Cooking with Aromatic Herbs

Sage
Chicken with Sage and Prosciut


Very little effort is needed to prepare this dish, and it is an easy recipe to double for a large group. The pleasant mustiness of the sage permeates the chicken hot from the oven. Any leftovers are delicious served cold the next day, when the distinctive flavor of the prosciutto predominates.
Ingredients:
6 chicken breast halves, each about 6 oz.
6 chicken drumsticks, each about 4 oz.
6 chicken thighs, each about 5 oz.
18 thin slices prosciutto
18 fresh sage leaves, plus sage sprigs for garnish
1 1/2 to 2 Tbs. olive oil
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Directions:
Preheat an oven to 400°F.








Rinse the chicken pieces and pat dry with paper towels. Trim the excess fat from the prosciutto, then cut the slices to the dimensions of the chicken pieces.

Carefully slide your fingers under the skin on each chicken piece, separating it from the meat but leaving it attached on one side. Place a slice of prosciutto directly on the meat and top it with a sage leaf. Carefully pull the skin back in place and press gently with your palm to secure it.

Arrange the chicken pieces in 1 or 2 shallow baking dishes or in a roasting pan large enough to hold them in a single layer. Brush the skin with the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.

Roast until the skin is brown and crispy, and the juices run clear when a thigh is pierced at the thickest part with a fork, about 55 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Transfer the chicken pieces to a warmed platter and garnish with sage sprigs. Serve immediately.
Serves 10 to 12.






Tagliatelle with Cilantro Pesto and Chicken
This recipe for cilantro pesto, developed by food writer Rosa Ross, puts a spin on the classic combination of ribbon noodles tossed with basil pesto. The floral and citrus flavors of cilantro are brightened by an ample dose of lime juice, while the sauce is still anchored by familiar pine nuts.

Ingredients:
1 lb. egg pasta (see related recipe at left)
For the cilantro pesto:
2 cups loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste




1 lb. boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lime quarter
2 Tbs. kosher salt
Directions:
Roll out the pasta dough and cut into tagliatelle. Let dry for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours.

To make the pesto, in a food processor, combine the cilantro, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, lime juice, the 1/2 tsp. sea salt and a few grinds of pepper and process to a paste, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the work bowl. Be careful not to overprocess; the consistency of the pesto should be thick and fluid and have a slightly grainy texture. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl.

Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels, then season on both sides with sea salt and pepper. In a large nonstick fry pan over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil until very hot but not smoking. Working in batches if needed to avoid crowding the pan, add the chicken and cook, turning once, until golden on both sides and just opaque in the center when cut into with a knife, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate, cover loosely with aluminum foil and set aside in a warm place. Just before you add the pasta to the boiling water, using a sharp chef’s knife, cut each breast in half lengthwise, then cut the halves crosswise into thin slices. Squeeze the lime quarter over the chicken and re-cover the chicken.



Mint
Chilled Lobster with Mango and Mint


You can cook the lobster and remove the meat up to a day in advance. Place the meat in an airtight container and refrigerate. The lobster-mango molds can be prepared 30 minutes in advance; refrigerate until ready to serve.
Ingredients:
1 live lobster, about 1 1/2 lb.
1 ripe mango
2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. minced green onion
1 Tbs. finely slivered mint leaves
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste




Directions:
Bring a large pot three-fourths full of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the lobster, headfirst. Cover and cook until the lobster is red, about 7 minutes. Transfer the lobster to a large bowl filled with ice water and let cool completely. Remove the meat from the claws, knuckles and tail, and discard the shells. Cut the tail meat in half lengthwise, then cut each piece crosswise on the diagonal into slices about 1/4 inch thick.

Peel and seed the mango. Slice the mango into strips about 1/4 inch thick but no more than 2 inches long.

In a bowl, combine the sliced lobster tail meat and knuckle meat, all but a pinch of the mango, the olive oil, lemon juice, green onion, half of the mint, salt and pepper. Toss gently until just combined.

Place half of the mixture in a lightly oiled 4-oz. ramekin, or pack half of it in a 2-inch-wide ring mold set on a chilled salad plate. If using the ramekin, invert the filled ramekin onto a chilled salad plate. Remove the ramekin or ring mold, repeat with the remaining lobster-mango mixture and top each salad with meat from a lobster claw. Add the remaining mango and mint to the bowl, mix with your fingers and garnish each serving with a little mango-mint mixture.






Parsley
Halibut with Grapefruit, Parsley and Fennel
Halibut, which grows very large, is a great fish to cook because it’s firm and stays nice and juicy when panfried or roasted. Fennel is a natural choice for fish and when paired with citrus, gets even better.


Ingredients:
4 pink or Ruby grapefruits
1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 fennel bulb
4 halibut fillets, each 1/2 lb., skin and pin bones removed
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Directions:
Peel and segment the grapefruits, letting the segments and any juices fall into a bowl. Add the parsley and stir gently.

Trim the fennel, peeling away any woody, fibrous outer layers and reserving the fronds. Using a mandoline, cut the fennel bulb into paper-thin slices. Add the fennel slices and fronds to the bowl with the grapefruit-parsley mixture.

Season the halibut fillets with salt and pepper. In a heavy fry pan over medium-high heat, warm the 1 Tbs. olive oil. Add the halibut and cook until browned underneath, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the halibut over and cook until opaque around the edges, about 3 minutes more.

