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    Home / Recipes / Course / Cocktail

    1 Jan 8, 2011 Cocktail  |  

    Brandon’s 2010 Top Picks

    Roasted Jalapeno Blackberry Margarita

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    I just wanted to take a brief moment to share some of my top picks for 2010. ย While scrolling through my recipe archives, I realized that this was going to be quite the difficult task. ย I could have easily made this a top 20, but for brevity’s sake, I decided to slim my picks down to a top 10.

    Also, a quick note one of my cooking philosophies. ย Nine of the ten recipes below feature seasonal ingredients. ย This means that the produce used in the dish was in season at the time. ย Zucchini and cucumbers in the Summer, figs and squash in the Fall and citrus in the Winter (no documented recipes from Spring). ย I enjoy this cooking method because in-season produce is more flavorful and usually cheaper. ย Expect more seasonal highlights in the years to come!

    New recipes will commence next week. ย Continue reading for my 2010 top picks.

    Armenian Cucumber Infused Vodka

    Armenian Cucumber Infused Vodka

    First up is my Armenian Cucumber Infused Vodka. ย I chose this infusion over my others for two reasons. ย One, the cucumber itself is just beautiful. ย I decided slice the cuke into ribbons for pure aesthetic value. ย The shapes, patterns and textures are like no other – a trueย testamentย to the beauty of a natural ingredient. ย Two, this infusion acts as a base to some serisouly yumzo cocktails. ย One of my friends turned to me after taking his first sip of Cucumber Lime Basil Martini and said “Damn, this is ****ing good”. ย I will definitely be infusing another batch this Summer.

    Fig and Balsamic Jam

    Fig and Balsamic Jam

    Next up is my Fig and Balsamic Jam. ย Before this recipe, I had never made jam. ย After several rounds of heating and cooling to get the perfect consistency, I lifted a spoonful of this jam to my mouth for a taste. ย The flavors were just spot on – sweet, earthy and complex. ย I was alone in my kitchen and exclaimed, “I just made some ****ing jam.” ย If my memory serves me right, I also sent out a similar mass text. ย You could certainly spread this jam over warm toast for breakfast, but I enjoyed it the most with a cold scoop of vanilla ice cream.

    Meyer Lemon Sorbet

    Meyer Lemon Sorbet

    Meyer lemons are one of my favorite seasonal ingredients. ย Each year I look forward to seeing a vibrant yellow display of them at the markets. ย This Meyer Lemon Sorbet captures the essence of a meyer lemon in a cool, sweet-tart dessert. ย This sorbet makes a perfect finish to a heavy Holiday meal.

    Pasta with Kabocha Parmesan Sauce

    Kabocha and Parmesan Pasta

    Ok, I know the sauce looks a little bit like nacho cheese, but I swear, it’s not. ย Vibrant kabocha squash is roasted and then pureed into a creamy, earthy pasta sauce. ย Flavored with shallot, Parmesan cheese, nutmeg and lemon juice, this sauce is aย uniqueย alternative to your standard pasta sauces (tomato or white). ย If you are having trouble finding a kabocha squash, simply use a more common squash (pumpkin, butternut squash or acorn squash).

    Red Quinoa and Roasted Acorn Squash Salad

    Red Quinoa and Roasted Acorn Squash Salad

    I wanted to feature this Red Quinoa and Roasted Acorn Squash salad because the flavors are unique and well balanced. ย Caramelized torpedo onions lend a sweetness to the dish. ย Acorn squash is roasted with red pepper flake and maple syrup giving the salad a creamy, earthy note with a hint of heat. ย The pistachio-arugula dressing is rich and bold. ย Grassy, savory red quinoa provides substance and heft. ย Finally, fresh, peppery arugula rounds out the salad cutting through some of the heavier components.

    Roasted Jalapeno Blackberry Margarita

    Roasted Jalapeno Blackberry Margarita

    Several weeks after featuring this Roasted Jalapeno Blackberry Margarita, I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of Barrio Star. ย He reviewed my recipe and gave me some kudos on the adaptation. ย My version varies slightly from the original, but is equally as tasty. ย Recreating stand out drinks and dishes from restaurants is one of my favorite challenges in the kitchen. ย I certainly plan on featuring more recreations in 2011.

