Adam Cooks: Cranberry Meringue Pie

From Eating Well



Ingredients:
CRUST
3/4 cup white whole-wheat flour (see Tip) or all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons butter, softened

FILLING
1 12-ounce bag cranberries, fresh or frozen, thawed
1 cup orange juice
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
3 large eggs, separated

MERINGUE TOPPING
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch of salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray.

To prepare crust: Stir flour, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Stir in oil and butter with a fork until well blended and crumbly (it should look like wet sand). Using the back of a spoon, firmly press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake the crust until it just begins to brown, about 20 minutes. (Keep the oven on for Step 4.)

To prepare filling: Meanwhile, combine cranberries and orange juice in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until all the cranberries are beginning to break down, 5 to 6 minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl, pressing on the solids to extract all the juice. Whisk 3/4 cup sugar into the juice until combined. Whisk in whole egg and 3 egg yolks. Return the cranberry mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly and vigorously, until it thickens and just starts to bubble as you are stirring, 4 to 5 minutes. Pour the warm filling into the warm crust. Set aside while you prepare the meringue topping.

To prepare topping: Beat the 3 egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until frothy. Add cream of tartar and pinch of salt and beat at high speed until soft peaks form. Very slowly add 1/3 cup sugar, beating constantly, until the mixture holds stiff, shiny peaks. Beat in vanilla. Spoon the meringue over the filling, then gently spread to the edges of the crust. Make peaks in the meringue with the back of a spoon or a small off-set spatula. Bake until the top is lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Cool the pie on a wire rack to room temperature, at least 3 hours, before serving.

Comments:
This is what we brought to the Dodds Thanksgiving on Thursday. It was absolutely delicious. Perfect balance of sweet and tart, wonderfully executed meringue. And I can take no credit whatsoever. All I did was separate a few eggs...

Adam Cooks: Rosemary Dinner Rolls

From Taste of Home



Ingredients:
1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
3 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary, divided
3/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup warm 2% milk (110° to 115°)
1 egg
1/4 to 1/3 cup canola oil

EGG WASH:
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons 2% milk

Directions:
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Place the flour, sugar, 2 teaspoons rosemary and salt in a food processor; pulse until blended. Add the warm milk, egg and yeast mixture; cover and pulse 10 times or until almost blended.

While processing, gradually add oil just until dough pulls away from sides and begins to form a ball. Process 2 minutes longer to knead dough (dough will be very soft).

Transfer dough to a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide and shape into 12 balls. Roll each into a 15-in. rope. Starting at one end, loosely wrap dough around itself to form a coil. Tuck end under; pinch to seal.

Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.

For egg wash, in a small bowl, whisk egg yolk and milk; brush over rolls. Sprinkle with remaining rosemary. Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks; serve warm.

Comments:
This is our contribution to the Paalman Thanksgiving being held this afternoon. His mom told us to bring two dozen rolls and Adam kind of ran with it. We tried one last night when they came out of the oven. Pretty tasty!

Adam Cooks: Raspberry Gelato

From Cuisinart.com



Ingredients:
4 cups red raspberries (thawed if frozen)
1 cup granulated sugar
2-1/4 cups half-and-half, divided
6 large egg yolks
1/4 cup fat-free powdered milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1-2 drops red food coloring, optional (will enhance color)

Directions:
Place raspberries in a food processor fitted with the metal "s" blade or in a blender (if using a blender, 2 cups at a time for best results). Process until completely puréed and smooth. Press raspberry purée through a fine mesh sieve or chinois with a wooden spoon or spatula. Discard seeds -- you will have approximately 2 cups red raspberry purée; reserve.

Place the sugar and 1 1/4 cups of the half-and-half in a 2 1/2 quart saucepan with a heavy bottom. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and stir to dissolve the sugar. Keep warm over low heat. Place the egg yolks in a medium bowl and whisk until thickened, about 2 minutes (can use a hand or stand mixer fitted with the whip on low speed). While whisking, add 1/2 cup of the hot half-and-half/sugar mixture and whisk until blended. Stir the egg mixture back into the saucepan; increase heat to medium. Stir the mixture constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is thickened like a custard sauce and registers 180 °F when checked with an instant-read thermometer.

Stir in remaining half-and-half, powdered milk and heavy cream.

Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer; stir in reserved raspberry purée, vanilla, and food coloring. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours before continuing.

Turn the machine on; pour mixture into freezer bowl, and let mix until thickened, about 20 to 25 minutes. The gelato will have a soft, creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the gelato to an airtight container and place in freezer for about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving.

