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Time to get your tailgate on!

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

I cannot believe that it is September 1st! Where did my beloved summer go? Here in Lancaster County it still feels very much like summer with temps in the 90′s today. I know the days will soon turn cooler as high school and college football games start this weekend. I do enjoy the fall and love football season.

At Kitchen Kettle Village we celebrate the fall season with a Tailgate Festival on September 17th & 18th. What a fun weekend we have filled with great tailgate foods, musical entertainment, an appearance by the Philadelphia Eagles mascot, Swoop, on Saturday at 10am and so much more. It is so much fun – we all get to wear our favorite sports gear like jerseys, baseball hats, etc. I will be wearing my Penn State jersey on Friday and looking to tackle anyone sporting Ohio State gear!

There is also the scarecrow contest that guests get to vote for their favorite scarecrow in the Village. They all have a sports theme that ties into tailgating. The pumpkin bowling will again be available for everyone to enjoy. My son heard me talking about the pumpkin bowling the other day and asked if we left the stump on the pumpkins. We have a very talented maintenance guy named Rusty who takes the stumps off the pumpkin “balls” and seals the area where the stump was located. He also paints finger holes onto the “ball” for all those official bowlers who want to give it a try! Did I mention the pins are made from ears of corn?

I would be remiss if I did not mention the food – because what is a tailgate without food?! There will be plenty of samples to try like jalapeno mustard with pretzels, warm cheesy pepper dip and zesty apple butter barbecue with pulled pork in the Jam & Relish Kitchen. Visit the outdoor Eagles & Steelers sampling tailgate areas – their food items are being kept top secret at the moment. We also have apple cider made right up the road at Kauffmans Fruit Farm and we will be making s’mores (the official dessert of tailgating). The Cafe and Kling House Restaurant also have a full menu of delicious specials for the weekend.

So what are you waiting for? Mark your calendar for September 17th & 18th and wear your favorite “team” gear and we will reward you with a special gift. Just stop by one of our outdoor sampling tables to show us your gear! If you can’t make it to the festival check out our Recipe Exchange for some great tailgating recipes you can try at home.

Enjoy the fall

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Get revved up for rhubarb!

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

Rhubarb-desserts

What is rhubarb? My favorite line is that it is one of two perennial vegetables. What is the other perennial vegetable? You can find it at roadside stands all around Lancaster County this time of year…asparagus.

I just love rhubarb. We have been celebrating it at Kitchen Kettle Village for 27 years. One of my favorite activities of the festival is the baking contest.  You would not believe the beautiful desserts that are created by local & non-local residents (and they taste great too). There are cakes, pies, crisps, cookies, muffins, and one year even a beverage…all featuring rhubarb. The contest takes place on Saturday, May 22nd at 10:30am; all desserts must be at Kitchen Kettle by 9:30am that morning.

All the desserts are judged by a panel of judges, winners are selected, prizes are handed out ($250 in cash for the grand champion) and did I mention the bragging rights! To be the grand champion of the Kitchen Kettle Rhubarb Dessert Baking Contest puts you in the company of a local cookbook author, a father/baker, a PA Farm Show Grand Champion and the list goes on. It is about the appearance of the dessert, but taste is also a big factor. It’s just the right combination of rhubarb that creates a mouth-watering treat.

My favorite part of the contest is eating the desserts! After we announce the winners, we slice the rhubarb creations and sell them by the slice with all proceeds going to the Lancaster Farmland Trust. It is a win-win situation. Our guests get to enjoy some of the best baking around and the Lancaster Farmland Trust gets some funds to support their preservation efforts.

So how are your baking skills? I encourage you to enter the competition or at least come purchase some outstanding rhubarb desserts at the Kitchen Kettle Village Rhubarb Festival. And if you are saying to yourself, “I don’t like rhubarb,” then you definitely need to come to the event. I know I can tempt you with desserts, beverages & other delicious rhubarb concoctions. Happy spring!

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Yummie’s Giant Easter Egg Hunt is Eggs-stra-special this Year!

Friday, March 26th, 2010

Yummie’s Giant Easter Egg Hunt takes place on Saturday, April 3rd. The fun gets underway at 9am for those who want to have breakfast with Yummie and the Easter Bunny (reservations are required). We also have crafts, balloon twisting and the Cherry Crest Farm live peeps at the stage area from 9am until noon. And just this week we added a sky diver to the mix. Local Sky Diver Steve Lapp will “drop” into Kitchen Kettle around 10am with some treats for the kids. I think this is the first time we ever had a sky diver at Kitchen Kettle. Should be fun.
The egg hunting starts at 10:30am for the 0-3 age children; 10:45am for the 4-6 year olds and 11am for the 7-10 year olds. We wanted to stagger the times in case moms had a few children and needed to be at multiple hunt locations. Our lodging department has been busy filling eggs since January and at this time all 3,500 eggs are filled and ready to be hidden next week. We do have a golden egg in each category with a special prize for those children who find the golden egg.
Right now the weather forecast for Saturday looks good, much better than last years rainy day. Come enjoy a day at Kitchen Kettle Village, find some eggs, collect some prizes and have a wonderful holiday weekend.

