Brandied Bing Cherry Sauce From The Plaza Hotel Food

BRANDIED CHERRIES

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, mix sugar, water and lemon juice. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; simmer 8 to 10 minutes or until mixture slightly reduces and thickens. Remove from heat. Stir in brandy and pitted cherries.
• Transfer cherries and liquid to jar (liquid should cover cherries completely). Cover with lid; seal tightly. Cool completely, about 3 hours.
• Store in refrigerator 4 to 6 weeks before serving.

FRESH BING CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Place cherries a glass bowl. Add sugar, sea salt, orange muscat wine, lemon zest, lemon juice and stir.
• Place bay leaves, allspice berries, whole cloves, cinnamon stick in cheese cloth and tie with a string to complete Sachet. Place Sachet in cherries, cover with plastic and chill for 1 hour.
• Melt 1-tablespoon butter in a heavy bottom saucepan and saute shallots until they are soft or tender. Add cherry brandy and reduce by one-half.
• Add fresh cherries with their juice, Sachet and bring to a slow boil. Stir cherries to prevent burning and wish in butter. Reduce to a simmer for 10-15 minutes. Remove cherries from heat, discard Sachet and allow cherries to cool slightly.
• Puree cherries with a hand blender, bring to a simmer, add nutmeg and cayenne pepper to taste. Stir cherry sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Strain cherry sauce using a fine sieve or chinois. Serve Fresh Bing Cherry Sauce hot or room temperature.
• Garnish: Fresh Bing Cherry Sauce with Whole Cherries.
• *Orange Muscat Dessert Wine (Nibbia Winery, Half-Moon Bay, Ca.).
• Chef's Note: You can use any Muscat Wine.

BRANDIED CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix sugar, cornstarch and allspice in a medium skillet.
• Stir in cherries, water, brandy, and lemon juice.
• Stir over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens; boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Serve warm.

CHERRY BRANDY

Steps:

• Use only fully ripened, unblemished fruit.
• Wash and remove stems and pits.
• Chop and mash fruit.
• Place in a plastic container or large glass bottle.
• Dissolve sugar in the vodka or brandy.
• Pour over the fruit.
• Cover and let sit in a cool dark place for 4 to 6 months.
• Strain out the fruit and bottle.
• Your cherry brandy is ready to drink!

BREAST OF CHICKEN FLAMBE WITH BRANDIED CHERRY SAUCE 4-2

Steps:

• Preparing Bing Cherry Sauce:.
• Drain juice from cherries.
• Combine juice with wine, sugar, cornstarch, and salt; mix thoroughly.
• Bring mixture to a boil until sauce thickens.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in the drained cherries.
• Season chicken breast with salt, white pepper, paprika, and brush with butter.
• Bake for 30 minutes at 325°F or until cooked and tender.
• Place chicken in a medium size ovenproof serving dish and cover with sauce.
• Have table set, candles lit, all accompaniments on table, and turn off lights when ready to flambé.
• HOW TO FLAMBE:.
• Pour 1/4 ounce of brandy over dish and place in middle of table.
• Using long wooden matches, ignite chicken breast.
• When flame goes out and liquor has burned off, you are ready to serve.

BRANDIED BING CHERRY SAUCE FROM THE PLAZA HOTEL

Steps:

• Melt currant jelly in a small skillet.
• Add cherries and brandy.
• Heat slowly until the mixture boils, stirring often.
• Serve warm.