Dashi Alton Brown Food

MISO SOUP

Steps:

• Wrap the block of tofu in 2 layers of paper towels and lay on a plate. Invert a second plate on top of the tofu and weigh down with a 28-ounce can. Leave for 20 minutes then cut the tofu into 1/4 to 1/2-inch cubes.
• Heat the dashi in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. When the dashi reaches 100 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, ladle 1 cup into a small bowl. Add the miso, and whisk until smooth.
• Bring the remaining dashi to a bare simmer, approximately 10 minutes. Add the miso mixture and whisk to combine. Return to a slight simmer, being careful not to boil the mixture. Add the tofu and scallions and cook for another minute or until heated through. Remove from the heat, ladle into soup bowls and serve immediately.

DASHI

Steps:

• Put the kombu in a 4-quart saucepan, cover with the water, and soak for 30 minutes.
• Set the saucepan over medium heat until the water reaches 150 to 160ºF and small bubbles appear around the sides of the pan, 9 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the kombu from the pan. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, 5 to 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the bonito flakes. Simmer gently, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes.
• Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer lined with muslin or several layers of cheesecloth. Reserve the bonito flakes for another use.
• Let the broth cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month.

DASHI - ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• Put the kombu in a 4-quart saucepan, cover with the water and soak for 30 minutes.
• Set the saucepan over medium heat until the water reaches 150 to 160 degrees F and small bubbles appear around the sides of the pan, 9 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the kombu from the pan. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, 5 to 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the bonito flakes. Simmer gently, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes.
• Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer lined with muslin or several layers of cheesecloth. Reserve the bonito flakes for another use.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within 1 week or freeze for up to a month.

SOY GINGER DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Add all of the ingredients to a lidded jar and shake well to combine. Serve as a dipping sauce for tempura or dumplings.

TSUYU SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the dashi, soy sauce, and mirin in an airtight container, shake to combine and refrigerate until cold, approximately 1 hour. Serve with soba noodles.

FRENCH TOAST FROM ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• In medium size mixing bowl, whisk together the half-and-half, eggs, honey, and salt. You may do this the night before. When ready to cook, pour custard mixture into a pie pan and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Dip bread into mixture, allow to soak for 30 seconds on each side, and then remove to a cooling rack that is sitting in a sheet pan, and allow to sit for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Over medium-low heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a 10-inch nonstick saute pan.
• Place 2 slices of bread at a time into the pan and cook until golden brown, approximately 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Remove from pan and place in oven on rack for 5 minutes.
• Repeat with all 8 slices. Serve immediately with maple syrup, whipped cream or fruit.

BIG CHEESE SQUEEZE - ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• Find 2 heavy skillets that will nest together. 2 10" cast iron skillets are ideal. Don't use non-stick; it's not safe to heat a non-stick skillet to these temperatures when empty. Place both skillets over high heat.
• Spread mustard on one slice of bread. Distribute the cheese evenly over the mustard, season with a twist of freshly ground black pepper and top with the second slice of bread (which you may spread with mustard or not, as you choose). Lightly spritz the upward-facing bread surface with olive oil, using a mister.
• When the pans are hot enough to vigorously sizzle a drop of water, remove them from the heat and place the sandwich, oiled side down, in the middle of one pan. Lightly spritz the side now facing you, as well as the bottom of the second pan. Place the second pan on top of the sandwich. If the top pan isn't cast iron, weight it down with a brick or heavy can.
• When you hear the first drop of cheese run out of the sandwich and sizzle on the pan, it's done. This will take 3-5 minutes. Remove to a plate, count to 10 (to let the cheese set up ever so slightly), cut in half and serve.

RADONSKY FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM BY ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• Half shell the clams and set them aside.
• Mix the flour, bread crumbs, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.
• In a large pan over high heat, render the bacon fat.
• Sprinkle a generous coating of the flour mixture over all the clams and carefully place them flesh side down, using a spoon, into the fat.
• Cook for about two minutes and remove to serving plates flesh side up.
• Top them with fresh parsley and malt vinegar.

BUFF SMOOTHIE- ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• 1. Combine the soy milk, juice, and fruit in a blender. Cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 8 hours.
• 2. In the morning or when fruit is thawed, blend fruit on lowest speed and slowly increase to medium speed.
• 3. Once medium speed is reached, blend for one minute.
• 4. Serve.
• Note: I just copied this from the foodnetwork site but gave this my own flair. I used lactose free milk but don't see why one couldn't use regular, and used black currant juice. I also added some mango and papaya, sort of omitting the peaches almost all together. You can also use blackberries or any type of dark colored berry to get the addition of the antioxidants, but I can imagine this would taste good with any fruit. If you can't find a certain type of fruit in the frozen section, just buy it fresh, cut it up or wash it, then freeze in a plastic bag.

PANZANELLA (ALTON BROWN RECIPE)

Steps:

• Toss bread cubes in the bacon drippings.
• Sear the halved grape tomatoes in 2 tablespoons of oil, cut side down, until caramelized about 5 minutes, set aside.
• Combine red wine vinegar, salt and pepper in a bowl, slowly whisk in olive oil in a thin stream until emulsified.
• Combine all tomatoes, bread, bacon, and lettuce and dress with vinaigrette, toss well, garnish with mint and basil and serve.

HOLLANDAISE ALA ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• Pour 1-inch of water into a large saucepan; over medium heat, bring to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low.
• Place egg yolks and 1 teaspoon water in a medium mixing bowl and whisk until mixture lightens in color, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Add the sugar and whisk for another 30 seconds.
• Place the mixture over the simmering water and whisk constantly for 3 to 5 minutes, or until there is a clear line that is drawn in the mixture when you pull your whisk through, or the mixture coats the back of a spoon.
• Remove the bowl from over the pan and gradually add the butter, 1 piece at a time, and whisk until all of the butter is incorporated. Place the bowl back over the simmering water occasionally so that it will be warm enough the melt the butter. Add the salt, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper. Serve immediately or hold in a thermos to keep warm.
• ALTERNATIVE BLENDER DIRECTIONS - slightly different yolk and butter).
• Fill blender with hot water and set aside.
• Melt butter (1.25 cups) in saucepan on medium heat until foaming. Remove from heat.
• Drain blender and dry well.
• Put yolks (2) and lemon juice in blender, cover and blend.
• Working quickly with blender running, remove insert on lid and slowly pour hot butter into blender in a thin stream of droplets. Discard the milk solids in the bottom of the pan.
• Blend until creamy sauce forms.
• Season to taste with salt, pepper and more lemon juice.
• Use right away!