Walnut Brownies

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:55:44 -0600

Makes 8 Brownies

12 ounces semisweet chocolate
12 tbsps unsalted butter
1½ cups sugar
1 cup flour
2 tsps baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1/4 cup chopped mint leaves
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
½ cup chopped walnut

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 9" x 13" baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Break chocolate into small pieces and slice butter into tablespoons. In a double boiler, melt chocolate, butter and sugar over simmering water. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. In a separate bowl, whisk flour,baking powder, salt and mint. In a separate mixing bowl whisk eggs into cooled chocolate then fold in dry ingredients. Blend well then add walnuts. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center is barely moist. Remove from oven and cool completely in pan.

Irish coffee

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:43:17 -0600

Makes 1 cup

1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 jigger Irish whiskey (1 1/2 ounces or 3 tablespoons)
Heavy cream, slightly whipped
Pinch of nutmeg for garnish

Pour hot coffee into warmed glass until it is about 3/4 full. Add the brown sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Blend in Irish whiskey. Top with whipped heavy cream and sprinkle nutmeg on the cream for garnish. Serve hot.

Read Beans & Rice

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:12:47 -0600

Serves 4

1 pound dried kidney beans
1 1/2 quarts water
1/2 vegatable oil.
1 cup diced onion
1/4 cup minced garlic
1 large smoked ham hock
1 bay leaf
Louisiana hot sauce to taste
salt and pepper to taste
4 cups cooked white rice

Wash red beans. In a large container soak beans in the water for at least 1 hour. This can be done overnight in a refrigerator.

In a large sauce pan heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute for 5 minutes, or until they are clear and wilted. Add to beans (with the water), hamhock, and bay leaf. Bring to a swimmer and cook until beans are tender, about 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Take out hamhock, cut meat away from bone and add to pot of beans. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and Louisiana hot sauce. Serve in soup bowls over hot rice.

Coq a Vin

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 14:10:50 -0600

Serves 4

1 (4-pound) roasting chicken  3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided  1 bacon slice, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup diced onions 1/2 cup brandy  4 cups chicken stock 1 (750-milliliter) bottle dry red wine  2 garlic cloves, halved  1 lb. mushrooms, stemmed  3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Salt and pepper to taste

Rinse chicken with cold water, and pat dry. Trim off excess fat. Remove giblets, and discard the neck. Cut chicken into quarters. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chicken to the pan, and cook 10 minutes, browning on all sides. Remove from pan. Add bacon, and cook until crisp. Add onions and saute until wilted, about 6 minutes. Return chicken to pan, and add brandy, 2cups chicken stock, wine, and garlic, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 1/2 hours.
Remove chicken from wine mixture, and cover and refrigerate for 6 hours. Skim solidified fat from surface, and discard.
Combine mushrooms and 2 cups chicken stock in a large nonstick skillet, and bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes, or until liquid almost evaporates. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
Bring wine mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Combine 2 tablespoons butter and flour in a small bowl, and work into a paste with fingers or a fork. Add 1/4 cup wine mixture, stirring with a whisk until well-blended. Add butter mixture to wine mixture, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Return chicken and mushrooms to pan. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve.

Big Easy Martini

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 15:15:27 -0600

Make 1

2 1/2 oz. New Orleans Absolute Vodka
1/2 oz. simple syrup
squeeze lime juice
1/2 oz. grenadine
1/2 oz. sweet in sour mix
Cherry for garnish
Purple, green, and gold colored sugars for rim of glass

Shake Vodka, syrup, lime juice, grenadine, and sweet and sour over Ice. Strain into and martini glass rimmed with purple, green, and gold sugars, and garnish and a cherry