A Blueberry Picking Sunday

Don’t know what other folks do for Father’s Day but my boys and I took off after lunch to pick blueberries. We had enjoyed a great Blueberry Crumb Cake at the Athens Farmers Market that Manny at the Harry’s Pig Shop booth had made and thought we had better stock up on some since they are at the height of the season right now. With the rains that we had last week and the warm sunny weather now, well everything from tomatoes to blueberries are in abundance. It’s going to get hot, real hot before you know it and things start drying up quickly. Better get on it and sons Ashley, Daniel and I picked enough in one and a half hours to last the winter. We will be making blueberry jam today and will probably get 50 or 60 quarts put up and that is not counting what we froze for baking. Every Epting Events brunch will be getting a jar for months to come.

I used a recipe that was Martha Lumpkin’s, written in 1850 which basically says put one cup of sugar to two cups of stewed berries and cook until thick. I do not like to use pectin or sure gel in my jams and jellies, I just like strong thick fruit jam that has not been diluted with too much sugar and water. You really get the flavor of the berries as so much of the water is cooked out by the time it is thick enough to seal in mason jars. Take some Sweet Dairy Farms fresh salted butter and put it on one of Renisha’s (pastry chef for Epting Events) double sized buttermilk biscuits; then put in a teaspoon of Martha Lumpkin’s Blueberry Jam (Atlanta, formally known as Marthasville which was named for young Martha) – well, that’s the cat’s meow. At the rate we are going with this we might make Christmas presents for everyone and all of you can come on by Harry’s for brunch on Sunday and try the Blueberry Jam. I think you’ll love it.

As for anyone that is reading these blogs please let me know the kind of things that you would like to hear about. It has been fun rambling on about some of my daily activities while roaming about the state. Need to tell you about planning a wedding for next June at the Walker Farm. I’ll be rambling about my rambles tomorrow. Most Sincerely, LEE

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Hill Dinner

Just thought this picture said a lot about Life on The Hill.  Friend Jim Fiscus called the other night and said that Kimberly had made a fresh Hill Egg Kale Quiche and had a few vegetables from the garden. I had my first tomato, fresh beans and broccoli – oh yea! – first ever fingerling potatoes. Kimberly also had a bunch of rainbow beets that she had grown. She just boiled, salted with flake sea salt and buttered them. Sorry the picture doesn’t show them sliced with their rings of red, pink and white.

We put these things together and I think you will admit it looked like a pretty good supper – worth a picture. Nothing better than setting around the table with friends, a nice glass of wine and real food – food that you have grown and prepared. It certainly taste better fresh from the garden. Only one thing lacking as far as I can see – someone else to clean up. Oh well, can’t have everything!

Hope you have a good week and by the way we are still bringing into Harry’s those fresh squash blossoms which Manny is stuffing with locally raised Berkshire pork sausage from Greendale Farms and Tinks’s Grass Fed Beef  and Israeli couscous then panko battering and frying. Getting about 50 blooms each morning and selling out quickly. Come on by Harry’s and try them. ……LEE

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What do you do on Sunday afternoon for fun and excitement?

What do you do on Sunday afternoon for fun and excitement? Could suggest a trip to the J and J flea market. Headed out there with friend and neighbor Jim Fiscus yesterday to pick up a couple of Eggplants and Peppers for the garden but as usual spent an extra hour and came back with some interesting “stuff” , some of which I probably really don’t need. Did find Mr. Rakestraw in his booth of knives and Iron pots and purchased three carving sets that will look great on our Tenderloin Stations. Now why I have been using commercial knives all these years when an antique carving set would have been far more in keeping with our look, I do not know. Never too late to learn I guess.

