"Cooking For One" Cooking Class Series Coming Soon

A new cooking class series titled "Cooking For One with Canopy Rose" will begin soon in the Tallahassee - Havana Florida area. This is a great class for single adults who want to sharpen their culinary skills, meet other singles and have fun!

Class: Cooking For One with Canopy Rose

Class Style: A unique blend of cooking instruction, socializing and snacking

Cooking Instructor: Kathi Dameron, Chef/ Owner (Canopy Rose Culinary Arts Studio & Catering Company) and Food Writer & Newspaper Columnist ( Entertaining with Kathi)

Location: Tallahassee / Havana Florida

Dates: Ongoing Series

Cooking Class Contact Info: 850-539-7750 or email us at canopyrose@aol.com

Entertaining with Kathi Newspaper Column For November 5, 2008

(The Entertaining with Kathi column runs in the Northeast Chronicle of The Tallahassee Democrat newspaper.)

Event PlanningTakes Skill
By Kathi Dameron

"Six bucks for a loaf of bread? You've got to be kidding!" My inner voice scolded as I doled out the bills from my slim pocketbook and handed them to the cashier.

"Ouch! Why am I doing this?" I agonized. But I knew this was the only halfway decent loaf of bread for 12 miles.

"Well, it does have chunks of roasted garlic in it," the cashier offered in response to my quiet, but apparently very visible, non-verbal sticker shock.

I knew I could bake my own loaf for a fraction of the cost. But it was already past the dinner hour and my tummy was rumbling for a quick bite — just a simple sandwich would do, except I had no bread in the kitchen to make this simple sandwich.

With today's economy, everyone seems to be feeling the pinch in the pocketbook. Our weekly grocery store receipts are often double, if not triple what they were a few years ago.

The need to become smarter and savvier at stretching a rapidly shrinking food dollar without forfeiting quality is essential.

I have always been a fan of semi-catered parties. Semi-catered parties are cost efficient, empowering and to those who are fairly proficient in the kitchen, they offer the best of all worlds.

Just between you and me, even as a caterer, when I host my own parties I use these strategies, too.

How To Do A Semi-Catered Party

1. Spend some time thinking about how you want your party to unfold from beginning to end. A party is like a theatrical production of sorts.

2. Make a list of the type of foods that you would like to serve at your party. Determine which of these foods you would be comfortable preparing yourself. Ask yourself this question: "Can some of these foods be prepared in advance and frozen?" Then set up a baking or cooking schedule that you can do in your free time.

3. Select some specialty dishes that you would like for a favorite caterer to prepare. When you contact your caterer be very specific about what you need. Keep in mind that the fewer services you need from the caterer, the more money you'll save. For example, can the sodas. Do you really need a caterer to bring in sodas when you can buy the soda at a significant savings yourself? Figure out what things you absolutely want help with and splurge on those things.

4. Ask a family member, friend or neighbor to help you. It is amazing what can be accomplished with a couple sets of willing hands. Be willing to reciprocate. The idea of semi-catered parties extends far beyond the holidays.

If you work this semi-catered strategy right- you'll never have to shell out six bucks for a mediocre loaf of bread. You'll have your very own sliced or un-sliced loaves of delicious home-baked bread in your very own home freezer, ready to be thawed on a moment's notice.

Kathi Dameron is a professional caterer and event planner. She owns Canopy Rose Culinary Arts Studio and Catering Company. Please visit her on the web at www.canopyrose.com she can be reached at 539-7750 or at canopyrose@aol.com

My October 8, 2008 Column About Fried Green Tomatoes

"Fried Green Tomatoes...Yum!"
By Kathi Dameron (From the October 8, 2008 Entertaining with Kathi newspaper column

“Oh, what I wouldn't give for a plate of fried green tomatoes like we used to have at the café,” Ninny Threadgoode said in the 1991 block buster movie, Fried Green Tomatoes.

A spotlight of national hoopla shined bright on this fabulous Southern delicacy.

Beyond the Fried Green Tomato Girdle of the Deep South, from coast to coast, the fame of green tomatoes skyrocketed following the release of the movie.

In sophisticated and cosmopolitan cities like Manhattan, Chicago and LA the humble Fried Green Tomato became a hip, hot and honorable hors d’ oeuvre.

Just about everyone fell in love with these smile-poppers.

Mention ”a plate of fried green matos” to someone and you can almost guarantee that the corner of their mouth will raise heaven ward in anticipation.

But then “a plate of em’ is sort of a misnomer isn’t it? In many homes, Fried Green Tomatoes never seem to get to the table.

How many of you remember hovering around your momma and the old cast iron frying pan while ‘matoes sizzled away in bacon grease? Did you eat ‘em just about as fast as your momma could fry ‘em?

For today’s column, I’m sharing the Fried Green Tomato recipe that I’ve been using in my tallahassee catering business since the mid 1990’s.

One of the novel things that we get to do from time to time at Canopy Rose is to set up a Fried Green Tomato Station at a wedding, tailgate party or other special event.

If you have never experienced a Fried Green Tomato themed station at a party - you really should have this experience at least once.

Guests go wild!

Now granted, setting up a LIVE Fried Green Tomato Station for a couple hundred friends will create a lot of wow…keep in mind it will also create a whole lot of hands-on work, but then that is why there are caterers.


Fried Green Tomatoes

Firm green tomatoes
Milk
All Purpose Flour
Eggs, Beaten
Breadcrumbs, panko or cornmeal (I like to season my crumbs for extra flavor)
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Seasoning Salt

Wash & Dry Green Tomatoes

Slice tomatoes in one half inch or less slices.

