Limoncello or Applecello, so many decisions in life.

This has become our trademark drink and cake. We have a beautiful container of limoncello sitting on the kitchen counter and the applecello container in the fridge. I was first introduced to limoncello 12 years ago in Italy, at Casa Caponetti. Laura Caponetti gave me some to taste while I was there. She sent me home with the recipe, which is so easy . www.caponetti.com

Laura Caponetti will be arriving in Kansas in March. She will be conducting cooking classes, and preparing some special dinners. We are so happy she is coming. Watch for more information on these Special Events!!!

Limoncello recipe

1.75 liter of vodka

peels of 10 lemons , put in vodka for 10 days.

After 10 days add equal parts of sugar and water, same as the amount of vodka.

It is ready to go.

The Limoncello cake and sauce recipe is in our September 2008 blog. This recipe came from Jasper's nephew, Jasper the third. He is making the cello cake and drink famous. They have many drink recipes at Jasper's Restaurant.

Applecello recipe

1.75 liter of vodka

Gallon of Louisburg Cidermill cider.

Louisburg Cidermill milling spices. www.louisburgcidermill.com

Simmer cider and milling spices for 1/2 hour , take off stove, cool, and add vodka. Let this sit for 1 week, then enjoy.

Enjoy

Mike

Paola Christmas Home Tour

WOW!!

What a day. Over 250 people toured our home yesterday. The ladies decorated our home to the hilt, and it was enjoyed by all.

We had Dan and Suzanne's bread in the oven putting out a wonderful aroma as you entered the house. We had Louisburg Cidermill Cider simmering on the stove. Add to that, a wood fire in the fireplace, and the smells were incredible!! We had small cups of becerin, like I had in Italy, for the guests coming through. Dennis Reynolds frim Somerset Ridge Winery stopped by to check out all of the acitvities.

Toshia was in Christine's kitchen baking cookies. They were loved by the young and the not-so-young. Mark was taking care of the Man Room with Christine's old neighbor, Rick. Being on a Christmas Tour of Homes is great! It was a lot of work, there is no question about it, but so good to see so many people enjoying your work and your home!

When the tour was over, we had many friends come over and have a pizza making party. Suzanne and Dan's friends, Mike and Michelle, took over Mike's kitchen. We were celebrating Steve and Brenda's birthdays, and Brenda had the idea about friends making pizza. I just ate. Suzanne said she just wished our friend Jasper was there. We wished he had been there as well. What a great crowd last evening! This is why Casa Somerset was born; family, friends, food, VINO too!

Rafael and Figaro entertained everyone yesterday. They are so cute!

Somerset, Kansas...This is where it is this weekend.

WOW!!!!! This last weekend I thought everyone had arrived in Somerset. The Louisburg Cidermill Festival entertained a packed crowd. Everyone brought their kids or grandkids, there was so much fun for all. Record crowds. After a fun time at the Cidermill, go a half mile west on 68, turn left and go two miles to Somerset Ridge Winery. People are telling their friends about this hidden treasure to visit. It all happens again this next weekend. If you are not planning to visit Miami County, KS this weekend, you are going to be in the wrong place. So much is FREE, no charge for admittance.

On your way to see Somersert Ridge Winery, check out the 120 Longhorn steers that are grazing in a field. They are just around the turn from Casa Somerset. This is Slowfood country. In addition to the longhorns, we have an EMU ranch one mile away. The 4D Acres is west on 287th. We also have Free Range chickens one mile away.

This weekend Casa Somerset Vineyard will have Applecello cake, with applecello sauce. This is from the Louisburg Cidermill cider. Come by and enjoy. This recipe is from Jasper's restaurant in KC. We are only 20 miles south of Kansas City, 4 miles west of Louisburg.

There will be alpacas at the Somerset Ridge Winery. There is an alpaca ranch nearby. Free wine tasting. A great place to spend a slow afternoon. Be sure to tell them that you heard about it on the Casa Somerset Vineyard website.

The Dream is getting bettter

We are working every day with many great things happening. When I think that just two years ago, there was a house that needed to be pushed over. Now the vineyard is a reality. There are seven vineyards in the area. Check out Somerset Ridge Winery. The Louisburg Cidermill, which is just up the road from us, will hold their Ciderfest next weekend. The Ciderfest is a huge event, with a pumpkin patch, craft booths, food booths, and the wonderful cider that Tom and Shelly Schierman make.

