Thanksgiving Feast With Texas Twist...

...And On A Shoestring, From Fort Worth Chef Jon Bonnell, A Leader In Lone Star State Cuisine

(CBS) 

Green Bean Bundles with Shallot Vinaigrette and Caramelized Onions

For the beans:
1 pound green beans, cleaned
2 large sweet onions
1 bunch green onions
3 teaspoons vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Blanch the clean green beans in salted water for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, just until tender, then remove from the water and plunge into an ice bath to stop the cooking. Blanch the green onions in the same water just until soft, then use one strip of a green onion to tie the green beans into little bundles.

Caramelize the onions in vegetable oil and season lightly with salt and pepper.

Place the onions in the middle of a large platter, then heat the green beans back up by quickly blanching back in the water just prior to serving. Place around the mound of caramelized onions and drizzle the top with the vinaigrette.

For the dressing:
3 large shallots
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
pinch salt
pinch pepper

Method:

Roast the shallots (peeled) in a 350° oven for 35-45 minutes, or until soft. Place in a blender or food processor and add in all remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper and puree.

Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake with Cinnamon Bourbon Whipped Cream

Ingredients:

For the cheesecake base:
5 eggs
12 ounces pumpkin puree (canned works fine)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ginger
3 pounds cream cheese
1 ½ cups sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
½ vanilla bean, scraped (or ½ teaspoon vanilla extract)

Method:

Allow the cream cheese to come to room temperature before mixing. In an electric mixer, combine all ingredients and whip together until uniform and smooth. Begin mixing slowly, then gradually increase speed until the mixture is free of all lumps.

In a springform pan, begin by layering the bottom with graham cracker crumbs. Pour the cheesecake batter on top of the crumbs, then bake in a 325° oven (water bath optional) for approximately 40-45 minutes or until the cake is done.

To check for doneness, lightly jiggle the cake and see if the middle has set up or is still mostly liquid.

Once the middle has set, remove from the oven, cool well, then unmold and cut into slices with a warm knife.

Easy Shortcut: Instead of all of the different spices, substitute with a canned pumpkin pie filling that is already spiced.

For the whipped cream:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 1/2 ounces bourbon whiskey
Dash of cinnamon

Method:

Begin by placing the mixing bowl of an electric stand mixer in the freezer and chill very well. Cream whips much better the colder it is.

Dissolve the sugars in the bourbon, then combine all ingredients together with the cream.

Start the mixer on a medium speed to avoid excessive splattering, then gradually increase the speed until it reaches high. Whip in the ice-cold bowl on high until the cream forms stiff peaks, then top each slice of pumpkin cheesecake with a heavy dollop and serve.


So, how did Bonnell do with our $80 budget?

FIRST COURSE
sweet onion $1.79
garlic.39
butternut squash $2.97
star anise .89
chicken stock $1.09
heavy cream $1.19
oranges $1.18
pumpkin seeds$2.79
pecans $1.62
chili powder .99
coriander .79
paprika .79
cayenne pepper .79

MAIN COURSE
honey $5.29
orange juice $2.69
turkey $12.97
sage $2.49
onion powder .99

SIDES
chicken stock $1.09
poblano chilies $1.99
onion .52
celery .99
cornbread $2.50
panko bread crumbs $1.49
green beans $1.49
sweet onions $3.58
green onions .66
shallots $2.99
Dijon mustard $1.69

DESSERT
pumpkin puree $2.49
nutmeg .49
allspice $2.79
ginger .40
cream cheese $4.74
graham crackers $1.67
heavy cream $1.19
Whiskey $1.50

FINAL COST = $79.45!

[dr_cricket2]

Why in the world does everything have to contain a political slam or comment? This is cooking folks!

Anyone who cooks knows that people use various ethnic cuisines to create recipes. Of course Creole is Cajun/French ... it''s the newscasters that misinform! Julia Child would never make such a mistake.

And besides, haven''t we had enough politics to let this creep into cooking for the holidays? ENOUGH!

[spinproof]

Hmmm, a normal picture of a Turkey without Sarah Palin''s friends decapitating it while she''s talking. LOL

[Viviandjw]

Ok I don''t do a lot of homemade cooking. Can I use a cheesecake mix and the pumpkin pie mix instead of having to get all of the ingredents? Thanks

[erasmus81]

"I''''ll try to make it a point to check in (if I remember)."

