Edie Wadsworth

31 Days to Hospitality::Day 20 Potato Corn Chowder

October 21, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 28 Comments

This is day 20 in a 31 day series on hospitality. Start from the beginning here.
Since you stocked your pantry and have plenty to drink and all, I figured it was high time we make some food. I’m gonna talk more about my philosophy when it comes to feeding people but suffice it to say, people love to be fed. And I find that when feeding a crowd, there’s nothing better than soup. And I’m a huge fan of one pot meals. One pot meals make life worth living. Okay, maybe that’s overstating it but still.

One pot to clean=one happy momma.

This corn chowder is so easy, so delicious, and is even a crowd pleaser among the youngsters.

Here’s what you need:

1 onion

1 32 oz bag frozen corn (could certainly use fresh corn when it’s in season but the frozen works great too)

1/2 to 1 red pepper, diced

1 stalk of celery, diced

3 yukon potatoes, peeled and diced

3-4 springs of thyme

salt and pepper

cayenne pepper

2 boxes of chicken stock

2 T. flour

1 T. bacon fat

1 T. butter

1 T. olive oil

1/2 c. heavy cream

1 T. honey

Melt the butter and bacon fat in a large stock pot and then add the olive oil. When the oils are hot, add the chopped onion, red pepper and celery. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper and then salt and pepper. You’ll reseason at the end but make sure you start the process now for depth of flavor. (I always buy celery that still has the leaves on the end and then chop those too and add them along with the celery.) I cook these on med high so that the onions will brown a little. When those have sautéed for 4-5 min, add the flour and cook it about a minute and then add all the chicken stock, along with the frozen corn. Add the thyme (you can either put the whole stems with the leaves on them and then remove the stems at the end or pull the leaves off the stems and just add the leaves) and potatoes and cook for 30 min on med heat until the potatoes are tender. When they are tender, add the honey and cream and then reseason as needed. Since there aren’t many seasonings in this soup, I add lots of pepper. Enjoy the some crusty bread!

Ode to bacon fat

Also, the bacon adds a lot of flavor so don’t skip that step. I know my Southern friends won’t but if you’re from Connecticut, you’ll be tempted. Bacon fat rules the world. Corn chowder just isn’t corn chowder without bacon fat. I am not me without bacon fat. Love your family well. Use bacon fat. Amen.

Don’t forget the recipe page for other tasty treats!

Potato Corn Chowder

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Ingredients

1 onion diced
1 32 oz bag frozen corn could certainly use fresh corn when it’s in season but the frozen works great too
1/2 to 1 red pepper diced
1 stalk of celery diced
3 yukon potatoes peeled and diced
3-4 springs of thyme
salt and pepper
cayenne pepper
2 boxes of chicken stock
2 T. flour
1 T. bacon fat
1 T. butter
1 T. olive oil
1/2 c. heavy cream
1 T. honey

Instructions

Melt the butter and bacon fat in a large stock pot and then add the olive oil.
When the oils are hot, add the chopped onion, red pepper and celery.
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper and then salt and pepper. You’ll reseason at the end but make sure you start the process now for depth of flavor. (I always buy celery that still has the leaves on the end and then chop those too and add them along with the celery.)
I cook these on med high so that the onions will brown a little.
When those have sautéed for 4-5 min, add the flour and cook it about a minute and then add all the chicken stock, along with the frozen corn.
Add the thyme (you can either put the whole stems with the leaves on them and then remove the stems at the end or pull the leaves off the stems and just add the leaves) and potatoes and cook for 30 min on med heat until the potatoes are tender.
When they are tender, add the honey and cream and then reseason as needed.
Since there aren’t many seasonings in this soup, I add lots of pepper.
Enjoy the some crusty bread!

31 Days to Hospitality::Day 19 The Beverage Bar

October 20, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 30 Comments

This is day 19 in a 31 day series on hospitality. Click here to start from the beginning.

I’ve never had a beverage bar before but it’s been on my wish list for a long time. So, when we were rebuilding our house, I decided to make it happen. And oh, am I glad I did. I’ve had friends in the past with this type of space, away from the hubbub of the kitchen and it works so well for flow of traffic and ease of entertaining a big family or lots of friends.

