Wednesday, 23 October 2019

Norwescon 45 Friday Afternoon High Protocol (Mad) Tea Social Menu

This is the menu for the event. Actual event details can be found here.
Several of the teas served are blends by the Friday Afternoon tea company. Be sure to stop by their booth in the Dealer Room to sample lots more of their delicious teas, and take some home with you!

Arrival drinks ~
  •   Tea ~ Very Good Advice

    Friday created this playfully fragrant herbal blend in honour of Alice. This brew brings you to the English garden of a young girl dreaming of adventure, and is perfect for preparing for the adventure to follow!
    (Ingredients: Lemon verbena, linden flower, lavender, lemongrass)
  • Coffee ~ Organic, fair trade, shade grown, dark roast. 
  • Ice water
  • (More to come ~ Stay tuned!)

First course ~ Savouries 
          
 Teas
  • Queen of Hearts Blend ~ Ceylon black tea, rosebud, rose hip and black peppercorns make this an unusual flowery and spicy blend.
Sumptuous Savouries
  • Queen of (Artichoke) Hearts' stuffed mushrooms ~ We don't know which side will make you tall or small, but all sides will make your mouth water! (crimini mushrooms, artichoke hearts, spinach, [additional ingredients to be added], parmesan cheese, butter)
  • White Rabbit's garlic blue cheese stuffed mushrooms - There's time to say goodbye hello to these flavourful fungi! (crimini mushrooms, blue cheese, smoked garlic, [additional ingredients to be added])
  • King of Hearts favour currying, open face curried chicken cucumber sandwiches  (GF, DF) ~ An exotic take on the classic, cucumber sandwich: Fresh cucumber slices, topped with curried cranberry chicken salad (curried chicken breast, cranberries, walnuts, organic leeks, and mayonnaise)
  •  The Caterpillar's favour currying, open face curried hummus cucumber sandwiches  (GF, DF, Vegan) ~ The vegan version of the above: Fresh cucumber slices, topped with curried cranberry hummus (curry hummus, walnuts, cranberries and organic leeks)
 Garden & Grain Tray
The garden of living flowers may be aghast, but surely, everyone else approves this bounty of crop and garden delights!
  • Baby carrots
  • Grapes
  • Tomato medley
  • Pita chips
  • Cracker assortment (GF options)
  • Ranch dip
  • Spinach artichoke dip
  • Hummus (GF, DF, Vegan)

Second Course ~ Scones & Breads

Teas
  • Wonderland Blend
    It's a mad tea party indeed, with this delightful infusion! Caffeine-free for all ages. Brews up a magical purple and is fabulous hot or iced!
       (Ingredients: Apple, blueberry, and hibiscus.)
  • Dorian Gray ~ Inspired by Friday's favourite Oscar Wilde novel, this blend is as dark, murky and exotic as the character after whom it is named. This one has been a big hit at every NWC Friday Afternoon Tea, thus far, and tastes a lot like drinking a cinnamon roll (in a good way)!
    (Ingredients: Pu-er black tea, gunpowder green tea, ginger root, blue cornflower)
 Toothsome Treats
  • Mad Hatter's Honey Whole Wheat Black Bread
  • Wondrous Scones in a variety of flavours (GF options)
  • The Dormouse's Silver Dollar Crumpets
  • All served with fresh, sweet cream butter, clotted cream, lemon curd, and apricot preserves

Third Course ~ Dessert

Teas
  • Satyr's Blend ~ This ridiculous blend is a bizarre combination of several herbal components, spices, and (whaaaaaat!) dark chocolate chunks! The scent of the dry leaf is wild, foresty and slightly spicy. When brewed, this tisane creates a fascinatingly smooth flavour profile.
    Ingredients: Rooibos, peppermint, chocolate, mate, rose, ginger, lime, peppercorn, clove
  • Cheshire Smile ~ Playful and delicious, this lemon meringue white tea blend will drive you mad with its heavenly aroma and mysterious colour-changing properties. Is it blue? Purple? Pink? Yes.
    (Ingredients: White tea, grapefruit peel, butterfly peaflower, hibiscus, natural vanilla and lemon flavouring)
 Delightful Desserts
  • Madly-made-to-order pancake cupcake teacakes, back by popular demand! ~ custom additions include: dark and/or milk chocolate chunks, dark chocolate, strawberry, and caramel syrups, M&Ms, peanut butter cup chunks, walnuts, jams, and more TBA.
  • Dinah's dark chocolate covered pomegranate, açai blueberry, & almond bites (GF)
  • Mad zombie deity stigmata Easter cookies ~ hands down delicious!

~ Dairy free creamer and sugar substitutes will be on hand. 

~ Gourmet coffee and ice water will be available in addition to or instead of teas.  

~ Please feel free to bring additional food and/or non-alcoholic drinks for yourself or to share, especially if you have special dietary needs/allergies.

~ Please do bear in mind that the snacks, whilst suitable for a light repast, are not meant to be a full meal, so it may be prudent to plan for a light meal shortly following or prior to the Tea.

