Toasting to Fall with a TRIbella Giveaway!

Tags

Aerator, holidays, Hostess Gift, perfect pour, Red wine, Stocking Stuffer, Thanksgiving, Tribella, wine

The weather here in Seattle this fall has been just gorgeous.

Aside from the sun setting earlier, sunny days and temperatures in the 70’s tricked my brain into thinking that it was still summer.

Then the rain came and I snapped out of it.

Though I am still having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that Halloween is next week (followed closely on its heels by Thanksgiving and the holidays!), for me the loss of summer has led to a preoccupation with one thing – holiday entertaining will soon be upon us!

And with that, red wine drinking season will also be in full swing – As the colder weather settles in many shed their Roses and Chardonnays for the warmth and more full-bodied flavor of various red options.

Whether you are entertaining this holiday season and want to delight your guests with the perfect pour, or you are attending a soiree and need an elegant gift for the wine lover in your life, the TRIbella™ wine aerator will put the festive in your festivities. Presented with a bottle of red, this would make for a much appreciated hostess gift. Alone, it is a terrific stocking stuffer.

TRIbella™ is wine aeration made beautiful. This patented, trademarked, and innovative aerator, launched in 2014 and designed and engineered in Portland, Oregon is a simple, yet fine-tuned device, created for everyday use. The TRIbella™ allows wine to be poured in three elegant and drip-free streams and to naturally breathe while it falls gracefully into your glass.

TRIbella™ exposes wine to air to open up and enhance the flavor of the wine creating a more pleasant experience with beauty and elegance.

TRIbella™ allows wine lovers to enjoy their wine with a blend of art and science and is now available on Amazon and through select wine sellers. It even comes in its own protective carrying case so you can take the perfect pour anywhere.

In celebration of the fall season and the upcoming holidays, TRIbella™ is offering a free TRIbella™ Wine Aerator to one of my lucky readers!

To enter the giveaway simply leave a comment here on the blog telling me – what are you pouring this Thanksgiving or fall?

For extra entries (you must leave a comment here on the blog for each of these you do):

• Like KristinPotPie on Facebook
• Follow KristinPotPie on Twitter
• Follow KristinPotPie on Instagram
• Like TRIbella on Facebook
• Follow TRIbella on Twitter
• Follow TRIbella on Instagram

This giveaway will end Midnight Pacific Time, Thursday, October 30. I will choose one winner from the comments on my blog Friday morning and will email the winner. Winner will have 24 hours to respond before I choose an alternate winner.

Good luck!

Photos taken by, and used with permission of, Richard Brown Photography.

Prost! – Oktoberfest Northwest 2014

Tags

beer, Chicken dance, Family event, German food, Hammerschlagen, Manuela Horn, Oktoberfest, Oktoberfest Northwest, Puyallup

I just love this time of year! With our German heritage, my family and I enjoy celebrating Oktoberfest each and every fall.

Some years that means hosting a gathering at our house (here are some ideas for hosting your own!), some years we just make a special intimate dinner with a smaller crowd (serving this authentic rouladen recipe!) and some years we make the trek to Leavenworth for their big multi-weekend event.

But last year we decided to try something different.

Longing to enjoy a big to-do, but not really wanting to expense a whole weekend east of the mountains (it gets pricey with a two-night minimum stay on festival weekends), we checked out the festivities at Oktoberfest Northwest held at the Washington State Fair & Event Center in Puyallup, WA.

And we were not disappointed!

This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of this fun indoor event and I hope you will join me in the revelry!

Event Dates:
October 3-5, 2014
Event Hours:
Friday- Noon – midnight
Saturday – 11a – midnight
Sunday – 11a – 6pm

Location:
Washington State Fair and Events Center in Puyallup

Admission:
FREE on Friday from noon-3pm
Regular Price after 3pm on Friday and all day Saturday ($10)
Sunday HALF PRICE all day ($5) courtesy of Alaska Airlines and The News Tribune
Children 12 and under FREE ALL WEEKEND

The biergarten certainly is impressive, but to keep us all safe please be smart about your transportation plan –  there are free soft drinks or drip coffee for those who sign up as a designated driver.

Families are welcome in the Festhalle Biergarten until 7 p.m. each evening (Sunday, families are welcome all day!); for the remainder of the evening, guests must be 21 years of age or older.

And there are plenty of activities for the whole family!

