Bourbon BBQ Baked Beans

Bourbon BBQ Baked Beans
A Dash of Soul

Serves: 8

1 T. olive oil
1 T. butter or buttery spread
1/2 c. diced onions
1/2 c. diced bell peppers
1/3 c. prepared barbecue sauce (whatever you have lying around)
1/4 c. ketchup
1/4 c. brown sugar
2 t. molasses
2 t. apple cider vinegar
1/2 t. Worcestershire sauce
1/3 c. bourbon whiskey
40 oz. canned baked beans

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat.
When the pan is hot, add the onions and bell peppers and sautee until they are soft and just begin to brown.

Add the barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, vinegar, and whiskey to the pan. Stir together and let boil for a few minutes.

Remove the skillet from the heat.

Drain the canned baked beans as much as you possibly can (I like to remove the top from the can and then press it into the can to squeeze the liquid out).

Pour the drained beans into the skillet, then stir gently to coat the beans in the sauce.

Spray a casserole dish or other baking pan with nonstick spray.

Pour the bean mixture into the dish and bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the beans are bubbling throughout and brown on top.

Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Bourbon Whipped Cream

Bourbon Whipped Cream
Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen – Ashley Covelli

2 cups (1 pint) heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons premium bourbon (I prefer Maker’s Mark)

Pour cream into a large bowl and whip with a hand mixer (or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment) on medium-high speed. Once it starts to thicken, slowly add sugar until fully incorporated. Add vanilla and bourbon and whip until stiff peaks form, being careful not to over-mix (or you’ll end up with bourbon butter, which actually sounds pretty good… I’ll file that away for future use).

Serve immediately.

Notes:
-If you have a few minutes to spare, chill your bowl in the freezer for a few minutes before you start.
-If you don’t have an electric mixer, you can do this in a large, chilled bowl with a wire whisk – it’s a great arm workout!

Chocolate Whiskey Bundt Cake

Chocolate Whiskey Bundt Cake
Gourmet September 2005

Yield: Makes 12 to 14 servings

Most of the alcohol in this cake cooks off, but a distinct whiskey flavor remains.

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-process) plus 3 tablespoons for dusting pan
1 1/2 cups brewed coffee
1/2 cup American whiskey
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cups sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Special equipment: a 10-inch bundt pan (3 1/4 inches deep; 3-qt capacity)
Accompaniment: lightly sweetened whipped cream
Garnish: confectioners sugar for dusting

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F. Butter bundt pan well, then dust with 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, knocking out excess.

Heat coffee, whiskey, butter, and remaining cup cocoa powder in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, whisking, until butter is melted. Remove from heat, then add sugar and whisk until dissolved, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and cool 5 minutes.

While chocolate mixture cools, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Whisk together eggs and vanilla in a small bowl, then whisk into cooled chocolate mixture until combined well. Add flour mixture and whisk until just combined (batter will be thin and bubbly). Pour batter into bundt pan and bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes.

Cool cake completely in pan on a rack, about 2 hours. Loosen cake from pan using tip of a dinner knife, then invert rack over pan and turn cake out onto rack.

Cooks’ note:
This cake improves in flavor if made at least 1 day ahead and kept, in a cake keeper or wrapped well in plastic wrap, at cool room temperature. It can be made up to 5 days ahead and chilled. Bring to room temperature before serving.