Ginger Mule

Ginger Mule

Make a batch of this spicy drink to serve hot, from a slow cooker or teapot, or cold, from a pretty pitcher. Use vodka to showcase spicy ginger flavour, gin to highlight botanical notes or whisky or rum to add warm caramel tones. Makes 8 drinks

Ingredients:
4 cups (1 L) ginger tea
1 oz honey, or to taste
Juice of 1/2 lemon or whole lime, about 2 tbsp (30 mL)
8 oz vodka, gin, whisky or rum
Fresh rosemary sprigs to garnish
Fresh cranberries or herbs, candied ginger or citrus slices to garnish.

Directions:
Prepare ginger tea according to package directions. In a heatproof container, combine honey with hot tea and stir until completely dissolved. Add citrus juice. Taste and adjust sweetness as desired. For cold drinks, cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled.

Add spirit of choice and stir to combine. (If holding warm drink in slow cooker, keep on lowest temperature to prevent alcohol from evaporating.)

To serve, pour or ladle 5-oz servings into heatproof mugs or tumblers full of ice. Garnish as desired.   Makes 8 drinks

Tom And Jerry Cocktail

The Invention of the Tom And Jerry

Jamie McFadden

 The invention of the Tom and Jerry cocktail is generally credited to British journalist Pierce Egan in the 1820’s.  Mr. Egan wrote a book, and subsequent play, called Life in London, in which the main characters are named Tom and Jerry.  It is believed that he introduced the cocktail as a way to promote his book and play.  Jerry Thomas, who is considered the father of modern mixology, was known to claim that he invented the Tom and Jerry, and although he published a similar egg-based cocktail in his 1862 book How to Mix Drinks (or The Bon-Vivant’s Companion), most historians agree that Egan is the true originator.

A Tom & Jerry is my second most absolute favorite Holiday beverage, next to an elegant French Sparkling Rose.  There are so many variations to this recipe, many with shortcuts.  However, this recipe was created by my Uncle Jim Schaffer who co owned the legendary Irish Tavern “The Shamrock”.   What a delight it was for me every Christmas evening to be in his home in the kitchen, licking the beaters from the mixer and watching him smile and laugh as he mixed this holiday cheer for family and friends.  The recipe is a bit time consuming………..but oh so delicious.  "Jamie McFadden"

From my home to yours…….Happy Holidays!!!

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Directions for: Uncle Jim’s Tom & Jerry’s

Ideally a stand mixer with 2 work bowls works best for this recipe.

To begin:

Crack and separate 6 eggs.

Place the 6 egg whites, room temperature, in the first mixing bowl and whip until soft peaks form.  Set aside.

Remove and wash the whip attachment and In a separate mixing bowl combine:

6 egg yolks with 1 pound powdered sugar, and whip until pale yellow. Next add 1 oz vanilla extract,

3/4 teaspoon allspice, 1 tbsp nutmeg and 1 1/2 oz of cream sherry.

With a plastic spatula gently combine the above 2 mixes and fold gently.

Fill a tea kettle with water and bring to a boil. 

Fill coffee mugs with 1 oz each brandy, rum and whiskey.  Pour in 1 -2 oz of the boiling water.  Top with up to 1 cup of the egg mix.  Gently mix and lightly dust the tops with freshly grated nutmeg.  Serve immediately. 

Persimmon Bread

A recipe by James Beard, on David Labovitz blog is something!  A decade ago, I did not know what a persimmon was, I almost mistook it for an exotic tomato. I was certainly missing something, it is one of my favorite fruits now.

Last week I got a lot of persimmon and if am not mistaken I think it is the Fuyu and unlike the Hachiya, it can be eaten when firm.  I wanted to bake a dessert with persimmon and after going back and forth with cake, pudding, bars and bread. 

 There was really nothing to think…I had all the ingredients, the outcome was amazing. we had it with coffee, we had it with mulled wine and we had it with maple syrup and crushed cloves. I did not change anything in the recipe. The amazing part of the recipe is that James Beard does not mention the exact amount of sugar for this recipe. David's suggestion, "Although I recommend using the higher amount of sugar, feel free to use whichever quantity you’d like…after all, you have permission from the granddaddy of all cooks, James Beard himself." I did not want to risk messing up with this recipe so I took exactly the same amount as David Lebovitz.

Using the higher amount of sugar will produce a moister and, of course, sweeter bread.

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground nutmeg
2 to 2 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup unsalted melted butter
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cup Cognac, bourbon or whiskey
2 cups persimmon puree
2 cups walnuts or pecan, chopped
2 cups raisin, apricots, dates or cranberries.