The German School of Tacoma will be on site with special arts and crafts projects.

Kids won’t want to miss the opportunity to take part in an authentic May Pole dance with members of the Enzian Schuhplattler Dancers, pumpkin decorating and games like Corn Hole Toss and more.

On Saturday and Sunday only there will also be free face painting and an ALL-NEW Scavenger Hunt with a fun prize for every child who participates while supplies last.

Kids can pick up their Scavenger Hunt instructions at the Root Bier Garden between noon and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The game, Hammerschlagen, is a popular activity at Oktoberfest. The goal is to drive a nail into a cross-section of wood faster than your opponent.

Each year the Best of the Best compete for a space in the Hammerschlagen Tournament of Champions Wall of Champions.

Who will be champion in 2014? Could it be you? Sign up on site at the event for your chance at bragging rights, glory, and a whole mess of great prizes.

2014 Prizes:
1st place: $150 and commemorative Seahawks Super Bowl Champion  stein
2nd place: $50 and event stein
3rd place: event stein

Children are encouraged to not play Hammerschlagen in the adult area for safety reasons.

There is a Kids Hammerschlagen with kid-sized hammers and easy to hit nails (children need to be supervised by an adult to play)!

Find that perfect gift for someone (or yourself!) while wandering among all of the great souvenirs at the German Corner.

The German Corner features everything from steins to cookbooks to authentic German clothing. Browse their selection ahead of time at www.germanplaza.com

I plan on buying one of these cute little purses this year! I do hope they have them again!

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Entertainment at Oktoberfest Northwest keeps the party going all day long and late into the night!

Whether you’re looking to sway to the sounds of Edelweiss, get plucky with the Chicken Dance or hit the dance floor to the late hours of the night, Oktoberfest Northwest has it all!

On Friday, October 3, at 6:15pm join in the fun as they tap the Oktoberfest Firkin to officially open Oktoberfest Northwest!

And don’t miss  the swing girl! Manuela Horn & her Oktoburlesques! At nearly seven feet tall, this Austrian Amazon will perform yodelicious interpretations of new & classic Top 40 hits.

Manuela is the Queen of Oktoberfest.  With the motto “It’s always Oktoberfest somewhere,” Manuela emcees and headlines the biggest Oktoberfests across America.

Oh! And the FOOD! My goodness!

You want brats and beer? You’ve got it.

Plus pretzels, schnitzel, strudel, and a whole list of other authentic German treats! Like the tasty Cabbage Rous (Kraut Roulden) in tomato sauce, and the Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancake) served with apple sauce and sour cream!

German food heaven!

Also back by popular demand this year is the Oktoberfest Northwest Running of the Wieners!

Multiple races, costume contests, great fun for the whole family in a stadium atmosphere right inside the heart of the event.

This is a Sunday-only attraction. Go here for more details or to register your wiener. Click here for a schedule of events!

Don’t forget – admission if free on Friday (today!) until 3 pm – so hurry down (and maybe we can do the chicken dance together!) See you there!

 

Locally Brewed Cupcakes at Cupcake Royale

Tags

Cupcake Royale, cupcakes, fall, Fall flavors, locally brewed, Oktoberfest

I know it still feels like summer today, but fall really is just around the corner. Labor Day is coming up this weekend and the kids are getting ready to return to school – mine go next week. Are yours already in school? Frankly I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that both of mine are in high school this year. How did that happen?!

I love the sunshine and carefree days of summer, but this time of year is truly my favorite. The rich flavors of the season take me back to so many happy times in my life:

Growing up, the German Chocolate Cake my mother would lovingly make each year for my birthday in late August.

How I met and fell in love with my husband in the fall and we (both of German decent) celebrate Oktoberfest with our children each year – complete with my great grandmother’s German apple cake.

And pumpkin reminds me of the days when the kids were little and we would go out to the pumpkin patch at a local farm and pick our own pumpkin – happily munching on lovely Washington apples and pears and bringing home some fresh-pressed cider for later.

So when I recently received a visit from the “cupcake fairy” at work it had me really looking forward to autumn. My friends over at Cupcake Royale generously sent me a sneak taste of their delicious fall offerings and there is a bonus – these cupcakes come locally brewed! With these cupcakes you can have your booze and eat it too!

