What did I cook this weekend.....

[Staestc]

You had me with "brandy"! Lol. Ever since I watched Alton do fruitcake I have been wanting to try one myself.

Tonight is chicken tortilla soup however. A recipe my wife and I worked up over several years.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1418955979.515995.jpg

 

[Homercidal]

You had me with "brandy"! Lol. Ever since I watched Alton do fruitcake I have been wanting to try one myself.

Tonight is chicken tortilla soup however. A recipe my wife and I worked up over several years.
View attachment 242746

Aw yeah! I did some tortilla type soups and we loved them.

Tonight is the wife's birthday, and as good as Zuppa Toscana is, she has requested Chicken Corn Chowder. It's her new favorite, plus we had ZT a few times since right around Tday.

And she wanted a Red Velvet Cake mix with Butter Cream frosting.

AND I'm going to see if I can replicate the Champagne Chicken recipe at a nearby fancy restaurant. Took the kids there last night for shopping and they both LOVED it too. It's pretty good, I admit. I hope to do it justice.

if I can make that and Risotto to go with it, I'm in like Flynn!

 

[unionrdr]

I like making potato corn chowder with fresh roasted corn cut off the cob. The chicken addition sounds pretty good too.

 

[Staestc]

And she wanted a Red Velvet Cake mix with Butter Cream frosting.
:

You had me with Butter Cream frosting!! lol

Let us know how the champagne chicken turns out. Not sure I have ever had it even!

 

[Staestc]

I like making potato corn chowder with fresh roasted corn cut off the cob. The chicken addition sounds pretty good too.

Not much can beat roasted fresh corn. No matter what you do with it! :rockin:

(Roasted poblano chilies are close though!)

 

[unionrdr]

Maybe smoke some fresh oysters to toss in it at the end?

 

[paulthenurse]

Decided to double the recipe for the fruitcake. Here is the wet side of the equation; cider, the macerated dried fruit and more brandy, cooling after simmering with three cups of sugar, spices and a pound of unsalted butter.View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1419189234.334177.jpg

 

[paulthenurse]

Toasted pecans and walnuts cooling.View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1419189424.382482.jpg

 

[paulthenurse]

Flour, eggs, vanilla, leaving agents, more brandy, some lovin' and into the oven.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1419192407.040030.jpg

 

[Yooper]

I made a gluten-free braciole yesterday.

Oh, my goodness it was good!!!!!!

It was a thin pounded flank steak, filled with pesto (basil, pine nuts, garlic gloves, parmesan), some parsley, and some chopped spinach, worked into a paste with my mortar and pestle, and then rolled jelly roll style and tied with strain.

It was well-browned in hot tallow, then braised for 2.5 hours in homemade marina sauce. It was sliced, and then served over soft coarse-ground polenta.

Crappy cell phone photos:

 

[ChefRex]

Chicken curry that developed though the ebbs and flow of a miserable weekend but you still gotta eat. Nice and spicy and that makes me happy.

 

[Staestc]

I have an Emeril recipe chicken and sausage gumbo going on my beer burner for tomorrow night, and a fire going on the grill for strip steaks that have been marinating all afternoon. Add a good cigar going and some good home brews and store bought ales. Life is good!!
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1419213066.571898.jpg
And the roux. I swear it's way darker than it looks! Lol
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1419213128.894699.jpg

 

[Staestc]

I should add its the first time I have ever made gumbo with no sea food, and the first time I have ever done a roux on my beer burner!!

 

[beergolf]

Looks good.

Made my mind up what I am doing tomorrow. A big batch of gumbo is a good thing to have around for the holidays....

 

[Staestc]

My thoughts exactly! Wish I had seafood.

 

[Sammy86]

Made some Italian sweet sausage with twice baked potatoes and steamed cauliflower/broccoli mix plus a little green beans to make sure we had enough vitamin B :rockin:


View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1419217797.598595.jpg

 

[Sammy86]

Almost forgot...Hannukah party this weekend

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1419217942.923288.jpg

 

[bob1852]

Winter solstice means pot stickers for good luck. And lettuce wraps and spring rolls because they're tasty.

 

[ChefRex]

Winter solstice means pot stickers for good luck. And lettuce wraps and spring rolls because they're tasty.

Damn, that looks good!

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Winter solstice means pot stickers for good luck. And lettuce wraps and spring rolls because they're tasty.

That looks so tasty! Your presentation is awesome too! Too bad I can't "like" something more than once, this deserves at least 2 thumbs up!
Regards, GF.

 

[johngaltsmotor]

Had a Star Wars Life Day party to go to so I made a batch of soft DME pretzels (shaped like Tie Fighters) Those are always a hit.

 

[Melana]

I've been cooking a lot of food getting ready for the holiday yet I haven't managed any pictures. I will get pics on Thursday though... somehow I went to the store looking to purchase 8lbs of standing rib roast and came home with just over eleven. I have never done a SRR that large on my grill and hoping it comes out good. Any suggestions for a dry brine?

 

[Homercidal]

Wife's birthday weekend this weekend, so last night to finish it off I tried to make Champagne Chicken, like her favorite at the nearby fancy restaurant.

It turned out pretty good, but not knowing the different kinds of champagne I chose a spumante and it was kind of sweet. It was still good, but next time I will use a dry champagne and add a bit of garlic too. I also forgot the rosemary.

I made up a box Risotto kit because we had one on hand and I was trying to focus on not screwing up the chicken too bad. It was a good meal, but I'd definitely prefer a homemade risotto, maybe mushroom or peas to go with the meal.

 

[Melana]

Wife's birthday weekend this weekend, so last night to finish it off I tried to make Champagne Chicken, like her favorite at the nearby fancy restaurant.

It turned out pretty good, but not knowing the different kinds of champagne I chose a spumante and it was kind of sweet. It was still good, but next time I will use a dry champagne and add a bit of garlic too. I also forgot the rosemary.

I made up a box Risotto kit because we had one on hand and I was trying to focus on not screwing up the chicken too bad. It was a good meal, but I'd definitely prefer a homemade risotto, maybe mushroom or peas to go with the meal.

lucky lady right there!

 

[Staestc]

Winter solstice means pot stickers for good luck. And lettuce wraps and spring rolls because they're tasty.

Absolutely awesome!! And I so love cooking pot stickers!

 

[Homercidal]

Absolutely awesome!! And I so love cooking pot stickers!

I saw Alton Brown or one of them Food Network guys cooking these and I wanted to try them. I never got around to it.

Any recipe for it??

 

[bob1852]

I saw Alton Brown or one of them Food Network guys cooking these and I wanted to try them. I never got around to it.

Any recipe for it??

In my opinion, just buy the frozen ones from the grocery store (or Asian market, if you have one close).

I prefer to put them in boiling water, return to a boil, simmer for ~3 minutes, and then pan fry in a little oil (without stiring) to get one edge to crisp up.

The more traditional way is to pan fry for several minutes then add water and cover for a quick steam/braise; but that method doesn't work as well for me.

I've made them from scratch, but it takes too long, and isn't worth the hassle when the store bought frozen ones are pretty much what you get in a restaurant anyway.

 

[unionrdr]

Try a "Brut" champagne next time for a drier outcome.

 

[Homercidal]

Try a "Brut" champagne next time for a drier outcome.

Yeah I looked it up when I was eating and decided that was the kind to use. On the plus side, everyone liked it and I have half a bottle of champagne to drink!

 

[unionrdr]

So much the better to toast Jesus on his birthday! Gotta make sure I have what I need to barbecue the turkey this year myself.