Frozen Margarita Pie
Ingredients:
Crust:
1 cup finely crushed pretzels (or chopped in a food processor)
¼ cup sugar
Filling:
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
⅓ cup frozen Bacardi Margarita Mix, thawed
2 tablespoons tequila
1 tablespoon orange liqueur
green food coloring, as needed (optional)
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons Bacardi Margarita Mix, thawed
1 tablespoon tequila

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Mix crushed pretzels and sugar together in a bowl, stir in butter until evenly incorporated. Spoon mixture into a 9-inch pie plate, press into bottom and up sides of plate to form a firm, even crust.

Bake curst in the preheated oven until edges are lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Mix sweetened condensed milk, Bacardi mix, tequila, orange liqueur, and food coloring in a large bowl.

Using a hand or stand mixer, beat cream, 2 tablespoons Bacardi mix and 1 tablespoon of tequila, until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream mixture into sweetened condensed milk mixture. When crust is cooled, spoon filling into crust.

Cover pie with plastic wrap and place in freezer for at least 4 hours.

3 Irish Men Cupcakes
adapted by pinch.my.salt originally adapted by David Leberman

Cupcake Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons melted butter
½ cup sour cream, or yogurt
6 ounces Guiness Beer
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 ½ cup all purpose flour
½ cup dark cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda

Ganache:
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate
⅔ cup heavy whipping cream
4 tablespoons Jameson Whisky
2 tablespoons butter

Frosting:
1 stick of butter, soften
3 cups confectionary sugar
4 ounces softened cream cheese
4 tablespoons Bailey’s

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pan with liners and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, mix eggs and sugar until creamy. Add melted butter, sour cream, beer and vanilla. Mix until incorporated. In a separate bowl, add flour, cocoa, baking powder, and soda, whisk until combined. Add dry ingredients into wet ingredients, mix until smooth, about 2 minutes at medium speed.

Fill cupcake liners ¾ of the way full. Bake about 20-25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out dry.

Let cupcakes cool, about 10 minutes, before transferring to a cooking rack.

While cupcakes are cooking, in a small sauce pan heat cream over medium high heat until its warm, but not boiling. Chop chocolate into small chunks and place in a medium sized bowl. Add butter (in small chunks) to chocolate and butter. Stir until it melts and becomes cool. Add in your whiskey and set aside to firm up a bit, about 10-15 minutes.

While the ganache is cooling, use a small circular cookie cutter, or melon baller, and remove a small portion out of the center of each cupcake. Fill the center with ganache using a small scoop or piping bag.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar, about a cup at a time. Once the sugar is incorporated and the frosting is smooth, add in the baileys, mix until completely smooth. Place the frosting into a piping bag or zip lock bag (cutting a small edge) and frost the cupcakes.

Cucumber Vodka Watermelon Jello Shooters
Ingredients:

1 12–16 pound watermelon
4 cups cucumber vodka
4 3-ounce boxes Jolly Rancher Watermelon Jell-O mix
2 1-ounce boxes unflavored gelatin

Preparation:

1. Using a large chef’s knife, cut the watermelon into two equal halves, lengthwise.

2. Use your knife to slice all the way around the perimeter of the watermelon flesh, about an inch from the rind. Be careful not to pierce through the skin, as this will lead to your Jell-O leaking out. Then use a kitchen spoon to scrape out the rest and create a smooth bowl with roughly 1/2-inch red watermelon flesh left on the rind.

3. Line two small, rimmed baking sheets with paper towels in a way that creates a bed for your watermelon bowls. The idea is to create enough support to keep the watermelon bowls from rolling at all while they’re in the fridge. Put one bowl in the center of each tray and set aside.

4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the Jell-O mix and the unflavored gelatin. Add 4 cups of boiling water and whisk until the gelatin is completely dissolved, about 2 minutes. Add the vodka all at once and whisk just to combine.

5. Pour the Jell-O mixture into the watermelon bowls, dividing evenly. Carefully place the Jell-O filled watermelon bowls in the fridge, and refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.

6. When Jell-O is set, cut each half into 1-inch slices, crosswise, then cut each slice into 2–3 wedges, and serve.

Happy Friday and Bon Appetito!

Must Have Boozy Desserts for Any Party


Succulent Shrimp Cocktail

Shrimp cocktail is one of the easiest things to make.  Most people make one basic mistake at home, they overcook the shrimp.   Follow these easy directions and you will always have the most succulent shrimp!

1 lb. 21-25 count AMERICAN Shrimp (the count # is how many shrimp in one pound), peeled & deveined
1 tablespoon Webers® Boston Bay Seasoning
2 cups cold water
Ice bath (ice cubes & cold water)
½ cup shredded lettuce (for plating)
Lemon wedges for garnish, if desired

Ice Bath for Shrimp

Ice Bath For Shrimp

Cocktail Sauce:

½ cup ketchup
¼ cup horseradish
Juice of ½ a lemon
2-3 dashes of tobasco sauce
1 teaspoon Webers ® Boston Bay Seasoning

Place the water and Boston Bay Seasoning in a medium sized sauce pan over high heat.  Bring to a boil.  Immediately add the shrimp.  Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes.  Drain shrimp and place into the ice bath (this prevents further cooking).  Drain the shrimp when cooled (about 30-60 seconds).  Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

In a small mixing bowl add all the cocktail sauce ingredients, mix until well blended.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

To serve:  Place shredded lettuce in cocktail glass, top with shrimp, and drizzle with cocktail sauce.  This recipe serves 4.

The

What You Will Need

Years ago I started working as a cooking instructor at The Viking Cooking School in Memphis, TN.  I learned so many great things about cooking, styles, techniques, short cuts, knife skills, etc.  But one of my favorite things that I learned was how to cook the best steak at home.  We always use to go out for steak, Ruth’s Chris was our favorite steakhouse.  I can proudly say that we haven’t been back there in many years.  Once again, you too can make the best steak ever at home.  You only need a few ingredients for the steak, but I like to add a wine reduction sauce with mushrooms as well.

There are several key techniques for making the best steak at home:

  • Start with “USDA Prime Beef” Filet (yes, it’s worth the $$$)
  • Take steaks out of the refrigerator at least an hour before cooking
  • Wrap steak(s) with butchers twine (sold in every grocery store)
  • Season steaks 30 minutes before cooking
  • Generously rub steaks with extra virgin olive oil
  • Use good quality sea salt (I like grey and pink)
  • Freshly ground peppercorns are a must!
  • Prepare grill 30 minutes in advance
  • Bring grill up to the hottest temperature possible before cooking steaks
    Hottest Temperature

    Hottest Temperature

    Grilling Steaks

    Grilling Steaks

  • Use a meat thermometer!  (Unless you’ve been cooking steaks for a while and can tell their doneness using the “touch” technique.
  • Let the cooked steaks rest!  Cover with aluminum foil for 3-5 minutes, this prevents juices from escaping and keeps the meat moist and flavorful.

    Let Steaks Rest

    Let Steaks Rest

Portobello Mushroom Sauce:Deglaze Pan with Brandy

You'll never go back to your favorite steakhouse again!

You’ll never go back to your favorite steakhouse again!

Buon Appetito!

Buon Appetito!

Succulent Shrimp Cocktail and the “Perfect” Filet Mignon” – July & August Calendar Photos