Hanging with Bush Beans in Napa…
Posted by Aggies Kitchen on March 1st, 2010. Filed under: Uncategorized.Do you have a minute?
Pull up a chair…
Or maybe pour yourself a glass of vino.
Last Wednesday I flew 2000 (or so) miles west to California to join a few ladies to cook alongside Bush Beans at the Culinary Institute of America – Greystone. We spent the day in the kitchen cooking up a few delicious chili recipes created by Connie Gutterson, RD for Bush Beans.
I can’t begin to tell you how amazing this experience was for me…but maybe these photos can…
Joining me in the kitchen were:
Amy @ She Wears Many Hats, Sandy @ Reluctant Entertainer and Tina @ Mommy’s Kitchen
Connie Gutterson was an amazing hostess…
and we had a little help from Chef Andy Wild (check him out on Facebook!)…
Our cooking stations…
Don’t we look all professional?
White Bean Chili Verde with Sonoma Pesto (recipe to come)
Chicken and Kidney Beans Spanish Stew (recipe to come)
Black Bean Buttermilk Cornbread (recipe to come)
Lunch is served…
Team Pesto – Tina and I joined up together to cook up the Chili Verde
And of course there was a little extra time for some
fun fun fun!!
Picnic Lunch at Rutherford Hill Winery…marinated artichokes, roasted garlic, balsamic figs, crusty bread, hummus and falafel chips…and of course a nice bottle of their Petit Verdoh
We learned how to swirl our wine and look at “legs”…
Thank you for letting me share my trip with you…it was totally inspiring and I can’t wait to get cooking again!
March 1st, 2010 at 9:21 pm
What an amazing trip! Love the photos. Of all the recipes you prepared at the CIA, which one would you say had the biggest kid appeal? In other words, does one stand out as a recipe you think your kids would gobble up? My kids are big bean fans, so I’m just curious!
March 1st, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Ah! I love all of the pictures – it looks like you guys had such a good time and yes- you look like (and are!) total pros. I can’t wait for those recipes – they look awesome!
March 1st, 2010 at 9:52 pm
I am jealous! Glad you had fun!
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:08 am
Aggie, what an amazing trip! Napa is amazing and I can’t even imagine having an experience like this. Great photos…can’t wait for the recipes!
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:54 am
Oh, so fun. Great pix and it was such a pleasure to meet you and share this experience with you. Bush Beans rocks!
Yummy recipes, too.
March 2nd, 2010 at 7:07 am
Great photos and what an amazing opportunity Aggie!
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:21 am
Looks like an amazing trip, Aggie! I’ve never been to Napa, but after seeing your photos, I’m going to be lobbying to get that on our “short” list of places to visit! Can’t wait to see those recipes!
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:28 am
Boy oh boy, I wish I could have joined you on that trip. What a fantastic opportunity for you. You look like you should be in culinary school. Can’t wait to you share those recipes. I just told Mike where he’s taking me on our 20th anniversary in 2 years,,,,Napa Valley.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:54 am
Lucky you! What fun that all looks like. And that cornbread looks fantastic! Can’t wait to see the recipe!
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:58 am
What a fun trip! Cooking, baking, and wine tasting… sounds perfect! I can’t wait to see your recipes, because I love variations on chili.
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:41 am
That looks like sooo much fun!!!! How did you get that awesome opportunity?
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:55 am
BEAUTIFUL photos Aggie, what a wonderful trip they took you ladies on! Congrats on such a fun opportunity
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:04 am
What an awe-inspiring adventure Aggie. We all wish we were there with you…and not just in spirit.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
What an amazing trip! I love the pictures Aggie!
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:20 am
Wow that looks so fun! Now I want to go to a wine tasting or vineyards.
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:25 am
Looks so yummy!! What a fun trip
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Oh my gosh, it looks like such a wonderful experience!!! I am so incredibly jealous
those pictures are amazing and I can’t wait for the recipes!!!
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:35 pm
We had so much fun! Great picts Aggie.
Can we do it again?
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Great snaps from the trip, a true culinary adventure experience! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Regards,
CCR
=:~)
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Lucky you! How did you manage that wonderful trip? You were in my own backyard. I live 2 hours away from the CIA and love this area so much. I go every July, for my birthday. Great photos and you look like you had so much fun.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Now you see why I’m so homesick?
Amazing pics, beautiful subject, perfect experience.
Thanks for sharing.
Looking forward to hearing all about it, in detail, next week.
Awesome job my friend!
March 4th, 2010 at 8:53 am
wonderful photos, all of you looked like you had such a great time cooking and tasting great food!
March 4th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
oh so lucky!! how did you get to go on soemthing so fun?
March 6th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
What a wonderful experience – lucky you!
March 7th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
oh my goodness! SOOOOO amazing (and I am sooo jealous
). What a beautiful location and great recipes! I love Bush’s beans! I buy at least 2 if not 3 containers a week! I am using them tonight in fact to make a red bean, spinach, tomato sauce & rice mixture! Glad you had fun 
Cute pics of you cooking it up!
March 10th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
OMG!!! Delicious! I cannot wait until the Black Bean Buttermilk Cornbread recipe!!
So excited to make already! =)
July 13th, 2010 at 6:32 am
[...] you one of my favorite recipes for summer! Sandy and I met earlier this year on a fantastic trip to Napa Valley with the folks over at Bush’s Beans. That was an unforgettable trip for me, and I made some [...]