Transfer the halibut to individual plates. Spoon the grapefruit-fennel mixture on top and drizzle with a little olive oil. Serve immediately. Serves 4.








Oregano
A staple in Liguria, Italy, frittatas are often made with fresh vegetables, aromatic herbs and goat cheese (goats commonly graze on the steep coastal hillsides).







Frittata with Zucchini & Goat Cheese


Ingredients:
10 eggs
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 Tbs. unsalted butter
2 to 3 small zucchini, sliced 1/8 inch thick
2 Tbs. fresh oregano leaves
2 tsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more
for garnish
4 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
Arugula salad for serving (see related recipe at
left)
Directions:
In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and 1/2 tsp. of the salt. Set aside.

In the deep half of a frittata pan over medium heat, melt 1 Tbs. of the butter. When it foams, add the zucchini and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 tsp. salt. Sauté for 30 seconds. Add the oregano and the 2 tsp. parsley and cook for 30 seconds.

Add the eggs and, using a rubber spatula, quickly and lightly stir the eggs in a small circular motion to combine them with the zucchini. Using the spatula, gently lift the cooked edges to allow the uncooked eggs to flow underneath. Sprinkle the cheese on the frittata; do not stir. Reduce the heat to low and cook, without stirring, 4 to 5 minutes more.

Meanwhile, in the shallow half of the frittata pan over medium heat, melt the remaining 1/2 Tbs. butter. Place the shallow pan upside down on top of the deep pan and flip the frittata into the shallow pan. Reduce the heat to low and cook, covered, for 3 minutes. Remove the top pan and continue cooking until the eggs are set, about 5 minutes more.

Using the spatula, loosen the edges of the frittata and gently slide it onto a plate. Garnish the frittata with parsley. Serve with the arugula salad. Serves 8 to 10.





Thyme
Created by Chef Michael Voltaggio, this recipe relies on the cooking technique known as sous vide, a French term meaning “under vacuum.” Here, chicken thighs are placed in a vacuum-sealed pouch along with garlic, thyme and butter, then slowly cooked at a low temperature in a circulating water bath. This process seals in the flavors and nutrients, yielding tender, delicious results. Just before serving, the chicken is seared in a fry pan until golden brown and crispy.




Michael Voltaggio’s Crispy Chicken Thighs

Ingredients:
6 boneless, skin-on chicken thighs
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 garlic cloves, lightly smashed with a knife
2 or 3 fresh thyme sprigs
2 Tbs. unsalted butter
2 Tbs. canola oil, plus more as needed
Directions:
Prepare a sous vide immersion circulator for use according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Preheat the water to 150°F, 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Season the underside of the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Place the thighs, skin side down, into a vacuum-sealable bag, making sure they lie flat. Add the garlic, thyme and butter to the bag. Using a vacuum sealer, vacuum and seal the bag tight according to the manufacturer’s instructions; be sure you have a smooth, airtight seal. Carefully place the bag into the circulating water and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Have ready a large bowl of ice water. Remove the thighs from the circulating water and place the bag into the ice water for 20 minutes. If serving the chicken that day, place the bag on a baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to sear the thighs. If serving the chicken the next day, place the bag, with the thighs skin side down, on a baking sheet. Place another baking sheet on top and weight it down with a heavy fry pan. Refrigerate overnight.

Just before serving, remove the thighs from the bag and pat dry with paper towels. In a large fry pan over medium heat, warm 1 to 2 Tbs. oil. Working in batches, place the thighs, skin side down, in the pan and cook until golden brown and crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Turn the thighs over and cook until warmed through, about 2 minutes more. Transfer the thighs to a plate and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Repeat with the remaining thighs, adding more oil to the pan as needed. Serve immediately. Serves 4 to 6.








Pesto
Ingredients:
3 to 4 Tbs. pine nuts
2 garlic cloves
2 to 3 cups firmly packed fresh basil leaves
10 to 15 fresh flat-leaf parsley sprigs
1⁄2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as
needed
1⁄2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1⁄4 cup grated pecorino cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste






Directions:
In a blender or food processor, combine the pine nuts and garlic. Process to chop coarsely. Add about half of the basil and process to chop coarsely. Add the remaining basil, the parsley and olive oil and process until a thick green sauce forms. If the sauce is too thin, add more basil or parsley; if it is too thick, add more olive oil.

Add the cheeses and season with salt and pepper. Process briefly. Pour into a glass jar or other container and top with a thin layer of olive oil to prevent the surface from discoloring. Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Makes about 1 1⁄2 cups.







Basil
Seared Salmon with Basil

Before cooking the salmon, quickly check for errant bones by running your fingers lightly over each fillet. If you detect any bones, remove them with needle-nosed pliers or a paring knife, pulling them straight out to avoid tearing the fish.



Ingredients:
3 Tbs. water
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 green jalapeño chili, coarsely chopped
3 green onions, chopped
3 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, preferably Thai
2 Tbs. Asian fish sauce
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 tsp. sugar
3 Tbs. corn or peanut oil
4 salmon fillets, about 1 1/2 lb. total
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Steamed rice for serving
Directions:
Make the chili-garlic paste
In a blender, combine 1 Tbs. of the water, the garlic, chili, green onions and cilantro. Add the basil and process until a paste forms.