Comments:
After the wonderful gelato we had at the Venetian in Vegas, Adam got bitten by the gelato bug and decided to pull the poor ice cream maker out of its exile in the basement. It turned out great. It's very rich, so a little goes a long way, but it's not too sweet, not too heavy, a perfect balance.

Adam Cooks: Ham and Cheddar Brunch Strata

From Crock-Pot Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes



Ingredients:
8 oz French bread, torn in small pieces
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided
1 1/2 cups diced ham
1/2 cup finely chopped green onions, divided
4 large eggs
1 cup half & half or whole milk
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp ground red pepper

Directions:
1. Coat slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Cut parchment paper to fit bottom of stoneware and press into place. Spray paper lightly with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Layer in following order: bread, 1 1/2 cups cheese, ham, and all but 2 tbsp green onions.

3. Whisk eggs, half & half, Worcestershire sauce, and red pepper in small bowl. Pour evenly over layered ingredients in slow cooker. Cover; cook on low 3 1/2 hours or until knife inserted into center comes out clean. Turn off heat. Sprinkle evenly with reserved cheese and green onions. Let stand, covered, 10 minutes or until cheese has melted.

4. To serve, run a knife or spatula around the outer edges, lifting bottom slightly. Invert onto plate and peel off paper. Invert again onto serving plate.

Comments:
Adam made this so I can't speak of ease of preparation, but it tasted good. We skipped the inverting it part and just served it out of the slow cooker. Worked fine.

Adam Cooks: Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

From Cooking Light



Ingredients:
1 (9-ounce) package refrigerated fettuccine
3 (4-ounce) links sweet Italian turkey sausage
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups sliced onions
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 large garlic cloves, crushed
2 cups lower-sodium marinara sauce
1/2 ounce pecorino cheese, grated (about 2 tablespoons packed)
8 basil leaves, torn

Directions:
1. Cook the pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.

2. Remove casing from sausages. Shape sausages into 12 (1-inch) balls. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add meatballs to pan; cook 7 minutes, browning on all sides. Remove the meatballs from pan. Add onions, red pepper, and garlic to pan; sauté for 2 minutes. Return meatballs and add marinara sauce to pan, and bring to a simmer over medium heat, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 5 minutes or until meatballs are done. Add pasta to sauce mixture; toss well. Sprinkle with cheese and basil.

Comments:
Adam made this so I can't speak to the preparation part. The eating part was good. Nice switch up from your ordinary everyday beef meatballs.

Adam Cooks: Chocolate-Mint Hearts

From Taste of Home



Ingredients:
1 package (10 ounces) mint chocolate chips, divided
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup shortening
Colored sprinkles, optional

Directions:
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips; stir. Cool slightly. In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, vanilla and melted chocolate. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture.

Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until easy to handle. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 7-10 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

In a microwave, melt shortening and remaining chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Dip each cookie halfway into chocolate mixture; allow excess to drip off. Sprinkle chocolate with sprinkles if desired. Place on waxed paper; refrigerate until set.

Comments:
In honor of Valentine's Day, Adam made these cookies. I think the chocolate dip tastes like a Thin Mint Girl Scout cookie. Overall, pretty good. Can never get enough chocolate!

Adam Cooks: Overnight Cinnnamon Rolls

From Allrecipes.com



Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1/3 cup butter
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/2 cup white sugar
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs

FILLING:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins

Directions:
1. Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Add the butter and stir until melted; let cool until lukewarm.

2. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the milk mixture. Add the sugar, 3 cups of flour, salt and eggs; stir well to combine. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes.

3. Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

4. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 10x 14 inch rectangle. Lightly brush the far edge with water. In a small bowl combine the cinnamon and 3/4 cup brown sugar and sprinkle over the rectangles. Then sprinkle the raisins and chopped nuts over the dough. Roll up the dough into a log and seal the seam.

5. Cut the dough into 12 equal pieces; place the pieces in a greased 9x13 inch baking pan, or 12 inch deep dish pizza pan. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to rise overnight.

6. The next morning, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Take the rolls out of the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

7. Bake the rolls for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden.

Comments:
Good lord, anything with seven steps is just too much work for me. Last night Adam decided he wanted cinnamon rolls. So he made these. He ended up using some Penzey's cinnamon sugar (the free item in the last catalog!) and left out raisins. Because he knows I hate them. He's nice like that. There's a glaze that goes with this (which you'll see in the original recipe if you follow the link) that he left out. Just used store bought cream cheese frosting. Yum. All in all, a pretty good way to start the morning.

