Holiday Sgroppino

Here's a Christmas toast for you. Cheers!

All Champagne, by definition, must come from vineyards in the Champagne region of France. This is a small region comprising three districts which include the towns of Reims, Troyes, Charleville-Mezier and Chalons. Prosecco, produced in the Veneto region of Italy is considered an everyday drink or sparkling wine. Unlike most Champagne it does not improve with age and should really be consumed within six months of the time it’s purchased, or within a year of bottling. It tends to be dryer than many Champagnes. ideal to serve with my Brie Calzone. A good Prosecco, is inexpensive and very drinkable; right for any occasion even a Christmas breakfast, Santa would approve!

For George's Sweet Holiday Snack Recipe

Sgroppino Italian Cocktail

Chill 4-6 Champagne flutes

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle

2 cups chilled Prosecco (Italian sparkling white wine) 

2 Tablespoons chilled vodka

1 cup frozen lemon sorbet 

2 Tablespoons half & half 

4 fresh strawberries, split for garnish 

4 fresh mint leaves 

Mix Prosecco, vodka, sorbet and half & half in blender for 1 minute. Pour mixture immediately into chilled champagne flutes. Top with berries and mint. 

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George’s Christmas Eggnog

A classic for entertaining this season. Create your own spin on the nog; how about a wee bit of B & B or Grand Marnier, even sans the alcohol, or add a squirt of chocolate syrup for the kids. It’s just another way to celebrate the holiday. Oh, and don’t forget the chestnuts roasting on an open fire. OK, open fire not required.

George Hirsch's Christmas Eggnog

Eggnog

Makes 4 Servings

from chefgeorgehirsch.com

6 egg yolks, save the whites *see below

2 cups milk

2 cups heavy cream

1/2 cup bourbon, or rum 

1/4 brandy

1/2 cup pure cane sugar, or Turbinado

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon fresh grated orange rind

Using a mixer with a whip attachment on medium speed; whip the egg yolks until light in color, about 4-5 minutes. Add sugar and mix until completely dissolved. Set aside.

In double boiler, combine the milk, heavy cream, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange rind and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and combine, while tempering the hot milk-cream mixture into the egg-sugar mixture.

Return all ingredients to double boiler and heat constantly stirring with a spatula until the mixture reaches 160 degrees (well below simmer), eggnog begins to resemble custard.

Remove from the heat, stir in the bourbon, and brandy. Pour into a bowl, cool and refrigerate for at least two-four hours. Best if refrigerated overnight.

Serve in cups with a shaved chocolate, or unsweetened cocoa powder dusted on top.

Optional Toppings: with a dollop of *meringue (made from all the left over egg whites), or ice cream, or whipped cream.

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Sacher

Exclusively available at the Hotel Sacher Wien, the Hotel Sacher Salzburg, the Café Sacher Innsbruck, the Café Sacher Graz and at the Sacher Shop in Bolzano. Just like 175 years ago, the cakes are covered with apricot jam, iced with chocolate and packed in wooden boxes by hand. 

This Hotel Sacher specialty is a purely natural product, made without chemical preservatives. The "Original Sacher-Torte" is traditionally served with unsweetened whipped cream and a cup of "Original Sacher Café". More than 300,000 cakes are produced at the Hotel Sacher per year, more than half of them are sent to destinations all over the world. 

If you missed your flight to Vienna this weekend, order takeout soon, delivery is 7 working days: Click for sizes and details.  

Exclusively available at the Hotel Sacher Wien, the Hotel Sacher Salzburg, the Café Sacher Innsbruck, the Café Sacher Graz and at the Sacher Shop in Bolzano. Just like 175 years ago, the cakes are covered with apricot jam, iced with chocolate and packed in wooden boxes by hand. This Hotel Sacher specialty is a purely natural product, made without chemical preservatives. The "Original Sacher-Torte" is traditionally served with unsweetened whipped cream and a cup of "Original Sacher Café". More than 300,000 cakes are produced at the Hotel Sacher per year, more than half of them are sent to destinations all over the world. 

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George's Fresh Apple Cider 'Rita

Cheers to you for a Happy Thanksgiving

4 ounces Fresh Apple Cider

1 ½ Ounce tequila

1 ounce Grand Marnier

1 wheel fresh orange slice

1 Cinnamon Stick   

Add the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass or rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Rub rim of glass with orange slice and dip in granulated sugar, garnish with a orange and cinnamon stick. 

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Savory Herb Gravy

There are a few chef tips to making a winning Herb Gravy for the turkey. Most importantly, start by using roasted turkey neck and giblets. Next, deglaze the pan's drippings with a good quality broth. This creates a rich, flavorful base for your gravy. You can even purchase an extra neck or two with giblets to make extra gravy.

The average serving size per person is two to three ounces, but somehow there never seems to be enough, so why not have extra gravy on hand. Now, for the Exec Chef Tip: A day ahead, roast the neck & giblets and make the gravy as any Saucier would do.       

Savory Herb Gravy

Makes 14 1/4 cup servings

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle
2 cups drippings from roasted turkey
roasted turkey neck & giblets
2 cups chicken broth  
3 Tablespoons fat from turkey drippings
3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon fresh sage or parsley
fresh ground black pepper, to taste 

In a saucepan, place drippings from roasted turkey, roasted turkey neck, giblets, and chicken broth over high heat. Heat to boil, then reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 15 minutes.

To degrease, strain turkey neck and giblets from broth into a bowl, place bowl with broth over another larger bowl with ice to cool quickly; until the fat rises to the top. Discard neck & giblets.

Remove fat from top of chilled broth reserving 3 tablespoons of fat.

Heat a 2-quart saucepan add the 3 tablespoons of fat from the poultry drippings and add flour while whisking; continue to cook and stir until the flour turns golden.

Gradually whisk in broth mixture. Bring to a boil while continuing to whisk, until gravy begins to thicken. Simmer 5 minutes.

Add fresh sage and black pepper.

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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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