Make the sauce
In a small bowl, combine the remaining 2 Tbs. water, the fish sauce, lime juice and sugar and stir to dissolve the sugar. Warm a small fry pan over medium heat until hot and add 2 Tbs. of the oil. Add the chili-garlic paste and sauté until very fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the fish sauce mixture and simmer for 2 minutes to blend the flavors. Keep warm.

Sear the salmon
Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Warm a large fry pan over high heat until very hot and add the remaining 1 Tbs. oil. Add the fillets and sear, turning once, until golden brown on the outside and still slightly rare in the center, about 2 minutes on each side.

Transfer the salmon to a platter or dinner plates and drizzle with the warm sauce. Serve immediately with steamed rice. Serves 4.










Penne with Basil and Pine
Nuts
Pesto
Cantaloupe-Basil Granita



Rosemary
Rosemary and Parmesan Madeleines
Rosemary Popovers
Pan-Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Rosemary and Garlic
Balsamic-Rosemary
Marinade






As this recipe demonstrates, the feather-light French cakes known as madeleines can be savory as well as sweet. After baking, they're sprinkled with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and fleur de sel, one of the most prized sea salts in the world. This grayish-ivory salt from Brittany, France, highlights the natural flavors of foods and adds a pleasing crunch.
Ingredients:
8 Tbs. (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup cake flour
3 tsp. finely minced fresh rosemary
1 tsp. fleur de sel, plus more for sprinkling*
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
4 eggs
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
2 Tbs. sugar
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus
more for sprinkling
Directions:
Position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat to 375°F.

Brush the molds of two 12-well madeleine pans with 2 Tbs. of the butter and dust with all-purpose flour; tap out the excess.

Sift the cake flour into a bowl and gently stir in the rosemary, the 1 tsp. fleur de sel and the pepper. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the eggs on high speed until yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the cream of tartar and sugar and beat until the mixture drops from the whisk in ribbons, about 3 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the flour mixture and the 1 cup cheese, then fold in the remaining 6 Tbs. butter.

Spoon the batter into the prepared molds so the batter is even with the rims. Bake until the madeleines spring back when pressed lightly, about 12 minutes. Immediately remove them from the pan and let cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle with a pinch of fleur de sel and cheese and serve. Makes 18 madeleines.

Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup & Bread and Onion Soup

Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup


Browning the chicken pieces before simmering them with the vegetables produces a rich, flavorful soup broth.

Ingredients:
1 Tbs. canola oil
1 chicken, 3 1/2 to 4 lb., quartered
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 large yellow onions, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch
rounds
1 bunch celery, tops and bottoms trimmed, cut
into 1-inch chunks
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 quarts water
1 bay leaf
2 fresh thyme sprigs
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 lb. dried fettuccine, broken into 2-inch pieces
1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions:
In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, warm the canola oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. When the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces, skin side down, and cook until well browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Add the onions, carrots, celery, chicken broth, water, bay leaf, thyme sprigs and coriander. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer gently until the meat is nearly falling off the bones, about 1 1/2 hours. Discard the bay leaf and thyme sprigs, transfer the chicken to a colander and let cool to the touch.

Meanwhile, in a large pot two-thirds full of boiling salted water, add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. Drain the noodles in a colander and cool under cold running water; set aside.

Remove the chicken meat from the bones, discarding the skin and bones, and cut the chicken into 1/2-inch pieces. Skim the fat from the broth and return the chicken to the pot along with the pasta, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the pasta is heated through, 3 to 4 minutes. Adjust seasonings as needed, stir in the parsley and serve immediately.
Serves 6.



Bread and Onion Soup


Ingredients:

4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
6 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
6 Tbs. chopped fresh basil
5 cups water, vegetable stock or chicken stock or
canned broth
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 thick slices coarse country bread, preferably
day-old, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or
shredded fontina cheese
Directions:
In a large sauté pan over low heat, melt the butter. Add the onions and sauté very slowly, stirring often, until caramelized, about 45 minutes. The onions must be sweet and golden but not brown. Stir in 2 Tbs. of the basil and cook for 5 minutes to flavor the onions. Add the water, cover and simmer until the onions are quite tender, about 30 minutes more.

Meanwhile, preheat an oven to 350°F.

When the onion mixture is ready, season with salt and pepper and remove from the heat. Place individual ovenproof bowls on 1 or 2 baking sheets and evenly divide the bread cubes among them. Top with the hot onion mixture and then the cheese.

Bake until the cheese melts and the soup is piping hot, 10 to 20 minutes. Garnish with the remaining 4 Tbs. basil and serve immediately.
Serves 6.

Oktoberfest

Staying gluten-free during Oktoberfest gotcha down? Have no fear – my gluten-free beer blog is here!

When I found out I was gluten-intolerant over a year ago, I was fairly devastated. Even though I knew I’d feel better going gluten-free, I immediately thought about all the things I’d miss – homemade pasta, flour tortillas, fresh bread, pancakes and waffles, cookies, muffins, cake. And beer. I love food and baking. And I love beer.

I love everything from Guinness to Fat Tire to New Castle to Corona to random Belgian beers I can’t pronounce. My husband brews his own and he got my dad into it, so I’m constantly surrounded by delicious, complex, refreshing home brews. And I can’t drink it. So what’s a girl to do? Find gluten-free beers, of course.

