Dim Sum Style Steamed Pork-and-Mushroom Shumai: In celebration of the Chinese New Year, it only seemed appropriate to have Japan’s own Kiuchi Brewery ‘s Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale, an ale that is only available during the New Year season. The slightly sweet wheat flavor combined with the light coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, orange peel, and vanilla beans added to this beer for a great beer pairing with the Chinese pork steamed dumplings (made with pork, button and shitake mushrooms, scallions, ground ginger, and Shaoxing rice wine) and vegetable tempura.

Sauce Covered Duck Breast and Potato Stacks: homemade pan-seared sous-vide duck breast smothered with a pan sauce made with dried currents, fresh whole cranberries, honey, and vermouth; served with garlic and thyme roasted potato stacks; paired with Moonlight Meadery ‘s Red Dress. This semi-sweet melomel made with red currents was a great pairing option for the honey and berry sauce on the duck breast.

Personal Sized Double Crust Turkey Pot Pie: home baked flaky lard and butter pastry crust made with Plugra European style butter and home pressure-rendered ham lard, filled with a creamy filling consisting of diced turkey breast, organic carrots, radishes, Yoder’s Country Market ‘s Golden Guernsey milk, broccoli, garden grown leeks, and potatoes, all flavored with homegrown herbs. This meal was paired up with The Bruery’s Saison Rue. This farmhouse ale ale had a light malty-biscuit flavor that complimented the pie’s delicate crust while the floral hop flavor linked with the herbs for a tasty craft beer pairing.

several animal trails converging in the snow.

Polish Kielbasa & Homemade Potato Pierogi: #handmade perogi filled with mashed potato, pepper, #homemade basil salt, homegrown chive flower, and cheese; served on top #sauerkraut simmered in @dogfishbeer ‘s Piercing Pils with diced pear added and sliced polska kolbasa. Since this Czech Style Pilsner is brewed with pear juice and white pear tea, it made for a great beer pairing with this meal. The sweetness from the pear and the sourness from the sauerkraut both played up this pilsner ‘s strengths.

Bresaola Style Cured Beef Tenderloin carpaccio: beef tenderloin from Stoltzfus Meats home cured with black pepper, juniper berries, cocoa nibs, espresso roast coffee, and salt; served with fresh baby arugula and blackberries. This dish was paired with a Leffe Brun. The light malt flavor of the beer matched the roast from the coffee and played well with the cocoa, while still being light enough to let the other spices shine through.

busy as a … well, you know … getting prepared for next month’s beekeeping class!

chopped #duck and chicken liver #crostini: inspired by the @fattedcalf ‘s #inthecharcuterie recipe for #chicken liver crostini: toasted slices of a fresh #homebaked French-style baguette baked in an heirloom #benningtonpotters red clay #banneton topped with duck and chicken #livers flavored with marsala wine, #homegrown shallots, pancetta, capers, and #gardengrown herbs and spices (oregano and thyme). Accompanied with @thebruery ‘s unfiltered, bottle conditioned #saisonrue. This Belgian/French-style #farmhouseale made for an ideal #beerpairing; the ale was light enough to be a good intensity match, the malty earthiness complimented the meat, and the carbonation scrubbed the palate for the next bite.

#homemade #bluecheese and #bacon burger with “fries”: a ground veal and ground beef burger on giant sized #homebaked sesame seed multigrain #hamburger buns, topped with: sautéed sweet onions, assorted greens, sautéed mushrooms, @castellocheese ‘s #castellobluecheese, and bacon slices, all smothered in a sauce made from tomato ketchup, mayo, and @latourangelle ‘s black truffle oil; served with a side salad and baked russet potato batons flavored with #homegrown basil and parsley. For this #beerpairing, the meal was matched up with #TheAlchemistBrewery ‘s #headytopper #ipa.

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#homemadepizza: #homemade whole grain fermented dough base with: (back) an artichoke white pizza topping with parmesan and asiago cheese, herbs, cherry tomatoes, and green onions; (front) a pizza margarita crudo with fresh cherry tomatoes, homegrown dried basil, whole milk mozzarella, and pepperoni. As for the #beerpairing, I choose a freshly canned #jaialai #ipa from @cigarcitybrewing because #pizza and #craftbeer go hand in hand.