Monday, January 4, 2010
Cooking: Candied Bacon Ice Cream
For the candied bacon:
6 strips bacon
about 5 tablespoons light brown sugar
For the ice cream custard:
3 tablespoons (45g) salted butter
¾ cup (packed) brown sugar (170g), light or dark (you can use either)
2¾ (675ml) cup half-and-half
5 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons dark rum or whiskey
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
optional: ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1. To candy the bacon, preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
2. Lay the strips of bacon on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or aluminum foil, shiny side down.
3. Sprinkle 1½-2 teaspoons of brown sugar evenly over each strip of bacon, depending on length.
4. Bake for 12-16 minutes. Midway during baking, flip the bacon strips over and drag them through the dark, syrupy liquid that's collected on the baking sheet. Continue to bake until as dark as mahogany. Remove from oven and cool the strips on a wire rack.
5. Once crisp and cool, chop into little pieces, about the size of grains of rice.
(Bacon bits can be stored in an airtight container and chilled for a day or so, or stored in the freezer a few weeks ahead.)
**Tip: Keep the bacon in the oven until it appear to be very crisp beneath the melted brown sugar***
6. To make the ice cream custard, melt the butter in a heavy, medium-size saucepan. Stir in the brown sugar and half of the half-and-half. Pour the remaining half-and-half into a bowl set in an ice bath and set a mesh strainer over the top.
7. In a separate bowl, stir together the egg yolks, then gradually add some of the warm brown sugar mixture to them, whisking the yolks constantly as you pour. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan.
8. Cook over low to moderate heat, constantly stirring and scraping the bottom with a heatproof spatula, until the custard thickens enough to coat the spatula.
9. Strain the custard into the half-and-half, stirring over the ice bath, until cool. Add liquor, vanilla and cinnamon, if using.
10. Refrigerate the mixture. Once thoroughly chilled, freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Add the bacon bits during the last moment of churning, or stir them in when you remove the ice cream from the machine.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Cooking: Noodles with Roast Pork and Almond Sauce
Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon canola oil
1/2 pound pork tenderloin, trimmed
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
8 ounces uncooked fettuccine
1/4 cup almond butter
2 1/2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
1 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh mint
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Drizzle oil in an ovenproof skillet. Sprinkle pork with 1/8 teaspoon salt and pepper; place pork in pan. Bake at 425° for 10 minutes. Turn pork over, and bake an additional 10 minutes or until a thermometer registers 155°. Place pork on a cutting board; let stand 10 minutes. Shred pork into small pieces.
3. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain pasta in a colander over a bowl, reserving 2 tablespoons pasta water; keep pasta warm.
4. Combine almond butter, 2 tablespoons pasta water, remaining salt, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, and chili garlic sauce. Divide pasta evenly among 4 bowls; top evenly with sauce, pork, onions, and mint.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Cooking: Bean & Bacon Soup
Ingredients
8 strips bacon
1 large carrot, chopped (about 3/4 c.)
2 stalks celery, chopped (about 1 c.)
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 c.)
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cube beef bullion
2 - 15 1/2 oz. cans Great Northern or Cannelini beans, drained
1 - 15 1/2 oz. can Kidney beans, drained
2 T. chopped fresh parsley
1 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
In a large Dutch oven or saucepan, fry the bacon until crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels. Let cool, chop and set aside.
Over medium heat, add the carrot to the pan drippings in the Dutch oven and saute for 5 minutes. Add the celery, onion and garlic, stirring well and cooking for 3 minutes more. Add the beans, 2 c. water and bullion. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover and remove some of the beans. Puree the beans and stir back into the soup to thicken it. Stir in the parsley, salt, pepper and bacon.
Serve hot.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Dining: Catonsville Gourmet Market & Fine Foods (Catonsville, MD)
Catonsville
(410) 788-0005
catonsvillegourmet.com
Cooking: Texas Caviar
Ingredients:
1 can white hominy
2 cans black-eyed peas with jalapeño peppers
2 tomatoes, chopped
Green onions
1 green pepper, chopped
Parsley (fresh), cut up
1 (8 oz.) bottle Italian dressing
Directions:
Mix all ingredients. Pour dressing over and let set overnight, if possible. the longer it sets, the better. Drain most of liquid before serving.
Enjoy!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Cooking: Buffalo Chicken Dip
This is a great dip for football watching. Very easy prep work.
Ingredients:
Softened 8oz package of low fat cream cheese
1/2 cup Franks Red Hot sauce
1/2 cup low fat mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup blue cheese or bleu cheese salad dressing
2 cans chicken in water, drained - or - equal amount shredded cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast
Directions:
Mix first 4 ingredients together until smooth
Add chicken
Place in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until dip is bubbly
We use real bleu cheese chunks instead of dressing. We have made it with the canned chicken and freshly cooked chicken. Every time it's been a hit.
For dipping I recommend getting a French baguette, slice long (~1.5") diagonal pieces and toast them in the oven just slightly. Frito's Scoops are always a good alternative too!
Enjoy!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Dining: The Brewer’s Art (Baltimore, MD)
Baltimore
(410) 547-6925
thebrewersart.com