|
The Weekly Newsletter for December 9-13, 2013 |
|
|
| Comfort and Joy - December 13th at 6:30 pm |
|
This is the week! We still have some room but we're just about full SO, if you have been considering joining us for this, now is the time to say yes to joining us for our 5th "Comfort and Joy" dinner. My sister Heather leads us in Carols and we share a warm winter dinner with you. This year the dinner starts at 6:30 on the 13th of December (yup - it is a Friday but we aren't afraid!)
(Oh, and by the way, the special Honey Dinner at All Soul's Pizza is going to be postponed until the new year so if you were trying to decide which one to attend, we have now made the decision MUCH easier!)
Here is the menu:
At the start
Slow-roasted Roma Bruschetta
Skewered Gulf Shrimp with Lemon Butter
Local Sausage Cheddar Bites
1st Course
Sweet Potato Gnocchi
with Wilted Winter Greens and Pecorino
The Main Course
Beef Bourguignon with local beef
The Sweet Finish:
Molten Chocolate Cake with Creme Anglaise
Please call us to save your spots
(this dinner will sell out, so please call soon)
(828) 252-1500 |
|
|
|
|
|
Holiday platters for you! |
Don't you think it is time to have a Holiday party? It seems to be the thing again this year - FINALLY! After a few years of hiding, people are beginning to emerge and that, I think, is a fine thing indeed.
We're making platters for you to come and pick up. (We can deliver too.)
Follow the link, just below here, to see our Holiday platter offerings.
Can't be easier! |
|
party foods on our website |
|
|
| Dinners to go for the week |
|
Here are the Dinners to go for this week.
It’s easy! Just call us by noon to place your order (828) 252-1500.
Your order will be ready and can be picked up between 3pm and 8 (which is when we close.)
Add salad (3.25) or bread (1.25) if you like.
Monday, December 9
Chicken Croquettes with Local Applesauce 8.95
Tuesday, December 10
Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes 8.25
Wednesday, December 11
Pork Tenderloin with Honey, Mustard, and Rosemary 8.95 (gf)
Thursday, December 12
Potato Pancakes, Collards, and Tomato Pie 7.95
Friday, December 13
Crab cakes with Maple Cole Slaw 10.25 |
|
Laurey's |
|
|
|
Casserole and Lasagnas to go |
The Casserole of the week:
Wednesday, December 11
Lamb Curry with Basmati Rice
Whole: 52 Half: 26
The Lasagna of the week:
December 13
Local Beef Piccadillo
Whole: 52.95 Half: 26.50
Also check out our deli case for unplanned guests. This is where we present casseroles for unplanned occasions. And, all our casseroles freeze nicely so do stock up if you'd like to. Don't you have guests coming for the holidays? |
|
|
|
|
| People Magazine!!!???? and, a favor, please) |
|
Yes, 'tis true. We made it to the big time. With a circulation of 3.2 MILLIONS readers (we know who we are!) this recipe from my new Fresh Honey Cookbook is out in a very big way. Imagine how fun it was for me to spend time with my sisters and extended family over Thanksgiving. I brought some books (my big sister still had not seen it!) and also was able to display People magazine AND the Cooking Channel's "Chuck's Eat the Street" show. talk about show and tell!
So, the favor:
If you are so inclined, might you please go to the Amazon webiste (I'll put the link right below here) and submit a review of my book? Apparently this will help with national book sales and that is a fine thing. Of course, being tucked into this literary oasis of Asheville, my preference is to support local, independent bookstores. And yes, you can order my book from YOUR local store too. But it is also true that Amazon is convenient and so I'll ask you to help me climb that ladder too.
My PR gal says that 5 star reviews on amazon help a lot with book sales so, um, thanks for listening and, potentially, submitting a review. |
|
amazon review page |
|
|
|
1/12th of a teaspoon of honey |
The amulets have arrived. These beautiful little charms contain the amount of honey that ONE worker bee will make in her entire working life. Sort of slams things into perspective to me. How essential is even the smallest act.