Estrella Daura


This is the only gluten-free beer my husband (the brewer, mind you) tried and said, “Huh, this is good, I’d totally drink this.” It won the “World’s Best Gluten-Free Beer” award two years in a row and with good reason. A great pilsner that’s light but with good flavor, it’s my favorite go-to if I want something consistent and refreshing.

Made by: Estrella Damm, Barcelona, Spain; alcohol content: 5.4%

New Grist


A close second in my mind to Daura, New Grist has a slight aftertaste of cider, without the sweetness. Another great pilsner-style beer, it seems to be a little easier to find than Daura, as it’s made here in the states.

Made by: Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; alcohol content: 5.7%

St. Peter’s “G-Free™” Sorghum Beer


St. Peter’s produces excellent “regular” beers in their English brewery, but their sorghum beer is another great pilsner-style lager. A little sweeter than Daura and New Grist, it has hints of citrus, making it a great summer beer. And due to its low alcohol content, it can almost be considered a session beer. I especially love the bottle and the fact that it’s more than a full pint.

Made by: St. Peter’s Brewery, Suffolk, England; alcohol content: 4.2%

Bard’s


Founded by two celiacs, Bard’s Tale Beer only makes this gluten-free beer. The craft brewery claims they’ve made “America’s first gluten-free sorghum beer and the only beer brewed with 100% malted sorghum.” With a medium body and low bitterness, it has a beautiful caramel color and aftertaste of the same. Bard’s is easily one of my favorites so far.

Made by: Bard’s Tale Beer Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota; alcohol content: 4.6%

New Planet Tread Lightly Ale


Another completely gluten-free beer company, now brewing three varieties (including a delicious 3R Raspberry Ale I just enjoyed this weekend and the Off Grid Pale Ale I have yet to taste). Their Tread Lightly Ale is similar to Bard’s, but a little smoother.

Made by: New Planet Gluten Free Beer, Boulder, Colorado; alcohol content: 5%

Green’s Discovery Amber Ale


While Green’s also offers a lovely Dubbel Dark Ale and a fantastic Tripel Blonde Ale, the most commonly available is their Amber Ale. With a beautiful color appropriate for its name, Green’s has the most robust flavor in my mind and has been the easiest to find so far. Another bottle of more than a full pint, it also has the highest alcohol content.

Made by: Green’s Gluten Free Beers, Lochristi, Belgium; alcohol content 6%







La fiesta nació entonces con motivo del matrimonio entre el Príncipe Luis I de Baviera y Teresa de Sajonia y Hildburghausen, que culminó con una carrera de caballos.
La tradición se mantuvo pese a esas interrupciones, como también han pervivido hasta hoy las vestimentas específicas de las camareras, que, ataviadas con los trajes típicos bávaros, transportan con total normalidad hasta una decena de enormes jarras a un tiempo.





Lo que los alemanes llaman también "zumo de cebada" o "pan líquido" es uno de los productos más limpios, sometido a la estricta Ley de Pureza de la Cerveza, que data de 1516, la norma alimentaria más antigua en vigor y que exige que sólo se produzca con cebada, agua, malta y lúpulo.



Entre 8.70 y 9.20 euros cuesta este años en la "Wiesn" un "Mass", una jarra de un litro, la medida mínima que se sirve de cerveza "Helles" (clara), con una graduación que oscila entre los 5.7 y 6.3 grados de alcohol y que se guarda en barriles de madera de 100 o 50 litros.


La "Wiesn", como se apoda la Pradera de Santa Teresa o Theresienwiese donde se celebra la fiesta, estaba ya más que llena horas antes de que el socialdemócrata Ude encajara de dos certeros mazazos el grifo en el barril, al tradicional grito de "O'zapf is", ("está abierto").




Oktoberfest-Calender 2011







Die bayerische Brauordnung aus dem Jahre 1516 (siehe auch Reinheitsgebot) legte fest, dass nur zwischen Michaeli, dem Tag des Hl. Michael (29. September) und Georgi, dem Tag des Hl. Georg (23. April) gebraut werden durfte. In den fünf Monaten danach war es etwa den Münchner Bierbrauern verboten, Bier zu produzieren. Grund war die in den Sommermonaten erhöhte Brandgefahr beim Biersieden.


Im engeren Sinne ist Bier ein alkohol- und kohlensäurehaltiges Getränk, das durch Gärung meist aus den Grundzutaten Wasser, Malz und Hopfen gewonnen wird. Für ein kontrolliertes Auslösen des Gärvorganges wird meistens Hefe zugesetzt, selten auch Milchsäurebakterien. Weitere Zutaten sind Früchte, Kräuter wie Grut oder Gewürze. Der Alkoholgehalt von normalen Biersorten liegt in Deutschland und Österreich in der Regel zwischen 4,5 und 6 %.




Im weiteren Sinne versteht man unter Bier jedes alkoholhaltige Getränk, das auf Basis von verzuckerter Stärke hergestellt wurde, ohne dass dabei ein Destillationsverfahren angewandt wurde (Chicha). Die Abgrenzung zu Wein besteht darin, dass für Weine Zucker aus pflanzlichen (Fruchtzucker) oder tierischen Quellen (zum Beispiel Honig) vergoren werden, während der Ausgangsstoff für die Gärung bei Bier immer Stärke ist.



