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…
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Year-Round Seasonal Adventures
Top Things to do in West Michigan
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,…
Apple-Filled Croissants
The trick with croissants is keeping the butter from softening while working the dough. In this “quick” recipe, we cut a massive amount of butter into dry flour instead of softening it and spreading it over the rolled-out flour. This allows us to immediately roll and fold instead of chilling the dough first. We substitute…
Cranberry-Orange Muffins
Fresh cranberries are available in late fall through the winter months. This recipe uses its tart flavor against what would be a typical sweet muffin. The combination of spices adds a holiday touch, the allspice/ginger combination being more traditional. Diet: Vegetarian