Booze and Food Stuff

Anthony Bourdain and prop

Ok, since last weekend was all about drinking and eating and hoop dancing I ‘ve been thinking about that stuff constantly. In my last incarnation I owned a kitchenware store and taught cooking classes with some really good chefs. Food is and has always been a big part of my life. Some of the best times I ever had was after class when the chefs and I were finally sitting down and talking over the results of the class (and gossiping about the students!) We would get to brainstorming ideas or tell each other about some brilliant dish we’d made or eaten recently. I love cooks!

My favorite celebrity chef is Anthony Bourdain. If you have never seen him on his TV show “No Reservations” do yourself a favor and watch it! He is a decadent, chain-smoking, booze-guzzling, food-aholic and I am madly in love with him. He writes brilliantly too and my favorite book of his is called “The Nasty Bits”. Awesome stuff!

ADVOCATE PHOTOS BY JILL JANSS

 

 

 

One of the things I enjoyed most was a vodka infusion our friend Becca in Rochester made. She had purchased two whole pineapples but by the time she went to use them in a fruit tray they were a tad overripe. Being the smart cookie that she is she promptly chopped them up, stuffed them both in a big old glass jar and dumped a load of vodka over them. She set them aside for about a week or two then strained it into a bottle, (saving the fruit for other uses) and Oh. My. God!

 This stuff is GOOD! Served ice cold in little liqueur glasses straight up, it’s the sweetest, smoothest stuff you’ve ever had! I was sipping this, imagining how many ways I could use it: over vanilla ice cream, blended with coconut cream or coconut milk and served in a Margarita glass with a skewer of pineapple and mint,or maybe as a main ingredient in a kick-ass marinade for pork or chicken! The mind reels!

Also, since the other neighbors are known for their outrageous parties and the gorgeous male part of this arrangement is famous for his Jello Shots I thought I needed to bring a dish that tied in with that theme. Since my darling D. loves Jello Cake I decided to make Jello Shot Cake! This is my original idea folks so give me some of the credit when you make it and everyone tells you how great it is!  All you need to do is bake a simple white cake from a mix in a 9×13 cake pan as directed. Let that cool down in the pan and then mix two packs of raspberry Jello with 1 1/2 cups boiling water. Mix well and allow to cool to room temperature or slightly above. Then stir in 1 cup vodka and 1/2 cup Chambord Liqueur. Poke holes in the cake with a skewer or chopstick  (I prefer a chopstick) and then pour the Jello mixture over the cake. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Before serving spread generously with Cool Whip.  It is da BOMB! Of course this is NOT for underage consumers…..duh!!!!

 Hope this enhances your summer get-togethers!! Yum!!