Chocolate Stout Chicken Food

SPICY TEXAS-STYLE CHILI WITH CHOCOLATE STOUT

Steps:

• Remove the stems and seeds from the dried chiles. Heat a large skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium-high heat and toast the dried chiles in batches until they just start to darken and become shiny, 10 to 20 seconds per side. Remove to a large bowl. When all of the chiles are toasted, pour boiling water over them to cover. Let stand until soft, 30 minutes.
• Drain the dried chiles and transfer to a blender along with 1/2 cup of the soaking water (reserve the rest of the soaking water). Add the chipotles and adobo sauce and puree until smooth.
• Cook the bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp, then drain on paper towels. Pour off the drippings from the pot and discard. Add the vegetable oil to the pot and increase the heat to medium high. Season the beef all over with salt and pepper. Working in batches, add the beef to the pot and cook, turning, until browned, 3 to 4 minutes; remove the beef to a plate as it browns.
• Reduce the heat to medium low and add the onions to the drippings in the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are almost tender, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Add the cocoa powder, cumin, oregano and paprika and stir to coat the onions, about 1 minute. Increase the heat to high and stir in the chile puree. Cook until slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the stout, bring to a boil and cook until reduced by one-quarter, about 3 minutes. Return the beef and bacon to the pot. Add the beef broth and enough of the reserved chile soaking water or additional water (about 2 cups total) to cover the meat by 1 inch. Partially cover the pot and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the meat is tender, 31/2 to 4 hours.
• Skim off any fat from the top of the chili; season with salt and pepper. Serve the chili in bowls and top with sour cream, scallions and cilantro.

CHOCOLATE STOUT CAKE WITH COFFEE GLAZE

Steps:

• Place a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat to 350 degrees.
• In a small bowl, stir together 1 tablespoon flour with 1 tablespoon natural process cocoa powder. Grease the inside of a 12-cup Bundt pan with butter and dust with this mixture, taking care to coat the pan entirely.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the remaining flour with the baking soda. In a large bowl, stir together remaining cocoa powders with the brown sugar and salt. (Mixture will be lumpy.)
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with the oil, beer and coffee, whisking occasionally. When the butter is fully melted and the mixture is hot, pour this mixture into the large bowl with the cocoa powder mixture, and whisk well to combine. Let this mixture cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, in a large liquid measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the sour cream, eggs and whiskey. Pour this mixture into the cocoa mixture, whisking as you go, until well combined.
• Add the flour in two to three additions, whisking between each addition, until smooth and no clumps remain. (The batter will be a tad thin.)
• Pour batter into the prepared Bundt pan and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, rotating your pan at 30 minutes to ensure even cooking.
• Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes, then invert and release onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the glaze while Bundt is cooling: In a medium bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, sour cream, whiskey, salt and 1 tablespoon of coffee until smooth. The glaze should make slowly disappearing ribbons when you lift the whisk, similar to the texture of molasses or honey. Add more coffee 1 teaspoon at a time as needed. (To test the glaze, drizzle some on an inverted coffee cup or bowl; it should be a little thick and travel slowly down the sides.)
• Once the Bundt has cooled completely, use a piping bag, spatula or spoon to glaze your cake. While the glaze is still wet, sprinkle cacao nibs over the surface, pressing lightly to adhere, and let the glaze set until firm, about 30 minutes to 1 hour.

CHICKEN WITH STOUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Whisk flour, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Press chicken thighs into seasoned flour to coat. Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat; fry coated chicken in the hot oil until golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes per side.
• Place potatoes, carrots, and cabbage into a large casserole dish and lay chicken thighs on top of vegetables. Stir beef stock, stout beer, and brown sugar in a bowl. Mix cornstarch and water in a separate small bowl; stir into beer mixture. Pour beer mixture over chicken and vegetables. Cover the casserole dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes; uncover casserole and continue baking until chicken is cooked all the way through and sauce has thickened, 45 more minutes.