As I write this post winds are whipping outside my home at the rate of about 60 MPH, the snow continues to fall (18″ and counting), and the wind chill sits at about 4℉.
Yeah….it’s a cocoa day.
Drinks
The Mean Shandy
I'm not in the habit of sharing many drink recipes here, but every now and again I come across one that I like so much that I can't resist sharing it with you all. For the most part I'm a wine and beer drinker, though in the cold winter months I can occasionally be found sipping a small batch bourbon, and when summer rolls around I'm always on the hunt for the latest seasonal drink.
The Best Eggnog
As I prepare to pack my bags for some holiday travel I thought I'd toss this quick post together, one last little culinary sharing before Christmas. For all of you out there who have never made your own eggnog, and gag when served the artificially sweetened and thickened sludge bought pre-made at the market, you are in for a treat. One sip of this magical elixir and you'll feel like Ebenezer Scrooge quaffing the "milk of human kindness" in the musical version of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" starring Albert Finney.
This is not a drink for the faint of heart, what with a dozen eggs, copious amounts of whole milk and cream, a couple cups of sugar, and over 6 cups of booze…..but hey, if you want to get giddy like old Uncle Ebenezer, you gotta take some health risks!
Stay Frosty – A Blueberry Smoothie to Rock You!
Those of you who are regular readers of Oui, Chef learned of one of my musical heros not long ago when I wrote our first "Meatless Monday" post inspired by one of my all-time favorite musicians, Paul McCartney. Today you get another peek into the dark recesses of my musical mind as I am dedicating today's treat to another one of my favorite bands, Van Halen.
Basil-Vodka Gimlet
This is not a recipe I make with my kids, and no, I'm not encouraging you to whip up a pitcher of this elixer with your ankle biters either.
Let's be honest, our kids are going to try their hands at mixology soon enough, at ages we will likely find horrifying, they won't need any help from us here.
As a blog dedicated to sharing family friendly recipes you can make with your own young ones, we are not in the habit of posting tasty alcoholic treats, but if its half as hot where you are today as it is here, then you could probably use a refreshing adult beverage.
Aren't you glad you know me?
Guinness Burgers
Prior to leaving for Paris, my boys and I had a few days away “just us guys”. It is a trip we do every year right at the end of school, and as luck would have it, we get to celebrate Father’s Day while we are off having a blast together….it is absolutely perfect. This year, the boys bought me a few books in celebration of the big day, one, written by Justin Halpern is called Sh*t My Dad Says and is riotously funny, I can highly recommend it. The other is entitled Guinness: Celebrating 250 Remarkable Years and is a wonderful history (complete with some scrumptious recipes) of one of my favorite libations. My boys always know just what to get me, thanks guys.
As we flipped through the pages of the Guinness book we found a number of recipes that were immediately deemed blog worthy, from Guinness Bread, to Shepard’s Pie, to Bangers and Mash with Guinness Sauce, but the one that stood-out above all others, the one we wanted to cook first, was this one, Guinness Burgers.
The Chef's Table – Richard Garcia of Tastings Wine Bar and Bistro
I had the pleasure of making Chef Richard Garcia's acquaintance through a friend of mine at the Chef's Collaborative, and I am so glad that she recommend I give him a call. Not only is Richard a terrific chef, but he is very engaged in the food world outside of his restaurant, with a particular interest in making sure our kids have access to high quality, healthy food at school, and that they all learn about cooking and making good food choices from an early age. He's my kind of guy.
We met a couple of Fridays ago on a snowy (can you believe it?) morning at Patriot Place in Foxboro, where his restaurant is located. It was early and he was working alone, putting time into the dish that he would be serving at the Chef's Collaborative fund raiser that we attended that Sunday. He is a very approachable guy, and immediately made me feel at home as we sat at a table nestled among his restaurant's outstanding wine collection.