: cake, chocolate, Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, Desserts, Food, Murski Homestead B&B, Recipes
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December 21st, 2009 by Pamela Murski
Need a last minute gift? Know someone who loves to cook or wants to learn to cook……Someone whose ideal vacation includes hands-on private cooking classes…….someone imagining themselves cooking with an instructor who provides personal attention? If so, you have just found the perfect gift for this holiday season.
Send your cooks to this Texas Bed and Breakfast, where they’ll breathe in plenty of fresh ranch air and work up an appetite exploring the historic countryside of Washington County, the birthplace of Texas. Then they’ll cooking instructor Pamela Murski in her kitchen, where they’ll roll up their sleeves and get to the real fun.
There are several options of cooking classes and events available at Murski Homestead Bed and Breakfast. Gather together a group of six to twelve friends and spend a few hours in the kitchen learning and having fun with Pamela and connecting around food. Or join her one day for a private class in the Murski Homestead B&B kitchen, where individual attention is sure to give a great boost to your cooking skills. Another good option is to participate in one of several scheduled classes at Murski Homestead B&B.
Your cook will be thrilled with a gift of Foodie Travel. For some folks, life just doesn’t get any better.
Tags: classes, Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, Food, Herbs, Murski Homestead B&B, packages
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December 8th, 2009 by Pamela Murski
Another fantastic luncheon with the culinary queens from our Pioneer Herb group celebrating a tradiontal Early American Thanksgiving. Though herbs and spices were not a plentiful nor wide ranging as what we have to offer today, the food was hearty and nourishing. Great thought and preparation began months in advance of the wonderful celebratory meal in the territories to order and stock enough “special ingredients” to make their feast the highlight of the season. Staples included
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Tags: Cooking, culinary, Food, Herbs, history, Recipes, Salad, Thanksgiving, Vinaigrette
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December 2nd, 2009 by Pamela Murski
Carrots are great this time of year for holidays dinners, parties and snacking. This recipe from another cooking class at the ranch is easy and delicious! The Balsamic vinegar when reduced creates an intense rich earthy flavor that can’t be beat. A Balsamic reduction is also wonderful on fresh fruits, lending
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Tags: carrots, classes, Cooking, culinary, downtown Brenham, Food, fruit, gardens, Herbs, Sides, vegetables
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October 29th, 2009 by Pamela Murski
Oh what an incredible and glorious fall it has been so far! Not only have the rains replenished our tanks, cattle and land but also perked all the gardens up and the fall blooms are abundant. The ‘Country Girl’ mums, the Mexican cosmos with their radiant orange flowers, the smellicious almond verbenas, the multi-colored zinnias and the ‘Ponderosa’ lemon weighing heavily with its abundant and heavy fruits are but a few enjoying the bounty of the rains. Butterflies still abound in the garden – especially on the various mistflowers, butterfly weeds, the zinnias, and the chaya. Caterpillars are busy munching away on the fennel and other plants in a hurry to metamorphose before the first frosts.
Speaking of Fall, now is the time to plant herbs and flowers. Culinary herbs such as dill (herb of 2010), fennel, parsley, caraway, coriander/cilantro, celery, chervil, and lovage. There are also many ornamentals such as bishop’s weed, Queen Anne’s lace, and laceflower. Vegetables such as carrots, beets, turnips, and parsnips obviously belong here too. I also sprinkle in seeds of tri color swiss chard for their beautiful and edible foliage, sugar snap peas and baby lettuces for a quick harvest.There are also medicinal plants such as angelica – of which the Chinese variety (Angelica polymorpha var. sinensis) does best here (zone 9) - in part shade. It is biennial and can reach 8 to 10 feet when blooming! Angelica, by the way, is a historically important plant that was used to treat a variety of ailments and gives its characteristic flavor to the liqueur Benedictine. One member of this family which you should truly avoid growing is poison hemlock. It can be mistaken for parsley and is quite lethal – just ask Socrates if you don’t believe me. As a important and fun experience, most of these plants are great larval host plants for many butterfly species!Get on your gloves, get out your spade and get digging! The reward is far greater than the work involved….
Tags: culinary, gardens, Herbs, plants
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October 26th, 2009 by Pamela Murski
First pomegranite of the season from my friends trees was harvested recently at her farm near Burton, Texas. Mary Jane, a great friend in my culinary unit, is also a wonderful artist and weaver. She and her husband built their home by hand and it is a intense mixture of color, whimsy, art and function. Her gardens are eclectic in form and by their very nature an extension of her artistic bent. While at her home recently for a meal, I snapped this photo of her in her kitchen with her pomegranite in hand! (TIP: While in Brenham, be sure to sign up for one of her weaving classes at Fibers!)
Not only great decorative tools, pomegranites are also edible and full of vitamins—–seed are used in salads, as garnishes, eaten out of hand fresh and juiced for their antioxidant properties being used in drinks from cocktails to punch!
Tags: art, culinary, Fibers!, fruit, gardens, Pomegranites, weaving
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