Directions:
Butter 2 loaf pans. Line the bottoms with a piece of parchment paper or dust with flour and tap out any excess. 

Preheat oven to 350*F degrees.

Sift the first 5 dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center then stir in the butter, eggs, liquor, persimmon puree then the nuts and raisins.

Bake 1 hour or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. I halved the recipe and it worked well.

 

Bread Pudding ~ Lazarus Dept. Store

 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

Lazarus Bread Pudding With Whiskey 

Sauce with 1,140 searches.  

This concludes one week of Top 7.

Lazarus Bread Pudding
With Whiskey Sauce

The large Federated Department Store with main offices in Columbus, Ohio, known as Lazarus Department Store, served wonderful tasty food in their inhouse restaurants.  They also sold a cookbook which included the recipes of their fabulous food.  

Whiskey Sauce
1 cup butter
2 c. powdered sugar
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons whiskey

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While the pudding is baking, melt butter and whip in powdered sugar.  Beat eggs with a fork and add to the butter mix in small amounts while stirring well with a fork until all is blended.  Stir in whiskey and serve with pudding.  

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Custard Mix

2 cups granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

8 eggs

5 1/2 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

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Blend granulated sugar, salt and eggs with a wire whisk.  Add milk and vanilla: set aside.

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Bread Pudding

1/2 lb french bread

1/4 cup toasted pecans

1/2 cup melted butter

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Break French bread into medium pieces.  Add pecans and melted butter.  Arrange in a greased 9x13 baking dish.  Pour custard mix over bread pieces.  

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To Bake:  Place the dish in a pan with a small amount water to create a double-boiler effect.  The water should come up the side of the baking dish about halfway.  Bake at 350^ for 50 to 60 minutes.  Test by inserting a knife into the center of pudding.  Serve with sauce.

Apple Bourbon Bundt Cake

Apple Bourbon Bundt Cake

Ingredients:
2 sticks unsalted butter 226 grams, at room temperature, plus more to grease pan
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 315 grams, plus more to dust the pan
3 tablespoons (30 grams) plus 1/2 cup (80 grams) bourbon or rye whiskey
½ cup (90 grams) candied ginger, chopped
1 ¾ cup (330 grams) light brown sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons (8 grams) baking powder
1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons (3 grams) ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon (5 grams) fine sea salt
½ teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 cup (227 grams) sour cream
1 tablespoon (15 grams) vanilla extract
1 ½ teaspoon (5 grams) finely grated lemon zest
2 medium Granny Smith apples about a pound, 454 grams, peeled, cored, and coarsely grated
1 cup (120 grams) finely chopped, toasted pecans
½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
Juice of 1/2 lemon (20 grams)

Directions:Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a 12-cup bundt pan. In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons bourbon and the candied ginger. Let stand 10 minutes.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the brown sugar and remaining butter on medium-high speed, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, until incorporated.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining flour with the baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sour cream and vanilla. Pour in the bourbon from the ginger mixture (reserve ginger) and whisk until smooth. Stir in zest.

With the mixer on medium speed, add the dry mixture and sour cream mixture to the wet mixture in three additions, alternating between the two. Fold in the ginger, apples and pecans. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the cake is golden brown and a skewer inserted into the cake comes out dry, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Cool in the pan 20 minutes, then run a paring knife around the sides of the pan to release the cake; cool, flat side down, on a wire rack.

While the cake cools, combine the 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup whiskey in a small saucepan. Over low heat, gently stir until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the lemon juice and take off the heat.

While the cake cools, make 10 slits on top with a paring knife and pour half the bourbon-sugar mixture on the still-warm cake. When the cake is fully cool, flip it and pour the rest of the glaze on the other side, then flip again to serve.

Chocolate Whiskey Cake

Chocolate Whiskey Cake

Ingredients:
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into
    1-inch pieces, more for pan
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened
    cocoa powder
1 ½ cups brewed strong coffee
½ cup Irish whiskey
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
Powdered sugar, for serving (optional)

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Directions:
Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 10-inch springform pan. Dust with 2 tablespoons cocoa powder.

In a medium saucepan over low heat, warm coffee, Irish whiskey, 12 tablespoons butter and remaining cocoa powder, whisking occasionally, until butter is melted. Whisk in sugars until dissolved. Remove from heat and cool completely.

In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, pepper and cloves. In another bowl, whisk together eggs and vanilla. Slowly whisk egg mixture into chocolate mixture. Add dry ingredients and whisk to combine. Fold in chocolate chips.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Transfer to oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean, 55 to 65 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack, then remove sides of pan. Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if you like.