Help out white (I swear this won't need to be moved to Politic)

**DJ Ms. White** · 10-02-12, 12:40 AM

Cook off time again for my school's homecoming. Last year's was a big success (greek style lamb). This year's theme is America. Given the amalgam that is American cuisine, I'm not sure what to cook. For cooking, we have access to a grill for a heat source. If there's going to be alcohol, it's got to be something I can do ahead of time (dry campus).

Possible ideas
-Pizza (not sure if Brooklyn, New York, Chicago, etc.); Chicago is probably not going to work since deep dish takes ages to cook.
-hot dogs.
-Philly Cheesesteak (I'm looking at you two, Aeth and DG)
-street vendor tacos
-Chili (that is Amurican so with meat)

**DJ Ms. White** · 10-02-12, 12:45 AM

Maybe Boudain?

**AetheLove** · 10-02-12, 01:45 AM

Originally Posted by DJ Mr. White

Cook off time again for my school's homecoming. Last year's was a big success (greek style lamb). This year's theme is America. Given the amalgam that is American cuisine, I'm not sure what to cook. For cooking, we have access to a grill for a heat source. If there's going to be alcohol, it's got to be something I can do ahead of time (dry campus).

Possible ideas
-Pizza (not sure if Brooklyn, New York, Chicago, etc.); Chicago is probably not going to work since deep dish takes ages to cook.
-hot dogs.
-Philly Cheesesteak (I'm looking at you two, Aeth and DG)
-street vendor tacos
-Chili (that is Amurican so with meat)

Is the object to win a prize (via judging) or is the object to have people say "whoa.. that guy is AWESOME." ?

... this is the equivalent of asking if the object is to get a trophy or to get laid.

I understand philly cheesesteak because I'm a goddamned yankee, but DG is from Philly. He is your go-to for that particular recipe. I will say that, to do it right, you need a commercial-style grill. That basically means a sheet of steel with gas burners underneath. Most commercial kitchens will have that. My fraternity house had one. In the NE you can get that on a street cart, but I don't know if they have that sort of gear in Texas. It will also require shaved steak (beef). That's not particularly rare, but I have no idea what your resources are. You could probably fake it well enough with some sliced roast beef from a deli and a cast iron frying pan. Tough to do it in volume that way.

I'm a western NY guy by birth. I can give you THE guaranteed MOST bad-ass chicken-wing recipe. It will require a propane grill or (preferably) a charcoal grill. It will also require that you have basic grilling skills. It is easy to do in volume.

If you want to give the people something special, I can also describe Beef on Weck. This is a non-trivial commitment to properly roasting a huge chunk of beef, and will require a source of kummelweck rolls. It will also require good (ie: brutal) horseradish and a Real Man (tm) with a sharp carving knife who can stand toe-to-toe with a roast beef and win. This is another western NY thing.

You mention cooking with alcohol. For game-day, I've done sandwiches based on Boeuf Bourguignon or Coq au Vin. You cook it ahead of time and then make sandwiches out of the meat and either dip the top slice of roll in the jus or serve the jus on the side. This is also a non-trivial commitment, but you can do almost all the work ahead of time. It's also a swank-ass sandwich.

Cheers,

AetheLove

**DJ Ms. White** · 10-02-12, 02:42 AM

Win the prize! Of course, I would love a recipe that would get me laid.

I am looking for something that's uniquely American at least in its modern form.

On the note of Coq au Vin...maybe do Coq au Win...make a mayonnaise out of the sauce...turn it into spritzed up chicken salad. Would be easy to do en masse and could be done ahead of time.

And while yes, I do have German heritage, I would never cook some jus and serve them on the side.

**DJ Ms. White** · 10-02-12, 02:49 AM

Basically though, I want to follow up last year's success with another win. Of course, last year, it was our lamb vs. their brownies and sugar cookies. Like taking candy from a baby.

Chicken wings might also work. I would love a good recipe regardless of whether or not I use it for this or later for something else.

So there's some tit for tat: my peach and rum sauce recipe. I personally use Ruston peaches, but those are hard to get out of LA. I also use Old New Orleans rum. It's got lovely hints of cayenne that make it great for cooking, less so drinking.

Peach, Rum, and Vanilla sauce

1 lb. peaches, pitted and diced
1 C peach preserves
1 C rum (I used Old New Orleans, if that's not available, use Kraken or Sailor Jerry's)
1 C water
2 C sugar (adjust depending on how sweet the peaches/rum are)
1 vanilla bean

Combine all ingredients sans the bean in a pot. Split the vanilla bean and run your knife down it to remove the seeds. Add the seeds and split bean to the pot.
Cook over High heat until the sugar is dissolved. Then, cook on Medium heat until the liquid is reduced to concentrate the flavor and get rid of the alcohol after taste. You'll be able to tell by tasting it if the alcohol is gone.
Remove the bean, and then, put the peach mixture into a food processor. Process until mostly smooth (a little chunky texture is a good thing). Alternatively, process using a food mill, and stir together to get an even consistency.

**deathgodusmc** · 10-02-12, 05:57 AM

If you dont have the right top to cook with a philly will not work. It has to be a flat top surface. Most places aren't far off from a philly but screw the cheese up. Like i said in the other thread it is a form of cheese whiz but its spicy nacho cheese and it has to be liquid cheese. The quantity of cheese can fuck the sandwich up to no end as well as adding it at the wrong time. Also the hoagie is a particular style. Like i said in the other thread its not easy to duplicate or you would find them every where done right and thats doesnt happen.

If you could get it right you would have a winner but no one outside of philly has yet that i have found. A good cheese steak is a good idea even if it doesnt rise to a philly.

**deathgodusmc** · 10-02-12, 05:59 AM

For the record i have never been able to duplicate one from dukes or pats. I can get it close but something is always off just a bit.

**DJ Ms. White** · 10-02-12, 06:30 AM

Hmmm...I might experiment with cheese steaks privately. Sounds like it would take a while to get a good recipe going so I probably won't have time for homecoming.

**deputyfestus** · 10-02-12, 06:55 AM

There's a little place near where I live that sell these and they are off the chain good, only they put a bit of blue cheese inside prior to frying.

Buffalo Chicken Cheese Balls With Blue Cheese Dip Recipe - Food.com - 352425

**badprimer1** · 10-02-12, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by AetheLove

I'm a western NY guy by birth. I can give you THE guaranteed MOST bad-ass chicken-wing recipe. It will require a propane grill or (preferably) a charcoal grill. It will also require that you have basic grilling skills. It is easy to do in volume.

AetheLove

Post it up. Would love to try it.