Three Classic Cocktails

Three Classic Cocktails

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Three Classic Cocktails
Ingredients:
  • Granulated sugar
  • ¾ oz. fresh lemon juice, plus more for glass
  • 2 oz. brandy
  • ¾ oz. Cointreau or triple sec
Wet the rim of a coupe glass with lemon juice and dip it into sugar sprinkled on a plate.  Shake off excess and set it aside. Three Classic CocktailsPut  the lemon juice, brandy, and Cointreau into a cocktail shaker. Add ice, and shake. Strain into the sugared glass.Three Classic Cocktails

Boulevardier

Three Classic Cocktails
Ingredients:
  • 2 oz. Bourbon
  • 1oz. Campari
  • 1oz. sweet vermouth
  • Lemon twist garnish

Pour the Bourbon, Campari, and vermouth into a  rocks glass filled with  ice. Stir and garnish with lemon twist.

Three Classic Cocktails

Mai Tai

Three Classic Cocktails
Ingredients:
  • 1 ½ oz. white rum
  • ¾ oz. orange Cointreau or curaçao
  • ¾ oz. lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • ½ oz. orzata or orgeat
  • ½ oz. dark rum
  • Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish
Add the white rum, Cointreau, lime juice and orzata to a shaker with ice. Shake and pour into a rocks glass. Float the dark rum over the top. Garnish with a lime wheel and mint sprig.Three Classic Cocktails

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Milk Fried Chicken

Milk Fried Chicken

A problem that sometimes comes up with fried chicken is this – If you just fry it until the crust is the perfect golden color the chicken might be left under done, and if you fry  it so that the chicken is thoroughly cooked, the crust might burn. The milk fried chicken cooking method solves that problem.  The chicken is almost completely cooked in the milk and after that it only takes a few minutes to brown the crust. 

 

Milk Fried Chicken

Ingredients:
  • 2 bs. chicken pieces
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • 2 cup vegetable oil

For the spice rub –

  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • ½ tsp. Cajun spice
  • ½ tsp. sweet (or hot) paprika
  • ½ tsp. garlic power
Bring the milk to a boil in a pan and add the chicken in one layer. Cover and boil it for 8 minutes (medium heat so it doesn’t boil over). Turn the chicken and cook for another 8 minutes, remove and let it cool.Milk Fried Chicken

Thoroughly coat the chicken with the spice rub and then dredge in the flour. Let rest for 20 minutes before frying.Milk Fried Chicken

Fry in batches until golden brown. Do not crowd the pan. Drain it on paper towels and serve.Milk Fried Chicken

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Mussels with Red or White Sauce

Mussels with Red or White Sauce

Wash the mussels in cold running water and pull off any of the beard that might be attached to some of them. Discard any mussels that don’t close when tapped.
Either of these recipes can be served as a sauce for linguine or spaghetti but I prefer them  simply with a loaf of good Italian bread.

Mussels in White SauceMussels with Red or White Sauce

Ingredients:
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 small shallot diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 2 lbs. cleaned mussels
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • ½ cup chopped parsley
Mussels with Red or White SauceHeat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook the shallot until it’s translucent. Add the garlic and stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add ½ teaspoon of salt. Add the white wine and raise the heat. When it boils add the mussels and cover the pot.
Mussels with Red or White SauceShake the pot and check after 5 minutes. The mussels should be starting to open. Cover and wait until they’re all opened and discard any that didn’t.
Remove them with a slotted spoon to a serving dish leaving the sauce in the pot. Discard any mussels that haven’t opened.Mussels with Red or White SauceWhisk the butter and parsley into the sauce. Check for seasoning and pour the sauce over the mussels and serve. If you’re serving with pasta, add one cup of the pasta cooking water to the sauce.
Mussels with Red or White Sauce

 

Mussels in Red SauceMussels with Red or White Sauce

Ingredients:
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 3 cloves of minced garlic
  • Salt and black, and red pepper to taste
  • ½ cup dry red wine
  • 1 – 28 ounce can of chopped tomatoes
  • 2 lbs. cleaned mussels
  • ¼ cup chopped parsley

Mussels with Red or White Sauce

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add salt, black, and red pepper.

 

Mussels with Red or White Sauce

Add the red wine and tomatoes, and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the mussels, cover the pot and steam for about 15 minutes, shaking the pot or stirring from time to time. When the mussels have opened, stir in the chopped parsley, and serve. Discard any mussels that haven’t opened.

It works with pasta too.Mussels with Red or White Sauce

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Chicken and Corn Stir-Fry

Chicken and Corn Stir-Fry

 
I adapted this recipe from one in Bon Appetite. Corn my seem like an odd ingredient in an Asian stir-fry, but it really works well in this one. Different people have different methods and devices for removing the kernels from the cob. I just use a sharp knife and slice them off. That works  for me. If you can’t get fresh corn on the cob, try using different vegetables like peas, peppers, or mushrooms. Unless you have a large enough pan or wok, cut this recipe in half.
Chicken and Corn Stir-Fry
Ingredients:
  • 3 tbsp. oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp. white vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. toasted sesame oil
  • 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (3 or 4 thighs) cut into 1 in. pieces
  • 1 tbsp. cornstarch
  • 6 tbsp. vegetable oil divided
  • ½ small red onion, sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 2 1inch piece of peeled ginger, finely chopped
  • ½ tsp. red pepper flakes (or to taste)
  • 3 ears of corn
  • ½ cup chopped scallions
Combine the oyster sauce, vinegar, sesame oil and 2 tablespoons of water together in a small bowl and set aside.  

Chicken and Corn Stir-FryStir-frys  go quickly. Have all ingredients mixed, chopped, prepared, and ready to go.

Season the chicken with salt and sprinkle with the corn starch and toss. Heat half of the vegetable oil in a large pan or wok on medium heat and cook the chicken until it begins to color. Add the onion, garlic, ginger, red pepper and the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil. Cook until the onions are soft. Add the corn and stir and toss for about 3 minutes.Chicken and Corn Stir-FryStir in the oyster sauce mixture and toss for about 3 minutes. Add in the scallions toss and serve with white rice.

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