Hotel Leger for more than 150 Easter morning when Fran and Prepare the béchamel. years. Not only is the Gold Rush inn Angie Giourousis and their large Bechemel Sauce party central in Mokelumne Hill, it and lively clan expand the menu to 8 tablespoons butter also hosts book conferences, semi- offer two holiday specials. Prime rib 10 to 12 tablespoons flour nars, author signings and rock is planned for $15.95 and baked 4 cups milk, scalded bands. On Sunday morning, the ham for $10.95. Both entrees will be 2 egg yolks hotel re-invents its Easter tradition. served with soup, salad, vegetables Salt and pepper to taste Chef Chuck Swisher has planned a and a choice of fries, baked or buffet with five different food sta- mashed potatoes and to top it off, Bring ingredients to a gentle sim- tions, each with different offerings. bread pudding. mer, then reduce heat to medium Consider oysters on the half shell, Angie’s signature dish is Eggplant low and continue simmering until garlic pepper shrimp or steamed Moussaka. She doesn’t serve it at the flour has softened, 10 to 20 min- mussels. Happily, you won’t have to the restaurant, but will make it for utes. Season with salt and pepper. choose one over the other; you can private parties. I’ve taken advantage Arrange half of the eggplant slices have any or all of them plus much of this opportunity several times; it’s in even rows in a medium-size bak- more. Best yet, if the Big Bunny always a great hit and Charles and I ing pan. Sprinkle with half of the smiles at us, the balcony will be cherish whatever leftovers remain. bread crumbs. Add half of the cheese open. Easter brunch will be served I’ve made moussaka myself a few to the chopped meat. Mix it in well; from 10:30 a.m. to l p.m. for $29.95 times using Angie’s recipe. Take my 2 tablespoons chopped onions Place half of the butter or oil in a spread this on top of the eggplant. for adults and $11.95 for children word, it’s labor intensive but awful- 1½ cups white wine frying pan. Add the chopped meat Add another layer of eggplant, ages 6 to 12, with no charge for ages ly good – a marvelous dish to serve 1½ pounds ripe tomatoes, peeled and onions. Stir to crumble the meat then cover with the béchamel. 5 and younger. family or friends if you plan to enjoy and strained and brown. Add the wine, tomatoes, Sprinkle the remaining cheese on Everybody knows Frank’s Café. the Easter holiday at home. 2 tablespoons chopped parsley parsley, salt and pepper and bring to top, then the remaining bread- It’s the town kitchen not only for So by popular demand, here’s an Salt and pepper to taste a boil. Lower the heat and simmer crumbs. Drizzle with melted butter. Moke Hill residents, but for every- heirloom recipe to tuck into your until the liquids are absorbed. Wash Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in a pre- bunny basket. 3 pounds eggplant one traversing the intersection of and dry the eggplant. Cut into thin heated 350-degree oven until lightly Highways 49 and 26. This is where Oil for frying browned. Serves 6. slices. Fry in the remaining butter, people come to gossip, plan, organ- Angie’s Moussaka l cup bread crumbs ize, see, be seen and especially to ½ cup butter or vegetable oil 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese adding oil if needed. Place the fried Contact Antoinette May Herndon eat. So expect an especially lively 1½ pounds chopped lamb 2 to 3 tablespoons melted butter eggplant slices on a platter. at [email protected]. Is the pope drinking Malbec on Easter? Tom Bender ith all the excitement over a shared his wines with Jorge Mario more than 300 days of sunshine Malbec growing activity new pope hailing from the Bergoglio when he was a cardinal per year and very little humidity. A seems to be taking place in El WAmericas for the first time, I living there. After all, Argentina dark, thin-skinned red grape, Dorado County. Several Views from wonder whether Pope Francis will has really made a global mark with Malbec was one of the key grapes Calaveras wineries have celebrate Easter with an Italian or several of its wines, especially in Bordeaux, but wasn’t replanted experimented with making it the Vineyard Argentinian wine. Malbec. This classic red grape in most of the area’s vineyards fol- recently. Frog’s Tooth and I attended an Argentine wine came to Argentina from Bordeaux, lowing the devastating phylloxera Ironstone vineyards and ly if you are doing something with tasting recently and the represen- France, in the 1860s, where it destruction of the late 1800s. Coppermine Winery have produced beef or lamb on the grill. Argentina tative talked about the owner of a quickly became acclimated to the The success of Malbecs from examples of this deeply colored and is big on beef and Malbec speaks to full-flavored red. highly regarded winery having country’s climate that includes Argentina has given way to other its cuisine. Also look for one of Tracking down one of our local global wine regions experimenting our regional Meritage wines if Malbecs might make for a fun addi- you want to see what Malbec adds with the grape, including our tion to your Easter menu, especial- foothill wine counties. Most of the to this traditional Bordeaux blend. $750 REWARD To put Meritage on the label, the FOR SAFE RETURN, NO QUESTIONS ASKED! red wine version must include only a blend of grapes that are his- License # 920678 toric to the Bordeaux region. That would include Cabernet Sauvi- gnon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Carmenere and, of course, Malbec. Several area Best Plumber wineries make a Meritage and in the Mother Lode! include small percentages of Malbec in the mix, including Residential & Commercial Service, Repairs & Remodels Frog’s Tooth and Ironstone. Another important Argentinian WATER HEATERS - STANDARD & TANKLESS SEWER & DRAIN CLEANING grape that several foothill wineries Ripley is a 9 yr. old, 11 lb. male, cream color Maltipoo GAS LINE INSTALLATION & REPAIR PUMP REPAIRS - ALL TYPES are experimenting with is missing from Main Street, Murphys on 2/24. Torrontes, a white grape that plays Dog needs medication or will soon be very sick. VIDEO CAMERA PIPE INSPCTIONIS - HD COLOR EVERYTHING ELSE PLUMBING! a big role below the equator and Ripley is a Certified Therapy dog and owner is grieving. Senior Discounts! All work is fully guaranteed! just recently has found its way into several area vineyards. A very flo- Owner has raised him from 6 weeks old and he Licensed, bonded and fully insured. Emergency Services Available. has been by her side for 9 years. ral white with a pleasant touch of We serve the Tuolumne and Calaveras areas. peach or apricot flavors, its light Please see it in your heart to return him Just drop him off at flavors would be a nice touch for VdorA, 207 Main St. Murphys or call 925-899-8391. www.walkerssierraplumbing.com Easter Sunday brunch. Look for ANY tip that results in return will get the $750 reward. 209-984-4069 (Tuolumne) or 209-795-1909 (Calaveras) examples from Bodega del Sur and Frog’s Tooth wineries. 14 March 27 - April 2, 2013 Sierra Lodestar