Recipe Recap: White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

When it comes to baking there are some recipes that are so good they have to be shared, which is exactly what we thought the minute we made the first batch of White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies. We found the recipe for these absolutely delicious cookies over at Taste of Home and believe us, the newest addition to our pastry case really is home baked goodness!

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

24 servings – Prep: 20 min Bake: 10 min/batch

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup white baking chips

Directions

• In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, salt and baking soda; gradually add to butter mixture and mix well. Stir in cranberries and chips.
• Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 1 minute before removing to wire racks. Yield: 2 dozen.

Let us know how these turn out if you bake them at home…or stop by Chef’s Market and pick one up this afternoon!

Genna

Summer Dessert Ideas

After a long week of weddings and events it’s time for us to get back to blogging and what better way than to share some of our favorite dessert ideas for summer! Whether you’re snuggling up around the campfire or relaxing poolside, these classic treats are guaranteed to make your summer even sweeter!

photo via tasteofhome.com

S’mores – There’s something so nostalgic about this summertime sweet and we love it not just because it brings out the kid in us, but because it’s so simple! If you’re having a big backyard party we suggest setting up a S’mores station for guests to grab their own ingredients and mix and match with different kinds of graham crackers & chocolate. This is also a super cute idea for a late night snack at an outdoor wedding reception! Check out this recent blog post by Eat My Wedding for more inspiration!

Mini Pies – Fresh berries and homemade pie crust might just make up the ultimate summer dessert staple and when turned into mini versions they’re also perfect for party favors! Your guests will have a blast choosing between different pie  flavors and with so many fresh ingredients to choose from your options are endless!

Chef's Market's Mini Pies Photographed by Ace Photography

Build Your Own Ice Cream Station – Ice Cream obviously tops the list of summer favorites which is why creating a ‘build your own’ version complete with different kinds of cones, toppings and flavors will have your guests rushing the dessert table as if it were the neighborhood ice cream truck! We love this cute ice cream bar created by Amy Moss of Eat Drink Chic!

Home made Popsicles – The best way to cool down your guests on a hot day besides a fresh cocktail? Grown up Popsicles! Make your own at home, like this DIY treat from S0mewhere Splendid, or purchase them to cut down on prep time. If you’re in Nashville be sure to stop by Las Paletas, a gourmet Popsicle shop. Flavor combinations like Strawberry Lime and Honeydew will leave your guests more than satisfied!

Las Paletas Popsicles via tnhomeandfarm.com

P.S. If you’re a bride looking for fun dessert inspiration these are all fantastic ideas that your guests will remember long after that last sweet bite!

What’s your favorite summer treat?

Genna

Chef’s Market’s Winter Recipe Recap

This winter we’ve been busy  putting together recipes for some of our favorite local TV morning shows and with March quickly approaching, we thought it was a good day to give everyone a rundown on what we made and how you can make it too!

Papaya Lime Quinoa Salad – Super healthy Quinoa gets a burst of flavor with the addition of papaya and lime! Jim prepared this restaurant favorite on Talk of the Town this past January! Click here for the complete recipe!

Flourless Chocolate Cake With Candied Bacon – Valentine’s Candy was taken to another level with Chef Derek’s recipe for a gluten free chocolate cake topped with Candied Bacon! Chef Derek debuted this  recipe on MidDay Live last Friday. You can get all the decadent goodness right here!

Two Heart Salad – February is the perfect month to make dishes with a little extra ‘love’! Jim gave Talk of the Town viewers an inside look at our version of the popular ‘Two Heart Salad’ just last week! The full recipe and video is available here!

Sweetheart Dessert Table – I put together a ‘Sweetheart Table’ to go along with Chef Derek’s Chocolate Cake last week at MidDay Live! The table featured an assortment of Valentine’s candy, cupcakes, goody bags and of course lots of pink and red!

If you have any questions about the recipes or would like tips on putting together your own dessert table give us a call at 851-2433! If you make any of the recipes we’d love to know how they turn out, so be sure to keep us posted!