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Happy New Year!

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone. And not to mention, it is the start of a new decade. What will 2010 bring to Kitchen Kettle Village? Here is my wish list:

1. Many cherished memories for the guests who visit with us.

2. Unique and delicious new Kitchen Kettle products to compliment our current lines of sweets & sours.

3. Awesome festivals (like Rhubarb, Berry and our Tailgate Festivals) that people can’t miss attending.

4. The perfect mix of shops, so our guests are always excited about the items they found throughout the Village.

5. The opportunity to enhance relationships and create new friendships with guests and neighbors.

Of course, there will be a few physical changes in the Village – a new shop here or there (we’ll keep you posted with all the details). We are also working on a new website for Kitchen Kettle that will go live sometime in February or March. Be sure wit visit www.kitchenkettle.com in the spring to check out the new site.

Here’s wishing you a fun, prosperous and exciting 2010. We hope visiting with us will be on your list of things to do in 2010!

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Decadent Sweet Potato Pie Recipe Just in Time for the Holidays!

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Kristine Grego, our food specialist, just shared a pie recipe that would be great for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Let me know what you think. I would welcome any great holiday recipes that you wish to share. Geez…I might even send out our new raspberry mustard to those folks who post their recipes as a comment to this blog post. Time to get busy!

Decadent Sweet Potato Pie

1-9″ unbaked pie shell

Preheat oven to 400F

Cream Cheese Layer:

6 oz. cream cheese (2-3 oz. packages)

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In a bowl, beat ingredients until smooth. Spread evenly in the bottom of an unbaked pie shell.

Sweet Potato Layer:

1/2 pint Kitchen Kettle Sweet Potato Butter

1 egg, beaten

Mix the Sweet Potato Butter and beaten egg together with a fork. Carefully spoon over cream cheese layer in the pie shell.

Streusel Topping:

1 Tablespoon butter, melted

2 Tablespoons flour

2 Tablespoons packed dark brown sugar

1/4 cup chopped pecans

Mix above ingredients until crumbly. Place on top of the Sweet Potato layer in a circle along the outside of the pie.

Bake at 400F for 15 minutes; reduce heat to 350F and continue to bake an additional 45 minutes or until set. You may have to cover the edges with foil to prevent overbrowning. Cool pie completely on rack. Refrigerate until completely chilled.

To Serve: remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving. Top each slice with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy!

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Experience the Lancaster Yarn Shop at Kitchen Kettle Village

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Yarn ShopThis year the Lancaster Yarn Shop joined the mix of 42 shops, restaurants and lodging found at Kitchen Kettle Village. What a cool shop! I am not a knitter, but after being in the store on a few different occasions I almost want to become a knitter. Why you ask? Well to start, the shop is so colorful and cozy. It is filled with an array of colorful yarns, books, tools and interesting accessories. And the staff is fun, knowledgeable and very relaxed.

I asked Wendy Ellis, the owner of Lancaster Yarn Shop, about the types of yarns she carries (since I am the knitting novice). Here’s what Wendy had to say, “We stock a variety of knitting and crochet yarns from all over the world. Classic fibers like wool, silk and mohair in a variety of weights sit alongside modern yarns including bamboo and hemp. We are very happy to feature locally produced yarns and fibers. Highlights include yarns from knittydirtygirl & Whorled Peace – both Lancaster County artists who are known throughout the knitting world.”

A yarn shop would not be complete without a knitting circle. Lancaster Yarn Shop has a knitting group that meets on Thursday evenings at the shop. They have a “local gang” of knitters who come nearly every week. Folks bring whatever they are working on, sometimes they come for knitting help, but mostly they come for a knitting community. “Part of the fun of having a shop at Kitchen Kettle Village is the opportunity to welcome knitters who drop in to knit with us! We’ve had knitters from all over the country pull up a chair for an evening of knitting,” said Ellis.

The next time you visit Kitchen Kettle be sure to stop by the Lancaster Yarn Shop and say hi to Wendy or Rachel-Marie. Take a few minutes to enjoy the store, it just might bring out the “inner knitter” in you! Visit www.lancasteryarnshop.com for more details.

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It’s Time for a Cup of Hot Apple Cider

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

It’s a chilly Autumn day in Lancaster County today. It’s the perfect day to drink a cup of steaming hot apple cider laced with Kitchen Kettle Apple Cinnamon Jelly and watch the leaves change. Fall is not my favorite season (because I know it will soon be winter), but a cup of hot apple cider just seems to warm my overall outlook on life.

Here at the Village the leaves are changing, the air is cooler and we are preparing for the holiday season which is just around the corner. I have all the musical entertainment for the holidays booked with the exception of two groups. We have five brass bands, two church choirs, two handbell groups and three local high school choirs. We are going to be offering s’more making each of the Friday nights and Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Guests can roast a marshmallow over the fire pit, squeeze it and a piece of Hershey’s chocolate between two graham crackers, and enjoy a fun and delicious treat.

