Bourbon Maple Syrup

Blis maple syrup may very well be the most amazing incarnation of this breakfast staple. Unless I'm mistaken it is simply premium maple syrup that has been aged in bourbon barrels. I first found this while working at Norman's about five years ago. At the time you more or less had to be connected with a high-end restaurant to get your hands on a bottle, and it was very expensive.

It's still expensive but can be purchased online. I wondered how close I could come to creating a good bourbon syrup and came up with this recipe. This recipe does taste good but can't stand up to Blis; it is just not nearly as smooth or balanced. It is cheaper and easier to aquire on short notice, and it requires you to keep a bottle of Maker's Mark on hand. That's always a good thing.

Buying Blis is like buying a $60 bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Yes, it is amazing but how often does your dining occasion merit such extravagance?

Bourbon Maple Syrup
.25 cup good boubon, I use Maker's Mark
1 cup real maple syrup

1. Boil bourbon and burn off alcohol.
2. Add maple syrup, simmer gently for a few minutes.
3. Remove from heat, serve warm.
   

Red Beer

My constant curiosity about a.m. libations has led me to explore the infamous Red Beer. I've been avoiding this drink for years. It just doesn't sound good at all.
The basic recipe is just beer and tomato juice.

Yesterday I made a connection...Maybe this recipe isn't bad, just incomplete. I was making a sangrita when the idea struck me. Sangrita is tomato juice with citrus juices and hot sauce; citrus is a great garnish on lighter beers. Why haven't I noticed that before?

So here are some experiments:
Red Beer+How to Fix It(rear/left in picture)
12 oz lager
3 oz tomato juice
This is very boring and bland. Do not use a special beer for this; the beer is lost and the tomato flavor is blah. To fix this reach for the chipotle-based hot sauce. I threw a few dashes in and found drastic flavor change. The smokiness from the sauce complimented both the beer and tomato. The sodium seemed to increase both flavors as well. I would compare the difference to listening to a CD on the freeway and listening to the same CD with headphones in a quiet room. This would be great for a brunch. It will pair nicely with eggs and various cheeses.

Sangrita/Red Beer(front/right in picture)
12 oz lager
3 oz sangrita
This works but only in a utilitarian sense. It's tasty, with more body and much higher acid than the plain lager. On a very hot day this would be nice with a sandwich at lunch but I don't think it has much more purpose than that. It may also be good for people who want a lighter Bloody Maryish drink without the hard alcohol. I do like this drink but I'll probably only use it when I'm bored and need some variety in my glass.

Banana Caramel

Very easy!
This weekend I made a banana caramel french toast casserole. The casserole served about eight people and was very easy. The banana flavor was so intense that it almost tasted fake. I didn't measure but these amounts should be very close...

French Toast Casserole
1 loaf bread, large dice
2 bananas, small dice
1.5 cups milk
.5 cup sugar
3 eggs
.5 teaspoon vanilla

1. In a large bowl, mix the milk, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Add bread and bananas then toss well. Once the bread is saturated, press into an oven safe dish and bake at 350F until the eggs are set.

Banana Caramel
.75 cup sugar
water as needed
2 tablespoons butter
4 bananas, small dice

1. Add sugar to a stainless steel pan and enough water that is becomes damp, about a few tablespoons.
2. Lightly caramelize the sugar then add the butter and bananas. Gently toss until the butter is melted and the caramel is smooth.

That's it. I put the banana caramel over the casserole and there you go.

Hominy

Hominy is long overdue for glory. A longtime staple of Latin America, hominy is more than just another corn product.

This morning I made hominy with cheddar and topped it with a poached egg and tomatillo salsa. Simple, easy, and awesome little breaky.

Father's Day

I was working in New York during my first Father's Day. While it was frustrating to be away from my family, the day started perfectly:
I went fishing on the private lake at my work and caught plenty of blue gill;
Cleaned the fish behind the kitchen while my coffee was brewing;
Pan-fried the fish then ate them with eggs and bacon next to the lake.

What a way to start a special day.

What Time is Brunch?

I'm having beer with quiche right now and it's wonderful. So the question...Is it okay to drink beer with brunch?
I think it depends on the company you keep.

Steel Cut Oats

It doesn't get much more comforting than a hot bowl of oatmeal. Unfortunately, instant oatmeal has shaped the view of this food for the past few decades.
Find some steel cut oats, and about an hour to cook and eat them. Though the oats take a long time to cook, this is not an active dish.

Here's what I do:
3 cups Water
1.5 cups Steel cut oats
Healthy pinch of Salt
Milk or Water as needed

Boil the water, stir in the oats, turn down to a simmer, and go about your business for the next 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. About this time the oats may need more liquid and I like to add whole milk as needed to achieve a creamier result but water will work fine. It should take at least 40 minutes to get some nice oatmeal action. When cooking for a family or group of friends it's easy to set out an assortment of toppings so everyone can customize their own bowls.

Note: The actual ratio should be nearly 4 to 1, liquid to oats. I like the added control of adding the last bit of liquid towards the end but it is not necessary.

Now for the toppings...
I usually stir in the toppings right at the end but sometimes you may add them earlier if they would benefit from the cooking. The beauty of oats is that anything goes:
Nuts, Maple syrup/sugar, Brown sugar, Dried fruit, Fresh fruit, Seeds, Cooked pumpkin, Sweet spices, yogurt, brown butter, various cheeses (for the adventurous) etc. Food snobs be sure to always monte au buerre!

This morning I enjoyed Mexican brown sugar and coconut. It paired perfectly with my coffee.