Day: August 11, 2009

Hi!  Thanks so much for checking out this episode of Inspired Cooking!  Here it is…my Food Network Ultimate Recipe Showdown entry that got me on TV for a chance to win $25,000.  No, I didn’t win but hey, how many other people get that opportunity?

And here is the link to my recipe–right from the Food Network site.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/north-atlantic-pan-seared-cod-with-new-england-succotash-and-cranberry-vinaigrette-recipe/index.html

Yes, I might be showing off a little, but if you had a recipe on Food Network, wouldn’t you put up the link too?

And here is a photo of the finished dish–not my best photo, but a photo nonetheless.   The original recipe had goat cheese on the salad but my brother-in-law the chef told me not to use it in the final recipe.  Doesn’t that fish look delicious?

A little behind the scenes:  When I was flouring the fish before pan cooking it, Chef Micheal Psilakis was questioning why I was doing that.  He was afraid it would be gluey.  One of the other judges responded that it’s the way they do it in New England.  Loved that!  Then, when I was standing in front of the judges, Chef Psilakis took a bit of the fish and told me that it was cooked perfectly and that I “made New England proud” with it.  That last part never made it on the air but it was one of the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me about pretty much anything.  I almost cried, right there on TV. 

I prepped and cooked this entire dish to feed 5 people in30 minutes in front of the studio audience, tons of cameras and hot lights.   And even thought I didn’t win I was so incredibly proud to be there and thankful to my friends and family for their support.

“Biscookies” with local mix ins

3 cups flour

1 ½  tablespoons baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1 tsp cardamom

¾ tsp nutmeg

½ cup unsalted butter, cold

¾ cup sugar

¾ cup light brown sugar

2 eggs

1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cover two large baking sheets with parchment and set aside.

Whisk together dry ingredients and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar until well combined and lighter in color.  Add eggs, one at a time and vanilla extract.  Beat until lighter in color and well mixed.  With mixer running on low, add dry ingredients and beat until incorporated.

Divide dough into 4 portions and knead in “mix ins” as desired.  Form into 4 loaves and bake two loaves to a sheet.

Suggested Mix ins:

Chocolate chips & chopped dried strawberries

White chocolate and dried blueberries

Crystalized ginger and dried peaches

Chopped salted pistachios with sweetened dried cranberries

Use a few tablespoons of each.  If additional spices are desired, sprinkle them over the dough and knead in with the mix in ingredients

Bake at 350º for approx 30 min. when loaves turn light brown.  Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes.  Slice on the diagonal.  Allow to cool completely and drizzle with chocolate if desired.

For the chocolate drizzle:

½ cup chocolate, finely chopped

½ teaspoon shortening

In a small microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate and shortening.  Cook on high power for 1 minute.  Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.  Spoon in to a small plastic zip top bag, seal bag, snip corner of bag and drizzle over ‘biscookies.”  Allow chocolate to harden before serving.

The video with this episode will be on GMG tomorrow at 1PM