Genna

When Coffee Takes the Cake – Add a Fun New Element To Your Wedding Reception

Remember all those Sunday mornings after church when your parents would drag you and your siblings over to the church  hall for coffee & donuts? Back then it may have been a totally cringe-worthy experience, but let’s face it, that crowd was on to something . I’m not suggesting that Styrofoam cups and drip coffee translate to a chic wedding reception per se but it’s the idea that’s brilliant, especially in a world where people hold their Starbucks in one hand and their iphone in the other. So how would a bride & groom go about incorporating this classic beverage into their reception? It’s as simple as creating a  coffee bar that’s stocked with fabulous gourmet ingredients and the kind of design that would make Amy Atlas swoon! Check out our ideas for the perfect coffee bar for every reception style!

Courteys of reallynatural.com

Brunch Receptions: What’s not to love about a mid-morning wedding followed by a meal that fuses the best of breakfast & lunch together? This time of day is perfect for setting up a fantastic coffee bar stocked with gourmet coffee and fun mix ins (Bailey’s, Kahlua, Tia Maria etc). We guarantee your mimosas will be fighting for first place! The great thing about a brunch inspired coffee bar is that you can easily pair it with typical brunch breads & sweets (croissants, scones, danishes etc).

Courtesy of feteperfection.com

Dessert Receptions: A sweet and simple dessert reception can get a major overhaul when you bring in your own barista to take cake and coffee to a whole new level! As an experienced and professional coffee maker, a barista will not only be able to make your guests specialty drinks, but also add a fun element to your reception. This type of reception is also a great time to make your coffee bar as sweet as can be with plenty of toppings like crushed peppermint, ground nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, chocolate shavings, marshmallows and more! A monochromatic color schemed toppings station would look amazing. Another added bonus? You could easily use personalized ceramic coffee mugs as your wedding favors!

One quick side note, be sure to have Hot Chocolate and Apple Cider on hand for any children who might be attending!

Evening Receptions: If you’re planning on dancing the night away, a late night coffee bar is a fun idea for all of the night owls attending your reception. Your guests will love being treated to a  great cup of coffee before their drive home/ride back to their hotel!

Are you wondering how to get this whole thing started? Talk to your caterer and fill them in  on what you want! Your caterer should be more than able to not only get you the services you need for a coffee bar but also put together the appropriate accompaniments.  At Chef’s Market, we’ve created gorgeous display tables for coffee bars with a variety of different candies, whipped cream, sweeteners and more!

What do you think about coffee bars at weddings? Have you been to a reception where a bride & groom did this/have you thought about doing it for your own wedding? Let us know!

Genna

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Sweet Sixteen’s Sweet Ending

Last Tuesday, I promised I’d divulge more delicious details about the Mini Cupcake Station we set up for Destination Nashville’s Sweet Sixteen anniversary party and I’m totally delivering today! I’ve got all the inside info on the icing, the set up and the toppings…the only thing under wraps? The recipe. You didn’t think they’d let me hand that one out did you?

When we learned the theme for the party was going to be ‘Sweet 16′  our minds began circulating the phrase ‘sugar, pink, sugar, pink’, an immediate reaction to the opportunity to get ultra-girly and keep the party ‘sweet’! After locking  in our main menu (for a recap on all of that chef created goodness click here) it was time to design the dessert. We wanted to present the ladies at Destination Nashville with something interactive, delicious and visually stunning and that’s where the cupcake station came into play!

Jessica Henson, the newest member of our Catering Department, designed the layout, the flavors and the decor. She did an amazing job on presentation and Kathy, one of our head restaurant chefs, worked behind the scenes to make the cupcake station come to life. Jessica chose to do mini cupcakes because they’re that perfect ‘sweet bite’ people crave at the end of a meal and using smaller cupcakes gives people the opportunity to try more flavors without getting overly full.

