This blog is mostly for me and my friends. I record dishes I think are share-worthy. Big nod to Chef John for his inspiration.

Saturday, December 28, 2019

Moroccan Spiced Pork Roast

This is a Chef John / All Recipes dish I recently prepared at home. My first go at it produced a wonderful dish, but next time I'll make a few adjustments based on the results.
Recipe: Chef John's Video on YouTube / All Recipes ingredients and directions

My results yielded a less juicy pork roast and fewer pan drippings that in the video. It was not dry, but not juicy. Be patient when spreading the paste even if you dry the roast. It took a while to loosen up the paste so it to spread easily. Back of a spoon worked better than hands. I added a couple of parsnips to be veggie mix . I like parsnips.

Planned Changes
  1. I will probably wet brine the pork roast in 1/4 cup table salt dissolved in 2 cups cold water for about 2 hours. Then butterfly and season with the paste. This in an effort to produce a juicier roast.  
  2. Use a porcelain or other not-no-stick roasting vessel. Maybe a large cast iron skillet. The non-stick roasting pan I used left little fond.
  3. My lack of pan drippings I will attempt to correct by adding some diced pork belly with the vegetables in hopes it will render and caramelize during roasting. The issue may have been with my very lean roast with very little fat cap.
The Moroccan spice paste was fantastic. It perfumed the entire roast and filled the house with pleasurable aromas.

Difficulty: Easy Peasy. Other than butterflying the pork roast, this requires no special skills or tools.
Cleanup: Minimal. A few bowls, measuring spoons / cup, the roasting pan, knives, cutting board, spoon and that's about it. Everything will be clean by the time you are done roasting. 

Ready for roasting

Final product was delicious!

Monday, December 23, 2019

Cocktails: You Know, That's Not Half Bad!

This is just my recipe list so I won't have to rely on my memory. First entry was the Vesper Cocktail (down at the bottom) which seems fitting. Use freshly squeezed juices for all citrus. Adjust amounts to your taste. Here is a link to the equipment I prefer (or equivalent if no longer available).  Use browser search function to find something specific below. Cheers!



What the Dickens? 
1 oz Cognac or good brandy
1 oz Benedictine
1/2 oz lemon juice
1 1/2 oz tonic water
lemon peel for garnish

Add crushed ice 1/2 way up an old fashioned glass or rocks glass. Add the liquids, stir, and add more crushed ice to fill. Express oil from and garnish with lemon peel.




Tom Collins
1 1/2 gin
1 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
3 oz club soda (or just top off)

Combine the first three ingredients in a glass of about 12 ounces. Add ice leaving room for soda. Add soda and garnish with lemon wheel. You can add a cherry if you so desire.


Alexander
1 1/2 oz gin
1 oz creme de cacao
3/4 oz half and half or cream
Whole nutmeg for garnish

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Grate a little fresh nutmeg on top for garnish



Gold Rush
2 oz bourbon
1 oz honey syrup*
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
Lemon twist for garnish

Shake with ice and strain into an ice filled rocks glass.
Garnish with lemon twist
*For honey syrup, combine 1 oz honey and 1 oz hot water, stir till combined. Makes enough for 2 drinks.


Sidecar
1.5 - 2 oz cognac
1 oz Cointreau (or triple sec in a pinch)
1/2 oz lemon juice
Lemon twist for garnish

Shake with ice and strain into chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with lemon twist


Oriental Cocktail
1.5 - 2 oz rye or bourbon
3/4 oz sweet vermouth
3/4 oz triple sec
1/2 oz lime juice

Shake with ice and strain into chilled cocktail glass.



Sazerac
1 oz cognac or good quality brandy
1 oz bourbon
1/4 oz simple syrup
2-3 dashes Peychaud's bitters
Lemon peel or twist for garnish

Add to liquids to a mixing glass with ice and stir until very cold.
Strain into a chilled martini glass. Express oil from lemon peel, run around inside of glass, and drop in or discard peel.


Vesper Cocktail
2 oz gin (usually Beefeater or Bombay Sapphire at our home)
1 oz vodka
1/2 oz Cocci Americano
Lemon peel or twist for garnish

Add to liquids to a mixing glass with ice and stir until very cold.
Strain into a chilled martini glass. Express oil from lemon peel, run around inside of glass, and drop in or discard peel.