Deviled Eggs

Of course, everyone already knows how to make Deviled Eggs. Why would you possibly need a recipe? The truth is that most of us need a recipe, or at least some new techniques. In fact, it’s possible (or probable) that this should have been a pantry tips/ let’s fix it post. Because everyone knows how to hard-boil an egg intuitively, that means that lots of us don’t know how to do it well. If you don’t know Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything, you’re in for a treat, because his column and book are all about technique. In fact, Deviled Eggs are an example of a food I thought I didn’t like but actually just hadn’t eaten it cooked correctly until very late in life because I can’t stand the taste of over cooked hard boiled eggs. Mark Bittman’s egg cooking techniques are life altering, at least for people like me. I recommend you watch this video. Cooking the eggs properly will update this old school dish in a new school way. And after you know how to boil eggs to your liking, the sky is the limit in terms of making Deviled Eggs. I like them to be a … Continue reading

Dangerous! (Cocktail) Nuts!

These Dangerous! (Cocktail) Nuts! are for dangerous cocktails, just like the Aviation and Old Fashioned cocktails I have featured on my Madmen Premier Party Menu. I finally perfected this recipe, and not to rub it in your face, but they’ve been so popular that I’m sorry to say I’m going to have to keep you guessing. The good news is, that while you can’t make them on your own anymore, you can buy them in my online shop! How cool is that. I’ve been making them special order for clients for Holiday gifts and party favors for years, but now anyone can order them and have them shipped direct to your (or your lucky friend’s door) whenever you desire! And then you can check out all of my cocktails and mix until you’ve found your favorite pairing. Hint: The Decoy and other brown liquor cocktails pair especially well with these Dangerous! (Cocktail) Nuts! … Continue reading

Green Goddess Dressing on a Wedge Salad

There are probably a million incantations of this dressing. I tend to skip the traditional anchovies and make it vegetarian with the addition of capers as a briny element. I also like a lot of herbs. And an avocado. And I can’t help but add some hot sauce. I try to remember not to be intimidated by the long list of ingredients; they’re easy to find and it’s really simple to make. This is definitely a kitchen sink sort of dressing and it makes a lot- three cups worth. Sometimes I cut it in half and still have plenty. But I like to have it around to slather on crusty bread and serve with poached eggs for breakfast. 4 ounces arugula 2 tablespoons tarragon 1 bunch basil 1 bunch cilantro 1 bunch parsley 1 avocado 1 shallot; peeled 2 cloves of garlic; peeled 3 tablespoons capers in brine 1 tablespoon lime juice 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar ½ cup heavy whipping cream ¼ cup sour cream 6 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon hot sauce 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard ½ teaspoon salt and black pepper 1 head iceberg lettuce 1 really red tomato Food process altogether. Re-season with salt and pepper. … Continue reading

Baked Clams

This may be one of those projects that should really say, “Don’t try this at home.” No really. Every time I shuck oysters and clams it makes me really appreciate how cheap they are at restaurants. You heard me right, raw oysters in fancy restaurants are a bargain! This is seriously hard work, especially when you are a first timer. But, it’s also really fun and rewarding. Just make sure you haven’t had too many Aviations or Old Fashioneds before you begin or this will be a little dangerous. I won’t pretend to be an expert shucker. I’m perfectly adequate. But slow. And careful. So I highly recommend that you watch this video by an expert at Legal Seafoods to learn. That said, it didn’t matter how many times I watched the video, the shells would only give on the back edge near where the shells join together. And that reminded me of a very important kitchen lesson. Roll with it. Sometimes your best laid plans and perfect tool for the job approach has to be abandoned when the clams don’t want to open. It took me a long time to get them open, but I did prevail and I … Continue reading

Old Fashioned

An Old Fashioned is a go-to old school cocktail in my book and definitely required for a Madmen Premier cocktail party. While a rye whiskey is a good move if you’re channeling Don Draper, if you grew up in Wisconsin, like me, you’ll probably feel nostalgic towards the Brandy version. It’s a little sweeter, so you may wish to up the bitters. 1 orange round and ½ an inch thick; quartered 2 maraschino cherries ½ teaspoon sugar; coarse is best 3 dashes Angostura bitters 2 ounces whiskey or brandy club soda orange and cherry garnish if you like Place the orange quarters and the cherries in the bottom of a heavy glass. Dash the bitters in and top with the sugar. Muddle the fruit well. Add the whiskey. Add ice. Splash with club soda if you like. Garnish if you like, though I consider the initial fruit the garnish. … Continue reading

Aviation Cocktail

I love this gin-based Aviation Cocktail for all it’s refined floral and citrus notes, but picking the right gin is important because of the more subtle ingredients in the cocktail (i.e. the maraschino liquer and the creme de violette). One of the properties that makes gin-based cocktails interesting to me is that gins taste quite differently from brand to brand. Some are more neutral, some are very herbaceous, some are traditional in their juniper notes and some stray very far from that classic taste. They all have their place, but some drinks I’ve very specific about: I really like Hendricks with herbs and a gin and tonic requires Tanqueray to make me really happy. I’m a little more flexible when I make Marc’s favorite drink, the Aviation cocktail. I tend to use Sapphire, but I have liked Beefeater and Plymouth as well. The milky blue color that’s so unique to the Aviation is caused when the crème de violette and the citrus interact. I don’t really know why, but it’s really cool and creates a very unique blueish purple hue. A drink this good requires a really good maraschino cherry as well, so this is another great drink to showcase … Continue reading