Beacon of Light

georgehirsch May 27, 2024

Our nation's Beacon of Light honors those who serve and have served.

A National Historic Landmark, the Montauk Point Lighthouse is located on the easternmost point of Long Island, New York. It is the oldest lighthouse in New York State. The Second Congress, under President George Washington, authorized the Lighthouse in 1792. Construction began on June 7, 1796, and was completed on November 5, 1796.

This beacon and its military significance: Civilian keepers maintained the Lighthouse until World War ll when the U.S. Army took over as part of the Eastern Coastal Defense Shield. Adjacent to the Lighthouse, Camp Hero was opened by the Army in 1942 and was heavily fortified with massive guns during the war. Those gun emplacements and concrete observation bunkers are still visible as a reminder of our freedom due to the bravery of those who serve.

Never taking for granted the freedom and beauty of American shores, I have been drawn since I was a child to the Montauk Lighthouse's towering structure. Years ago, my culinary students won one of many gold medals in a culinary competition from the Société Culinaire Philanthropique for an all-Long Island theme submission in food and pastry based on local food and geography. Our table stood apart from the competition as the Lighthouse was replicated in pastillage sugar work.

Montauk, A symbol of great fishing, its beaches, and surfing, the Lighthouse has been featured in the opening of George Hirsch Lifestyle and several episodes of the TV series as a strong image of Long Island and our place in history. The Montauk Lighthouse has been part of Long Island's land and seascape for over 200 years and still serves as an active aid to navigation and a beacon of light to all who have served.

More Facts:

- Fourth oldest active lighthouse in the United States

- Foundation is 13'deep and 9' thick

- Constructed of sandstone blocks from Connecticut, 8" high and varying in length from 18" high to 44"

- The walls are 6' thick at the base, tapering to 3' thick at the top

- The height of the tower is 110' 6"

- There are 137 iron steps to the top of the tower

- The light flashes every 5 seconds and can be seen at a distance of 19 nautical miles

For more information and to visit the National Historic Landmark, the Montauk Point Lighthouse

13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one

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Whats a Scape? tune-in George Hirsch Lifestyle

George Hirsch May 14, 2024

Just in time for Spring! Hard Neck Garlic, grown in the northeast and featured on GHL from Quail Hill Farm, located on the East End of Long Island, is a green garlic-like scallion. Scapes are slim, bright-green, foot-long shoots with a curled top that new garlic bulbs send up in Spring. Crisp and flavor-packed with an onion garlic-like taste. The scape growing season is very short, so you need to be on the lookout when available in spring.

So what to do with a garlic scape? Use in the same manner as you would use garlic or green onions. Chop and toss into sautéed vegetables, sauces, and grilled seafood. And, my favorite is chopped and used for making pesto.

Garlic Scape Pesto from George Hirsch Lifestyle TV series

Garlic Scape Pesto

makes one cup

chefgeorgehirsch.com | as seen on George Hirsch Lifestyle TV series

1 cup Garlic scapes, washed, dried, and chopped

1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves, washed and dried

2 Tablespoons pine nuts, chopped

1 ice cube

3 Tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

3 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Place garlic, scapes, and pine nuts in a food processor. Puree gently. Add ice cubes and basil and slightly grind. Do not over-grind too long, or you will actually be cooking the tender leaves. Add the olive oil and cheese and process until it makes a paste. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Use for more than pasta. Scape pesto is a great addition to salad dressing, topping bruschetta, poultry, seafood, grilled seafood, and vegetables.

Tips:

- Use good quality extra virgin olive oil.

- Great make-ahead dish for a work-week dinner crunch. Simply make the pasta and toss in refrigerated pesto sauce, top with grated cheese.

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13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one

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George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book

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Classic Brownie Cookies as seen on George Hirsch Lifestyle

George Hirsch February 9, 2024

a Classic, cookies, and milk on George Hirsch Lifestyle

Chocolate treat, under 30 minutes - mixing and baking. But can you wait 24 hours? Probably not, but just save a few because these cookies actually taste even better a few days after baking. Eyes go wide open on the first bite. Try my recipe for yourself, and you'll agree. For best results, use a good-quality cocoa powder.