We have a Paola address officially, but we consider ourselves to be in Somerset, Kansas. It is hard to believe that this was a vanishing town, it even lost it's Post Office years ago. Now, there is so much going on here. There is even the 4D acres Emu ranch just down the road.

Every day here is a new adventure. I am so glad I retired:):)

Now I only report to Christine:):)

Come and visit soon, we have friends come by daily.

Mike and Christine

It is Labor Day weekend and we were are at the Somerset Ridge Winery for a lunch overlooking their lake on Sunday. Afterwards we went back to Casa Somerset Vineyard and our friends start coming over. We talked about small growers and local producers. This was a Slowfood weekend.

Wow, I thought summer was over, but not if you visit the Wrischnik's, their yard is what Slowfood is all about! We had dinner with our friends Steve and Brenda who have an amazing garden. If everyone in America gardened like this we would be the healthiest nation on Earth. Carlo Petrini, when he started Slowfood, had a vision of people gardening like this.

Can you believe a bay leaf tree in Kansas?? Steve and Brenda have so many herbs in their yard you could not use them all. They have been supplying us with produce all summer. They gave us the golden eggplant, and they have beautiful heirloom tomatoes. Their garden is still like a jungle of fresh produce, they garden with so much love.

Our dinner was great, we ate with with their daughter Regan, her friend James, and Steve and Brenda. Brenda served pickled green beans which were the best ever, but when things are so fresh they have to be good!!

It has been a wonderful weekend with wonderful friends.

I am telling you the Slowfood Movement is in Somerset Kansas and Miami County.

*******************

The Louisburg Cidermill Festival starts September 19th. What a wonderful family outing, just 20 minutes out of Kansas CIty.

Mike and Christine

Casa Somerset Vineyard is HERE!!!!!!

WOW!!!!! We really live here. We each have our own kitchen, Christine is a bully in the kitchen. We are busy setting up all of the rooms. Christine and I have a lot of furniture. Believe me, I know. My sons and I have moved TONS of furniture over the past month!!! We have 10 acres of land and a 6 acre lake. Right now, the lake has some algae, but we are working to get it cleared out. We will have 4 paddle boats for our friends to float on, in the evenings with a bottle of vino from Somerset Ridge Winery.

You have to come by and visit.......really!

We got married here last November, who will be next?????

Each day we have many Kodak moments.

Look, a new batch of Lemoncello, just like Jasper III taught me. We could sip this together.

Think...weddings, Girls night out, anniversary dinners, etc.

We have planted 500 Cabernet Sauvignon vines, with that many more to come. There are at least 7 Vineyards and 2 tasting rooms within a couple of miles, and with more to come . We are the wine capital of Kansas. The Napa Valley of Kansas and Somerset. The fastest growing wine region of Kansas. We are located between Louisburg and Paola. Mile and half from Louisburg Cidermill, don't forget cidermill donuts

Happy Residents of Somerset

Mike and Christine Hursey

Chef Kay.

There is a Kansan in the kitchen!

Chef Kay is the one who keeps everyone coming back for her meals of love. These pictures are of this year's harvest at Somerset Ridge Winery. Chef Kay is Cindy Reynold's mom. If you haven't been to the winery, you should make the trip down there. It is a great winery, and harvest in the fall is like being in Italy.

Chef Kay made our wedding cake. When she found out we were getting married, she said she was going to make it. It was wonderful, what a friend.

This was sent to me by our great friend Jasper Mirabile. http://www.jasperskc.com/

It makes you think of everything we have in food in Kansas. Dennis and Cindy have brought a great Kansas winery to us in Somerset, Kansas. We have spent many days there just enjoying the company of all the friends they bring together. www.somersetridge.com

Dennis and Cindy have put together a Slowfood movement in Miami County. This is what it is all about, small producers making a great product. We have many small producers here that I love buying from. The foods are produced with the love of the land.

We are looking forward to the years ahead once Casa Somerset is complete. All of the small producers of Miami county getting together to share their bounty of the land.

Love to all Christine and Mike

Our Friends in Miami County

Casa Somerset is on the way up!!!! Norm and Annick Good came out and visited us today. The roof over the porch was being built this week. They had not been here since helping with the planting of the grapevines back in May. They were checking to see if I had taken care of their vines. I have!

Norm kept going on about the view from each floor as we went up. When we arrived on the third floor and he could see the Paola Water tower 8 miles away, he was impressed. We gave them a complete tour of Casa Somerset. Then the four of us went to the Somerset Ridge Winery for the German Fest by Chef Kay. She makes the greatest German Potato Salad and Brats with sauerkraut!

