Kobe for New Year's Dinner!!!

We will ring in 2011 with a roaring fire, heavenly champagne, great food and an episode of The Rockford Files.  (Pretty much like every other winter night at Chez Harrington!!!)

Tonight's fare is as follows:

Oysters Rockefeller

Grilled American Kobe Ribeye

Glazed Baby Carrots

Shredded Brussel Sprouts w/Meyer Lemon

Charred Sweet Onion and Tomatoes

So excited for the yumminess to come.  Here's a peek at tonight's wine and that crazy well-marbled steak.  Recipes will follow...

 Thank you Paul and Wendy for tonight's Pauillac!

CAN'T WAIT!!!

Gougere, aka yummy cheese bites

Another requests came for one of the many '60's inspired hors d'oeuvres served at the Merry Mad Man Christmas Cocktail party.  Gougere is a wonderful light, fluffy, cheesy treat great served with a myriad of libations.  Best served right out of the oven, gougere are easy to make and easier to devour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a saucepan place the following ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 7 T butter, cut into 8 cubes
• 1 t salt
• 1 t sugar

Bring to full boil. When boiling add all at once:

• 1 1/4 cup flour

Over heat stir in flour until incorporated and pulls from the sides of the pan.
Remove from heat.  Transfer to a bowl and add:

• 5-6 eggs, one by one

Be sure that each egg is completely incorporated before adding the next.  Dough is read when it will 'string' when pulled between thumb and index finger.

Add the following:

• 1/4 cup thinly sliced chives
• 2 T coarsely ground black pepper
• 2 T grated parmesan cheese
• 1 cup grated gruyere cheese

Spoon or pipe into small balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.  Bake until golden brown and puffed.





  

Merry Mad Men Christmas "Rumaki"

Hosted a great cocktail party this weekend themed around the hit AMC series, MAD MEN.  The '60's inspired menu included rumaki.  Here's the recipe:

8 oz. chicken livers.

1 T. brown sugar
2 T. freshly grated ginger
1 T. pineapple juice
2 T. soy sauce
1 T. sake (or sherry)

12-16 oz. package of center cut thin slice bacon
1 spear pineapple, thinly sliced
            or
a/n waterchestnuts, sliced

1.)   Clean, trim, halve the chicken livers.
2.)   Combine brown sugar, grated ginger, pineapple juice, soy sauce, and sake (or sherry)  Add
        livers.  Marinate for 2 hours.
3.)   Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Remove livers from marinade, pat dry. Cut thin sliced center cut
       bacon in half. Wrap bacon around liver and small piece of pineapple (or water chestnut) . Skewar
       with toothpick.
 4.)  Bake in oven 10 minutes. Transfer to broiler at hgih until desired color.

the culinary world

the days ive spend in the culinary world have been amazing i never knew i would be having this much fun. all the knew techniques i have learned. The way to cut an onion with out crying. The only real way is by having the knife real sharp, the sharper the better.

Laura G.

The perfect chocolate chip cookies

Now that the holidays are here many of us enjoy baking for our family and friends, i know i do. The holidays just inspire me to get on to the kitchen and bake some holiday joy to share with my family and friends. Here is a recipe for chocolate chip cookies and these cookies are quite tasty.

The perfect Chocolate chip cookies

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soada
• 14 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 3/4 sticks)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cups packed dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon table salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 1/4 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Instructions

• adjust oveb rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large  baking sheets with parchment paper. whisk flour and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside
• heat 10 tablespoons of butter in 10 -inch skillet over meduim-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has a nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and, using a heatproof spatula, transer browned butter to large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons of butter into hot butter until completely melted.
• add both sugars, salt, and vanilla to the bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated. Add whole egg and yolk and whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps, about 30 seconds. Let mixture stand 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds. Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth, and shiny. Using rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in the flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute. Stir in chips and nuts (if using) giving dough final stir to ensure no flour pockets remain.
• Divide dough into 16 portions, each about 3 tablespoons. Arrange 2 inches apart on prepared sheets, 8 dough balls per sheet
• Bake cookies 1 tray at a time until cookies are golden brown and still pufy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft, 10 to 14 minutes, rotating baking sheets halfway through baking. Transfer baking sheets to wire rack; cool cookies completely before serving.

Adapted from http://www.americastestkitchen.com/

Molecular Gastronomy; Taste3 Conference: Ben Roche

A speech by ben roche a pastry chef at a restaurant called Moto in chicago talking about Moto where he works and the fun exprience you would have at this restaurant. Also demonstrates a couple items on the menu he serves their and the different unique way the items are made.

Baked Macaroni

This is a recipes found few days ago from allrecipes.com. A simple dish, that doesn't require much ingredients and is easy to make for everyone.

Ingredients:
1 (12 ounce) package macaroni
1 egg
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
 
Methods:
1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish.
2.In a large pot of salted water, lightly boil the macaroni for about 5 minutes until half-cooked.
3.Whisk the egg and milk together in a large cup. Add butter and cheese to the egg and milk. Stir well.
4.Place the lightly cooked macaroni in the prepared baking dish. Pour the egg and cheese liquid over the macaroni, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and stir well. Press the mixture evenly around the baking dish.
5.Bake uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top is brown.
 
~ Alex Kim