Classic Brownie Cookies

Makes 3 dozen large or 6 dozen small

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle

1 1/3 cups butter

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 Tablespoon vanilla

2 each eggs

2 1/4 cups flour

2/3 cup cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2teaspoon salt

3 Tablespoons milk

1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped

1 cup mini chocolate chips, semi sweet, or chopped chocolate

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar one minute, or until creamy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating lightly after each.

Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk beating at low speed about 1 minute, or just until blended.

Stir in nuts and chocolate chips.

Drop dough with cookie scoop (heaping 2 Tablespoons) on parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes. Cookies will still appear soft and moist when baked, but firm up on cooling.

Cool slightly, then remove to cooling rack. About 3 dozen cookies.

Tip: Smaller cookies can be made using 1 Tablespoon dough for each cookie, baking for 8 to 10 minutes.

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Kiełbasa with Jam Sauce

georgehirsch November 3, 2023

The most popular kiełbasa is also called Kiełbasa Polska aka Polish Sausage.

In Poland, kiełbasa is often served garnished with fried onions, and smoked kiełbasa can be served cold, hot, boiled, baked, or grilled. The condiments in this recipe work wonderfully with the smokiness of the sausage.

This recipe was shared by my dear polish friends and graced my first cookbook over 25 years ago and is popular as ever today. You and your family will be amazed at how easy to prepare, and great it tastes. Enjoy!

Kiełbasa with Jam Sauce

Makes four-six servings

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle

2 1/2 pounds Kielbasa or smoked sausage

1 cup good quality Jam, such as marionberry, blackberry, or mixed berry

1 cup catsup

1 Tablespoon horseradish

1 teaspoon hot sauce

Slice the kielbasa 1/4 inch thick and place in a preheated nonstick skillet. In a medium bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Pour the sauce over the kielbasa and cook for 30 to 45 minutes at a low temperature. Serve warm.

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Vine Ripen Pizza

George Hirsch September 1, 2023

FLATBREAD PIZZA When it comes to making any type of pizza, let imagination and the season rule your toppings. I love this Caprese-style pizza in the summer with an abundance of vine-ripe tomatoes. And if you are up to expanding your hand-tossed style, take the dough to the grill for an added fire-roasted flavor.

George_Hirsch_pizza_Flatbread basil 112s.png

Caprese Flatbread Pizza

Makes four servings |

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle

the art of making pizza dough, easy as 1, 2, 3

Mix Dough and place in a bowl lightly oiled with olive oil. Cover loosely with a towel or plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator overnight.

The next day, preheat *oven to 475 degrees F.

Stretch out the dough to a rectangular shape and cut it into two pieces. Sprinkle a teaspoon of fine-grind cornmeal on the surface of a heavy gauge pizza pan or sheet pan. Place the two pieces of dough on the top of the cornmeal. Brush top lightly with olive oil.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until pizza flatbread crusts is fully baked. You can check for doneness by tapping on the edge of the dough with your finger. It should be hollow.

Remove from oven, place two pizza flatbreads on a rack, and allow to cool.

When cool, top with sliced vine oak leaf lettuce, ripened tomatoes, fresh basil, and pesto; sprinkle a small amount of sea salt, fresh ground pepper, and olive oil.

*NOTE: If grilling, pre-heat the grill to high heat. After stretching and right before placing dough on the grill surface, brush heavy with olive oil.

George's Pizza Dough

Makes enough for 2-3 pizzas

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle

1 teaspoon active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water (between 105 and 115 degrees F)

1 teaspoon sugar

3 1/2 cups bread flour

1/4teaspoon salt

3/4 cup warm water

1 Tablespoon olive oil

In a small bowl, combine the yeast and water. Add the sugar and stir well. Set aside for 10 minutes or until tiny bubbles appear on the surface.

Place 3 cups of the flour in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and pour the yeast mixture and the water. Stir with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes, using the additional 1/2 cup flour if the dough is sticky.

The dough is sufficiently kneaded when you can stick two fingers into it, and it springs back without leaving an indentation.

Cut the dough into four pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Let the dough rest in an oiled bowl for 45-60 minutes. Lightly oil the top of each ball with 1 Tablespoon of olive oil, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator for 3 hours.

- Mixing with a mixer & dough hook: Mix for eight minutes at medium speed

- Mixing with a food processor: process for 40 seconds until smooth; add one additional Tablespoon of flour until all of the flour is combined into the dough.