I have many more on order which may or may not arrive before Christmas (I'll let you know.) For now, I have a handful and would love to set one or more aside for your gift-giving pleasure. Just jot me a note and I'll take care of that for you. And, by the way, the honey comes from my bees, Certified Appalachian-grown award winning honey from my girls on Stoney Knob. The old-fashioned bee "skep" is sterling silver and it comes with a loop of Greek leather for you.
I think that is very special. |
|
|
|
|
| Book dates coming up |
|
I'll be at:
Malaprops Bookstore on December 14 from 10-2 as a Guest Bookseller, gift-wrap babe.
and at
Mast General Store on December 21st from 11-1
And of course, here off and on before the Christmas holiday. We have plenty of books in stock so come on in and I'll be happy to sign yours for your friends and family.
In the New Year I'm going to be coming to Southern Pines, Richmond, and Ann Arbor AND Charleston, Savannah and Nashville. FUN!!!! |
|
|
|
|
| |
Christmas Eve Dinner to go - December 24th |
Yup - we're making Christmas Eve easy for you too.
Here is this year's menu:
Beef Wellington, Mushroom Duxelle
or Portobella Wellington as the vegetarian option
Maple-roasted Brussels Sprouts
Potatoes au Gratin
Sticky Toffee English Pudding
Order by December 22
pick up December 24th between 2 and 4
price is 24.95 per person
(gf and vegetarian options are available) |
|
|
|
|
| A word or two from Laurey |
|
December 7, 2013
Hi hi hi!
I am really having SUCH a nice day! I hope you are too.
I’ve been shopping all morning, getting Christmas Greens and winter flowers and bits of sparkle and brightness. This afternoon I am going to go home and decorate. My family’s tradition was to wait until Christmas Eve to do any of this stuff. On Christmas Eve our father and my sisters would strap on snowshoes and hike out to the edge of the Beaver Pond where Daddy would saw the tree we chose. We’d then haul it back to the Inn, draggin it across the snow. Daddy would have constructed a simple wooden cross frame support and into the living Room the tree would go, up and up and in place right next to the fire place.
My personal tradition is a bit different now. There is a little guy who cuts trees and sells them at the head of my road. So if I am going to get a cut tree, I tend to get it from him. A couple of years ago, or maybe it was last year, 1 found a goofy artificial tree that is homely and perfect. That tree will be mine this year again, adorned with bits of this and that. I’m sure I told you about my walnut. I’ve had it since first grade and it is still silver with a ragged little ratty green ribbon. It will go on my tree as it always does.
I now have some Mexican punched-tin stars that go on my dining room table. I’ll tuck little twinkle lights in and wind them in and out of the Christmas Cactus that are in full bloom right now. This afternoon I am also going to plant the paperwhite bulbs and stick them on the dining room table too. By the time they are out the Christmas Cactus will be done.
I think I am also going to assemble some beeswax votive candles today too. I’ve made Christmas Cards and might dive into that project too. Next week I am taking a class in book making (the art kind, not the gambling kind...) and that will be the genesis of more presents, assuming I manage to produce something.
It feels like a fine time right now for me.
I also bought some Hellebores which can be put in pots for now and then, later, can be moved into my garden. I like having container gardens on my porch and deck and on my front steps so that’s another project for me. I had some rotten boards on my deck that have been fixed so now the deck configuration can be positioned without needing to be moved again immediately. Oh, I also got some fun purple pansies and they will go into the deck railing flower boxes. I usually ignore these gardens in the winter but being at the store this morning gave me the drive to change that. AND I have a big bag of tulip bulbs that need to go into the ground too. Every fall I muse and gaze and ponder and then DON”T buy or plant tulips. Not so this year.
Ha!
Things feel good. Very good.
I love Christmas. I love fragrant greens and little lights and the magic of my friends and my family and my sweet, sweet puppy. And all that is with me right now. I’ll tell you another story or two next week. |
|
|
|
|
|
Oh yeah! |
I tend to wear simple clothes. Bright, but generally without prints.
BUT I ALSO tend to wear fun socks!
Aren't these fun!? |
|
|
|
|
|
