It may seem unnecessary to go through all this for just onions, but the end result is truly worth the time. The vinegar adds an acidic punch, the sugar makes these sweeter than they naturally would become, and the vermouth adds complexity. I use this recipe to prepare a large batch that I then use…
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Year-Round Seasonal Adventures
Top Things to do in West Michigan
Brownies with Bacon
There seems to be an increasing use of bacon in sweet dessert items like chocolate brownies. The combination of smokey, salty bacon with sweet, rich chocolate is better than it may sound at first. Pretty easy to make, loosely following a recipe I found on a Bacon Today posting by Micheal Kirsch. I used a…
Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp
We take our cues from the local seasonality for this excellent dessert. Here in our corner of West Michigan, we are in that special time when the rhubarb is winding down, and the strawberries are just beginning. The combination of rhubarb’s tart, almost astringent, flavor with the natural sweetness of strawberries is magical. Especially when…
Sourdough Bread
We make sourdough bread multiple times per week here at Castle in the Country from a starter that began life on April 15, 2005. We used it here for French toast, croutons, picnic baskets, dinners, breadcrumbs…very little goes to waste. On of the things I like is the simplicity of the ingredients: flour, water, and…
Cherry Cobbler
When I’m lucky, I can find pie cherries at the Holland Farmers Market. While pie cherries are plentiful and available in many places, consider yourself fortunate when you see these, at least in West Michigan. The season for pie cherries, also called “sour” or “tart” cherries, is short-just a few weeks. Most of the crop…
Seckel Pears Baked in Cardamom-Mint Sauce
Seckel Pears are tiny pears that have a sweeter flavor than the standard red or green pear. They are in season September-February. This recipe works with any variety of pear that is available. Be sure to adjust the baking time according to the pear’s ripeness. This recipe actually works better with hard, less ripe fruits.…
Steak and Guinness Pub Pie
This hearty pub pie is made with beef tenderloin, enhanced with Guinness stout, and thickened with sharp white cheddar cheese. The vegetables included are optional and can be varied based on seasonal availability. For example, I use frozen peas instead of beans in the winter/spring months. Just take the amount of cooking time each vegetable…
Blueberry-Juniper Cornmeal Pancakes
Wake up to the taste of springtime at the Castle Kingdom! These light and fluffy blueberry-juniper cornmeal pancakes will start your day in the best possible way. We enhance the blueberry flavor with a little crushed juniper berry, which adds some piquant, resinous notes. With just a dollop of butter and covered in Michigan-made maple syrup,…