Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Yummy Sangria!

The recipe for the Red Wine Sangria was delicious and really easy to make especially since I had all the ingredients at home....the guests also enjoyed it!


Here is a new one for white wine sangria from Real Simple magazine.....let me know if anyone tries it! Would be great for anyone who is entertaining for NYE tonight!


Sparkling White Sangria
1 bottle sparkling wine (such as Champagne or Prosecco)
1 1/2 cups apricot nectar
1 1/2 ounces triple sec

In a pitcher, mix together the wine, apricot nectar, and triple sec. Serve in wineglasses.

Upgrade: Add 1 bunch frozen grapes to the pitcher before serving.

Yield: Makes 6 servings

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Sangria

going to try this one tomorrow!

1 (750 ml) bottle red wine (Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel)
1/2 cup rum or brandy
2 TBSP Sugar
1 sliced lemon
1 sliced orange
1 sliced lime
1 cored & sliced apple
1 liter 7up, Sprite or ginger ale soda

Step1 Pour the wine into your favorite serving pitcher or wine decanter. Use a pretty Spanish styled pitcher for added flair!
Step2 Add the sugar and your choice of rum or brandy and gently stir.
Step3 Squeeze the citrus fruits into the wine mixture, then toss the remaining pieces of fruit in as well.
Step4 Rather than cutting the fruits into wedges you might want to cut them into circles.
Step5 Refrigerate overnight so that it can be served ice cold. You can also add crushed ice or ice cubes to each individual glass of sangria when serving.
Step6 Add your soda immediately before serving.
Step7 Serve in pretty wine glasses or fancy cocktail glasses. Add fruit wedges, fancy stirrers or drink umbrellas to the glass for decoration!

Crab Cakes in Chardonnay Cream- from Texas Monthly

PESCE, HOUSTON
CRAB CAKES
1 teaspoon finely chopped capers
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon creole mustard
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1 tablespoon minced green bell pepper
1 tablespoon minced yellow bell pepper
1 tablespoon minced red onion
1 tablespoon panko (Japanese-style bread crumbs, available in the specialty department of most grocery stores)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon creole seasoning such as Zatarain’s
1 pound fresh jumbo lump crabmeat, cleaned
Put capers, mayonnaise, creole mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire, and horseradish in a medium mixing bowl and combine thoroughly. Add the other ingredients (except crabmeat) to the bowl and mix well. Gently fold in crabmeat, being careful not to break up the lumps.
CHARDONNAY CREAM SAUCE
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup yellow onion, diced
1 bay leaf
2 cups dry Chardonnay
1/2 pound dressed crabmeat, mashed with a spoon
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tablespoon sour cream
Heat butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. When foam subsides, add onion and bay leaf, then cook, stirring continuously, until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes.
Add wine and crabmeat and reduce volume by half. Add heavy cream and reduce by half again. Allow about an hour for the two reductions. Consistency should be that of a typical sauce, neither thick nor thin. Add salt and pepper. Strain sauce through a sieve, then stir in sour cream. Transfer to a blender and pulse 2 or 3 times, to give it a bit of froth. (Note: Recipe makes a generous amount.)
ASSEMBLY AND COOKING
2 tablespoons grape-seed oil (canola may be substituted)
panko bread crumbs (for dusting crab cakes)
1 tablespoon or more minced green bell pepper (for garnish)
1 tablespoon or more minced yellow bell pepper (for garnish)
3 small sprigs cilantro (for garnish)
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Divide crab mixture into 3 equal portions and firmly but carefully pack into 3 stainless steel ring molds. The molds should be 3 inches in diameter by 1 1/2 inches tall; the mixture should completely fill them. Dust both ends of the crab cakes well with bread crumbs.
Heat oil over medium heat in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet. When oil is hot, lift each crab-filled mold with a spatula and place in skillet. Let brown on first side for 2 minutes, then turn molds over and place skillet in oven for 6 to 8 minutes.
To serve, ladle a thin layer of Chardonnay cream sauce evenly onto 3 plates. Put a ring mold on top of the sauce on each plate and carefully remove mold. Garnish plates with chopped bell peppers and put a sprig of cilantro on top of each crab cake. Serves 3.

Best chocolate chip cookies EVER!!!!!

NEW YORK TIMES CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Time: 45 minutes (for 1 6-cookie batch), plus at least 24 hours’ chilling

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons
(8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content (see note)
Sea salt.

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.
2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.
4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. Eat warm, with a big napkin.
Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies.