Around Town ~ Hopkins County Stew Festival

 

For 57 years, the Hopkins County Stew Festival has been cooking up stew, and this year they're leaning into the 250th Celebration with Red, White and Stew. While there are a few versions of how the festival gained popularity, one storyline is that it was a celebration of the fall harvest and a way for the community to gather together, a tradition that has evolved over the years into a cooking competition for local businesses, families, and individuals alike to try their hand at chicken or beef stew. Another storyline is that, with the community being rural and home to a multitude of schools, the schools ended their year with a stew celebration, cooking for all the students and their families in a big cast iron pot. A mix of vegetables and meat were tossed together to be enjoyed by all the students and families.

In 1969, the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce officially began sponsoring the stew and created the contest, one that has evolved over the years to become the "World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest." While no official recipe for the stew is shared, a selected meat, beef or chicken, along with at least the following vegetables: potatoes, onion, corn, and tomatoes, sits at the heart of the stew. Season how you like and serve it up to the public. Judging is based on taste, color, and smell. The winners are selected, and bragging rights abound for at least a whole year, before winners must be chosen again.

This year's Stew Festival will be held on Saturday, October 24. Tickets are $8 a person, all you can eat. Children under 12 are free thanks to generous sponsor Signature Solar. But wait, the fun starts Friday night with music, food, and, you guessed it, another contest. An appetizer contest and Dutch oven cook-off let cooks test their skills the night before the stew contest. This year the Chamber hopes to have a fireworks show in honor of the 250th anniversary of the country. Red, White and Stew is going to be hot! Don't miss your chance to eat and discover the best stew in the state of Texas.

If the Stew Festival wasn't enough of a draw on its own, the Fall Festival happens the very same weekend. There's so much to see and do that visitors will have their pick of activities, food, and more, including an art show, a hay bale contest, and even a separate Corvette show on the Square. Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County will be hopping with fun and food all weekend long. It's best to book a two-day stay to come and explore it all.

And this year, we're excited to join in the fun ourselves. The Oaks Bed and Breakfast will be cooking stew for the first time ever. Stop by our pot, say hello, and grab a bowl before we run out.

Let the contest begin and the eating commence. Guests won't go hungry this weekend with so many food-related events to attend. The adventure starts here, and you won't want to miss out.

Travel Texas ~ Spring, Texas

 

One might not think of Spring, Texas as a destination in itself, but Old Town Spring is a great stop to make when you're down south near Houston. We happened to have a couple of days to visit with our oldest, and I found a perfectly located bed and breakfast in Old Town Spring.

The August Inn is conveniently located right at the edge of the winding roads of Old Town Spring. With easy direct booking and being walking distance from all the shops and dining, August Inn is your perfect choice for overnight accommodations. They currently offer four rooms, all downstairs, with open space for guests to relax with a book or do a little work while visiting. Breakfast is typically served at 9:30 a.m., which depending on your schedule can work out well or seem a little late, the majority of the shops don't open until 11 a.m. or later. If you're having a casual vacation and not on a work schedule, breakfast that late might work out just fine. Our room was a lovely king room with a walk-in shower and lovely shades of blue throughout. The inn is located right next to the railroad tracks, so if you're a light sleeper, they provide earplugs to help with noise reduction. Little touches like that make each visit special.

Old Town Spring is a little village filled with everything from tiny buildings to old historic ones. Restaurants, bars, shops, and candy stores line the streets, the only thing missing seemed to be a bookshop. Quite a few of the buildings looked like they had been there for years, while others looked like outbuildings built to fit the space. Since it's summer and hot, the reprieve of walking into an air-conditioned space was lovely.

Dinner our first night was at a tapas bar, Mesón Sommelier, with amazing food and wine. I feel like we ate their entire menu, but thankfully we did not. Good food and conversation flowed well all evening; the highlights were the Cod Croquettes and the Tarta de Chocolate. Nothing went unfinished, and we even had to ask for more bread to help soak up all the amazing sauces. The interior of the restaurant looked like an airplane, with seating by old plane doors, a raised dais, and lounge-style furniture. Customers can also sit and enjoy drinks at the bar. If you only eat once while in Old Town Spring, make this your place to stop.

We did not stay in Spring the entire time we were visiting our oldest. We also ventured over to St. Arnold Brewery. She prefers cider to beer and has enjoyed St. Arnold's ciders before, so when she found out about their operation located in Houston, she knew we'd want to visit. What a fantastic stop it was; our visit here did not disappoint. They have grown and adapted over the years and have expanded their tasting room. Once inside the main brewery, you'll find St. Arnold's has since created a porch-like atmosphere, with a large covered area filled with picnic tables and additional seating. When you visit, you can enjoy beer and cider along with a great brewery menu. We happened to be there at the right time to grab a quick tour after our meal. The tour was the perfect touch to end our evening at the brewery. It should be on your travel list if you're ever in the Houston area. The food was wonderful, and our tastings were delightful as well.

Even though we did not visit NASA or travel as far south as Galveston, we really enjoyed our trip south.  Between the small-town charm of Old Town Spring and a short drive into Houston for a stop at St. Arnold, this trip ended up being the perfect mix of slow mornings and good exploring. It's an easy weekend getaway, whether you're visiting family in the area or just looking for a low-key escape with great food, good drinks, and plenty of character. We're already looking forward to our next visit. 

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Mint Limoncello Spritz

 

It’s time for an easy and refreshing summer drink, you can just pour directly into your glass.  That’s right, no mixing required, just pour and enjoy.  Now there is a little slicing to go along but that is only if you want to make your glasses look extra pretty.  Otherwise this drink is done in a snap.

If you enjoy Prosecco and lemon this one is for you.  The majority of the liquid is Prosecco, but you do have a bit of sparkling water and chilled Limoncello to add some dimension as well.  A little history on a Spritz before we get to the good stuff.  Traditionally a Spritz cocktail was made with a bitter liqueur, Prosecco and sparkling water.  Designed to be enjoyed before dining, as an apertivo.  However, people have adapted them to be more than just a bitter drink but a little sweeter with various options of wine and a bit of water.  The Limoncello is adding the sweet to this drink, so if that is not your style, choose something else.

Maybe you would like to enjoy an orange flavor, go for some Cointreau and orange slices, instead of lemon.  Make your drink the way you want to enjoy it.  My preference would be to make it with the Prosecco, but that is only because it’s not my favorite.  Eliminating the Prosecco has the added benefit of making the drink lighter, by not having as much alcohol and fewer calories.

Mint Limoncello Spritz

3 ounces Prosecco

2 ounces Limoncello

1 ounce Sparkling water

Mint

Lemon, sliced

Fill your glass with smaller or crushed ice cubes.  Add in lemon slices for looks.  Pour liquid over the ice.  Garnish with mint and enjoy. 

Yes, it is that easy.  No messy clean up, except the cutting board.  I hope that you enjoy this drink as the summer winds down, but the temps heat up.  This drink will be your go to drink, for August.  What a perfect way to finish up your day. 

Be sure to drink responsibly and have a designated driver or a fantastic place to stay! Cheers!