Antique carving sets

Now I also found a gentleman with a box of Coke Cola bottles, the old green ones the we use to pick up along the side of the road and return for 2 cents which gave us spending money for the week. That was before Lady Bird Johnson convinced us to stop littering the sides of the roads. Back when I was a kid every town had a coke bottler and the name of the town was printed on the bottom of each bottle. I remember my grandfather Russell “Russie” Daniel would greet every customer that would come into the farm machinery business with “Howdy, Howdy, Howdy, let’s have a Coke.” Lots of times he would play a game to see who got the bottle from the town the furthest away – that person got to pay for the Cokes. Well, all this information came flooding back and I decided I “needed” these bottles. I gave Jim the $15 and asked him to pick them up while I brought the car around. Too my surprise Jim talked the man out of 6 more that he had in his truck so now I have a fine collection of Georgia bottles that are going to look great on the Bar at someone’s wedding or party. I put them on an old bottle rack last night for supper and we all put a quarter in the pot and each pulled a bottle off the rack – My brother Danny won! Russie would have been proud.

Coke bottle tree

Oh yea, while at the market we ate two green bananas and found a nice young lady that was selling the best fresh roasted peanuts that I’ve eaten in a month of Sundays. We did finally get around to buying our Eggplants from my good friend C.L. Morehead and he even gave us a couple of bell pepper plants. By the way, he has some beautiful hot pepper plants that are full of little green peppers that will turn red and yellow and produce till frost. I’ll be picking mine for the Hot Vinegar Sauce at Harry’s. Suggest you pick up several for the Patio. You can’t go wrong for $4 and as far as that goes you can’t go wrong with stopping by the J and J on any Saturday or Sunday. It’s an education and a great family and friends outing. It’s Just Plain Fun!  …. LEE

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Just flew down to Orlando….

Just flew down to Orlando with Ashley, Daniel & Rick to visit an incredible catering operation/ Puff ‘n Stuff .  They have generously shared many ideas that will be helpful in building out our new facility. Can’t wait to get started this summer. Just to let you know, we will be adding a bakery and will soon be interviewing for a Baker/Pastry Chef and a Sous Chef – if you know someone, please pass it on.
P.S.- The garden is producing beans, squash and lots of squash blossoms that we are sending to Harry’s.

We are stuffing the blossoms with Israeli couscous, vegetables and Berkshire Farms sausage– panko battered and deep fried.

It’s something else. Come by. — Lee

Talk about Flower Power!

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Lee’s 1st produce from The Hill

Hey Y’all,

Look what’s cookin’ up special at Harry’s Pig Shop, freshly picked by Lee this morning at 7:30 am —  the 1st produce of the season from The Hill!

The Squash Blooms are stuffed with locally raised Berkshire pork sausage from Greendale Farms and Tinks’s Grass Fed Beef  and Israeli couscous  and are served along with first crop Whole Bush Beans  seasoned with a touch of crushed garlic and chopped hard-boiled eggs. (courtesy of The Hill chickens.)

Add a side of Mac & Cheese, Squash Casserole, or Fresh Beets.  It doesn’t get any better!

   PS – Lee would suggest adding a sprig of fresh mint to your iced tea.

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Happy New Year!

Greetings from Epting Events! We hope everyone had a fabulous holiday with family and friends. Life has been busy here in the Epting office and we apologize for lack of blog presence over the past few months! 2011 was an incredible year for us and there were many memorable parties, weddings, fundraisers, and tailgates.

To kick off 2012 (and in honor of Ashley’s recent trip to the Big Apple) we thought we would feature Southern food in New York! You don’t have to be in the South to experience great Southern food and that’s especially true of Pies & Thighs.

Located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Pies & Thighs serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their menu is full of true Southern classics like fried chicken, shrimp & grits, pulled pork, brisket, and cornbread, but you can also find new items like the Chicken Sammy and Chicken & Waffles! We think the Chicken Sammy would make a wonderful hors d’oeuvre and the Chicken & Waffles would be perfect for a brunch!

One especially mouth-watering item from the menu is the Buffalo Chicken Biscuit. Friend and drizzled with hot sauce and honey butter this choice is sure to knock the socks off any Yankee!

If by now you’re craving a southern dish fix, you can always stop by Harry’s Pig Shop right here in Athens!

