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    Four Steps to Building Your Best Cheeseboard according to Lance

    July 25th marks one of our favorite days of the year - National Wine and Cheese Day! If you follow Lance on Instagram, you'd see his obsession with dairy's best offering. He's putting cheese on everything - and appreciating each and every variety. There isn't an After Hours event that doesn't feature one of his charcuterie boards - and with good reason: we're all crazy about his cheesy selections. It seems like every combination makes the perfect bite! So, he's sharing his basic "recipe" for putting together the ultimate cheese board so you too can celebrate National Wine and Cheese Day in Cape House fashion. So, without further ado, from Lance himself: Cape House | Home & Hospitality Boutique | Amelia Island, FL START WITH three to five cheeses. I like to use a semi-firm to firm cheese, usually with a little kick. Try a gruyere or cheddar - or one of my favorites: chipotle gouda! I also add in a soft, spreadable cheese, like a brie - I'd suggest trying Sweet Grass Dairy's Green Hill with it's buttery flavor and creamy texture. A mild cheese is also a great addition, like Sweet Grass Dairy's Thomasville Tomme (are you sensing a theme here? I LOVE Sweet Grass Dairy... ask me about the time I went to cheese school there!) NEXT, add the meat. Now, there's some controversy about adding meat to your cheeseboard, but if you've seen how much I love bacon and the like, you know I have no qualms about adding a little protein to mine! Prosciutto is always delicious, as is a spicy soppressata, or my favorite spicy candied bacon (I'll save that recipe for another day!) NOW, it's about balancing the rich flavors of each cheese and meat with accoutrements. I love marinated olives, peppers, or artichoke hearts for the briny, salty notes they add to your board. I'll include grapes, strawberries, or thinly-sliced apples or pears for a sweet or tart note to balance a creamy, rich soft cheese. A drizzle of honey or olive oil - or my current favorite from the store: Gullah Gourmet's raspberry mustard dip adds a sweet, tangy later of flavor to any of your cheese choices. Don't forget the bread and/or crackers (who are we kidding, I always include both)! DON'T FORGET to make it all look good. I take the time to roll up slices of meat, find the perfect cheese board and knives, and always garnish with a bit of green - like a few sprigs of rosemary, which really take the board to the next level. AND FINALLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART: create the perfect bite! Think about balancing all the flavors you've just built on your board. Start with a garlic thyme cracker, add a touch of Sweet Grass Green Hill, a small bit of prosciutto, and a drizzle of that raspberry mustard dip. Wash it down with your favorite vino, and you're in business! And everyone knows, wine and cheese are best enjoyed with those you love - so, follow these steps, and never cheese alone! Cape House | Home & Hospitality Boutique | Amelia Island, FL Cape House | Home & Hospitality Boutique | Amelia Island, FL Cape House | Home & Hospitality Boutique | Amelia Island, FLCape House | Home & Hospitality Boutique | Amelia Island, FL

    Cape House Cooks: Waffle Day

    Cape House | Home & Hospitality Boutique | Amelia Island, FL | Photo by Jess Henderson Photo: http://jesshendersonphoto.pass.us/capehouselifestyle Is there anything better than waking up and cooking a big breakfast for your family? We think not (except maybe waking up to a big breakfast already cooked by Tiffany's dad, GP!) Always on the menu: waffles. March 25th happens to be Waffle Day (not to be confused with National Waffle Day in the US on August 24th...), so we're sharing our favorite recipe below - as if you needed another reason to chow down on warm waffles! You probably even already have most of the ingredients in your pantry. Enjoy!

    INGREDIENTS

    • 3 ¼ cups All-Purpose Flour
    • 2 tsp Baking Powder
    • ¼ cup Light Brown Sugar
    • ¼ tsp Kosher Salt
    • 2 Large Eggs, Separated
    • 5 ½ cups Milk
    • 2 tsp Apple Cider (or Distilled) Vinegar
    • ½ stick Butter, Melted (Let it cool to room temperature.)
    • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
    • ¼ tsp Cream of Tartar

     DIRECTIONS 

    1. Preheat your waffle iron. Into a large bowl, use a sifter to sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
    2. In a separate medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks, milk, vinegar, melted butter, and vanilla until well-combined. Add the egg yolk mixture to the flour mixture and stir to just combine - don't overmix, a few lumps are okay!
    3. In a separate stainless steel bowl - whisk your egg whites (with a hand or stand mixer, or if you're ambitious, by hand) until foamy. Add the cream of tartar, and continue to whisk until soft peaks form.
    4. Use a silicone spatula to fold the whipped egg whites into the batter, until just incorporated.
    5. Cook the waffles in your waffle iron, per the manufacturer's directions. To keep them warm, place waffles in a 200°F oven until it's time to eat - it'll be hard to wait!

    Cape House | Home & Hospitality Boutique | Amelia Island, FL | Photo by Jess Henderson Photo: http://jesshendersonphoto.pass.us/capehouselifestyle Cape House | Home & Hospitality Boutique | Amelia Island, FL | Photo by Jess Henderson Photo: http://jesshendersonphoto.pass.us/capehouselifestyle Cape House | Home & Hospitality Boutique | Amelia Island, FL | Photo by Jess Henderson Photo: http://jesshendersonphoto.pass.us/capehouselifestyle Cape House | Home & Hospitality Boutique | Amelia Island, FL | Photo by Jess Henderson Photo: http://jesshendersonphoto.pass.us/capehouselifestyle Cape House | Home & Hospitality Boutique | Amelia Island, FL | Photo by Jess Henderson Photo: http://jesshendersonphoto.pass.us/capehouselifestyle Cape House | Home & Hospitality Boutique | Amelia Island, FL | Photo by Jess Henderson Photo: http://jesshendersonphoto.pass.us/capehouselifestyle