Celebrate the Fall Harvest and Seattle’s best craft breweries with Cupcake Royale’s Locally Brewed Cupcakes! They baked up a whole new line of cupcakes, just in time for Oktoberfest! Their master bakers brought in the master brewers from Elysian, Hilliard’s, 2 Beers, Seattle Cider Co., and Finnriver Cider to create four new cupcakes; Caramel Brandied Pear, Pumpkin Ale, Tipsy Apple, and German Chocolate Stout.

Caramel Brandied Pear –A vanilla cupcake filled with a ginger and pear compote, topped with Finnriver’s Pear Brandy buttercream and pear caramel drizzle. Cupcake Royale uses Finnriver’s Pear Brandy to really amplify the pear flavor. It’s sweet, thick and SUPER aromatic, as well as flavorful.  They’ve always been fond of Simple and Crisp pear chips and wanted to incorporate them into something really special, so to top this off, they have a pear chip streusel that they feel does the locally made product justice!

Pumpkin Ale –A Pacific Northwest pumpkin spice cupcake, topped with an Elysian’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale buttercream and candied spiced pumpkin seeds. Made with fresh pumpkin puree that is special ordered months in advance from Stahlbush Island Farms in Oregon. A favorite pumpkin beer amongst the baking staff is Elysian’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale because it is not overly sweet or spicy. After testing many an ale, they knew Elysian was the winner! We all love something crunchy to snack on while drinking our brew, so they got busy in the bakeshop and candied some pumpkin seeds with salt and spices – Happy Hour cupcakes anyone?

Tipsy Apple –An apple cupcake topped with Finnriver’s Apple Cider buttercream and apple cider caramel drizzle. Made with apples that are picked right here in Washington! The apples are shredded seconds before they are added to the batter, maintaining the crunch and texture. The effervescent Finnriver apple cider is reduced down to a syrup then added to Cupcake Royale’s legendary buttercream. For even more apple booziness, it is drizzled with a cider caramel! How about them apples?

German Chocolate Stout – A moist chocolate stoutcake made with 2 Beers’ Jive Oatmeal Espresso Milk Stout and filled with the traditional German Chocolate Cake’s coconut frosting topped with chocolate buttercream, toasted coconut chips, and chocolate curls. Cupcake Royale knows their chocolate cake is already Seattle’s best, so the only ingredient that could make it better is STOUT BEER!  Beer makes the cake super moist and hoppy, almost tangy! A sweet, creamy brown sugar, coconut and walnut filling might sound over-the-top, but they’ve added some sea salt to curb the sweetness and balance the flavors. This is a more sophisticated German Chocolate Cake – Royale Style! Bottoms Up!

Locally Brewed Cupcakes will be available in all Cupcake Royale cafes September 10 through October 31.

Simple & Elegant Holiday Appetizers

Tags

appetizers, Brie, Butternut squash hummus, Simple & Crisp, Simplicity, Taste of Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, Whole foods Market

We are hosting Thanksgiving again at our house this year, so last night hubby and I worked in earnest on our menu. With only six of us around the table this year we are planning an intimate feast.

My goal though? To keep it simple and really revel in the time together, rather than spending the entire day squirreled away in the kitchen.

Last week I attended the Taste of Thanksgiving event at Whole Foods Market and sampled some of the great items they have to offer that promise to make your holiday meal preparation more simple.

As we planned our Thanksgiving menu and assigned things for people to bring I realized that my favorite part of the meal is not really the meal at all, but the pre-meal. The snacks.

It whets everyone’s appetite and sets the tone for the gastronomic experience ahead.

Hummus is one of my go-to appetizers and this Butternut Squash Hummus recipe has a wonderful autumnal twist to it that is perfect for the Thanksgiving table.

Serve it simply with some cut fresh vegetables and crackers, or fancy it up by pre-scooping a small amount onto individual leaves of endive.

Beautiful!

Brie is always a crowd-pleaser, but you can dress it up by adding a fruit spread or topping.

Warm your wheel of brie up a bit in the oven, and then top it with some Sour Cherry Spread.

A fig spread can also bring one of the most wonderful flavors of fall to this appetizer.

To make it even more decadent just sprinkle some crushed Marcona almonds or caramelized walnuts over the top.

What other toppings can you think of to use? Cranberry sauce would be fitting – or even pomegranate seeds.

Speaking of fruit and cheese combos – have you seen these elegant dried fruit slices from Simple & Crisp?

The pear option is an excellent fit for a fall themed meal. And a wonderful gluten-free offering for your guests.

