it's beginning to look a lot like christmukkah...

like any good jew, i like to spend christmas eve raising my cholesterol, decorating cookies and celebrating the birth of jesus christ.

MENU:
lobster bisque
prime rib
watercress salad with toasted pecans and elderflower white balsamic dressing
flourless chocolate cake with rasberries and cream

a little staid, sure. but it's the holidays, people. timeless classics, blah blah blah. whatever, it's better than anything these guys are doing.

i digress. and you just want that money shot!




our other activity for the night:



my dad did the meat, so if you want the recipe, ask him. i will hook you up with the bisque.

the stock:
3 tbsp grapeseed oil (higher smoking point than olive oil. if you gotta, substitute corn or canola.)
a bunch of lobster shells, chopped into manageable pieces
2 heads of fennel, 3 cloves garlic, 5 shallots, all thinly sliced
1/2 cup brandy
2 tbsp tomato paste
5 cups water
salt to taste

heat the oil. brown the shells for like 5-10 min, don't burn. add the veggies, cook til tender. add the brandy. stir/scrape, so you get all the good stuff stuck to the pot. now the tomato paste, then the water. let it boil for half an hour. strain. done.



the bisque:
2 tbsp butter
more shallots and some onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup sherry
1/2 cup brandy
the stock (should be 4 cups or so)
2 tbsp flour
1/2 cup cream
cayenne
lemon juice
cooked lobster meat

sautee the shallots and onions in the butter until golden brown. add the alcoholz, let evaporate halfway. add the stock, simmer for 15 min. remove a couple spoonfuls of liquid, mix w the flour. obliterate lumps, add back to thicken.

add the cream, simmer. do not let boil. you will curdle your soup. bad.

strain. add cayenne to taste (1/2 a tsp-ish). slowly stir in the juice of half a lemon.
turn down the heat to low, add the lobster meat. heat just enough so that its warm all the way through. don't overheat, it will be rubbery.

salt and pepper to taste. BAM.

forgot to photograph the bisque. yes, it was that good. instead, please accept this:



merry something!