Make dessert with chocolate brandy
Cheers! Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s or Valentine’s Day (it will be here before you know it), there’s more than one way to celebrate a special occasion with locally made beverages.
Earlier this fall, Kohler Original Recipe Chocolate released a new spirit, Dark Chocolate Brandy. Its first suggested use was — no surprise — a variation on the unofficial state cocktail, the oldfashioned. (You’ll find that recipe at kohlerchocolates.com.)
But Destination Kohler’s executive pastry chef Josh Johnson recently came up with another way to incorporate the brandy into a festive occasion: a variation on the Italian dessert tiramisu, complete with coffee-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone and cream.
The brandy, released in October, is infused with Kohler’s own dark chocolate. Produced at Central Standard Craft Distillery in Milwaukee, the full-bodied spirit has a “velvet smooth texture” that “evokes a combination of aromas, from rich chocolate, to fruit, to a hint of nut,” according to press materials.
This unique spirit is available in three sizes; 750ml bottle ($29.99); 375ml ($19.99) and 200ml ($14.99). The two larger sizes are sold in a handful of Milwaukee-area stores, including Ray’s Wine & Spirits in Wauwatosa, Discount Liquor in Milwaukee and Otto’s Elm Grove Liquor. For a complete list of outlets, see the website.
Next week: Local cocktail mixers
SUNDAY Family/Christmas
Enjoy a bountiful brunch of Bacon and Hash Brown Egg Bake (see recipe) before the big meal later in the day. Serve the savory dish with orange and grapefruit sections sprinkled with fresh mint. Start the meal with spicy tomato juice.
Plan ahead: Prepare the Egg Bake the day before. Save enough of it for Monday.
Shopping list: Bacon, red bell pepper, onion, packaged sliced fresh mushrooms, Dijon mustard, coarse salt, pepper, 1% milk, eggs, vegetable oil spray, packaged frozen hash-browned potatoes, Swiss, cheddar, Monterey jack or Colby cheese, orange and grapefruit sections, fresh mint, spicy tomato juice.
MONDAY Heat and Eat
Heat the leftover bacon and hash brown egg bake for an easy meal. Serve it with a lettuce wedge. For dessert, munch on delicious Christmas cookies.
Shopping list: Lettuce, Christmas cookies.
TUESDAY Kids
The kids will like this slightly sweet barbecue meatloaf with no icky onions and green peppers. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine 1/3 cup barbecue sauce, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon milk and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; mix together until well-blended. Stir in 1 ½ cups bran flakes cereal and let stand 5 minutes. Add 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef; mix well. Shape into a 9-by-5-inch loaf.
Place on rack in baking dish lined with foil. Bake in preheated oven 1 hour 15 minutes or until meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Brush with additional barbecue sauce; bake 10 more minutes. Let stand 5 minutes; slice and serve.
Add mashed potatoes, frozen green peas and bread sticks. How about chocolate ice cream for a dessert the kids will love?
Plan ahead: Save enough ice cream for Friday.
Shopping list: Barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, coarse salt, onion powder, garlic powder, egg, milk, black pepper, bran flakes cereal, lean ground beef, potatoes to mash, frozen green peas, bread sticks, chocolate ice cream.
WEDNESDAY Express
Change the dinner tune tonight with a curried egg salad platter. Season deli egg salad with some curry powder. Serve it on lettuce and surround it with grapes and celery sticks. Add whole-grain bread in case anyone wants to make sandwiches. Enjoy fresh pineapple for dessert.
Shopping list: Deli egg salad, curry powder, lettuce, grapes, celery sticks, whole-grain bread, fresh pineapple.
THURSDAY Meatless
Top refrigerated or frozen cheese ravioli with any marinara sauce for a no-meat dinner. Garnish it with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Add a spinach salad and garlic bread. Mandarin orange sections are dessert.
Shopping list: Refrigerated or frozen cheese ravioli, any marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese, fresh spinach, garlic bread, mandarin orange sections.
FRIDAY Budget
It’s a good time to hold the food budget in check, and White Bean Soup with Peppers and Bacon (see recipe) won’t stretch it too far. Serve the soup with mixed greens and crusty bread. Leftover ice cream is an easy dessert.
Shopping list: Dried white beans, bacon, red bell peppers, onions, carrot, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic, unsalted chicken broth, fresh parsley, mixed salad greens, crusty bread.
SATURDAY Easy Entertaining
We recommend Shrimp Paella (see recipe) for your favorite friends and your “yummy” recipe file. All you need alongside is Bibb lettuce and sourdough bread. Keep dessert light with a citrus sorbet and butter cookies.
Shopping list: Extravirgin olive oil, sweet onions (such as Vidalia), garlic, red bell pepper, rice, unsalted chicken broth, dry white wine, black pepper, saffron or turmeric, uncooked shrimp, frozen peas, coarse salt, fresh parsley, lemons, Bibb lettuce, sourdough bread, citrus sorbet, butter cookies.