I actually changed the floor plan of the house to accommodate this awesome space. As you walk through this side door (coming in from the breezeway), the beverage center is to your right and the floor to ceiling open pantry is to your left. That’s a peak of my bedroom at the end of the photo. The glass doors to the workroom are on either side of the beverage bar.

Did I mention I LOVE this space? If you ever have a chance to create a scullery/butler’s pantry/beverage center, I would highly recommend it.

Side note:: I love to put little love notes throughout the house to encourage a certain joy de vivre and to help us all remember to love and serve each other.

Katie Daisy’s stuff is awesome!

We did vertical plank board behind this wall for durability and architectural interest. It’s so easy to wipe down and keep clean.

Most of the glassware is thrifted. The colorful coffee mugs are from West Elm, as is the monogrammed amber stemware. The sign was a gift from our wonderful builder, Larry Anglea and his wife.

I keep cinnamon in my beloved Jadeite salt shaker to add to my coffee (thank you for the tip, Miss Patty!). We have this Philips Saeco RI9837/05 Syntia Automatic Espresso Machine, Stainless Steel
and we LOVE it. This is our second espresso machine and I highly recommend this brand, if you’re in the market. The coffee and espresso are divine and the frother works great. (Often the frothers are weak on these types of machines or don’t last long, so definitely read reviews before you buy). It also dispenses hot water for hot chocolate and tea. The only problem is that I often become the barista when guests are here because nobody else knows how to use it. It’s not quite as easy as making a pot of coffee. It’s a good problem to have though and I’ve just about got my girls trained to use it.

I keep the lower drawers stocked with extra coffee and tea, to-go cups for hot and cold drinks, packets of propel and crystal light and latte and cappuccino mixes. The to-go cups are a huge hit and so worth stocking up on for the holidays.

This may in fact be the most hardworking of all our rooms. It gets used all day, everyday.

This space is just behind the kitchen so it definitely eases traffic jams in the kitchen. The traffic jams are all in here, though!

When we’re having company, I like to keep fresh limes and lemons sliced and ready. I always have sugar, along with all the sweeteners and my favorite local honey for use in coffee or tea.

We designed this space specifically for the U-Line ice machine which we use all the time but especially in the summer when we’re filling up coolers.

I am SO THANKFUL for this little corner of our house. It is the very essence of hospitality and I think it’s a crying shame that the butler’s pantry got tossed aside right along with the butler.

We should start a ‘bring back the butler’s pantry’ revolution. Heck, we should start a bring back the butler revolution.

THAT’s what I really need. A butler to man the butler’s pantry. Any takers?

The question everyone asks about the open shelves is, “Doesn’t everything get dusty?” Not at the rate we use it!

Inspiration for the shelf style from Urban Grace Interiors.

Cabinet color: Benjamin Moore Great Barrington Green.

31 Days to Hospitality::Day 18 The Well Stocked Pantry

October 19, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 18 Comments

This is day 18 in a 31 day series on hospitality. Start from the beginning here.

The title of this post is ‘The Well Stocked Pantry’.

The alternate title is, ‘Hello, my name is Edie and I hoard chicken stock.’

I’m not saying I’m a hoarder but what I’m saying is—I like a well stocked pantry. My sister hoards paper products so it runs in the family. At this very moment, she’s probably got 120 rolls of toilet paper.

But then, who am I to talk, I just bought a case of chicken stock and 14 cans of tomatoes. Don’t turn us in. We’re just trying to be hospitable, ya know.

Okay, drum roll please. I almost hate to tell you this because every time I tell someone about my chicken stock, they start hoarding it too and then I can’t get it at my grocery store. Which is why I always buy all they have, be it a carton or a case. But this brand is amazing. It’s better than homemade stock, in my humble opinion. It’s dark and rich and full of tasty goodness. I use it ALL the time in almost everything I cook. I get very nervous when the stash gets low. If you ever wonder what to get me for Christmas, you can never go wrong with this chicken stock. Or something from Tiffanys. Either one is fine.

Add this to your grocery list, dear ones. Just please don’t buy it from the East side Ingles.

