••••FRENCH TOAST WITH CANDIED BACON AND CHERRY BOURBON SYRUP🍒🥃🍎🍊🌶🍳🥛🍞🧀🥓🥚🍮!!••••

(Source: bellalimento.com & photos also & Robard's Steakhouse at Woodlands Resort)

 ****FRENCH TOAST WITH CANDIED

****BACON AND CHERRY BOURBON

****SYRUP!!

Recipe provided and printed with permission from Robard’s Steakhouse at The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center.

 http://bellalimento.com

French Toast with Candied Bacon and Cherry Bourbon Syrup

What You Will Need:

• 4 ounces bourbon
• 1/2 cup dry tart cherries
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 slices applewood bacon
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 large eggs 2 - beaten
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extracts
• dash freshly grated cinnamon
• dash freshly grated nutmeg
• 8 -1" thick bias cut slices of Challah bread
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• gorgonzola cheese 
  

  
  ****PERFECT FOR VALENTINES 
  ****DAY BREAKFAST!!  

What To Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and a baking rack and set aside. 
2. Into a large saute pan over medium heat add: bourbon, cherries, sugar, apple juice, maple syrup, orange zest and pepper. Mix to combine. Simmer until syrup is reduced by 1/3. Set aside. 
3. WHILE syrup is cooking, place bacon slices onto rack. In a small bowl mix together Dijon and brown sugar. Using a silicon pastry brush, brush mixture on bacon. Sprinkle thyme and red pepper flakes onto bacon. Bake for approximately 15-25 minutes or until to desired doneness. 
4. Into a large shallow dish add: eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Whisk to combine. Set aside. 
5. When ready to assemble. Place slices of challah into milk mixture. Allow to soak on both sides. 
6. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add butter. Cook slices (in batches) 
7. Cook slowly until light brown, flip and continue cooking until firm.
8. Transfer to plate. Top with slices of candied bacon and crumbled Gorgonzola cheese, add cherry syrup.

3.1

https://bellalimento.com/2015/08/26/french-toast-with-candied-bacon-and-cherry-bourbon-syrup/

 
 

••••BOURBON CHERRY FILLED DONUTS🍒🥃🥚🍩🥛🍳🍊🍚!!••••

(Source: bellalimento.com & photos also)

****BOURBON CHERRY 🍒 FILLED

****DONUTS!!

 

http://bellalimento.com

 Bourbon Cherry Filled Doughnuts

What You Will Need:

• 1 packet avice dry yeast
• 3-4 cups all purpose flour - divided
• 1 tablespoon plus 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup whole milk - warm
• 1/2 teaspoon dried orange peel
• 2 tablespoons orange juice - pulp free
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon PURE VANILLA EXTRACT
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter - cubed
• 8 cups vegetable oil 
• 1 cup cherry preserves 
• 3-4 tablespoons DIY VANILLA SPICED BOURBON
• powdered sugar - for dusting
   
  ****AMAZING!!

What To Do:

1. Into bowl of your stand mixer combine: yeast, 1 tablespoon flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, t tablespoon warm water. Let sit until yeast begins to foam. Approximately 5 minutes. 
2. Whisk in: eggs, milk, orange peel, orange juice, salt, vanilla, 2 cups flour and remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Mix on low speed with dough hook until combined. 
3. Add butter, 1 piece at a time mixing well between additions. Gradually add remaining 2 cups flour. NOTE: you may not need all of it. Mix until dough is soft, smooth and shiny. Continue kneading until no longer sticky. Approximately 5 minutes. 
4. Remove dough from bowl. Spray bowl with non-stick cooking spray. Return dough to bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel. Allow dough to rise until doubled in size. Approximately 1 hour. 
5. Roll dough onto a lightly floured clean surface until 3/4" thick. Using a round cutter (or a juice glass) cut our rounds of dough twisting cutter to release dough. Re-roll scraps and continue. 
6. Transfer rounds of dough to a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover with kitchen towel and allow to rise until doubled in size . Approximately 45 minutes. 
7. Into a large heavy bottom pan heat oil over medium heat until it reaches 340 degrees. Working in batches fry dough until golden. Flip during frying to cook evenly on both sides. Transfer to a paper towel lined baking sheet to cool. 
8. Place cherry preserves and bourbon into blender. Pulse until smooth. Transfer filling to a piping bag. 
9. Using a pastry tip, gently poke a hole into the middle of each doughnut. Fill with cherry filling. 
10. Dust each with powdered sugar. 

