Combine 6 cups of whole milk, 1 1/2 cup of cream, 2 tea spoons kosher salt and most importantly 3 Tablespoons of fresh lemon juice in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Try not to stir but keep milk from browning on bottom of pan.  Once it boils immediately remove from heat and let stand for 15 minutes.   The curds should have started to seperate from whey.  If not add one more Tablespoon of lemon juice.

Spoon curds from whey and place them in a fine sieve or use cheese cloth in a regular strainer to drain the curds from majority of liquids.   Serve on crostinis with a little honey or spice it up a notch with homemade pesto.   The perfect beginning to so many dishes.  Enjoy

• 10 ounces organic spinach, fibrous stems removed
• 1/2 cup Panko crumbs
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 full tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 3 full tablespoons flour
• 1 3/4 cups cold Whey
• 1/4 teaspoon salt if you substitute with lowfat milk
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 3 egg yolks
• 4 ounces of lean ham sliced long and thin (1 cup)
• 5 egg whites

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Wash spinach, and place in a skillet.  Cook over medium to high heat for a few minutes, until the spinach is wilted.  Remove from pan and cool on paper towel. Dry spinach and chop coarsely.

Mix the Panko crumbs and 3 tablespoons of the parmesan cheese together in a small bowl.  Using 1 teaspoon of the butter, grease the sides and bottom of a 6 cup gratin dish that is about 1 1/2 inches deep.  Pour crumb mixture into dish and rotate until crumbs coat sides and bottom.

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in medium saucepan, add oil, add flour whisk for 30 seconds over medium heat.  Add whey and whisk with ground pepper and bring to a boil whisking continuously.  Mixture should thicken now add the egg yolks and mix.  Remove from heat and add spinach and ham. Let cool

Beat egg whites until they are firm but still soft.  Fold them into spinach/ham mixture along with cheese.  Pour mixture into the prepared gratin dish, sprinkle the remaining Panko crumbs.  Gently slide into 375 degree oven for about 35 minutes.  Remove when souffle’ is brown on top and puffy.

Serve immediately by spooning servings onto plates with a side of mixed roasted root vegetables.    Enjoy!!

Now take crepes prepared in advance or even from the freezer, (future recipe), spoon 3 tablespoons of cheese mixture in center of crepe and fold into a square, refer to photo.  Place a table spoon of butter in a pan and place 4 cheese crepes into pan and brown on both sides to a crisp texture.  Place on plate and top with Berry Compote (future recipe).  Enjoy!

Lemon Zest Ricotta Pancakes

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups home made ricotta cheese  (reference blog recipe page)
2. 1 1/2 cups whole milk
3. 4 eggs, separated
4. 1/2 cup sugar
5. Zest and juice of 1 lemon
6. 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
7. 1/2 cup of buck wheat flour
8. 2 Tbsp. baking powder
9. 1/4  tsp. kosher salt

Directions:

In a seperate bowl wisk whole milk with  juice of a lemon and set aside.  This can be done a day ahead.  You can substitute this part by using buttermilk instead of whole milk.     In another bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, lemon zest and sugar.Now use a third bowl and gently wisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.In another large bowl, the fourth bowl, using a whisk, beat the egg whites until frothy.   You should have four bowls, it’s time to bring all the ingredients together

Now that the milk has had time to seperate and thicken softly poor into egg yolk bowl wisk gently.  Add the milk mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until mixture is consistant with lumpy batter.  Now, using a rubber spatula gently fold egg whites and ricotta into batter.

Preheat a griddle over medium heat 325-350 and lightly butter before ladling batter to make pancakes. Cook until bubbles form on top and the pancakes are golden underneath, about 2 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook for 2 more minutes. Transfer to a warmed plate. Repeat with the remaining batter. Makes 12 to 16 pancakes, all depends on the size of pancake.  Top pancakes with berry compote or roasted pecan syrup.  Enjoy

This weekend you will find great music by Power Play, One Love Steel Band Two Tone Cadillac and lots more.

Isn’t it time for you to relax and enjoy.

The Beach Spa Bed and Breakfast will rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.

This weekend you will find Artists that have left their mark.

• Ten Fresh Organic Strawberries
• Four Fresh Ripe Organic Kiwi
• Ten Organic Mint Leaves
• tbl Sherry
• tbl Honey

Cut Strawberries cross section about 1/8″ thick.  Chop mint.  Combine cut strawberries, mint sherry and honey into a bowl and let sit for 10 minutes mixing occasionally.  Peal Kiwi and cut into 1/8″ cross section and place one cut piece on dish, then layer a cut strawberry from bowl onto kiwi, continue layering till one kiwi is stacked high and finish with tip of strawberry.  Spoon sherry/honey from bowl onto stack and finish with whole mint leave.  Serve or fridge for 10 minutes then serve and enjoy.  Serves Four

These Strawberries are so good

The Beach Spa Bed and Breakfast picked Fresh Organic Strawberries today for a very berry week of delicious dishes.  Follow our blog this week for some fantastic Strawberry recipes being served every day at the Beach Spa Bed and Breakfast.

All 8 beautifully appointed rooms feature private bathrooms which may include hydro body massage, steamer, rainfall shower, Travertine tile or jetted tub. HDTV, cable, internet Massage Room at Virginia Beach Spa Bed and Breakfasthookups, WiFi are throughout, accommodating the business traveler and vacationer alike. A 3rd floor spa tower awakens your senses to a warm ocean sunrise and the year round heated outdoor spa pool rejuvenates your spirit.

Virginia Beach Only Spa Water FallStart off the day with a delicious breakfast and relaxing massage or keep up with the locals walking on the beach and riding bikes. The boardwalk, Convention Center, historical Lifeguard Station Museum, Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, 24th Street Performing Arts stage and many other attractions are within walking distance (3 to 6 blocks). Many vacationers like to travel to historical Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown for the day.