In der Regel wird der Zucker aus der Stärke von Getreide (Gerste, Roggen, Reis, Weizen, Mais) gewonnen, seltener wird Stärke aus Kartoffeln oder anderem Gemüse wie Erbsen herangezogen. Der japanische Sake, obwohl oft als „Reiswein“ bezeichnet, fällt daher ebenfalls unter die bierartigen Getränke.






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Die Wurzeln der Brauerei gehen bis in die frühe Neuzeit zurück. Im Jahr 1591 wurde im Testament des Grafen Eitel Friedrich von Hohenzollern-Hechingen erwähnt, dass die Mönche des Klosters St. Luzen bei Hechingen aufgrund ihrer Arbeit Bier haben konnten. 1608 lieferten diese Mönche erstmals Bier an den fürstlichen Hof. 1872 wurden die Bierbrauerei St. Luzen und die Stuttgarter Brauerei Englischer Garten unter dem Namen Württembergisch-Hohenzollersche Brauereigesellschaft vereinigt. Diese war ab 1883 offizieller Lieferant des württembergischen Königshofs, König Karl von Württemberg verlieh ihr den Titel „Hoflieferant“. Das Firmenzeichen zeigt deshalb das Wappen Württembergs. 1933 erfolgte die Umbenennung in Stuttgarter Hofbräu.


BoChef

Choucroute Alsace-Lorraine

Choucroute
Alsace-Lorraine




Ingrédients

- 2 kg de choucroute crue
- 1 palette fumée
- 1 ou 2 jarrets crus
- 6 paires de saucisses de Strasbourg ou de Francfort
- 4 Montbéliards
- 3 tranches de lard fumé
- 4 boudins noir
- 15 baies de genièvre
- 2 clous de girofle
- 2 oignons
- 1 couenne de porc
- 1 cuillère de saindoux
- 1 litre vin blanc (type Riesling)
- 2 kg de pommes de terre




Procédure



aver la choucroute à l'eau froide pour en enlever toute la saumure, la presser dans un torchon pour la sécher.

Faire fondre le lard et les oignons émincés dans le saindoux.

Y ajouter la choucroute lavée, les baies de genièvre et les clous de girofle.

Mouiller avec le Riesling, puis laisser cuire à feu doux et à couvert pendant 1 h 30, en remuant de temps en temps.

Faire cuire la palette pendant 1 h 30 dans l'eau bouillante.

Ajoutez la palette ainsi que les jarrets crus, et laissez cuire à couvert pendant 1 h, en remuant; puis laissez mijoter à découvert 1/2 h à 1 h, voire plus pour évacuer le liquide.

Faire cuire les saucisses (Francfort/Strasbourg) et les Montbéliards 10 min dans l'eau frémissante.

Cuire les pommes de terre épluchées vapeur ou à l'eau.

Ajoutez le boudin noir sur le dessus du plat 10 min avant de servir.

Ajouter saucisses et pommes de terre, au moment de servir, sur un plat de préférence chaud.






Choucroute alsacienne

La choucroute alsacienne est un met composé de chou coupé finement et soumis à lactofermentation dans une saumure. L'origine du mot est à rapporter à Sauerkraut en allemand, littéralement « chou acide », altéré en « chou » et « croute ». En France il dérive du dialecte alsacien.


Histoire

Ce mode de préparation du chou viendrait de Chine, d'où il aurait été apporté en Europe par Attila et ses Huns qui auraient découvert cette méthode de conservation, lorsqu'ils se sont heurtés à la Grande Muraille, dont les ouvriers et les garnisons étaient nourris, dans ces contrées isolées et arides d'une espèce de chou ainsi fermentée.
Après leur échec chinois, les Huns ont porté leurs conquêtes vers l'ouest, passant par la Bavière et l'Autriche avant d'atteindre l'Alsace en 451. C'est la date probable à laquelle cette préparation du chou est apparue dans ces régions, qui utilisaient du reste la lactofermentation pour la conservation d'autres légumes, notamment du navet.
En France, les premières références à la cuisson du chou ainsi préparé datent du xve siècle, des textes du xvie siècle en attestent la présence à la table des monastères. Au xviie siècle, on le trouve sous l'amusant nom de « Kompostkrut » (chou compost), et au siècle suivant il se généralise en Alsace et dans une partie de la Lorraine.




Ce n'est qu'au xixe siècle que la choucroute désignera le plat de chou cuit avec son accompagnement.
Il est nécessaire de cuire la choucroute pour la consommer, et cela peut-être fait traditionnellement soit au vin blanc d'Alsace, soit à la bière.

Terrines & Pâtés

Terrines & Pâtés

Ingrédients

2 boîtes de mélange crabe & crevettes
100 grs de râpé de surimi
6 crevettes
150 grs de bisque de homard
2 cuillères à soupe de mayonnaise
4 cuillères à soupe de câpres
2 cuillères à soupe de persil ciselé
1/2 poivron vert
4 œufs
15 cl de crème liquide à 30 % de matières grasses
25 grs de beurre
2 cuillères à soupe d’huile d’olive
sel & poivre
Salade de mâche à votre convenance



Procédure

Dans un saladier fouettez les œufs puis ajoutez la bisque de homard et la crème liquide.

Salez un peu et poivrez.

Répartissez dans 6 ramequins beurrés.