Monday, 14 October 2019

Oktoberfest Ale Potato Cheese Soup

I love this time of year, when the oppressive heat of summer has faded into crisp mornings, with the scent of dry and mulching leaves and a hint of wood smoke carried on the brisk, autumn breezes. 
It's the perfect time for hearty soups and fresh, whole grain breads to warm body and soul on these chilly nights! 

So, the other day, we got a bunch of potatoes from my daughter, and I had this Black Butte Porter that I'd been wanting to use in my Ram copycat beer cheese soup, but I didn't have any bacon or ham thawed. What I did have thawed though, was a pack of German sausages. Then I realised, "Hey! It's October! I should make an Oktoberfest soup thing!"  And thus was born this recipe. It turned out absolutely delicious, filling, and perfect with a nice, crusty bread. Round it out with a nice, dark greens salad and you've got a spread worthy of any table!

Oktoberfest Ale Potato Cheese Soup

Yield: approx 6 quarts

Ingredients:
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2-4 cloves minced garlic
• 2-4 med onions onion, chopped or sliced
• 1 cup shredded or finely chopped red cabbage
• 1 lb smoked sausages cut into disks about 1/4" thick
• About 1/4 lb baby carrots or chopped regular carrots
• 1 tsp sea salt (more or less to taste)
• 2-3 tsp freshly ground black pepper or pepper medley (more or less to taste)
• 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
• 1tsp mustard powder
• 2 Tbsp each chicken and beef broth base
• 8 or so medium sized potatoes (any variety/ies) - chopped into bite sized pieces
• A pint of your favourite dark ale, porter, or stout
• 6 or so cups filtered water
• 1-2 Cups shredded, sharp cheddar
• 1/2 - 1 lb sour cream

Directions:
1. In a 6qt or larger pot, sauté onion, cabbage, and garlic in the oil until onions  start to turn transparent
Add sausage and continue sautéing a few minutes longer, until the sausages are slightly seared.
2. Add carrots, spices, and broth base and sauté a few minutes more (keep stirring - be sure to scrape bottom of pot regularly).
4. Add potatoes, ale, and enough water to reach just below the fill line/top of pot and give a good stir.(If using Instant pot, lock lid on with valve set to pressure and set it for 13 minutes on manual - let pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes or so - then ok to manually release. Skip steps 5 & 6).
5. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
6. Reduce heat to low and simmer until potatoes and carrots are tender.
7. Add cheese and sour cream and stir in until smoothly combined.
8. Enjoy!
 

Thursday, 3 October 2019

Metal Metal Mayhem X Playlist ~ 2019.10.03

Follow DJ Khaos on Facebook for show times, descriptions, and notifications!

Playlist


  1. Metallica - So What (03:08)
  2. Pantera - Fucking Hostile (02:48)
  3. Leo Moracchioli - Fucking Hostile Cover (04:00)
  4. Cradle of Filth - Of Dark Blood and Fucking [Stripped to the Bone Mix] (05:59)
  5. Opeth - Garden of Earthly Delights (03:29)
  6. Opeth - Dignity (06:35)
  7. Opeth - Heart in Hand (08:29)
  8. Opeth - Next of Kin (07:08)
  9. Opeth - Charlatan (05:29)
  10. Opeth - Lovelorn Crime (06:34)
  11. Opeth - Universal Truth (07:29)
  12. Opeth - The Garroter (06:45)
  13. Opeth - Continuum (07:23)
  14. Opeth - All Things Will Pass (08:33)
  15. Running Wild - Under Jolly Roger (04:42)
  16. DusK - This Day Aria (03:34)
  17. Avantasia - Moonglow (feat. Candice Night) (03:56)
  18. Kiss - Beth (02:49)
  19. Poison - Talk Dirty To Me (1996 - Remaster) (03:44)

Wednesday, 2 October 2019

Ladies' Night ~ Playlist ~ 2019.10.02

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Playlist


  1. Guns N' Roses - November Rain (09:16)
  2. Northern Kings - Roisin Dubh (Black Rose) A Rock Legend (Thin Lizzy Cover) (07:29)
  3. Falconer - No Tears for Strangers (05:48)
  4. Queen - Fat Bottomed Girls (03:51)
  5. Bee Gees - Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive (1977) (04:02)
  6. 12. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - 12. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (02:24)
  7. Madonna - La Isla Bonita (04:01)
  8. Prince - Prince - When Doves Cry (Official Music Video) (03:44)
  9. Billy Joel - Billy Joel - Tell Her About It (Official Video) (04:19)
  10. Sinergy - 11. Gimme Gimme Gimme (Abba Cover) (04:22)
  11. Sinergy - 06. Razor Blade Salvation (04:58)
  12. Myrath - The Needle (05:06)
  13. Angel Dust - Follow Me Pt.1 (04:30)
  14. Angel Dust - Follow Me Pt.2 (06:14)
  15. Angel Dust - Temple of the King (06:34)
  16. Rainbow - Temple of the King (04:45)
  17. Mago de Oz - Mago de Oz (05:17)
  18. Blind Guardian - Precious Jerusalem (06:22)