Chef's Corner: Baking with booze
For some, alcohol is just a way to get drunk. These people tend to add mixes to their drinks in order to hide the taste of alcohol. I used to be one of these people. But then I met someone who taught me that “a Rye & Coke is a terrible waste of perfectly good Rye, and Coke.”
After being introduced to cocktails that properly highlighted the natural flavours of alcohol, I actually started to enjoy the taste of it. Sadly though, the health and social implications of drinking liquor like water prevent those of us who wish to from doing so.
Luckily, there is a solution to this problem that is both socially acceptable and delicious. If you are like me and wish you could indulge in booze from morning until night, try these great recipes. From breakfast until dessert, the liquor and liqueurs in these dishes compliment the other ingredients and allow for a veritable bender, without the hangover.
French Toast with Triple Sec
Start your day out right with this tasty and traditional confection. For even more orange liqueur flavour, try topping the toast with Triple Sec whipped cream by adding one tablespoon of Triple Sec and one tablespoon of sugar to the cream before whipping it. Triple Sec also makes a great fruit marinade and is an essential ingredient for a killer Cosmopolitan.
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 orange, zest and juice
- 2 tbsp Triple Sec
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 8 slices of white bread (the thicker the better)
- 4 tbsp of butter
In flat baking pan beat eggs, cream, Triple Sec, orange zest, orange juice and vanilla together. Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp of butter in large skillet or griddle on medium heat. Once pan is hot, dip bread two slices at a time into the egg mixture, coating both sides and ensuring that the batter has soaked all the way through. Remove the bread from the batter and place in hot skillet or griddle. Cook until both sides are golden brown, flipping once and ensuring that the pan stays at a medium temperature otherwise the outsides will burn before the middle sets. Repeat cooking steps for remainder of bread. Serve immediately with Triple Sec whipped cream and maple syrup.
Mocha Muffins
Great as an on-the-go snack, these muffins are chocolaty and rich with the flavour of coffee. Coffee liqueurs can also be mixed with vodka, milk and sure to make The Dude's favourite cocktail: the White Russian.
- 6 tbsp butter (best if left out overnight to soften)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 large egg
- 3 tbsp coffee
- 2 tbsp coffee liqueur (Bolivar, Kahlua, or Tia Maria)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375F. Grease a six-cup muffin tin (or half of a 12-cup muffin tin). In a large bowl cream together butter, egg and sugar until mixture is fluffy. Stir in coffee, coffee liqueur and vanilla. In another large bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet 1/3 at a time, alternating with milk, stirring thoroughly after each addition. Divide batter evenly between the cups (using an ice cream scoop for this helps standardize the muffin size) and bake for 20 — 25 minutes. Will store at room temperature in airtight for 2 or days and in the fridge for two weeks.
Margarita Shrimp Salad
Inspired by the unmistakable taste of its namesake cocktail, this salad makes an exotically flavourful lunch. Finally, the bright flavour of tequila without the nasty hangover! This dish will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- 1 pound pre-cooked frozen shrimp, thawed (about 16 to 20)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Serrano chili, seeded and finely diced (any hot chili pepper will substitute)
- 1/3 cup Tequila
- 2 tbsp Triple Sec
- 1 cup limejuice
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 cup olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 tomato, seeded and diced
- 1 sweet yellow pepper (though any colour will do) diced
- 6 cups romaine lettuce, torn
In medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stir together garlic, chili, Tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice, cumin, oil and seasoning then allow to simmer uncovered until liquid has reduced by about half. Remove from heat and allow cooling. Meanwhile toss together the tomato, pepper and lettuce. After Tequila mixture has come to room temperature toss shrimp in it then pour over vegetables just before serving. Serve warm or cold.
After being introduced to cocktails that properly highlighted the natural flavours of alcohol, I actually started to enjoy the taste of it. Sadly though, the health and social implications of drinking liquor like water prevent those of us who wish to from doing so.
Luckily, there is a solution to this problem that is both socially acceptable and delicious. If you are like me and wish you could indulge in booze from morning until night, try these great recipes. From breakfast until dessert, the liquor and liqueurs in these dishes compliment the other ingredients and allow for a veritable bender, without the hangover.
French Toast with Triple Sec
Start your day out right with this tasty and traditional confection. For even more orange liqueur flavour, try topping the toast with Triple Sec whipped cream by adding one tablespoon of Triple Sec and one tablespoon of sugar to the cream before whipping it. Triple Sec also makes a great fruit marinade and is an essential ingredient for a killer Cosmopolitan.
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 orange, zest and juice
- 2 tbsp Triple Sec
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 8 slices of white bread (the thicker the better)
- 4 tbsp of butter
In flat baking pan beat eggs, cream, Triple Sec, orange zest, orange juice and vanilla together. Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp of butter in large skillet or griddle on medium heat. Once pan is hot, dip bread two slices at a time into the egg mixture, coating both sides and ensuring that the batter has soaked all the way through. Remove the bread from the batter and place in hot skillet or griddle. Cook until both sides are golden brown, flipping once and ensuring that the pan stays at a medium temperature otherwise the outsides will burn before the middle sets. Repeat cooking steps for remainder of bread. Serve immediately with Triple Sec whipped cream and maple syrup.
Mocha Muffins
Great as an on-the-go snack, these muffins are chocolaty and rich with the flavour of coffee. Coffee liqueurs can also be mixed with vodka, milk and sure to make The Dude's favourite cocktail: the White Russian.
- 6 tbsp butter (best if left out overnight to soften)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 large egg
- 3 tbsp coffee
- 2 tbsp coffee liqueur (Bolivar, Kahlua, or Tia Maria)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375F. Grease a six-cup muffin tin (or half of a 12-cup muffin tin). In a large bowl cream together butter, egg and sugar until mixture is fluffy. Stir in coffee, coffee liqueur and vanilla. In another large bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet 1/3 at a time, alternating with milk, stirring thoroughly after each addition. Divide batter evenly between the cups (using an ice cream scoop for this helps standardize the muffin size) and bake for 20 — 25 minutes. Will store at room temperature in airtight for 2 or days and in the fridge for two weeks.
Margarita Shrimp Salad
Inspired by the unmistakable taste of its namesake cocktail, this salad makes an exotically flavourful lunch. Finally, the bright flavour of tequila without the nasty hangover! This dish will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- 1 pound pre-cooked frozen shrimp, thawed (about 16 to 20)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Serrano chili, seeded and finely diced (any hot chili pepper will substitute)
- 1/3 cup Tequila
- 2 tbsp Triple Sec
- 1 cup limejuice
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 cup olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 tomato, seeded and diced
- 1 sweet yellow pepper (though any colour will do) diced
- 6 cups romaine lettuce, torn
In medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stir together garlic, chili, Tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice, cumin, oil and seasoning then allow to simmer uncovered until liquid has reduced by about half. Remove from heat and allow cooling. Meanwhile toss together the tomato, pepper and lettuce. After Tequila mixture has come to room temperature toss shrimp in it then pour over vegetables just before serving. Serve warm or cold.