It would be nice if you did.

Bye.

[erasmus81]

You mean like "Texas" bread?:)

Posted by erasmus81 at 04:43 PM : Nov 22, 2008

Texas TOAST!!!

Damned Canadians. . .

Posted by tuckerndfw at 05:12 PM : Nov 22, 2008

Oops......hahahahahaha

[erasmus81]

Posted by tuckerndfw at 04:59 PM : Nov 22, 2008

"On my mother''''s side, somebody did a family tree that linked us to William McKinley but it was through cousins rather than parents, grandparents"

The name was familiar, but I had to look it up.:) A President! That''s nice.

"On my daddy''''s side, the family legend is that some horse thief from Tennessee fled to avoid the hangman and ended up in Texas. That''''s probably true."

And this is who you and your brothers take after?:)

"The other legend is one of my daddy''''s grandmas was a Cherokee. Which I believe due to our physical appearance."

Yes, I remember you telling me.

"Many "original" (European) Texans came to Texas to avoid the law or to avoid the Civil War and they really didn''''t want to leave a trail."

And so what was so "special" about Texas? I don''t mean to say that there isn''t anything special about Texas. I was just wondering why everybody headed there. I know one thing that is special about Texas.:)

"Supposedly, we are mostly Dutch-Irish, but who knows?"

You are Irish too? Isn''t that nice.

"We have our own thieves & liars to account for without importing them from CT & WY."

Hahaha.


I have to go out for awhile, but I hope to talk to you again, soon.

If for any reason I don''t, I hope to talk to you on your birthday.:)

[erasmus81]

"It seems we appeared here by magic. ."

Maybe it was magic.:)

[erasmus81]

Posted by tuckerndfw at 04:24 PM : Nov 22, 2008

"I can''''t trace my family beyond about four generations. It seems we appeared here by magic. ."

Really? That''s kind of weird. Mind you, what do I know?

I can trace my family back to good old IRELAND.:) And OK, I will admit it, Scotland too. The Irish ones came over here and landed in North Dakota. From there they came to Canada. And the Scottish ones I think came to Canada and then some went to California.


" We fry EVERYTHING including tomatoes, squash, okra, potatoes, whatever."

Yeah, like I had never heard of fried green tomatoes, before that movie came out. We do fry potatoes and zucchini. (sp?)

"I just love the way people attach "Texas" or "Texan" to stuff as if that makes it better even though it has no relation whatsoever..."

You mean like "Texas" bread?:)

[erasmus81]

As a native, fifth (at least) generation Texan, I find stories such as this one to be really stupid.

Creole means Cajun or French-Canadian (aka "Louisiana").

Calling Creole food Texan is about as stupid as it gets.

Texans fry everything and slop ketchup or barbecue sauce (or hot sauce) all over it. That''''s a genuine Texas recipe. Fry until brown, slop ketchup all over it and you have a "heart of Texas" meal.

Posted by tuckerndfw at 03:43 PM : Nov 22, 2008

Fifth generation Texan? That''s nice.:)

You have lived other places too, though, right?

Fry and slop ketchup? Now you''re talkin''! It sounds like what we do here.

I of course have cut back on the fried. Or at least I don''t use fat for frying. I use a good old T-Fal fry pan.:)

[erasmus81]

Y''''all want cheap turkey?

Go to Kentucky Fried Chicken and order their family combo.

Posted by tuckerndfw at 02:35 PM : Nov 22, 2008

And just how is it you know about Kentucky Fried Chicken? I thought you didn''t eat anything that ate rocks?

See, I remember stuff.:)

[middleman8]

Try S O S good nugh for texans

(vets know what this is.)

[skeezix06]

I know this is going to come as something of a shock to y''all but after the last 8 years I''ve had just about enough of Texas.

[davidleith1]

HHH

[davidleith1]

PRYA DAVID LOOKS LIKE OBAMAS WIFE IS IT? I DONT KNOW WHO JUST TOLD ME THAT

[rar630]

what size springform pan for the pumpkin cheesecake?