Faites cuire 40 minutes dans un bain marie au four préchauffé à 180 ° C.

Laissez refroidir.

Effilochez ensuite le mélange de chair de crabe/crevettes et le surimi.

Réservez dans un bol environ 4 cuillères à soupe.

Mélangez le reste dans un bol avec la mayonnaise.

Une fois les ramequins refroidis, démoulez-les.

Mettez dans le fond du ramequin une couche de crabe/crevettes/surimi et remettez le flan par dessus.

Couvrez de film alimentaire et réservez au frais.

Dans un nouveau saladier, mélangez les câpres, le poivron coupé en tout petit dés, la chair de crabe/crevettes/surimi réservée, le persil, la salade de mâche et 2 cuillères à soupe d'huile d'olive.

Décortiquez les crevettes.

Démoulez les ramequins (le flan part bien mais il faut un refaire un peu le dessus en crabe) et entourez de préparation de salade de mâche.

Décorez le dessus avec une crevette.

Cognac, named after the town of Cognac in France, is a variety of brandy. It is produced in the wine-growing region surrounding the town from which it takes its name, in the French Departements of Charente and Charente-Maritime.

As an Appellation d'origine contrôlée, in order to bear the name Cognac, the production methods for the distilled brandy must meet specified legal requirements. It must be made from certain grapes (see below); of these, Ugni Blanc, known locally as Saint-Emilion, is the most widely used variety today. It must be distilled twice in copper pot stills and aged at least two years in French oak barrels from Limousin or Tronçais. Most cognacs are aged considerably longer than the minimum legal requirement, because cognac matures in the same way as whiskies and wine when aged in a barrel.



he region authorised to produce cognac is divided into six zones, including five crus broadly covering the department of Charente-Maritime, a large part of the department of Charente and a few areas in Deux-Sèvres and the Dordogne. The six zones are: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bon Bois and finally Bois Ordinaire. A blend of Grande and Petite Champagne Cognacs, with at least half coming from Grande Champagne, is known as Fine Champagne.






Cognac Expert is the independent website about Cognac! Read stories, news, learn more about bottles. It’s all about the famous French brandy.

Often, one hears the question “where can I buy Hennessy White?”. Now, first of all it is mainly available in Europe and the Carribean, Bahamas is often mentioned in that context. The “White Hennessy” was also seen in New York liquor stores, you probably find an auction on ebay, where you can buy the bottle – if not available in your region.

Here you find a Cognac review and some background information about this bottle.

Wait, first I want to learn more about Cognac!
You want to know more about Cognac, the great french brandy? Cognac Expert is the best place for this. Read a comprehensible introduction to Cognac, here. If you want to know, how to taste it, read this article. And if you want to know all about it, go to our section What is Cognac?


We finally had the opportunity to taste the “Black Henny”. And no, the Cognac itself is not black.

Hennessy launched a major new product for the first time since 1961 in a big market. And as Hennessy has perfectly understood which relevance the American market has, they called the bottle ‘Black’. In 1961 the Hennessy VS was introduced to the market.

First of all: Hennessy Black is known to be a mixable cognac. This Cognac is not a brandy you have straight, but good for mixing and cocktails. In a way, Hennessy Black is a premium spirit made for mixing.

The Black Cognac has a rather fruity & young character, and comes in a bold, black 750 ml glass bottle.


Hennessy Black bottle

Here are the tasting notes:

The eye: Pale gold
On the nose: Easy and fresh, some orange on the nose
The taste: Some slight sweet honey, grape with a touch of citrus, an idea of jasmine and floral hints
Finish: While the beginning of the palate is relatively smooth for such a young cognac, it gets quite a masculine later on
Blend: Apparently a blend of 45 different eaux-de-vie
Age: We found a quote saying ‘aged it barrels used by Hennessy for at least five years’ which does not mean that the Hennessy Black Cognac is 5 years old. No, it’s a VS Cognac: That means it’s round about two and a half years old, matured in oak casks. That’s not a lot – actually that is the youngest you can get. As it is quite a young cognac, it’s so fruity and rough at the same time.

This does not make it a bad Cognac, it’s probably quite a good Cognac to mix with other ingredients: You would never want to mix a XO or older Cognac with Coca Cola or 7Up because firstly it would be really a shame for the expensive Cognac and secondly you would have less “cognac taste” because older Cognacs are much more smooth and rounder. But in cocktails you want present hints of the basic spirit.







The Price: $40

If you are interested in what mixes well with Hennessy Black, see here.

Summer Drinks

Holiday Cocktail Party



During the holidays, a cocktail party is an easy way to welcome friends and family into your home. Guests can serve themselves from a buffet, and you don't have to worry about preparing a complete meal.

Offer a selection of festive drinks, such as cranberry martinis and kir royale, plus an enticing array of hors d'oeuvres. We've chosen recipes that allow you to do much of the work in advance, so you can spend time with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

When planning an hors d'oeuvre menu, strive for a balance of hot and cold dishes as well as different colors, flavors and textures so your guests can sample a variety of foods. Our spiced shrimp cigars are served hot from the oven, while stuffed cremini mushrooms can be eaten warm or at room temperature. For something lighter, try Indian-spiced mixed nuts or classic crudités, which showcase winter's fresh fruits and vegetables. Oysters and caviar are always a luxurious addition to the menu.


