Zero Proof Cocktails

Low ABV or No ABV

There is growing interest in sensibly consuming alcoholic beverages or complete abstention altogether. With social trends of sober months (Sober October and Dry January) folks are looking for alternatives without sacrificing the social aspects of bars and cocktail parties…Enter zero proof cocktails, dry cocktails and mocktails.  

Not just boring sodas and juices, bartenders and mixologists have taken this trend very seriously. Flexing creatively to develop innovative beverages with delicious results. The surge of ABV-free is moving from the bar to the home with hosts expanding their selections to include more sobriety friendly alternatives. 

Trend in Action… 

Using the existing beverage trends blowing up across the country (alternative/natural and healthy sweeteners, tiki-theme cocktails and global flavors/ingredients), I developed these three creative ABV free bevies.

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World Series Feature: Houston Astros Burnt End Tater Tots

Of course Houston would have kick ass BBQ! Of course Astros’ Minute Maid Park would stack the deck and top tots with BBQ! I’m happy they did. 


What is a burnt end? 


When smoking a brisket or a pork butt certain outer regions take on a bit more char than others. These end pieces tend to be a little on the fattier side, so while they’re beautifully charred on the outside the inside still remains juicy and tender. And, just by chance, these tender vittles usually end up getting trimmed when the pit masters gets to slicing or pulling. When saved they become an entirely different BBQ treat~and a great deployment on MMP’s part as a nacho-esk tot topper. 

Half the time Hacks… This recipes is loaded with semi-homemade hacks. Stop by you local BBQ joint to pick up burnt ends, especially if you’re not planning on smoking (and taking a day to smoke). 

Frozen tater tots are the bomb. I sometimes forgo the traditional baking instructions (when they say ‘no need to spray or oil’) and drizzle a bit of reserved bacon grease over the pan before baking. Go big or go home. 

BBQ sauce. Sure, make your own or use a recipe you love. I used a store bought sauce for this recipe and I’m not mad at it (nor feel like I’m slighting my cheffy abilities).

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Burnt End Tater Tots 

serves 4

Ingredients

Queso Cheese Sauce: 

2 tablespoons butter 

2 tablespoons all purpose flour 

1 1/4 cup whole milk 

1 cup pepper jack cheese, grated 

1/2 cup white american cheese, grated 

salt and pepper to taste

1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional) 

1 package frozen tater tots, cooked following package’s instructions

1lb. bbq brisket burnt ends (your local bbq joint will have em), reheated

1/2 cup bbq sauce (your favorite store bought sauce)

2 kosher dill pickles, sliced or 3/4 cup dill pickle chips 

1/4 cup scallions, thinly sliced 

Instructions 

  1. In a medium pot melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and lightly cook for 1-2 minutes, just to remove from of the ‘flour’ flavor.

  2. Whisk in whole milk and bring to a simmer, whisking frequently. Once the milk is simmering (NOT boiling) and thickened slightly, begin adding in the cheese in 1/2 cup intervals.

  3. Continue to whisk until the sauce has thickened and cheese has completely melted (about 3 minutes) remove from the heat and season to taste with salt, pepper and hot sauce. Set aside and keep warm.

  4. To assemble, evenly distribute tater tots to bowls and top with burnt ends. Drizzle with cheese sauce and bbq sauce. Finish with dill pickle slices and scallions before serving.

World Series Feature: Nat's Stadium Steak & Gravy Fries Sandwich

This recipe is not for the faint of calories. The most tasty of ballpark grub usually comes with a hefty box-seat-sized caloric value. Just balance this beast with a smoothie later…

Medium Rare is a steakhouse with postings throughout the DC metro area. If there’s one thing that steakhouses love more than steak…it’s butter. And on my last visit to the Nat’s stadium (albeit for a Phillies matchup) this humdinger was a messy meaty butter bomb. The gravy, rich and silky. The roll, butta-toast. The thinly sliced seared steak, butta-basted. Hell, the fries might even have been drizzled in a bit o’ butter.

Steakhouses have this ability to deploy butter without making their offerings come across as greasy. It’s magic and this sandwich is a magicians hat trick. Best eaten during the 7th inning stretch and with loads of napkins.