Master Chef Kay, Norm, and Annick are leaving the 13th for Sicily without me. They are going with my great friend Jasper Mirabile to his homeland. We are so busy with Casa Somerset this year that we can't go. They will have the trip of a life time. Chef Kay promised to bring me some Silician recipes back. I will write some blogs of their trip. Norm promised when Jasper took them to some of the small growers he would be watching for picture moments.

Norm and Annick told us today that if we weren't friends, they would probably never have come to Miami County. They toured the town square of Paola. They had never been there before. Norm and Annick said how beautiful it is. They were so impressed with Paola.

There is so much happening in Miami County now. I am telling everyone to come here. This is what Agri-tourism is all about. The Louisburg Cidermill, Somerset Ridge Winery, Casa Somerset, and the Paola Town Square. Call me I will take you on a tour of MY County.

There were so many people in Somerset this last two weekends. The Louisburg Cidermill had 12,000 visitors last weekend. There are only 37,000 living in Miami county. It is a wonderful place to live, and also to visit!

Mike

.

If you are not in Miami County you are in wrong place this weekend

It is fall everywhere, but nowhere more so than Miami County! There are so many things to do here. I was just reading about all of the events coming up. This is the best value for families this coming weekend.

You can visit our friends Mike and Dee Martin, and their EMU ranch, 4 D acres. It is at 13096 West 287th St. from 10 to 4. Earlier this year, Jasper made an Emu omelete that you would not believe, at the Miami County Farm Tour. He had so many herbs in it ,we had to call an ambulance, people were fainting so fast!! :-)

Call Mike and Dee at 887-837-4119. This is a free visit.

Also, be sure to check out Leland Prothe,"The King Of Pecans". Jasper candied some of his pecans, and people just kept asking for more. Leland is at 33850 Victory Road.

913-849-3358. Just come by and visit. It is free. Buy some pecans, and support our local growers.

Next on the list is the Louisburg Cidermill, on Highway 68. There is no gate charge, but you will not stop eating the applecider donuts!! They are wonderful! There are too many things for kids to do there to mention. A great family time!

Then be sure to visit the Somerset Ridge Winery, take a nice slow tour of the vines. Cindy and Dennis are the best, enjoy the German fest. Check them out at http://www.somersetridge.com/

If you get any time after all of that, come by Casa Somerset, 16315 west 287th st. See the building progress. We are usually there on Sundays.

Mike and Christine

Somerset Ridge Winery, enjoy some wine and take a slow tour of the winery. This is what http://www.slowfoodkc.org/ is all about. slowfoodkc@kc.rr.com if you would like to be on our e-mail list of great events.

Louisburg Cidermill ,Cider Fest.

I have never seen so many people in Somerset. Thousands!!!!! I went there to take pictures and thought, "There is no need for economic stimulus." This is what we as a nation need; Americans thinking and creating local prosperity. You should go to the Louisburg Cidermill to see the pumpkin field and the Corn Maze. I was watching the small children with their families picking out pumpkins, and really enjoying the outdoors. Halloween is just around the corner, and each child wanted the spookiest pumpkin! This Ciderfest is a real family event. The bands were playing and the children singing, real family fun. It give me a good all over feeling.

Tom and Shelly Scheirman have brought this fun time to Miami County for over 30 years. My friend, Jim Howell, told me all about when the Cidermill started out really small, and now they are the icon of the county. Greg Bevelin from the Hillsdale Bank Bar-b-que said that the Ciderfest brought business to his restaurant in Hillsdale.

This is where you and your family need to be next weekend. Check out their website at

www.louisburgcidermill.com It will create family memories that will last a lifetime.

Mike

Blake and Grant.

Blake has been one of my best friends for so long. His brother Grant is the football star. They are the Grandsons of Elsie Penn. She brags about them so much. I am telling you, when you are around these two very polite young men you really appreciate them. They will be the leaders of our future. Especially when they learn how to speak Spanish. They came out to the house to visit yesterday. Grant couldn't believe that my son Josh hit golf balls off of the roof..

So much is happening at the Italian Villa. It is worth the drive. Christine and I are there most Wednesdays and Sundays. Come by for a tour and to visit.

16315 West 287th st. Paola, it really should be Somerset, Kansas, however. Somerset used to be a town with a Post Office until the '70s.