The day before BHG came, my sister spent HOURS organizing my pantry. We started the process of moving some of my pantry items into containers with labels. We used the ‘champignon’ font at 200 pt and then just taped the labels to the front of the containers. I’d like to get most of my pasta, dried beans and rice into containers. Maybe by Thanksgiving. Or whenever she comes back 🙂

There’s one other item that I’m a brand Nazi about—-the San Marzano tomatoes. So worth the extra cost. I use them in all my soups where tomatoes are a main player. I also like the fire roasted and use them when I don’t use the San Marzano.

Here’s a listing of the things I like to keep well stocked so that I’m prepared to cook for my family and friends. (I’m doing a whole separate post on baking so those items will be left off here.)

Kitchen Basics stock—chicken in bulk, a couple beef (I don’t love the vegetable or seafood stock but you might!)
Tomatoes–28 oz cans of San Marzano and 14 oz cans of fire roasted
Canned Beans–black, pintos,garbanzos, cannelini, white northern, chili beans
Dried Beans—navy, pintos, lentils, black
Rice–I keep jasmine, brown rice, wild rice, long grain, risotto, quinoa.
Pasta–lasagna noodles, fusilli pasta (I use this for my lasagna soup), macaroni, orzo, spaghetti, angel hair, linguine
Soups—cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, cream of whatever’s on sale, tomato,
Oils–I buy olive oil by the droves, in large containers, canola, peanut, coconut
Vinegars—red wine, balsamic, distilled, apple cider, rice wine
Sauces–chili sauce, Sriracha, cholula, Sweet Baby Ray’s, Country Bob’s, local honey!!!!, maple syrup, various hot sauces, every kind of mustard this side of the Atlantic
Peppers and Olives--chipotle peppers in adobe sauce, roasted red peppers, black olives, green olives, kalamata olives
Bread Crumbs—panko, regular and eye-talian
Jellies and Jars–pepper jelly, apricot, marmalade, pesto, jalapeños, pepperoncinis
Misc—canned artichokes, canned pumpkin
Peanut Butter–I have about 5 varieties of p.b.
Nuts–Trader Joe’s has a superb selection of nuts and we keep every kind imaginable on hand.
Dried Fruits--I always keep jumbo raisin, dried cranberries and dried Tart cherries

Don’t forget the onions, potatoes, garlic, shallots

There’s no end to the yummy goodness that can be made and shared from a well stocked pantry. Buy in bulk and watch for sales, especially BOGO.

Stocking the beverage center, baking center and refrigerator coming up soon!
Happy weekend and happy hoarding!

31 Days to Hospitality::Day 17 Readying the Hearth with prayer

October 18, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 22 Comments

This is day 17 in a 31 day series on hospitality. Start from the beginning here.

When we were rebuilding our house after the fire, we decided to salvage of few bricks from the old house to use around our hearth.

Because suffering remakes us and we didn’t want to forget the winter grace.

We may look finished and even beautiful on the outside but we’re all a mess. If you look close at the bricks, there are burn marks that time won’t wash away.

But the scars remind us to pray. They remind us that we are vulnerable and needy and poor and that we must hold tight to the one who burns us with His love but doesn’t consume us.

And they remind us to pray for each other too. To see beyond the neat exterior to a heart that longs to be known and loved.

I couldn’t have seen it at the time but when He is binding up the brokenhearted, He is teaching the brokenhearted what it means to be loved and how to show that love someone else.

And prayer is the perfect way to love someone in advance: before they come, while you’re making the food and as you fluff the guest room.

You will learn to love them by praying for them. You will see them differently. You will sympathize with their struggle. You will see clear through and you will tread with reverence on this holy ground.

So, ready the house, yes.

But don’t forget that all the important work happens just beyond our sight.

Prayer for the Home:

Lord God, our home is among the most precious gifts we receive in this life.

We realize this all the more as we remember our Lord Jesus. He set aside home and family. Having no place to lay His head throughout His ministry, he chose to sojourn among those He came to save. We prayerfully invite Him to dwell in our earthly abode even as He continually invites us by Word and Sacrament to dwell forever in our heavenly home, which He prepares for us.