And did I mention that the Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas we serve hot apple cider with Kitchen Kettle Apple Cinnamon Jelly? Stop by the Village and try a sample. It just might help to warm up your holiday spirit!

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Recipes from the Tailgate

Friday, September 18th, 2009

It is a beautiful day at Kitchen Kettle Village. I have been here since 5am. The local television station, WGAL came out to film for their morning show at 5:30am & 6:30am. We did a little whoopie pie filling (to promote the contest on Saturday, 9/18 at 1:30pm) and some pumpkin bowling. It was a lot of fun!

Kristine Grego, our food specialist, did a great tailgating demonstration today and I wanted to share a few of the recipes.

Red Beet Egg Salad

1 quart Kitchen Kettle Pickled beets

6 hard cooked eggs

6 Tbsps. Mayonnaise

Salt & pepper to taste

Drain pickled beets liquid into a bowl with a tight fitting lid. Place hard cooked eggs into liquid; top with beets. The beets will hold the eggs down in the liquid. Place in the refrigerator overnight. The next day: remove eggs from liquid and chop. Place in a separate bowl. Chop one fourth of the beets and add to the chopped eggs. Add the mayonnaise and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Eat on a sandwich, serve on a bed of tossed greens or just spread over crackers. Delicious!

Pepper Relish Goat Cheese Spread

11 oz. goat cheese log

1 cup shredded smoked cheddar cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup Kitchen Kettle Pepper Relish, drained

2 Tbsps. chopped & drained Kitchen Kettle Sweet Pickle Chips

1/4 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce

Celery sticks and crackers for serving

Place all ingredients except celery sticks and crackers in a medium bowl. Combine well. Place in serving bowl and serve with celery sticks and crackers.

*This is best made a day in advance to allow the flavors to blend well.

So, try out Kristine’s tailgating recipes and let me know what you think. If you have a great recipe, I’d love to hear it…who knows we might feature it at our next festival!

Happy Tailgating!

P.S. Our brand new mango salsa just hit the shelves today. We are sampling it at the festival and people love it! If you don’t have plans on Saturday stop out and see us.

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Tuscany!

Saturday, July 18th, 2009

We arrived early Saturday afternoon to the Villa where we would spend the next 8 days.  The countryside is breathtaking – vineyards and olives trees dotting the rolling landscape.  It’s hillier than I thought it would be. We decided to just settle in that day, and get a feel for the area before striking out the next day.
That evening, the proprietress of the Villa prepared us a six course dinner that we enjoyed over a 3/1/2 hour period. The meal began with bruschetta, topped with many different things – pesto, chopped fresh tomatoes, pate, just to name a few. It was followed by tomato bread soup, pasta, salad, fresh ham, and dessert and espresso. The atmosphere was superb, the dinner company was fabulous, and the conversation was scintillating.  It was an enchanting evening and a great way for us to start our adventure in Tuscany.
Kristine in ItalyNow that I have returned and am back at work, my mind is working feverishly as to how I might include here at Kitchen Kettle all those wonderful flavors I enjoyed in Tuscany.  Stay tuned!

-Kristine Grego, Food Specialist

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Summer Fun in Lancaster County!

Friday, July 10th, 2009

Summer just happens to be my favorite season of the year. It is warm (and often hot) outside, the days stretch on forever and the possibilities seem endless. Summer in Lancaster County holds all sorts of treasures, even for a local like myself. Here are a few of my favorite things to experience in Lancaster County during the summer.
1.    Fresh, local produce. Nothing beats tomatoes off the vine or corn that has just been picked!
2.    Cool & delicious ice cream from Lapp Valley Farm. They have a stand at Kitchen Kettle, but you can also visit their dairy farm in New Holland where they make the ice cream.
3.    Riding my bike throughout the town of Strasburg. Something about riding a bike takes me back to my childhood and makes me feel like a kid again.
4.    Baseball games. If you are looking to enjoy a night at the ballpark, the Lancaster Barnstormer’s baseball team plays at Clipper Stadium in Lancaster city. It makes for a fun and inexpensive night for the whole family.
5.    Visiting the Strasburg Railroad with my nephews who love trains. I feel like I am stepping back in time when I climb aboard.
6.    Spending time at Kitchen Kettle Village. Yes, I get to do this year round, but it is more fun over the summer. There are festivals, the music of banjo Jimmy sifts through the air and the smell of whatever happens to be cooking in our kitchen delights the senses. I also enjoy all the people. There is a certain energy generated by the combination of families, friends and bus groups all coming to relax and discover the simple pleasures of our village – it’s hard to put into words.

Well, that’s the short list. If you would like to enjoy some of the things I mentioned, come spend the night with us in one of our lodging rooms at Kitchen Kettle Village and enjoy summer first hand in Lancaster County!

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