Adam Cooks: Cheeseburger Quiche

From Taste of Home



Ingredients:
1/2 pound ground beef
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup milk
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
3 eggs
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 unbaked pie shell (9 inches)

Directions:
In a skillet, brown ground beef and onion; drain and set aside. In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, milk, oregano, salt and pepper; beat in eggs. Stir in beef mixture and 1 cup cheese. Pour into pie shell.

Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until set. Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Allow to stand 5 minutes before cutting. Yield: 6 servings.

Comments:
Given my history with ugly, unphotogenic (but tasty!) quiches, Adam decided to take a crack at it (get it? Crack. Bcause there are eggs. Ha. Ok sorry, back to the topic at hand) and see how his success would compare to mine. He used the second half of the totally awesome pie crust he made last week for the flat apple pie. It did take signficantly longer than the recipe says, but eventually it set up pretty well. It was pretty tasty, but seemed to be missing... something. Maybe bacon? Maybe pickles? We couldn't quite put our finger on it. Still, good stuff, and much prettier in a picture than any quiche I've made. :-)

Adam Cooks: Asian Beef with Broccoli

From Crock-Pot Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes



Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs boneless chuck steak, about 1 1/2 inches thick, sliced into thin strips
1 10.5 oz can condensed beef consomme, undiluted
1/2 cup oyster sauce
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 16 oz bag fresh broccoli florets
Hot cooked rice
Sesame seeds (opt)

Directions:
1. Place beef in slow cooker. Pour consomme and oyster sauce over beef. Cover; cook on high 3 hours.

2. Combine cornstarch and 2 tbsp cooking liquid in small bowl. Stir well to combine. Stir into slow cooker. Cover; cook on high 15 minutes longer or until thickened.

3. Pole holes into broccoli bag with fork. Microwave on high 3 minutes. Empty bag into slow cooker. Gently toss beef and broccoli together. Serve over cooked rice. Garnish with sesame seeds, if desired.

Comments:
Maybe it was because we couldn't find beef consomme so we used beef broth. Or maybe it was because we skipped the oyster sauce. Whatever the reason, this was really boring. Very bland, not interesting texturally or flavorally (is that even a word?) at all. Probably wouldn't make this again - I have a different slow cooker version I much prefer.

Adam Cooks: Flat Apple Pie

From The Pioneer Woman via FoodNetwork



Ingredients:
5 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 recipe Perfect Pie Crust (recipe is in link above)
6 tablespoons butter

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In large bowl, stir together the apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, salt and lemon juice. Set aside and see how long you can keep from sneaking a slice of apple.

With a rolling pin, begin rolling out the Perfect Pie Crusts into large circles. Roll the dough from the center outward. Be gentle and patient, it'll take a little time to get the dough completely rolled out.

If you think the bottom is really sticking to the surface below, use a nice, sharp spatula to loosen the dough and sprinkle some extra flour on top. Then flip it over to finish rolling. Remember to roll from the center in single, outward strokes, no back-and-forth rolling.

Again with a spatula, loosen and lift the dough and carefully place the circles on large baking sheets.

Place half the apple mixture on one crust and the other half on the other crust. Fold over the edges of each crust so that it covers 2 to 3 inches of the apple mixture. No need to be artistic - the more rustic the better. Dot the tops of the pies with chunks of the butter.

Bake until the filling is golden and bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. If the crust appears to brown too quickly, cover the edges with aluminium foil for the remaining baking time.

Allow to cool slightly, then slice into wedges with a pizza cutter. Eat 'em on the go!

Comments:
OMG. This was so good. My dislike of pie crust is well known (and well documented here on this blog) so I was skeptical of Ree's "perfect pie crust" that everyone raves about. And apple pie especially, not my favorite. But seriously people. It's wonderful. The crust, so flaky and just awesome. Perfect pure apple flavor without all that cinnamon and spice junk to mess it up. Go make it immediately.

Adam Cooks: Baked Haddock

We can't for the life of us find the recipe used for this meal. It's lost in the maze of the internet... but it was good! Fish breaded with panko and baked.

Adam Cooks: Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls

From Cooking Light



Ingredients:
Dough:
1 1/2 packages dry yeast (about 3 1/4 teaspoons)
3/4 cup warm fat-free milk (100° to 110°)
1/4 cup warm water (100° to 110°)
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 large egg
1 large egg white
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided (about 11 1/4 ounces)
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (about 7 ounces)
Cooking spray

Filling:
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup raisins

Glaze:
3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 teaspoons fat-free milk

Directions:
To prepare dough, dissolve yeast in warm milk and 1/4 cup warm water in a large bowl; let stand 5 minutes or until foamy. Add butter and next 5 ingredients (through egg white); stir well. Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Add 2 cups all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour, stirring until a soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes); add enough of remaining 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands (dough will feel sticky). Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Gently press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, dough has risen enough.) Punch dough down; roll into a 16 x 12-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Coat surface of dough with cooking spray.

