Linzer cookie recipe & the perfect pie crust!

It is that time of the year I become a pie making machine, which I have no problem with cause I most enjoy making, baking & eating pie.

I will be talking pie orders for the fast approaching Thanksgiving holiday. Email me, cheryl.615@hotmail.com call 304-433-7665 or stop by the trailer and fill out an order form.

I am offering apple $22, brown butter bourbon pecan $19, roasted pumpkin $18 & sweet potato $18.  You can order buttermilk biscuits too!

Building the perfect fall pantry

I absolutely love the smells of fall, rich damp black soil, warm fires burning, fresh picked apples, earthy fallen leaves and the crisp cool air. Could it just stay fall and skip winter, please.

Autumn is romantic and calm. It is my time to prepare for hibernation. I just switched my summer and winter clothes along with the cleaning & organizing of closets. I washed all my windows inside and out. Entertaining moves inside, I enjoy rearranging the furniture to make the rooms cozy and inviting.

Most importantly don't forget the kitchen, this sounds crazy but it is time to clean, arrange and stock up your pantry. The winter is the busiest time of the year in most kitchens.

Just so peachy keen

   Ever since the first Twinkle Bell dinner when I made the creamy corn polenta, I am obsessed with freshly gristed cornmeal. I have to say it is unbelievable more delicious than just plan store bought. If you have the chance to find it at a farmers market or at a mill it is worth the extra time & effort to track it down.

The recipe I have been using to create all sorts of fruit & cornmeal combinations I found in  "The Best of the Best Food & Wine".

Twinkle Bell Secret Dining Fellowship is set for October 19th!

The date for the next Twinkle Bell Secret Dining Fellowship Event for October is set! 

Our next dining event will be October 19th at 6pm sharp. 

Come help us bid farewell to summer and usher in autumn with a harvest festival.

Birthday Chocolate Mousse for Julia!

Happy Birthday Julia! 

My beloved and inspiration, Miss Julia would be 101 today! 

She is the BOMB!!!!!! Love, love, love, her! 

Today on the blog we also have a great Chocolate Mousse recipe adapted from Mastering the Art of French Cooking (Knopf) by Julia Child.

August Cocktail Recipe - The Beige

August......

The Sand,
The Tan,
The Hair-bleached by the Sun.
It's time for a BEIGE.....



2 ounces Gin
4 ounces Ginger Beer
Splash of White Grapefruit Juice
Pour over ice in a Highball glass.......

Make it a meal by adding a nice slice of fresh grapefruit!

Oh what a night!

Twinkle Bell Secret Dinning Fellowship. 

Oh what a night!

The day started off with a prediction of 60% chance of evening thundershowers but somehow with the kitchen gods watching over us the rain held off and instead presented a cool enchanted evening for Twinkle Bell's debut!

Refeshing Summer Tea Recipe

Wowzer! It is HOT out there!!

When the summer brings on this oppressive heat I only want to drink thirst quenching delicious beverages.
Thought I would share this recipe to help everyone cool down.

Refreshing Summer Tea for 6 cups

• 1 bunch of fresh mint leaves from the garden, about 1/2 cup

Eat your vegetables please {& an iced mocha green monster smoothis recipe}

Today was a very productive day in the kitchen. I find that I am the happiest and most continent working in that spot. Hours pass without me noticing till I look up at the clock and realize I've been at it for some time. 
 
Good stuff.

The summer months at the farmers markets are crazy good. I have been scoring at the Wednesdays Leesburg Market. Beautiful produce, fruit and super nice vendors.

Monthly outdoor dining series!

In collaboration with Lucketts, the Cowbell Kitchen will be hosting a monthly, outdoor, under the stars, unique dining series which will continue till the weather prevents us.

SAVE THIS DATE & MAKE A RESERVATION IMMEDIATELY: July 27th by calling Cheryl at 304-433-7665, or email her cheryl.615@hotmail.com

All the ingredients will be sourced from local farms, markets and artisans.The experience will be staged at various locations on the Lucketts property. The theme & menu, of course is top secret, and will be unveiled the night of. OK, maybe a tiny hint before!

Because farmer's markets and friends make everything better (and a boneless rib eye with chimichurri recipe)

1940 Farmer's Market

This week turned out to be exciting in many ways. 

First I was so lucky to have my two best friends in town for a few days. The days flew by fast but we lazily grilled, drank and spent hours chitchatting on the back porch. 

Our featured cocktail was Gin & Tonic, simple and refreshing! Of course we threw in some wine, Prosecco and beer, for a change of pace!

Stop & smell the coffee and a recipe for fruit humble pie squares

Yes I do agree coffee is a major motivation to wake up every morning. With the nice weather I enjoy my first early morning cup relaxing in the peacefulness on my screened back porch.

Is it me, but it seems the first cup always tastes the best?

Today I'm also sharing a recipe for Market Fruit Crumble Humble Pie Squares.  Everyone loved them last weekend, so I thought I'd share my recipe!

Peace love rhubarb & strawberries

Finally first of the season's local Virginia fruit, rhubarb & strawberries in the house or in the oven!

For the weekend I'm making fruit crumble pie bars...Delish.

Come and get 'em......

DIY: Mother's Day posy teacup + pink lemonade bars

Hey, this is so easy!

What Mom wouldn't love to find this on her "breakfast in bed" tray, as centerpieces for her garden luncheon or just presented to her with a box full of homemade pink lemonade bars.
Simple & made with love from you to your extra special Mother.

Here is what you need:

Happy May & ramp pizza recipe

Finally Mother Nature sent us great weather which equals farm produce. yippee!!!! This weekend thanks to Fiona, ramps from Slaynt Vie Farm will be on the menu. Next week fresh asparagus.

Hey what is a ramp?
Well a ramp is an early spring vegetable, a perennial wild onion with a strong garlic-like order and with a pronounced onion flavor. The scallion like stalk and bulb are both edible. There you go.

Here is what I'm going to do with them....

Sunshine equals a spring veggie / fruit love affair!

Hold on and get ready..... spring has arrived! The vegetable and fruit bounty has started to pop, bud and wake up. Here is a list of what to expect soon at the farmers markets and at the Cowbell.

asparagus
fava beans
blueberries

Pucker Power - Red Onion Pickles

Anything pickled rules! 

These red onions are super yummy. They are great in salads, on hamburgers, smoked trout, and take the Cowbell's ham & cheddar biscuit sandwich up to a divine taste level sensation. 

What's Cookin' (and a recipe for Mexican Chicken Pozole Verde)

Hello all,

This week was filled with crazy hours in the kitchen. Sometimes you have to laugh at yourself, which I did all week, cause I was a hot mess! During this week's cooking chores for the Cowbell, I'm sure you all have experienced this feeling, I spilled, dropped, forgot, almost burned the jelly, made the biggest giant messes.... you name it, I did it! The important thing that I realized was

Two love affairs: peanut butter & recycling

I am obsessed with peanut butter.  Buckeyes are simple, delicious and you can not eat just one, end of story!

Ohio put them on the map by dipping them to resemble the nut from a buckeye tree.

Handmade candies for Easter baskets!

It ain't easy bein' green and a Chocolate Soda Cake recipe

It ain't easy bein' green.......Happy {early} St. Patrick's Day!

I was trying to think of a fun & easy dessert for St Patrick's day and yes, this will work.

Here is my recipe for Chocolate Soda Cake.  I adapted this recipe from the cookbook "Baked NYC."