Smothered Liver Food

CALF'S LIVER WITH BACON, CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND SHERRY

Steps:

• In a large glass baking dish, add liver and milk and let soak for 20 minutes.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, add bacon and butter and cook until fat has rendered, about 6 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain and reserve 3 tablespoons fat in skillet. Reserve remaining fat.
• Cook onions with salt and pepper, to taste, in bacon fat in skillet over moderate heat for 10 minutes or until caramelized. Transfer onions to a bowl and add bacon. Set aside.
• Pat liver dry and discard milk. In a large zip-top bag, add flour, Essence, salt and pepper. Working in batches, add liver and shake to coat. Set aside on baking sheet until ready to cook.
• Add 2 tablespoons reserved bacon fat to skillet over high heat and add liver; cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Turn liver over, remove pan from heat, add sherry and beef broth, return pan to heat and shake and flambe. Cook on second side for about 2 minutes or until cooked through. Serve liver with pan sauce, topped with onions and bacon.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William Morrow, 1993.

SMOTHERED LIVER

Steps:

• Marinate the liver in a mixture of the vinegar, Worcestershire, dry mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper for 30 to 60 minutes.
• Remove the liver from the marinade, reserving the marinade. Pat the liver dry and dust it with flour. In a heavy skillet, over a medium high heat, sear the liver in a little of the reserved bacon grease. Turn the liver only once to avoid overcooking. Remove the liver to a platter and cover with loosely tented foil to keep warm.
• Drain the excess bacon grease from the skillet. Place the reserved marinade and chicken stock in the skillet, over a medium high heat, and reduce by half. Pour this sauce over the liver and serve with the crisp bacon slices and pickled serranos or jalapenos on the side.

SAUTEED CALF'S LIVER SMOTHERED WITH ONIONS

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, and pepper in medium bowl. Coat liver with seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté liver in 2 batches until cooked to desired doneness, about 1 1/2 minutes per side for medium. Transfer liver to plate; tent with foil.
• Melt butter in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add beer and bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Add onions; simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Divide liver among 4 plates. Top with onions.