To prepare filling, combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg; sprinkle over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle raisins over dough, pressing gently into dough. Roll up rectangle tightly, starting with a long edge, pressing firmly to eliminate air pockets; pinch seam to seal. Cut the dough into 16 rolls. Place the rolls, cut sides up, in a 13 x 9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Cover and let rise 45 minutes or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 375°.

Uncover rolls. Bake at 375° for 22 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

To prepare glaze, place powdered sugar and vanilla in a small bowl. Add 5 teaspoons milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, stirring to form a thick glaze. Drizzle glaze evenly over rolls.

Comments:
Adam made these. They're good. Very yeasty. Not sure why the baking bug bites him every once in a while, but whatever. Now if I could only get him to rinse his dishes off... :-)

Adam Cooks: Hearty Cabbage Skillet Supper

Adam found this in the local newspaper, but here's a link to the recipe from a local TV station.



Ingredients:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 yellow onions, thinly sliced
1 package (16 ounces) coleslaw or 6 cups finely shredded cabbage
¼ to ½ cup chicken broth
1 apple, peeled if desired, diced
4 precooked sausages
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper

Directions:
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add onions. Cook, stirring often, until onion softens, about 3 minutes. Add cabbage, ¼ cup of the broth and apple. Cover; reduce heat to low. Simmer 5 minutes.

Stir in caraway seeds, salt and pepper to taste. Arrange cooked sausages over cabbage. Add more of the broth if needed. Cover; cook 5 minutes. Uncover; cook until broth is reduced, about 2 minutes; do not let vegetables burn.

Comments:
Adam's on this new health kick so he thought this might be a good, healthy dinner option. He made this himself and it turned out pretty well. He used turkey sausage to up the healthy factor. I'm not a fan of cabbage and could have done without the caraway (yuck!) but overall, a success. Whatever makes him happy...

Adam Makes Applesauce (The Sequel)

Using a recipe from Recipezaar



Ingredients:
20 large tart apples
4 cups water
1/2 cup brown sugar, to taste
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, to taste
1 teaspoon cinnamon, to taste
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, to taste

Directions:
1. Peel and core, and quarter apples.

2. Place in a large pot with the 4 cups water.

3. Over medium heat bring to a simmer, reduce to medium low and cook until apples are soft, stirring constantly.

4. Mash apples until desired consistency is reached.

5. Add Sugar, Lemon Juice and spices to taste.

6. While stirring bring applesauce to a full boil.

7. Remove from heat and ladle into clean hot jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space.

8. Process for 25 minutes in a boiling water bath.

Comments:
Adam made applesauce before back in 2006 when we were still at our apartment. (He doesn't remember this, but I have proof.) The urge hit again so we bought a ridiculous amount of apples and he spent a good deal of the afternoon peeling, stirring, and canning. Not my thing (applesauce or canning) but whatever keeps him happy...

Adam Cooks Jerky

Adam used a Nesco dehydrator and jerky gun and the accompanying spice mixes



Ingredients:
1 pound sliced or ground meat
1 spice/cure seasoning packet

Directions:
For Ground Meat:
1. Combine entire contents of spice/cure sides with 1 pound lean ground meat. Mix until well blended.

2. Form into strips or sticks using the jerky gun.

3. Dry using food dehydrator.

For Sliced Meat:
1. Mix contents of spice/cure packet with 1/4 cup water. Marinate strips 12 to 24 hours.

2. Dry using food dehydrator.

Comments:
For some unknown reason, Adam decided to get a food dehydrator and make his own jerky. He used some round steak first (on the left up there in the picture) and then used some ground turkey with the jerky gun (on the right.)

It appears that both turned out pretty well. I'm not a jerky person so I can't attest to the taste or quality. Adam is loving it. It seemed pretty simple and the most time-consuming part is the drying, which really happens by itself inside the appliance. I was just glad it didn't stink the house up too much.

Adam Cooks: Beef Tenderloin Steaks with Gorgonzola

From Rachael Ray via Foodnetwork.com



Ingredients:
4 (1 1/2-inch-thick) beef tenderloin steaks
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 pound Gorgonzola
4 fresh sage leaves, thinly sliced

Directions:
Let meat rest 10 minutes before beginning dinner preparation.