Make us ever grateful for this shelter from life’s storms.

Keep this house always the home of comfort, joy, peace, and forgiveness.

According to Your will, protect this home from the spiritual assaults of Satan, but likewise make our home a fortress against the calamities of nature and the wickedness of sinful man.

Grant us the virtue of hospitality, the joy of harmonious living, and the blessing of gathering around Your Word and bringing our families’ prayers before You.

May all who dwell in our home be blessed by Your presence and Your peace,
and may all who go forth give thanks for the grace they receive from You, through us, Your dear children

We receive Your loving kindness in our home as a reminder of the eternal home we inherit through Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.
Amen.

from the Lutheran prayer book

“Give me hope in the darkness that I will see the light.”

31 Days of Hospitality::Day 16 Hospitality the size of Texas

October 16, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 33 Comments

This is day 16 in a 31 day series on hospitality. Start from the beginning here.

I ain’t gonna lie. I’ve got an unhealthy obsession with Texas. Maybe it stems from watching too many Dallas Cowboys’ football games with my brother as a child. Maybe it’s because I subscribe to the motto, “Go big or go home.” Maybe it’s cowboy boots, or George W, or Todd Wilken, or Friday Night Lights.

Whatever the reasons, I pledge my unfailing love to all things Texas.

So when this wonderful group of Lutheran ladies made me part of their fellowship and invited me on a trip to Texas, I couldn’t pack my boots fast enough. This quaint little cottage is where we made our home for 3 days.

And what was so wonderful about this whole thing is that I wasn’t in charge of anything. These amazing women invited me, sent me THE coolest pre-trip goody bag/itinerary, booked the room, arranged the food, planned the shopping, did EVERYTHING and all they asked me to do was show up. I don’t know if I’ve ever been treated so royally in my whole life. Sometimes this kind of serendipitous change of perspective is so timely. I’m usually on the ‘arranging’ end of the equation. The cooking and planning end. The ‘figuring out the details’ end. And what a joy to be so cared for by someone else, who’s gone to so much trouble to make sure everything is perfect. It makes me a little verklempt just to talk about it.

And travel is not really my forte so I was a little nervous about the trip. I don’t like leaving my girls. Stevie’s been known to stalk me on Twitter when I’m gone. I miss my bed. I miss being the one who’s showing all the hospitality. And that morning, I missed my flight. It was a shaky start for an already anxious momma. But when I finally got to Texas, to my girls, I knew I was home. Kellee, Lauren, and Adriane had planned an awesome stay at home dinner with Texas brats on the grill. We talked and laughed and drank wine and did in home pedicures. And then talked some more and ate some more. Then we coveted DeAnn’s new iPhone 5 and tried to resist stealing it from her!

The next day we had so much fun at the very eclectic shops of Fredericksburg. Most of the shops we visited had the same security policy….

There was such a great mix of modern and antique shops—-what a little gem of a town.

And there were a lot of hats and boots for sale. Of course.

Heather and I had so much fun shopping. She’s the cutest pyrex hoarder you’ve ever seen. And she tried on a Texas sized hat to match her Texas sized personality.

It was so amazing to finally meet these girls after emailing and Facebook stalking them for a year. I hope I didn’t overwhelm them with all my squealing and ‘y’all-ing’ and hugging. I was the only Southerner in the group but you’d never know it by the way these girls plan a trip. They thought of everything. Kellee (the oldest of the Dorr sisters) and Lauren did so much to help Adriane with the trip and I loved watching the sisters interact. I WANT TO MEET THEIR PARENTS. How do you raise girls that grow up to be women like this? I’m on a need to know basis. And it needs to be quick. Mine aren’t getting any younger.

The girls included a little trip to Wildseed Farms in our itinerary. We strolled through beautiful gardens while we talked theology and cooking and kids and husbands and boots. You know, the regular stuff.

We visited a local winery with our resident wine expert, Gretchen. Have I told you how much I love and admire her? Well, I do and I do. See, she’s the one who pitched our story to BHG. She is a brilliant thinker/writer/content strategist and just happened to be my roomie. Besides being a great mom, wife, and cook, she’s also wife to my former pastor. As a side note, in this group, there are 3 Lutheran pastors’ wives. And as much as I LOVE Lutheran pastors, I think I love their wives even more.