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Steak and Gravy Fries Sandwich 

serves 2 

Ingredients

Steakhouse Gravy:

2 tablespoons butter, cubed 

1 teaspoon garlic, peeled and minced 

1/4 cup yellow onion, peeled and minced 

1/3 cup red wine 

1/4 cup dijon mustard 

1 cup beef broth 

1 tablespoon cornstarch, diluted in 2 tablespoons water 

salt and pepper to taste 


2 tablespoons peanut oil, avocado or another high smoke point oil

10oz. strip steak, the thicker the better  

salt and pepper

2 tablespoons butter 

sprig of rosemary 

sprig of thyme 

1 tablespoon butter 

2 6inch crusty long rolls, split 

1/2 bag frozen french fries, cooked following packages instructions 

Instructions

  1. Melt butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Stir in garlic and onions and sauté for just 2-3 minutes or until fragrant and slightly translucent.

  2. Deglaze pan with wine, whisk and simmer for about 3-4 minutes or until wine has reduced by half.

  3. Whisk in dijon and beef broth and simmer for an addition 3-4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low and thicken sauce with your cornstarch slurry, whisking frequently. Once spoon coating thick, season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.

  4. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Liberally season steak with salt and pepper and once the oil is pipping hot carefully add in your steak.

  5. Sear steak on both sides for 3 minutes (for medium rare). Remove the pan from the heat and add in the butter and herbs.

  6. Spoon butter over the steak, glazing, only for a minute or so. Remove the steak from the pan and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

  7. Return the pan to the heat and add in additional butter. Once melted, place rolls in the pan, split side down to toast. Toast for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.

  8. To assemble the sandwiches top toasted rolls with sliced steak and fries. Spoon or drizzle gravy, generously, over each.

Halloween Treats & Appetizers

Delicious and fun appetizers perfect for your Halloween party :) Created and developed for Gil’s Gourmet

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Caramel Apple Balsamic

Bats


serves 8

3/4 cup granulated sugar 

1/2 cup corn syrup 

1 tablespoon water 

1/4 cup 4 Leaf Balsamic Vinegar 

2 granny smith apples, cored and quartered

8 tablespoons peanut butter 

1 tablespoon puffed rice 

1 strawberry, cut into wedges

*a few candy eyes 

Stir together sugar, corn syrup and water, heat over medium high heat until golden brown and bubbly. Remove from heat and carefully pour in balsamic, stir. Let caramel rest for 1-2 minutes. Cut large slits in the middle of apple wedges (making sure not to go all the way through the apple). Dip apples into caramel to coat, let drain on a lightly greased rack for 10-15 minutes or until caramel has hardened (but still a little tacky). Fill mouth with peanut butter, place 2 puffed rice pieces for teeth and a strawberry wedge for a tongue. Finish off with two eyes on top. 

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Green Goblin Eggs


serves 8 

8 eggs, hard boiled, peeled and split 

2 tablespoons mayonaise 

1 tablespoon Gil’s Roasted Garlic Champagne Mustard 

2 teaspoon green food coloring 

1 tablespoon black flaky sea salt 

Remove yolks from split eggs and whisk with mayo, mustard and food coloring. Pipe mixture onto eggs and top with flaky sea salt before serving. 

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Bone Cheese and Salsa


serves 8 

1 8oz. package cream cheese 

2 cups Zinful Garlic Salsa (Mild or Hot) 

assorted crackers and chips for serving 

Roll, press and form cream cheese into a bone shape, keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Spoon salsa onto a platter, top with ‘bone’ and arrange chips and crackers around before serving.

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Cyclops Spicy Pizza Bites



makes 8

1 can crescent roll dough 

1 cup Gil’s Artichoke and Olive Marinara

2 cups shredded mozzarella 

8 pepperoni slices 

4 each Gil’s Habanero Stuffed Olives, cut in half 

Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a muffin tin and line with crescent roll dough, forming little cups. Evenly distribute marinara sauce and mozzarella to each cup. Cut slits into pepperoni and place in the center of each cup. Top pepperoni with a halved olive. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly. Let rest for 3 minutes before removing and serving.

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Pepper Popper Mummies


makes 8

1 8oz package cream cheese, softened 

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 

1/2 cup chorizo sausage link, diced 

1/2 cup Chardonnay Garlic Stuffed Olives, chopped 

8 medium sized fresh jalapeños, cut in half length-wise 

1 can crescent roll dough, unrolled and cut into thin strips  

*a few candy eyes 

Preheat oven to 375°F. Stir together cream cheese, cheddar, chorizo and chopped olives until thoroughly mixed. Stuff halved jalapeños with cream cheese mixture. Wrap with overlapping strips of crescent dough (leaving a little room near the top unwrapped for eyes) and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let rest for 5 minutes and gently press candy eyes into opening.