Ramos Gin Fizz




This recipe was created by the beverage experts at Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco. To quickly transform tap water into the soda water called for here, use a water carbonator.
Ingredients:
Ice as needed
2 oz. gin
1 oz. heavy cream
3/4 oz. pasteurized egg white
1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
2 oz. soda water
2 dashes of orange flower water
Orange slice for garnish
Directions:
In a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, combine the gin, cream, egg white, lemon juice and lime juice and shake until well chilled, 45 to 60 seconds. Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with fresh ice and top with the soda water and orange flower water. Garnish with an orange slice and serve immediately. Serves 1.



The Apple of My Eye



The beverage experts at Bourbon & Branch, a popular San Francisco bar owned by Future Bars, created this festive cocktail for Williams-Sonoma using the iSi Twist ‘n Sparkle.

Ingredients:
6 oz. bourbon
2 oz. Averna
2 oz. honey syrup
10 oz. apple juice
2 oz. fresh lemon juice
5 dashes angostura bitters
Ice as needed
Apple wedges for garnish
Freshly grated cinnamon for garnish
Directions:
In the Twist ‘n Sparkle bottle, combine the bourbon, Averna, honey syrup, apple juice, lemon juice and angostura bitters. Carbonate according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish each with an apple wedge and freshly grated cinnamon. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Cherry Nice


Perfect for warm-weather sipping, this refreshing cocktail was created for us by the experts at Cask, whose artisan beverages combine fine spirits, fresh ingredients and time-honored techniques.

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups silver rum
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup agave nectar
Crushed ice as needed
6 maraschino cherries plus juice from jar
Directions:
In a pitcher, whisk together the rum, lemon juice and agave nectar until combined. Refrigerate until cold. Pour the mixture into a Twist ’n Sparkle bottle and carbonate according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Let rest for 1 minute.

Fill 6 double old-fashioned glasses with crushed ice. Pour the cocktail over the ice, float with maraschino cherry juice and garnish each with a maraschino cherry. Serve immediately. Serves 6.




Three-Ingredient Summer Cocktails
The Times asked some of the country’s top bartenders to suggest streamlined coolers built for easy warm-weather drinking. The rules were simple: three ingredients, not counting straightforward garnishes, sugar, seltzer and simple syrup. The goal was loads of refreshment with minimal effort.

Cherry Caipirissima

This seasonal spin on the Brazilian caipirinha demands vigorous shaking to break up the ice cubes and to give the finished drink a breezy, almost effervescent zip.

Ingredients
3/4 ounce simple syrup

3 cherries, pitted and halved

Half a lime, cut into quarters

2 ounces white rum.

Preparation
In a cocktail shaker, press and mix the simple syrup, cherries and lime quarters with a muddler or wooden spoon. Add the rum and 6 ice cubes. Shake hard and pour everything into a rocks glass.

Yield: 1 drink.


Italia Libera

The mixologist Chaim Dauermann wanted to tweak the Cuba Libre, a classic rum-and-Coke highball, without using cola, so he reached instead for a pungent white rum with hints of vanilla and paired it with bittersweet Italian amaro.




Ingredients
1 ounce overproof (150 proof alcohol) white rum

1 ounce amaro

1/4 ounce lemon juice

3/4 ounce simple syrup

Chilled seltzer

1 lime wedge, for garnish.


Spellbinder

This aromatic summer spin on the traditional gin martini takes its vivid hue from Strega, an Italian liqueur infused with saffron. For an added aesthetic boost, try garnishing with a long curl of cucumber cut with a vegetable peeler.





Ingredients
2 ounces gin

1/2 ounce dry vermouth

1/4 ounce Strega

1 lemon peel strip, for garnish

1 cucumber strip (a long ribbon made with a vegetable peeler), for garnish.





Guadalajara Sour

The bartender Michael Bowers has taken to garnishing this cocktail with a twist of grapefruit, which he squeezes away from the drink before dropping it in. “Grapefruit oil can be really overwhelming,” he said, “especially here, where its purpose is to augment the aroma of the rosé, not overtake it.”





Ingredients
1 3/4 ounces blanco tequila

3/4 ounce lemon juice

3/4 ounce simple syrup

3/4 ounce chilled rosé.



Sumo Collins

The name of this supersize, extra-refreshing Tom Collins was inspired by Ken’s House of Pancakes in Hilo, Hawaii, where jumbo orders of saimin and loco moco are announced with a gong crash and the staff yelling “Sumo!” “We don’t yell,” said Fort Defiance owner St. John Frizell. “Yet.”





Ingredients
3 ounces gin

2 1/4 ounces fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 ounces simple syrup

Chilled seltzer

1 orange wheel.







Take 3

“I think I’ve come to the place where less is more,” said Zachary Gelnaw-Rubin, creator of this unlikely combination of artichoke-infused Cynar amaro and elderflower-laced St. Germain liqueur, which he fuses with lemon juice and tops with seltzer. “It’s best to work from three ingredients.”






Ingredients
2 ounces Cynar

3/4 ounce St. Germain liqueur

3/4 ounce lemon juice

Chilled seltzer

1 orange wedge, for garnish.
Preparation
Combine the Cynar, St. Germain and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker, fill with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice. Top with seltzer and garnish with the orange wedge.