But I digress. Back to Gretchen.

She interviewed me this week for the Better Homes story and oh my word is she good at what she does. I hope she’s makes me sound smarter than I am because I felt like a bumbling idiot in our interview trying to describe my style and why I do what I do in my home. She is one gifted woman so I’m sure she’ll work a miracle.

We took a lot of pictures which always happens when you’re traveling with bloggers. My multitasking skills come in handy sometimes. I’m sure I instagrammed that moment right after capturing it on 12 cameras.

Then, there was the obligatory boot photo. Jan (who has 6 kids and home schools them and is the coolest little momma ever) has promised me that she’ll move to Bean Station so we can raise our kids together. She lives in Denver but whatevs. Bean Station not a mile high but it is a mile long. Doesn’t that count for something? Isn’t she SOOO completely adorable? Yes, yes she is. Jan was standing nearby when my girls texted me on Friday morning with their burning question of the day:

“How do you make biscuits and gravy?”

It makes a momma proud.

Forget Latin and Greek mythology. These girls need to learn to make a Southern breakfast. Now Jan keeps asking me to make her some biscuits and gravy. Which I will be MORE than happy to do if she’ll hightail it down here.

We finally gave everyone their boots back and dressed up in our best Texas wares and drove to Luchenbach, Texas. With Waylon and Willie and the boys.

(I couldn’t resist.)
Adriane, Kellee, Lauren, DeAnn, Gretchen, Jan, Heather and yours truly.

It was the coolest one horse town I’ve ever seen. The sign said, “Luckenbach, population 3. ” And that ain’t no lie. The town consisted of a dance hall and a bar. We drank beer and watched the most adorable old people dance. And that’s when I decided that Stevie and I need to retire in Texas. We could two step every Friday night in some local dance hall and I could tease my hair and wear red lipstick. Either that or Bean Station needs to get a dance hall.

I want to say thank you to all my new friends. You showed the most wonderful Texas hospitality to me and I’ll be forever grateful. I loved getting to meet you. I loved hearing your stories. I am changed by your love and kindness. Your hospitality to me was such a gift. Mwahhhhh! I hope you’ll all visit me and let me return the favor!

Then there’s the most adorable Lutheran bachelorette of all time—-the brain child of this whole operation—whose wedding I’m now prematurely planning on Pinterest, should you want to follow along. It’s gonna be epic. I’ve appointed myself the official line dance coordinator. I promise to be the most gracious line dance hostess of all time.

I dearly love you my friend. And I think we both shoulda been cowboys.

And for all you folks that aren’t from the South, hurry on down! Time’s a wastin’.

Texas forever.
Amen.

31 Days of Hospitality::Day 15 All they really need is you

October 16, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 20 Comments

This is day 18 in a 31 day series on hospitality. Start from the beginning here.

There’s no doubt that I love beautiful spaces. When we surround ourselves with truth and beauty, it changes us.

It brings me joy to create spaces that make people feel loved. I am purposeful about making a home that is joyful and whimsical and even sultry.

But when I’m making these rooms for my family and friends, it’s easy to forget what’s really important.

What they really need is me.

And there’s no substitute for that–no amount of money or gadgets or gifts or beautiful rooms.

My children don’t really care about their vintage iron beds.

But they need a mother who really listens and who treats them with kindness and understanding.

My husband could care less about our custom upholstered antique sofa. But he does need a wife who loves and respects him.

We must repeatedly ask ourselves, “Does this help me serve my family and friends?”

Why are we doing what we do? To serve others or impress them.

Do I want my guests to be wowed by my impeccable hospitality or do I really want to offer my heart to them?

Absolutely none of this matters unless it helps us give ourselves away to others.

It’s the Mary/Martha conundrum.

Mary chose the better part.

She chose relationship.

And so should we.

Know what the people in your life really need you to give to them?

Yourself.

Your time and love and your willingness to open your heart.

All they really need is you.

Hospitality is just that simple.