Place a large, flat griddle or skillet over high heat. When hot, using a pair of tongs and a folded paper towel, wipe cooking surface with oil and place steaks on hot pan. Caramelize the steaks, 2 minutes on each side. Reduce heat to moderate. Season meat with salt and pepper and cook 4 to 5 minutes longer on each side.

Preheat broiler to high.

Arrange steaks on baking sheet. Top each steak with 3 ounces Gorgonzola. Place baking sheet 6 inches from broiler heat just long enough to melt the cheese. Remove meat from the oven and top with slivers of fresh sage. Let meat rest 2 or 3 minutes, then serve immediately.

Comments:
What did I tell you - the man loves his steak. Part of mine wasn't done enough for me, but the parts I did eat were pretty tasty. Some of the comments on the recipe post on the website critized using such a strong cheese. Yes, gorgonzola is stinky and has a very distinct flavor. If you don't like it, you probably won't like this recipe. Duh.

Adam Cooks: Herb Chicken

From Beer Cookbook: 101 Recipes with Beer



Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt & pepper
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried sage
1 tsp dried thyme
6 cloves garlic
1 12oz bottle beer
2 springs parsley

Directions:
Salt & pepper chicken and broil them until golden brown. Place the chicken in a slow cooker with the rosemary, sage, thyme, garlic, and beer. Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Comments:
Following my bad example, he didn't exactly follow this recipe. He didn't brown the chicken before cooking it. It went on low for about 6 hours. The spices are really strong so unless you're really into it, maybe dial it back a notch or two. The beer also really intensifies in the slow cooker. I don't know that we'll try this one again.

Adam Cooks: Steak

From Beer Cookbook: 101 Recipes with Beer



Ingredients:
6 12oz New York strip steaks
1 12oz bottle dark beer
1/2 c brown sugar
6 tbsp lime juice
4-6 cloves garlic, chopped
3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
4 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp hot pepper sauce
3 tbsp whole grain mustard

Directions:
Place steaks in a single layer in a glass baking dish. Whisk beer, sugar, lime juice, garlic, Worcestershire, olive oil, hot sauce and mustard in a large bowl to blend. Pour marinade over steaks. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight. Remove steaks from marinade and grill to desired doneness.

Comments:
He sure does like his red meat. I can't say that I'm too much of a fan. But since the menu is up to him on Sundays, I eat what he makes. I figure I get to torture him 6 out of 7 days, so it's only fair to even things up a little bit.

Adam Cooks: The Perfect Basic Burger

From Allrecipes.com



Ingredients:
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
buns/toppings of your choice

Directions:
Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil grate.

In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, salt and pepper. Place ground beef and bread crumbs into the mixture. With hands or a fork, mix until well blended. Form into 4 patties approximately 3/4 inch thick.

Place patties on the prepared grill. Cover and cook 6 to 8 minutes per side, or to desired doneness.

Comments:
I used lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup. Adam used cheese, onion, barbecue sauce. Yeah, we're totally different. But it works. Aside from the fact that I ended up with the top half of the burger in my lap, these were good. Then again, that could just be my clutzy side's fault. Grr.

Adam Cooks (kind of): Baked Potato Soup

From Everyday with Rachael Ray



Ingredients:
2 large baking potatoes—peeled, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
3 cups milk
Salt and pepper
1/2 head cauliflower, cored and chopped
1 bunch scallions, white and green portions thinly sliced separately
4 slices bacon
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (about 2 ounces)
1/4 cup sour cream

Directions:
1. In a large saucepan, combine the potatoes, 2 cups milk and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to medium-low, add the cauliflower and scallion whites, cover and simmer until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the remaining 1 cup milk, then puree the soup. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Microwave the bacon at high power until crisp, 3 to 4 minutes; crumble. Divide the soup among 4 bowls and top with the shredded cheese, sour cream, crumbled bacon and scallion greens.

Comments:
So Adam was slicing the potatoes on the mandolin (something I thought was unnecessary seeing as how the soup was going to be blended up anyway. But that's a separate issue.) when he managed to slice the top of his index finger clean off (and no, he wasn't using the hand guard. For shame...) For once it was not cat blood being spurted all over the house. Anywho, due to his blood loss and the need for him to keep his hand over his head, I took over the dinner-making duties.

Ah, the drama.

This was pretty good. And I finally got to use the immersible blender I got for Christmas. Woo! I probably could have put more salt in but it was not bland by any means. I didn't microwave the bacon. I think that's just a bad idea, so I ignored that part of the directions.