The house is a mile from The Louisburg Cidermill. http://www.louisburgcidermill.com/, and also a mile from the Somerset Ridge Winery http://www.somersetridge.com/

It is all here in Somerset.

Limoncello, Applecello so many choices in life.

I was introduced to limoncello in Italy on my first visit. Laura Caponetti gave me the recipe after I tasted enough to know I was in Love. http://www.caponetti.com/ My family in Italy.

I bought the perfect china tray and 4 little shot like glasses with, of course, a matching decanter filled with limoncello. It was dark blue with lemons all over it. I have made many gallons since learning this about 10 years ago, and have enjoyed them with friends.

The recipe that was shared with me by Laura Caponetti consists of Everclear alcohol (the large bottle), add 10 lemon peels. Let this sit for 10 days. At the end of 10 days, add equal amounts of water and sugar. It is easy and then ready to sip.

Now I have met the Creator of Applecello and Limoncello in Kansas City. It isn't Jasper Mirabile the 2nd, but Jasper Mirabile the 3rd. He is every bit as creative as his Grandfather and his Uncle. He came up with the Applecello idea by using the cider from the Louisburg Cidermill. http://www.louisburgcidermill.com/ He has 2 separate menus for Cello drinks, both Apple and Lemon. If you have not tasted either it is a must try! We in Kansas City are so lucky to have a family like the Mirabile's, who pass on the old Italian recipes of generation after generation, and continue to create new ones as well!

Jasper the 3rd is so creative in the kitchen, he has really added his mark to the recipes and food you enjoy, using his Grandfather's original recipes. He will share some, but some are only passed from Jasper to Jasper. http://www.jasperskc.com/ I have been fortunate enough to watch him in the kitchen, he is constantly working on new and old recipes to please his customers. His Grandfather would be proud.

Jasper sent this recipe to me, that one of his favorite customers shared with him. I made it for a special dinner, and I would have eaten the whole thing, but I had to fight my daughter-in law Beatriz for an extra piece. She is my favorite Daughter -in -law at this time.

Limoncello cake, it is so easy and soooooo gooood!!!!!

Limoncello Cake

1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
1 Box Instant Vanilla Pudding
1/2 Cup Corn Oil 1/4 Cup water
3/4 cup BERBIGLIA LIMONCELLO HERE
4 Eggs plus 1 egg yolk
1/4 cup lemon zest

Mix all ingredients and bake in a well greased bundt pan at 325 F for 1 hour. Pour glaze over cake immediately out of oven.

Limoncello Glaze
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup Butter
1/2 Cup of BERBIGLIA Limoncello HERE
3 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp lemon zest

Place all ingredients in pan, bring to a boil and stir constantly. Poke holes in bundt cake and pour over top.

Jasper's Notes: My friend and customer Bonnie Knocke loves limoncello and she developed this cake recipe for Jasper's. Bonnie brought me this cake one day before dinner service and I swear I must have eaten the whole cake, I DO NOT REMEMBER. Grazie mille Bonnie!

Harvest at Somerset Ridge Winery

You know life is about Friends and Family.

Christine and I arrived at the Somerset Ridge Vineyards about 9:30 on Sunday morning, and the first person I saw was Katie Van Luchene. We have been friends for a few years. We both are "Foodies" of KC. I was so surprised to see her and her friend Jan Tracy; happy, but surprised. This was their first time to harvest grapes at the Somerset Ridge vineyards. They were in for a real treat. We met many times in the vines that day. Our paths crossed as we heard Dennis and Cindy Reynolds send us from one yineyard to another vineyard to pick cabernet franc or cabernet sauvignon grapes. They have so many vines now, compared to 9 years ago when I met them for the first time.

Katie is the executive editor of KC Luxury magazine. I was reading just the day, about her and her husband Jerry, and all of the charity work that they do. Just ask her about their Harley. http://www.midwestluxe.com/

We completed the day's harvest, had some great Somerset Ridge wine, and a wonderful french lunch by Chef Kay. She makes a delicious cassoulet!

The Louisburg Cidermill Festival is this coming weekend, be sure to come and bring your friends. http://www.louisburgcidermill.com/ Read about all of the events. Louisburg has their city wide garage sale then as well. Somerset Ridge winery is only a couple of miles away from the Cidermill. Go west on 68 highway and turn left at Somerset Road. The paved road turns into gravel, but it is worth the drive! They have a great tasting room.

You can enjoy the fruits of all of our labor :) :)

Mike