Savor: From the Back Porch
BY WBM staff
Wrightsville Beach Museum Board Members Favorite Recipes
Photography by Joshua Curry
In the shade of a sloping porch roof beneath exposed beams centered on the painted gray floorboards of the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History s porch a vintage dining table languishes in the late afternoon breeze begging for diners. Inspired by executive director Madeline Flagler who coaxed board members into preparing a light summer supper from recipes old and new the table is set with artifacts from the museum s collection with garden flowers selected and arranged by Sandy May.
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Chilled Cucumber Soup
Jan Wessel from Jean Wessel s recipe
Shrimp with Lemon & Rosemary
Kay Warren
Asparagus Vinaigrette Salad
Lori Rosbrugh
Fried Green Tomatoes with Pimento Cheese
Lori Rosbrugh
Lemon Pie
Susan Creasy from Elaine Creasy s recipe
RECIPES
Chilled Cucumber Soup
Jan Wessel from Jean Wessel s recipe
2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 tablespoon onion finely chopped
1 teaspoon dill weed
3 cucumbers peeled and sliced into rounds
Preparation: Cook the broth cucumber and onion in a saucepan until the cucumbers are tender. Cool to room temperature. Place mixture in a blender and add the sour cream and dill. Whirl in the blender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Chill before serving.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Shrimp with Lemon & Rosemary
Kay Warren
1 cup butter melted
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary chopped
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1/4 tablespoon red pepper ground
4 garlic cloves minced
3 pounds shrimp unpeeled
2 large lemons thinly sliced
Preparation: Combine first nine ingredients stirring well. Layer shrimp and lemon slices in a 3-quart dish. Pour rosemary/lemon mixture over all. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes stirring once. Be sure to have plenty of bread for dipping in the delicious broth.
Makes 6 servings.
Asparagus Vinaigrette Salad
Lori Rosbrugh
Salad:
1 bundle fresh asparagus (pencil diameter or larger if possible)
1 head Boston lettuce
1 hard boiled egg peeled and sliced into rounds
1/2 small red onion thinly sliced separated into rings
4 ounces blue cheese crumbled
Vinaigrette:
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 garlic clove minced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon sugar (or more to taste)
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Preparation: Steam (or microwave in bowl of water) asparagus just until bright green and tender; rinse under cold water and pat dry. Place asparagus in a gallon sized resealable bag. Mix all vinaigrette ingredients together in small bowl and pour over asparagus. Let asparagus marinate in refrigerator at least 4 hours (up to overnight) turning occasionally.
Either on individual serving plates or on a large platter arrange lettuce leaves then asparagus spears then onion slices egg slices and blue cheese. Drizzle extra marinade over salad. Refrigerate until serving time.
Makes 4 servings.
Fried Green Tomatoes with Pimento Cheese
Lori Rosbrugh
3 green tomatoes cut into 1/3-inch slices
salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg beaten with small amount of water added to make a wash
1/2 cup House-Autry seafood breader any flavor
Vegetable oil for frying
Pimento cheese any flavor
Cook s note: Parmesan cheese can be substituted for pimento cheese. Cheese with jalapeno peppers was used in the recipe pictured below.
Preparation: Wash and slice tomatoes into rounds. Sprinkle slices with salt and let rest while assembling the coating ingredients. Coat slices in flour. Dip slices in egg wash. Dredge slices in seafood breader. Pan fry in hot oil until golden on both sides. Transfer to racks set inside baking pans. Top each slice with pimento cheese. Place under broiler until cheese melts.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Lemon Pie
Susan Creasy from Elaine Creasy s recipe
Crust:
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup butter melted
1/4 cup sugar
Lemon filling:
1 can condensed milk
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup lemon juice
Meringue topping:
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
2-3 eggs
3 tablespoons sugar
Preparation:
Crust: Mix together ingredients and press into a pie plate. Pre-bake at 350 degrees for five minutes and allow to cool.
Filling: Mix together egg yolks and milk. Add 1/2 cup lemon juice a little at a time until blended. Pour mixture into graham cracker crust.
Topping: In a separate bowl beat two or three egg whites with cream of tarter and sugar until stiff peaks form. Heap onto pie.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes until light brown.
Recipe from a Reader:
Watermelon Salad
My watermelon salad to me it is the epitome of summer with a Southern twist. Our family summered at Wrightsville Beach in the 70s and loved it. It was a time when you didn t lock your doors everything was open. We bought a used Sunfish one summer and had a marvelous time going all over the sound and the marshes. The Sunfish is now happily ensconced at a friend s home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. We moved here permanently in 2001 and are thrilled to be back. — Anne Dols
3/4 cup pecans chopped
5 cups watermelon seeded and cubed
1 6-ounce package spinach thoroughly washed
Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette
1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup pepper jelly
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon onion grated
1 teaspoon salt (or less)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Vinaigrette Preparation: Whisk together first six ingredients. Gradually add oil whisking until blended.
Makes 3/4 cup.
Salad Preparation: Toast pecans. Combine watermelon and spinach in a large bowl; add vinaigrette tossing gently to coat. Transfer watermelon mixture to serving platter and sprinkle evenly with pecans and cheese.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.