The cupcakes came in five different flavors with a variety of toppings and homemade cream cheese icing

Banana Split Your Britches – Banana/Cherry w/ nuts

Hot Chocolate – White Chocolate/ Milk Chocolate Swirl

Lynchburg Lemonade – lemon cupcakes

Ultimate Chocolate – chocolate cupcakes

Vanilla Ice – Vanilla cupcakes

Toppings – Graham Crackers, blackberries, blueberries, chocolate raisins, marshmallows, honey roasted peanuts, strawberries, heath bar

‘Build Your Own Cupcake Stations’ are so much fun and they give guests the chance to customize their dessert which is something they’re sure to enjoy. A station like the one we set up for the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ party would be perfect for a wedding reception, bridal/baby shower, birthday party or girls night in.

What are your thoughts on setting up a dessert station like this for your next party?

Genna

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Destination: Sweet Success – Helping Destination Nashville Celebrate 16 ‘Sweet’ Years in Business!

Sixteen really is sweet. Don’t believe me? Just ask the incredible women behind Destination Nashville, who’ve recently celebrated sixteen amazing years as one of the leading Destination Management Companies (DMC) in the United States. With a host of awards to back their impeccable service, innovative designs and flawless event production, Rhonda Marko and her team have become the go to company for clients looking for an unforgettable Nashville experience. So, after sixteen years of planning all the parties it was more than time for them to take a seat and toast their success and of course, that’s where Chef’s comes in!

The Destination Nashville Team!

When we were first approached about the ‘Sweet 16′ idea for Destination Nashville’s anniversary party we excitedly jumped on board. The ladies over at Destination Nashville wanted us to really play up the theme, which was the green light we needed to get seriously girly and keep the mood festive with some over top decorations and fun party favors that any  ’16′ year old would love!  We also knew we wanted to put together a Southern inspired menu that would have a serious ‘wow’ factor. With these key elements in place, our catering team came together to create a party that was as fun, decadent and fabulous as any sweet sixteen party should be (minus all the drama )!

Our Menu included Grilled Cantaloupe with Fruit Pearls, made using Molecular Gastronomy, three kinds of Southern Sushi, Nigiri style sushi with Stewed Okra and Tennessee Chow Chow, Tempura Prawns with Turnip Greens and homemade Red Pepper Jelly, Fried Catfish (using the Hagy family’s secret recipe from the Catfish Hotel, their family owned restaurant in Shiloh, TN) with Pickled Okra, Apple Bacon and Fresh Green Tomatoes, Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Crispy Sage and Candied Bacon and a super sweet cupcake station! The okra even came straight from our Head Chef’s own garden!

Grilled Cantaloup with Fruit Pearls

We had so much fun putting this event together for Rhonda and everyone at Destination Nashville. They’ve been so great to work with over the years and we were honored to have them celebrate such a milestone at our restaurant! We wish them all the best!

PS keep an eye out for our post this coming Thursday…we’ll have all the delicious details behind our mini cupcake bar!

Genna

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What’s Happening at Chef’s Market

The week is really flying by at Chef’s! We’ve been busy with corporate lunches and deliveries all week and on Saturday we’ll cater two beautiful early July weddings! Here’s what else is happening around the restaurant:

Wednesday, June 30th – We catered an amazing wedding back in April for Maje’ & Michael at The Frist Museum and today, Mary Alice Sublett, the awesome planner behind the beautiful celebration,  has  featured their wedding on her blog,  ‘A Delightful Day Event Planning‘! Check it all out here!

courtesy of Gregory Byerline Photography/A Delightful Day Event Planning

Friday/Saturday, July 2nd & 3rd – Chef’s Fourth of July Inspired Menu will be fantastic…lots of home cooked goodness! We’ll keep you posted on the details through our Facebook page!

Saturday, July 3rd – One of our weddings will be at The Frist Museum and the other at a private home in Franklin…both lovely lovely venues for a summer wedding!! We can’t wait!

