The busy party season may be behind us, but a few different types of festivities still lie ahead this winter. For those of you who are also football fans with teams in the playoffs (like me) there many reasons to celebrate. Awards season is also just beginning with glamorous red carpets to critique. No watch party is complete without a spread of gourmet, and easy to eat, snacks. The executive chef of the Main House Josh Feathers and executive chef of the Barn Joseph Lenn at The Wellhouse at Blackberry Farm (Walland, TN) have created a spread of delicious delicacies perfect for watching whatever strikes your fancy this winter.
Canapes on a Cracker:
- Fromage Blanc with 1 teaspoon of Smoked Onion Jam and a Pickled Ramp
- Fromage Blanc with 1 teaspoon of Apple Butter
- Fromage Blanc with Preserved Tiny Tomatoes and Ramp Pesto
- Aged Cheddar Pimento Cheese with a slice of Bread and Butter Pickle
- Aged Cheddar Pimento Cheese with a slice of Pickled Ramp
Canapes on Toasted Bread:
- Start with 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of Fromage Blanc Cheese spread on grilled or toasted bread. You ideally would want the bread to be no bigger than 2 bites.
- Add 1 teaspoon Tomato Jam, 8 pieces of Toasted Pinenuts, Fresh Arugula leaf, a shaved piece of our Singing Brook Cheese and a drizzle of Georgia Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- Or, add 1 teaspoon of Pepper Jam and finely julienned pieces of Blackberry Farm Charcuterie
Pork Belly Biscuit Canapes:
- Chef Joseph Lenn braises a Berkshire pork belly until tender and then chills the cooked belly overnight. He then will cut the cooked belly into bite size pieces and sear very quickly in a hot skillet. Next, he places each piece on a tiny biscuit along with some Blackberry Jam and a piece of Bread and Butter Pickle.
- Another great classic mini biscuit idea from Chef Josh Feathers, is paper thinly sliced Benton's Country Ham with Pumpkin and Pear Butter which is great for the holiday season.
For more on the lovely spa where these scrumptioius recipes came from, check out Rustic Retreat in our December issue.