Such an easy pre-dinner bite to make when served simply with a local cheese.

If you’re bringing snacks to someone elses house this year, consider these hot dips. The Shrimp Creole Hot Dip and Jalapeno Crab Dip from Whole Foods each come in their own re-usable ceramic ramekin. All you have to do is warm it up in the oven.

When the meal is finished you can gift the container to your host –  appetizer and hostess gift in one! LOVE that!

To make Thanksgiving even easier, Whole Food Market has posted some great tips for you on their Holiday Cheat Sheet page. Here you will find recipes, DIY gift and decor ideas and even Turkey 101!

Or you can simplify even further and order your entire dinner, pre-made, from Whole Foods. All you have to do is heat and serve!

This year, do yourself a favor and make it all about ease.

Keeping it simple will give you more time to enjoy a little glass of something with your loved ones to toast what you are thankful for. 😉

Dijon-Butter Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Tags

Brussels sprouts, butter, dijon, recipes, roasting vegetables, side dishes, Thanksgiving

As it turns out, I will be hosting the big day this year so I am busying myself with planning my Thanksgiving menu.

One of my favorite vegetable side dishes for the holidays is Brussels sprouts. They are so versatile and just down right delicious! The key (in my kitchen ) is roasting the heck out them until they are crispy and carmelized.

Last week I found this great stalk of sprouts at the store and just couldn’t wait for the holidays to cook them up.

When I posted a photo on Facebook, I realized just how passionate you all are out there about your Brussels sprouts.

I asked my friends if they wouldn’t mind sharing with you how they prepare theirs.

Here are a few of their ideas for you:

• Roast them in coconut oil. (Denny)

• Slice 1 lb of sprouts in half, brown in 1/2 butter & olive oil. Place in baking dish. Brown 1/2 lb pancetta, place in baking dish. Salt & pepper to taste, add 1 box of chicken broth to frying pan to get all the flavored bits from the pan, and add to baking dish. Bake in oven at 375 until liquid is all evaporated and serve. (Louise, aka my mother!)

• Steamed with lemon browned butter sauce (melt butter in pan, cook until milk solids turn brown, add lemon juice, toss with brussels sprouts) (Nicole)

• Tossed in olive oil and roasted in the oven, then dipped in cheese fondue! (Nancy)

Here’s how I made mine. (This is a recipe also developed, and taught to me by, my mother):

Dijon-Butter Roasted Brussels Sprouts

• 1 stalk Brussels sprouts
• 3 Tablespoons butter
• 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste

Break Brussels sprouts from the stalk. Trim the bottom of each sprout and wash them really well. Remove the outside layer of leaves from each sprout. Cut an x into the stem of each sprout for more even cooking.

Place sprouts in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil for five minutes.

While the sprouts are boiling prepare the glaze. Place butter and mustard in a microwave proof bowl and cook on medium in the microwave until butter is melted (about 20-30 seconds). Whisk the butter and mustard into a smooth paste.

When Brussels sprouts are done boiling, drain them and add the butter/mustard mixture to the saucepan with the sprouts. Coat them evenly and then pour the coated sprouts out onto a baking sheet. Salt and pepper to taste.

Bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes until they are nice and caramelized – be sure to take the sheet out and give it a good shake at the halfway point so that the Brussels sprouts brown more evenly.

What is your favorite vegetable to serve or eat for the holidays?

How do you make your Brussels sprouts? Do you steam them or roast them? Do you coat them before cooking or season them afterwards?

PNWSwaps – Fall Box Swap

Tags

Bits of Sweetness, box swaps, Christmas, fall, Gift Giving, Mail, PNWSwaps, Seattle

I am just like a big kid when it comes to getting packages in the mail.

I get so excited when I come home from work and see that brown-paper wrapped box sitting on the dining table waiting for me (even when I know that a parcel is going to be delivered – because I have tracked it religiously! I’m sure I’m not the only one who does this, right?)

Out immediately comes the scissors, and as I cut the layers of tape I can barely hold myself back from ripping the paper, or sometimes on occasion, even the box. I have, however, learned to use some reserve because I now understand that my husband likes to keep the good mailing boxes to re-use. I can respect that. 🙂

The best packages of all, though, are ones where you have no idea what is contained inside.