3.1

https://bellalimento.com/2016/10/19/bourbon-cherry-filled-doughnuts/

 

••••LOBSTER SPAGHETTI 🍝🍅🌶🥂🦀!!••••

(Source: bellalimento.com by Paula Jones & photos also)

****LOBSTER SPAGHETTI!!

http://bellalimento.com

Lobster Spaghetti

What You Will Need:

• 1 pound spaghetti
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 shallots - minced
• 4 cloves garlic – minced
• 1 teaspoon red pepper chili flakes
• 1 cup stock 
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• salt/pepper
• 6 Roma tomatoes - cubed
• 2 lobster tails – steamed and cut into cubes
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
   
  ****WOW!!

What To Do:

1. Place a large pot of salted water onto boil. When boiling cook spaghetti until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain. 
2. Into a large saute pan add: olive oil, shallots, garlic and chili flakes. Cook over medium heat for approximately 2-3 minutes until softened. 
3. Add wine and stock. Season with salt/pepper. Allow sauce to thicken. 
4. When thickened add tomatoes and lobster meat. 
5. Add pasta. Toss to combine. If mixture is too thick, loosen with a little pasta water. 
6. Garnish with basil. 

3.1

https://bellalimento.com/2012/07/23/lobster-spaghetti/

 

••••CHOCOLATE-RED WINE CAKE🍷🍫🌹🎂❤️🍰!!••••

(Source: Ann Willian's Cooking with wine 2001 & food and wine.com photo)

****CHOCOLATE RED 🍷 WINE CAKE!

http://foodandwine.com

INGREDIENTS 

****A GREAT CHOICE FOR

****VALENTINES❤️DAY!!

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups dry red wine
• Confectioner's sugar, for dusting
• Whipped cream, for serving

• 
  
  
  
  
   

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter and flour a 12-cup bundt pan. In a bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.

2. In a large bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter with the sugar at medium-high speed until fluffy, 4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until incorporated. Add the vanilla and beat for 2 minutes longer. Working in two batches, alternately fold in the dry ingredients and the wine, until just incorporated.

3. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, and bake for 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a rack; let cool completely. Dust the cake with confectioner's sugar and serve with whipped cream.

   
   
   
    

••••POTATO TIP🥔🍎🍏🍟!!••••

(Source: Ron Douglas, kitchen tips, More of America's Most Wanted Recipes & Google+ photos)

****POTATO TIP!!

****TO KEEP POTATOES 🥔 FROM

****BUDDING IN THE BAG,  PUT AN 

****APPLE🍎IN WITH THEM!!

 

••••WINE TIP🍷🥘❤️🍮🌹!!!••••

(Source:  Ron Douglas, kitchen tips & more of America's Most Wanted Recipes & Google+ photos)

****WINE TIP!!

****IF YOU MANAGE TO HAVE SOME

****LEFTOVER 🍷 WINE AT THE END

****OF THE EVENING,

****FREEZE IT IN ICE CUBE TRAYS

****FOR EASY ADDITION TO SOUPS

****AND SAUCES IN THE FUTURE!!

 

••••CHAMPAGNE POPSICLES❤️🍾🍓🍎🌹🎁🥂!!!••••

(Source: bakersroyale.com & photos also)

****CHAMPAGNE POPSICLES🍾🍓🍎!

http://bakersroyale.com

CHAMPAGNE POPSICLES

YIELD: Makes 10 popsicles

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup Barefoot Bubbly Berry Fusion
• 3/4 cup Barefoot Bubbly Extra Dry Champagne
• 8-10 oz of mixed berries, apples and pomegranate arils
  
  ****PERFECT FOR 
  ****VALENTINES DAY❤️!!

Directions:

Fill half of popsicles wells half way up with Barefoot Bubbly Berry Fusion and the other popsicles wells half way up with Bubbly Extra Dry Champagne. Layer each well with a variety of fruit. Cover top of popsicle mold with foil. Create a hole in the center of each well just large enough to insert a popsicle stick; insert popsicle stick. Transfer to freezer and chill until frozen solid, about 2-4 hours (time may vary according to freezer type and how full it is).

****SO ELEGANT!!