Showing posts with label New Bern NC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Bern NC. Show all posts

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Seafood Chowder for a Cold, Cold Day

Seafood Chowder. 

A quick trip to New Bern provided a chance to enjoy some good seafood and to bring fresh seafood home.  We stopped at the Tryon Palace Seafood on the way home and bought some fresh flouder, oysters and scallops.  We had the flounder for breakfast this morning---a special Valentine's treat for Dan.  This afternoon I made a big pot of seafood chowder using the oysters, scallops and a can of clams,  This is going to be so good on Sunday when the temperature plummets with the wind chill in the teens or below.    Here's my recipe:

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup diced onions
1/2 cup celery sliced thin
1/2 cup baby bella mushrooms (I just happened to have these so added them.)
2 cups fish stock (I had some frozen from poaching a salmon a few weeks ago.)
4 cups diced potatoes
1 pint oysters
1 pint scallops
1 can chopped clams
1 pint half and half
1 1/2 pints whole milk
pepper to taste
a dash of fresh grated nutmeg

Directions:
Dice onions and potatoes, slice celery.

Melt butter and olive oil in large Dutch oven.
Melt butter and olive oil.

Saute onions and celery and mushrooms.
Saute onions and celery.
Add mushrooms and continue to saute until mushrooms are soft.

Add fish stock and potatoes and cook over medium heat until the potatoes are done.
Add fish stock and potatoes.  Cook over medium heat until potatoes are done.

Add oysters, scallops and clams and heat until done. (Do NOT boil.)

Add half and half and whole milk.  Heat, but do not boil.
Add cream and milk and cook over medium heat until oysters and scallops are done.  Do not overcook.

Add pepper to taste and a dash of nutmeg.  You can add salt to taste, but we don't. We add salt at the table.
Ready to enjoy.

This is going to be soooo good tomorrow on a cold, cold, Sunday. I think I will make some homemade pimento cheese for toasted sandwiches.  They will go well with the chowder.


Sunday, February 17, 2013

Something For Everyone...New Bern Antique Show 2013


Fancy Blue Ridge.
Each February the New Bern Preservation Foundation sponsors an Antique Show in the Civic Center---a beautiful venue for the show.  And for over ten years now, I have been a vendor at the Show.  It is always a lot of fun.  And sales are usually pretty good.  There is always something for everyone.  Here's some of those somethings from this year.
Pretty Blue Ridge plate in my booth.

Unusual Blue Ridge wall pocket in my booth.

As I was unpacking one of my boxes during setup, I discovered a little hedgehog that I didn't remember having.  I was debating whether to sell it or keep it.  I love hedgehogs.  My friend Marcia came over, bought it, and then gave it to me for Valentine's.  That's called "having your cake and eating it too."  Marcia is a great friend.
My cute little hedgehog.
Virginia, a vendor whose booth is across from mine, usually has something that I can't resist.  This year it is a lovely maple bowl with a hand-painted design that I bought for Dan as a Valentine's gift.

There's always lots of furniture.
Nice chest in one of the vendor's booth.
Usually some vintage toys.
Vintage baseball figures.
Pretty vases.
Victorian picture frame in my booth.
Can't you see how much fun this is?  I always look forward to this show where many of the vendors have become good friends and where there is always something for everyone.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Preview Night at the New Bern Antique Show 2013

Camellias and pretty glassware.
Last night was the opening of the New Bern Antique Show where the public had an opportunity to have first dibs on items for sale.  The members of the New Bern Preservation Foundation (sponsor of the show) had wonderful fruit, cheese and wine offerings along with many different sweets.  Here are some photos I shot last night.
Rose Cottage's pretty glassware.
 Lots of pretty fashions by folks attending the preview.
Beautiful scarf.
Beautiful scarf in back.
Food.
More food.
The sweets were brought around on trays.  There were so many delicious ones. 
Sweets.
More sweets.
Cherries marinated in brandy and covered with chocolate.  So good.
One of the dealers near me always brings her dog, Simon, to the show.  Simon is always dressed to the nines.  Last night he was wearing his "tuxedo".  He's a delightful dog.  Always very well behaved.
Simon in his tuxedo.

A valentine handkerchief for sale in my booth.
Today the show gets underway in full force.