Super Bowl Feast

Here are a few Super Bowl favorites from our feast: Rotisserie  Chicken Wings and Spinach-Artichoke Dip.

 Wings were very simple, just a little coating with salt, pepper and paprika.  Then put on a kabob skewer for rotisserie in the wood fire oven.

The Dip was equally simple:

1 jar of artichokes

2 lbs of fresh spinach (10 oz frozen)

1 cup sour cream

8oz cream cheese

2 cups parmesan cheese

2 cloves garlic

In a food processor, chop spinach and artichokes (only a few pulses) -- then add all other ingredients.  Cook for 30 min at 350F.

Cassoulet de Dallas

Nothing is better on a cold night in winter than a hot bean stew.  This time, I tried to follow a more traditional recipe with a bit of inspiration from JC (Julia Child).  JC's recipe is rather involved, here is something a bit more simple.
First, I soaked 2 lbs of beans over night.

The next morning, I sauted in 2 tbsp of olive oil:
2 onions (chopped)
2 large carrots (sliced)
4 duck legs (thigh and drumstick)
6 sausages -- I recommend brats

After about 15 min -- when the onions are cooked and the legs are slightly browned -- add mixture to to the 2 lbs of bean into a cast iron dutch oven.  Add enough water to cover measure.  Cook at low heat about 300 for 6 hours.  Check over 1-2 hours to make sure water has not completely evaporated.  If there is too much water, uncover the last 30 min.  Breadcrumbs can be added the last 15 min, broil for that golden color.

Pizza Night

Pizza night at my house is quite an affair.  We have a wood-fire oven and making pizza is out passion.  First it starts with dough made the night before with over-night proofing.  The dough is thin crust

Then I make fresh sauce:

2 cans of 15 oz diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
2 cloves garlic
one "kid fist" full of basil
2-4 shakes of oregano
salt
pepper

Here is the selection for pizza night:

Pinapple and Pepperoni with Fresh Mozzerella
Tomato, Peppers and Pinapple with Fresh Mozzarella
Goat Cheese and Texas Honey
Tomato and Parmesan
Mushrooms, peppers and Fresh Mozzarella
Pepperoni, Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella
Tomato and Mozzarella

White Pizza
Sour Cream, Mushrooms and Parmesan
 

Pizza cooks in a few minutes at a very high temperature.

First Cassoulet

A few weeks ago, we made a duck in our oven using the rotisserie feature.  It was very delicious.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to finish the duck so we threw the leftovers (along with carcass) into the freezer.  Today we were suppose to have an ice storm, which didn't materialize, but none the less, I had planned a bean stew with the leftover duck.

First I cooked onions in bacon fat until they were golden brown.  Then I placed the duck carcass, onions, 1 lbs bag of white northern beans, a snippet of rosemary (from the garden), 2 garlic cloves and a bit of parsley into a cast iron dutch oven.  Then I cooked it all day (about 8 hours) at about 300F in wood fire oven.  One hour before mealtime, I added 5 raw brats.

Served with a light red wine,  a good crusty bread and a small salad for a perfect winter meal.