Saturday, July 3rd – We’re putting together a sweet treat for customers this weekend…watch our Facebook Page for information on the FREE individual berry cobblers we’ll be handing out!

courtesy of myrecipes.com

Friday and Saturday, July 2nd & 3rd – It’s the perfect weekend for celebrating with family and friends and we can’t think of anything better to bring to a party than our homemade tortilla chips and Spinach Con Queso Dip!! Stop by and pick up a bag of chips and a quart of queso…your friends will thank you for it!!

What are your plans for the upcoming fourth of July???

Genna

Easter Sunday: A Celebration Sweeter than Chocolate

In the world of new beginnings and fresh starts, Easter Sunday is at the top of the list. Growing up, it was what I considered to be a competition over who got the best Easter basket, chocolate bars and jelly beans. We went so far in my house as to make deals across the dining room table where my mom had left a basket on each place setting.  One peanut butter egg in exchange for a mint patty? An insult of mass proportions. Cadbury Egg? Now we’re getting serious.

Chef's Easter Inspired Coconut Cake

Somewhere along the tail end of childhood the candy stopped mattering as much as it had before and losing at the annual family Easter egg hunt wasn’t as heartbreaking as I remembered. Easter became about family and celebration and newness. It’s a day to stop and be thankful for this life and all the blessings and heartache and joy that comes with it.

At Chef’s we’re happy to provide families with a great selection of entrees & desserts to make their Easter celebrations even sweeter! What traditions do you have for  Easter Sunday?

Genna

Tables with a Twist: Monochromatic Design

Last night I was inadvertently inspired. Searching through our collection of event photos for the blog I was actually supposed to write today, I came across pictures of an event we catered for Her Nashville’s 1^st Anniversary party last year. The minute I saw the pink on pink on pink I thought, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. The light bulb in my head basically went full wattage. The concept for the ‘Her’ party was brought to life by our Catering Director, Shannon Bates, whose mind is a treasure trove of design ideas! To read the post and see the pictures that led to my moment of enlightenment click here.

Pink dessert bar for the 'Her Nashville' anniversary party

Fresh raspberries, pink glitter dusted truffles all set atop a bright pink table…what I love about this idea is that it can work for multiple parties and color schemes. Although decorating in varying shades of a single color isn’t new it still manages to always come off as fresh and put together. The pink dessert idea can tie into anything from a bridal brunch to a baby shower or a birthday party. It can seamlessly cross party lines so to speak. While our event used the color pink, this same idea could be done in white, purple, yellow…who doesn’t love having options?

courtesy of puffandchoux.blogspot.com

It’s not hard to get food and décor to match your color choice either. If you’re decorating on your own, think baked goods, brightly colored fruit and fresh flowers. If you’re favorite color is green, use bright Granny Smith Apples, limes and green spider mums/zinnias to add pops of color. Looking to spice up a red table with a seriously cheery centerpiece? Try filling a large clear vase with dark red Bing Cherries or pomegranates, depending on the season. Cupcakes, cookies and the million and one frosting possibilities are a great way to fill up a dessert bar and anchor down the color palette. You can also make mousse to match. Take a look through these easy recipes and don’t forget to add a cute topper (like our raspberries)!  To read a great article on monochromatic table design visit puffandchoux.blogspot.com.

courtesy of thepartydress.net

What are your ideas for putting together a monochromatic dessert bar?

Genna

Cheekwood Bridal Show!

We had so much fun at the Cheekwood Bridal show on Sunday! It was so great  to meet all of the new brides and get to talk to all of the vendors! We are excited for the upcoming wedding season.

Here are a few pictures of our booth, designed by the fabulous Shannon Bates!

We got to show off our fun new truffle cones. They look like mini ice cream cones, but they are actually our delicious truffles sitting atop a mini cone with mousse piped inside! So yummy, and so CUTE!

We also showcases our delicious homemade tortilla chips and oh so fabulous black bean, corn & avocado salsa! Fun was had by all!!!

We had a great show! Untill next time!

Carole Ann