Dama Blanca
lemon juice in a cocktail shaker, fill with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.

Ingredients


3/4 ounce Cointreaux liqueur

3/4 ounce lemon juice

3/4 Gin

3/4 Almíbar


Yield: 1 drink.

BoChef - Meat Guide

"organic" and "free range"



The terms "organic" and "free range" are not standardized and are subject to different interpretations. Generally, organic poultry is raised without antibiotics or growth hormones and is given organically grown feed. Note that in order to carry the "organic" label, poultry must be certified, a process that costs time and money. Some small producers, therefore, do not apply for certification even though their products may conform to organic standards.

Poultry allowed access to the outdoors can be labeled free-range. Some say the exercise and more varied diet of free-range birds translates to more flavorful and better-textured meat than that of cage-raised birds.
Always handle raw poultry carefully to avoid cross-contamination of food-preparation surfaces and utensils, and never allow it to come into contact with foods that will be eaten raw or only partially cooked.

It is also a good idea to reserve one cutting board for raw poultry, meats and seafood and another for produce and to wash the boards thoroughly with hot, soapy water and dry well between uses.



Kosher birds are processed under rabbinical supervision. Their processing differs slightly from that of regular birds and is the reason why kosher birds often have a few feathers still attached (they should be pulled out before cooking). Kosher birds are treated with salt; although they are rinsed before packaging, the salt does penetrate into the meat. For this reason, if you are following a recipe that calls for brining, do not use a kosher bird – the finished dish may taste overseasoned.






Pork ranges in color from very pale pink to a rosy hue. In general, the more color, the better the flavor. Pale pork, a sign of poor quality, signals that the meat will lack flavor and dry out easily. The marbling and exterior fat should be perfectly white, never yellow, and the surface of the meat should be springy and moist, not wet. When it comes to freshness, let your nose be your guide.

Fear of trichinosis once dictated that pork be cooked to an internal temperature of 160ºF. Trichinosis is actually killed at 137ºF, and therefore the widely accepted doneness temperature for pork is now 145ºF. Well-marbled cuts such as the shoulder will maintain their juiciness when slowly cooked to a higher temperature, but leaner cuts such as the loin will dry out quickly when cooked above 145ºF.



Marbling is the most crucial attribute in high-quality pork and indicates how tasty the meat will be. In the United States, consumers' avoidance of pork due to a concern for dietary fat prompted conventional producers to breed leaner pigs. However, lean pork has little flavor, and the lack of marbling can make it dry and chewy.



Heirloom breeds such as Berkshire, Duroc, and Yorkshire have become more widely available. Due to the pigs' varied diet, their meat is rich tasting, juicy and tender. To determine the best choice for your needs, ask your butcher about whether a pig was feedlot or pasture-raised as well as what it was fed: grain or grass and wild forage.





Top grades of lamb are prime and choice. Prime has the greatest marbling and is reserved for restaurants, high-end retailers and farmers' markets. Choice has less marbling, but is still high quality.

Lamb comes from animals that are less than 1 year old. "Baby lamb" is less than 10 weeks old and weighs less than 20 pounds. "Spring lamb" weighs 20 to 40 pounds. Tenderness is determined more by the lamb's age than by marbling. Young lamb is pale pink, tender and mild. As the lamb ages, the meat darkens, gaining character and flavor.







Grain-fed beef produces richly flavored meat with abundant marbling, but the animals often live in close quarters in feedlots and require antibiotics to remain healthy. Consumers and chefs have rediscovered the taste and benefits of beef from cattle raised on grass. Some ranchers follow a hybrid process: the cattle feed on grass, which is healthier for them and better for the environment, and then, just before going to market, the cattle are "finished" on grain to add the rich marbling of grain-fed beef. Be sure to ask your butcher whether the beef offered is grain fed or grass fed.



The top three USDA grades you are likely to see in stores are prime, choice and select. The labels reflect the degree of marbling (the ratio of fat to lean meat), color and maturity.
Prime beef, the highest grade, is from young cattle and contains the most marbling.Choice beef lacks the degree of marbling found in prime but still produces a number of tender and juicy cuts.Select is a label applied to meat that is particularly lean.






Take the tempereture

The lower temperatures in each range apply to roasts, the higher temperatures to steaks. Roasts are removed from the heat at a lower temperature because the temperature rises more during a longer resting period. Cooking beef until well done is not recommended.

Very rare: remove from heat at 110º-120ºF; ideal temperature after resting: 120º-125ºF.

Rare: remove from heat at 115º-125ºF; ideal temperature after resting: 125º-130ºF.

Medium-rare: remove from heat at 125º-135ºF; ideal temperature after resting: 130º-140ºF.

Medium: remove from heat at 130º-140ºF; ideal temperature after resting: 145ºF.

Medium-well: remove from heat at 145º-160ºF; ideal temperature after resting: 155º-160ºF.

Cooking by the cut

Best for stir-frying: tri-tip, top sirloin and flank steaks; filet mignon.

Best for panfrying: rib-eye, New York strip, T-bone, and porterhouse steaks; chuck (burgers).

Best for grilling: rib-eye, skirt, sirloin, and strip steaks; chuck (burgers, kabobs).

Best for roasting: stuffed flank steak; bone-in rib-eye (standing rib roast); whole tenderloin.

Best for braising: short ribs, brisket, shank, and chuck.