A couple of weeks ago I participated in a fun activity that feeds my love for a good surprise package. Laura of the blog Bits of Sweetness hosted a box swap! Never heard of a box swap? Well, I hadn’t either! PNWSwaps was actually my first one.

Here’s how it works: all you do is sign up, tell a bit about what kinds of things you like and you are matched up randomly with another local person. You then do a bit of shopping, send your package out by the deadline and wait to receive yours.

What’s better than getting a package from someone you don’t know? And the surprise of what’s inside makes it all the more delicious.

There was a fifteen dollar limit for this one but I really enjoyed hunting for treasures I could find on sale, thrifting and in my very own cupboards.

When I got this great package from Kiara of The Buechler Heartbeat I felt like she knew me!

The most surprising thing about my package was that it was actually hand delivered! That’s right! As I sat catching up on some writing, in my Saturday grubbies, there was a knock on my door. Now, this just doesn’t happen very often here in the Northwest. The only unannounced visitors that we usually get around here are people asking if you believe in the afterlife.

(Thank you Kiara for being kind and thoughtful enough to take the time to bring this to me yourself. Seeing your smiling face made my day  – and you were so gracious about the mess that was me under all that bedhead and mismatched warm, comfy clothing!)

Here’s a closer look at the contents of my lovely box.

These recycled glass plates are so versatile and will go with any tablescape that I put together!

I just love Halloween and cannot wait to wear this fun flashing pumpkin necklace next year!

The fall colored candle looks really nice set amongst my autumnal decor. And it smells so amazing!

I have a feeling that this will be a good weekend for a big pot of soup – how did you know that soup is my favorite thing to cook?

And BROWNIES! Just a big – YES! What a cute little cast iron skillet it comes in.

Oh my goodness! I have never seen a Toblerone like this before! Where have you been all my life? My sweet side is always tempered with a love of the savory and this bar fits the bill!

Here is my package off to Holly of Mommies with Cents. She is so sweet! Such a touching email she sent me to thank me. Actually that email, really, was the best part of the whole experience – It’s true. The giving is even better than the getting.

Laura is holding another box swap for us here in the Pacific Northwest just in time for the holidays. I cannot wait to do this again!

If you would like to join in the fun (anyone can participate – as long as you are local) in the next box swap, go and sign up now for the Christmas Swap, here. The dollar limit on this one is $20 and the deadline for mailing your package is December 1st – so don’t wait!

‘Taste of Thanksgiving’ at Whole Foods Market

Tags

cooking, Farestart, holidays, Taste of Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, Whole foods Market

I know, I know.

I don’t want to think about it either.

In fact, I am in denial that November has even begun, but it’s true –  Thanksgiving is almost here.

Last year I hosted at my house but it looks like my husband’s cousin has the honor this year. I am relieved, I must say. I love entertaining, and while I will miss setting a beautiful table (my favorite part, of course!), I am just feeling kind of overwhelmed these days and am happy to have someone else take on the task of cleaning their house AND preparing the big meal.

The one thing that I am a bit sad about this year is that my 16 year old son won’t be with us. But he is looking forward to spending some time on the East Coast with his grandparents in Boston, as well taking a mini-trip from there to New York to spend a day or two after Thanksgiving in New York City with two of my favorite uncles!

I am somewhat jealous actually. New York at Christmas time! It is so magical in the City that time of year. Maybe I will just have to stow-away in his luggage…

Are you traveling this year or hosting at your house?

If you are like me and not at all prepared for the big turkey-eating holiday, join me this Thursday at Whole Food Market for a fun pre-Thanksgiving preview event that will help you get in the spirit of the season and plan for the big day!

Sample a ‘Taste of Thanksgiving’ at Whole Foods Market:

WHAT: Join Whole Foods Market for its annual “Taste of Thanksgiving” and enjoy a spread of the holiday offerings. Shoppers will have the chance to sample everything from specialty turkeys, to organic and healthy alternative side dishes, to the stuffing and all the fixings.

A $5 donation will provide shoppers with a full plate and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to support FareStart, a culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals.

If inspired for your own Thanksgiving meal, Whole Foods Market shoppers can order online at: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/online-ordering

WHO: The Taste of Thanksgiving in-store events are open to the public.

WHEN: Thursday, November 7 at 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Whole Foods Market store locations throughout the greater Seattle area.

