Red/Blue State Party Dishes, On A Budget

Having An Election Night Bash? "Chef On A Shoestring" Gail Simmons, Of Food & Wine Magazine, Shares Recipes

(CBS) 

Left & Right Wing Chicken Wings

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 pounds chicken drumettes (upper portion of the chicken wing)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 1/2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
Lime wedges, for serving

METHOD:

Preheat the oven to 450° and position a rack nearest the top.

In a large bowl, whisk 1/2 teaspoon of the red curry paste with the oil. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Spread the chicken on a large rimmed baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes, turning once, until cooked through and just starting to brown. Remove from the oven; preheat the broiler.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine the coconut milk, fish sauce, brown sugar and the remaining 2 1/2 teaspoons of red curry paste and bring to a boil. Cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.

Transfer the chicken to a large bowl. Add the coconut-curry sauce and toss to coat. Pour off any excess fat on the baking sheet. Return the chicken to the baking sheet, pouring any excess sauce over it. Broil for 5 minutes, turning once, until browned. Transfer the chicken to a platter and serve with lime wedges.


Waffles with Bananas & Pecans

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup pecans
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups milk
1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
3 large eggs, separated
2 large ripe bananas, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 cup sugar
Maple syrup, for serving

METHOD:

Preheat the oven to 350°.

Spread the pecans in a pie plate and bake for 10 minutes, or until golden. Let cool, then coarsely chop. Lower the oven temperature to 225°.

Preheat a waffle iron. In a large bowl, whisk the flour with the cornmeal, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, combine the milk, melted butter and egg yolks. Stir the liquid into the dry ingredients just until moistened; lumps are okay. Fold the bananas into the batter.

In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites at medium speed until frothy. Increase the speed to high and beat until firm peaks form. Add the sugar and beat until the whites are stiff and glossy. Fold the whites into the batter until no streaks remain.

Oil or butter the waffle iron. Pour 1 1/4 cups of batter into the iron and bake until the waffle is golden, about 6 minutes, depending on the iron. Transfer the waffle to an oven rack to keep warm. Continue to cook the remaining batter in 3 batches. (There should be no need to regrease the iron between waffles.) Separate the waffles and serve with the toasted pecans and maple syrup.


Bi-Partisan Punch

INGREDIENTS:

2 navel oranges
4 bottles (750 ml each) white Vinho Verde
1 cup Rosemary Syrup*
1 seedless cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
1/3 cup mint leaves
Ice cubes, for serving

METHOD:

Using a knife, peel the oranges, removing all of the white pith. Working over a bowl, cut in between the membranes to release the sections into the bowl.

In a punch bowl, mix the wine and Rosemary Syrup. Add the oranges and cucumber slices; let stand for 1 hour. Garnish with the mint and serve over ice.

*Rosemary Syrup

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
4 rosemary sprigs, rinsed

METHOD:

Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer over moderately low heat for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain the syrup and chill.


How did Gail do with our $80 budget?!

Swing State Salsa
Salsa $2.69
Tortilla Chips $2.49

Red, White, and Blue Potato Cups
potatoes $3.99
sour cream $1.19
chives $1.49

Left & Right Wing Chicken Wings
red curry paste $2.49
chicken drumettes $9.01
coconut milk $1.79
Asian fish sauce $1.99
lime .49

Three Cheese Mini Macs
elbow macaroni $1.69
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese $2.24
cheddar cheese $2.79
American cheese $3.00
paprika .79

Barack-oli with Cheddar Cheese Dunk
1 pound broccoli 2.99
1/4 cup heavy cream 1.19
6 ounces sharp or mild white cheddar cheese 2.79

Waffles with Bananas and Pecans
pecans $2.69
cornmeal $1.29
bananas .62
maple syrup $4.49
vanilla ice cream $1.99

Bi-Partisan Punch
navel oranges .5
white wine $15.6
cucumber .66
mint leaves $1.99
rosemary sprigs $1.99

FINAL COST = $76.92