Sprinkle tomato slices with salt, pepper and seasoning salt. Allow to stand for 15 minutes.

Line up 4 pie pans on the counter in a row. Put milk, flour, eggs and breadcrumbs into their own pie pan.

Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat.

Dip green tomatoes in milk, then flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs.

Fry about 5 minutes per side or until nice and golden brown.


Kathi Dameron is a caterer, special event designer and creator of innovative food stations for weddings, parties and other soirees. She owns Canopy Rose Culinary Arts Studio and Catering Company. Visit her on the web at http://www.canopyrose.com/ She can also be reached at canopyrose@aol.com or at 850-539-7750.

My Next Column

Pumpkin Bread- A Delicious Way To Make New Friends
By Kathi Dameron

The aromas of autumn swirl through the old Havana Bank building as I write today’s column. So enticing are these fragrant old-fashioned scents, I wonder how I will be able to stick to my diet.

I try to tell myself that nothing tastes as good as thin feels…but all too often the desire for immediate gratification prevails. After all someone needs to be the taste tester and make certain that the flavoring is simply perfect before a hundred or more batches are stirred up.

This week, I’m going totally against my grain by baking a cornucopia of pumpkin-filled confections that are not yet sold. For a sugar addict, such as myself, this is very dangerous.

My inspiration for this pumpkin-palooza baking frenzy is the Annual Havana Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, October 18, when masses of festivalgoers descend on the quaint, historic old tobacco town, a pumpkin seed toss away from Tallahassee.

Several years ago, long before my days as a Tallahassee caterer, I discovered a delicious recipe for chocolate chip pumpkin bread in Southern Living magazine. The recipe became one of my all time favorite autumn breads. I would often devote leisurely Sunday afternoons during the season of harvest to baking dozens and dozens of loaves that I would share with neighbors, friends and colleagues.

Back in those days, I found great joy in cooking up these surprise food gifts for old friends and new. And believe me…when one comes bearing the gift of food, they can make a lot of friends pretty quick. Another great advantage of giving away home baked sweets is that sugary temptations are removed from your own kitchen, which is a very good thing especially for all us fluffy, kindred souls who love to bake, but are constantly challenged by the act of moderation when it comes to sweet indulgences.

If you are looking for a delicious and old-fashioned way to connect with people this season… there is not a sweeter gesture than sharing the delicious bounty from one’s kitchen.

Simply bake, cool, then wrap for freezing and/ or gifting. Pumpkin breads are a perfect treat for October and November noshing. Tuck a festively wrapped and beribboned loaf in a rustic basket with a jar of homemade preserves, perhaps some spiced cider mix and you will have the makings of a great autumn flavored food gift.

Easy As Pie –Pumpkin Bread (The Canopy Rose version of a tried and true favorite)
One batch of your favorite pumpkin bread batter
8 oz. chocolate chips
8 oz. chopped pecans
Streusel topping
Glaze (optional)

Mix pumpkin batter, chocolate chips and pecans together. Spoon mixture into greased and floured loaf pans. Top with streusel. Bake at 350 for about 1 hour.

Drizzle with a glaze, if desired. Glazes are the easiest thing in the world to whip up and are best when you express your own creativity in the concocting of them! Right now I’m thinking of doing a spirited glaze with a shot of Kahlua and Cream, a bit of butter, powdered sugar and a dusting of autumn spices.

Kathi Dameron is a Tallahassee area caterer and food writer. She owns Canopy Rose Culinary Arts Studio and Catering Company. Visit her online at www.canopyrose.com.
She can be reached at 850-539-7750 or at canopyrose@aol.com .

Thank You Tallahassee Florida!!

Catering is my passion!

I just want to thank all of you who nudged me back into the kitchen.

Catering is a very demanding profession, especially in a city like Tallahassee with the capitol, three colleges and a thriving business community, that keep a caterer running from breakfast to dinner with van loads of fragrant foods down Tallahassee's beautiful canopy roads.

The demands placed on a caterer can become all-encompassing. At least that was my experience as the owner of my own Tallahassee Florida catering company.

Many of you know that I took a sabbatical of sorts for a brief period of time.

This break from the hectic pace that had been my life as a caterer was perhaps one of the smartest moves I've ever made.

Last year I returned to the profession that I love and the extraordinary thing that I have discovered is that my love affair with catering continues to grow daily, like a beautiful and healthy plant that has been rooted in rich soil.

I've always said that when I cease loving what I'm doing, I will stop and find a new passion.

My passion today for catering far surpasses the passion that once fueled this catering career.

Life is certainly full of mysteries. But one thing I know... we must trust that inner whisper, that whisper that is yours alone. For when we follow the call of the heart and trust in its authenticity, we can be assured that we are indeed living out the life that we were created to live.

For me that life, at least for the present season is to once again be a caterer, to once again pour my heart and soul into Tallahassee area catered functions.

I thank you for your love and support and I ask you to support me in this exciting new catering journey by visiting my catering website where I've poured my creative energy into posting menus, prices and lots of cool information.

Canopy Rose Catering New Website

If you've followed the Entertaining With Kathi newspaper column... THANK YOU!

Holiday Catering Tallahassee Florida

Holiday Catering Tallahassee Florida

Photo: Kalamata Olive, Fig and Olive Tapenade over Goat Cheese Appetizer by Kathi Dameron

A Beautiful and delicious holiday appetizer available from:

Canopy Rose Catering

www. canopyrose.com

850-539-7750

Tallahassee catering menu and prices

Holiday Entertaining In Tallahassee Florida