Pork Tenderloin with Fresh Figs & Chevre

Tags

balsamic, chevre, Desert King, figs, goat cheese, marinade, pork, recipe, tenderloin

My Desert King fig tree had the most incredible bounty this year that just happened to coincide with my mother’s visit from Florida. On mom’s first evening here, we took advantage of the harvest, and prepared this dish that I only make once a year (though the marinade is always a staple in my kitchen – I use it for chicken too!) when the figs are in season.

My tree tends to fruit earlier than many other varieties grown around here so I know that some of you may still have figs from your own backyard or from the farmers market.

I am frequently asked if I have any recipes using fresh figs. I posted this recipe a few years ago when I was blogging for Girl Power Hour, but I thought it was about time for a re-post.

Enjoy!

Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Figs and Chevre with Balsamic Jelly

• 3 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon season salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 Tablespoon fresh chopped oregano
• 1 Tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
• Fresh ground pepper
• 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• Pork tenderloin
• 8 Fresh figs
• 2 oz chevre (goat cheese)
• Balsamic jelly (or a balsamic reduction)
  

Pour olive oil into large dish. Add season salt, cumin, oregano, parsley, chili pepper, paprika, and fresh ground pepper. Whisk in the balsamic vinegar, then add pork to mixture and marinate for several hours.

Cut figs in half lengthwise. Prepare them for grilling by cutting an ”X” into the pink part of the fig and coat completely with olive oil. Grill pork (or bake in oven) until internal temperature reaches 145-160 degrees(depending on how well done you like your pork.)

In the last 15 minutes of cooking, grill figs face side down until they soften slightly, then gently turn them over. Fill the center of each fig with goat cheese and grill until cheese melts. Slice pork, top one or two slices with one fig half and spoon a bit of balsamic jelly over the cheese. Serve two pork rounds for each person.

What is your favorite way to enjoy fresh figs?

Soup Weather is Coming – Chicken Tortilla Soup

Tags

chicken, Chicken Tortilla Soup, fall, Mexican, soup, soup weather, spicy

It happens every year about this time.

After my birthday, late August, and there is just a slight bit of a nip in the air. Yes, I can feel it (sorry.)

Fall is coming. And so is soup weather!

Today I am thinking about one of my favorite soups to make. And I’m getting a hankering.

How about you? What do you think of when you feel Fall coming on?

Chicken Tortilla Soup

• 8 cups chicken stock
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• 2 – 14 ounce cans diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 jalapeno pepper, finely minced w/seeds
• 2 – 4 ounce cans mild green chiles, undrained
• 2 cloves chopped garlic
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 medium carrot, finely minced
• 1 1/2 cups corn kernels, frozen, fresh, or 1 can drained
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1/2 whole cooked chicken, shredded
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• Salt to taste
• Vegetable oil

Toppings:

• 1 package – 6 inch corn tortillas cut into strips about ½-inch wide
• Shredded Mexican cheese
• Chopped cilantro
• Lime wedges
• Diced avocado
• Sour cream

Simmer stock with tomatoes, lime juice, jalapeno, green chiles, garlic, green onion, carrot, corn, spices and hot sauce for 1 hour.

Add chicken (I use the meat of a rotisserie chicken from the deli at the grocery store, but you could use any leftover chicken you have on hand) and simmer for another 15 minutes.

Heat about 1 inch of vegetable in a deep frying pan (or use a deep fryer.)

Fry tortilla strips in small batches until crispy – a few seconds for each batch.

Serve with toppings on the side: shredded Mexican cheese, chopped cilantro, lime wedges, diced avocado, sour cream and crispy tortilla strips.

West Elm Seattle Ice Cream Social

Tags

fall, ice cream, Ice Cream Social, Molly Moons, Seattle, shopping, West Elm

I have been hearing that some of you are getting a bit overheated with all this gorgeous Seattle weather we’ve been having lately.

If you are ready to cool down, you can visit West Elm Seattle’s Ice Cream Social this Saturday, August 10th and enjoy FREE ice cream! And – oh yes! It features my favorite local ice cream vendor – Molly Moons!

West Elm Ice Cream Social

What

Cool off at West Elm Seattle and have a treat on them with local hot weather heroes Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream! Check out the event on Facebook.

Stop in, shop the fall collection while it’s still sunny out and enjoy an on-the-house scoop — have the best of both worlds!

When

Sat, Aug. 10, 1-3 p.m.

Where

West Elm Seattle 2201 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98121

(206) 467-5798

http://westelm.com

Free; no RSVP required.