By: Marilisa

// Photo sources: 1. here, 2. here, 3. here, 4. here //

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What’s Cookin’?

It’s officially harvest time at Lee Epting’s property, the Hill, and what better way to share a harvest than with family and friends at Harry’s Pig Shop? Come check out our daily specials. We’ll be cooking up potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes; if we can grow it, we can cook it! We’ll be creating unique dishes and serving some traditionally. Have a great summer and eat well!

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Happy Birthday to Harry’s, Happy Birthday to You!

If you love Harry’s as much as I do, you’ll love this deal! Today begins our week-long birthday celebration for Harry’s 2nd Birthday! What does that mean for you?

Wish them a Happy Birthday and you’ll get…

$2 Fried Green Tomatoes

$2 Terrapin Drafts (Rye & Sunray Wheat)

$2 Banana Pudding

$2 Bread Pudding

And if you wish them Happy Birthday on Wednesday, March 30 (next Wednesday),

Pig Sandwiches are only $2 each!!

We have also hired 2 year olds to work in the kitchen.

We are pumped to share this week with y’all, so come help us celebrate!

P.S. We didn’t really hire 2 year olds, Ellis is easily 3 or 4…

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Thanksgiving @ Harry’s!

Thanksgiving is a week from tomorrow, and it feels like Halloween was yesterday! Well ready or not… here it comes! You are probably thinking what am I going to bring this year? I believe I have a pretty good solution…call Harry’s Pig Shop!

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Order From Harry’s
1. You love Harry’s so much, why wouldn’t you want it at your Thanksgiving dinner?!

2. You got invited to your significant other’s Thanksgiving dinner and want to impress their family, whether it’s your first time meeting them or not, Harry’s will do the trick.

3. Harry’s hams are a hit no matter where you go! We brine them for three days and slow cook them overnight. It will look perfect on the Thanksgiving table.

4. You have been ordering your sides from Lee Epting and Janice Witcher for 30 years, don’t even think about breaking that tradition.

5. You will be busy scouting sales for Black Friday, and need to focus.

6. The turkeys are smoked in our Southern Pride smoker with pecan wood to give a succulent, smoky flavor.

7. You can relax and your husband can watch football, because we’ll cut the turkey and ham for you!

8. We have all of your family’s favorites: herbed or corn bread dressing, sweet potato souffle, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes,mac-n-cheese and squash casserole. (Those alone could be 6 of my reasons!)

9. You can put them in your own bowl, and pull it off as your own.

10. All of us at Harry’s and Epting Events are thankful for your continued support, and would love to be part of your family’s holiday!

Pricing:
Smoked Whole Turkeys
12lb bird $34.99, 14-21lb bird $3/lb ***$15 to save you the hassle of carving the turkey**
Carved Turkey by the Pound
$5/lb (2/3 white meat, 1/3 dark meat)
Smoked Bone In Hams
18.5 lb $89.99
Carved Ham by the Pound
$6/lb
Our DELICIOUS Sides
Herbed or corn bread dressing, sweet potato souffle, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes,mac-n-cheese and squash casserole
$25/$37/$48 each (Small 6-12 people/Medium 12-18/Large 18-24)

Place your order while there is room left in the smoker. Orders taken until Monday, Nov 22. 706.612.9219

If it looks this good in a car, think how awesome it'll look on your table!

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Carlos Santana Universal Tone Tour Drawing at Harry’s!!

Stop by Harry’s between now and July 26, 2010 to be entered to win 2 Orchestra Seats for the Carlos Santana Concert featuring Steve Winwood. Tickets are retailing at $120 each! The concert takes place at Chastain Park Amphitheater on July 29 at 7:30 PM. The lucky winner will be giving 15% off a Harry’s picnic package.

So come eat, and don’t forget to enter!!

Carlos Santana

No purchase necessary to win. Employees are not eligible to win. For questions or concerns, please call 706.612.9219 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              706.612.9219      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              706.612.9219      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

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