    Smoked Chocolate and Tequila Ice Cream

    Smoked Chocolate and Tequila Ice Cream

    I’ve made many ice creams, granitas and sorbets throughout the year. ย I’d have to say that this Smoked Chocolate and Tequila Ice Cream is my crowning achievement. ย This recipe is not easy; however, once you make it to end, you will be generously rewarded. ย The finished ice cream is just packed with flavor and has an almost luxurious richness. ย A lighter, frozen fudge if you will. ย I did have a difficult time finding black cardamom. ย I recall searching a number of ethnic markets for the particular spice. ย Of course, I ended up finding it a Whole Foods (small green boxed spices near the bulk bins). ย The key learning from this experiences was… start at Whole Foods.

    Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Toasted Cumin Crema

    Spicy Pumpkin Soup

    Next up is my Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Toasted Cumin Crema. ย Featuring canned pumpkin (rather than labor intensive homemade pumpkin puree), this soup comes together in a snap and is so darn flavorful. ย Seriously… restaurant quality. ย The toasted cumin crema both rounds out and sets off this soup. ย Definitely Totes Yumbots 2012 (meaning totally yummy).

    Watermelon Sorbet

    Watermelon Sorbet

    Mmmmm… Watermelon Sorbet. ย Revisiting this picture whisks me back to mid Summer 2010 just days before launching Kitchen Konfidence. ย The evening was hot and my friends and I had just finished enjoying a sizable backyard BBQ spread. ย Fresh slices of Watermelon Sorbet studded with dark chocolate “seeds” were a perfect ending to a warm weather feast. ย Presenting the sorbet in a watermelon rind is completely optional, but highly recommended.

    Zucchini Tart

    Zucchini Tart

    I’m finishing the roundup with my Zucchini Tart. ย This showstopper recipe has WOW factor to the max. ย Perfectly arranged zucchini slices provide major aesthetic appeal. ย The contrasting flavors and textures of the tart make this dish utterly delicious. ย Just a little warning though – a dish of this magnitude does require a good chunk of time in the kitchen, so please plan appropriately.

    1
    Brandon and Federico
    Brandon

    Iโ€™m Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Did you make a recipe? Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can see the how it went!

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    Categories: Cocktail Tags: roundup

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kim - Liv Life says

      January 8, 2011 at 5:35 pm

      Brandon, nicely done – as always!! Being a tequila lover, I’d have to go with that margarita and the tequila ice cream. I did miss the Watermelon Sorbet, so I’m glad you posted that one too.

      I love your style of using what’s in season. We are similar that way! I’ve been visiting my local farmers markets, Vista today, Leucadia tomorrow, and I’m excited to see the organic strawberries looking better. I did break down and buy one today even though I know it is not at its peak.

      Thank you for your wonderful creations! I’m eager to see what 2011 will bring! I’ll be looking to see if there is a new wonderful margarita creation!! ๐Ÿ˜‰
      Cheers,
      Kim

      Reply
    2. Anda @ Cinna-moonBeams says

      January 8, 2011 at 5:43 pm

      All of them are simply fantastic! But if I had to pick just one, I’d go for the margarita without even blinking. Or…. maybe the zucchini tart. Or the sorbets. :)) Just beautiful!

      Reply
    3. Hayley and Bill says

      January 8, 2011 at 6:12 pm

      Brandon, Your photos always inspire! While we both eat
      grain free (Paleo Diet), we can certainly appreciate your superior
      food styling (and photography). Excellent work for less than a year
      of posting! Looking forward to seeing your creations on a regular
      basis in 2011. Keep up the great work. -Hayley and Bill

      Reply
    4. lil @ sweetsbysillianah says

      January 8, 2011 at 11:02 pm

      everything looks amazingly delicious!

      Reply
    5. Dinners & Dreams says

      January 9, 2011 at 3:41 am

      Brandon, I am loving your picks. Such interesting flavor combinations. I especially like the fig jam and the jalapeno margarita.

      Happy 2011!

      Nisrine

      Reply
    6. Michael Toa says

      January 9, 2011 at 3:23 pm

      Brandon, everything looks wonderful. For me, I especially love that pasta dish and the zucchini tart. I look forward to reading more delicious posts from you in 2011. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    7. Wendy (The Weekend Gourmet) says

      January 9, 2011 at 5:30 pm

      You made some lovely dishes and drinks in 2010…can’t wait to see what you come up with this year! Love your photos too!!

      Reply
    8. Kooky Girl says

      January 9, 2011 at 8:24 pm

      Hi Brandon,
      I always like reading your recipes and looking at your lovely photos. I still plan to make the courgette tart, maybe with this year’s courgettes ! I look forward to your recipes to come in 2011. All the best, KG.

      Reply
    9. Jeneka says

      January 19, 2011 at 4:54 am

      I love your best picks for 2010. Can’t wait to try some of
      them out!

      Reply
    10. Brandon Matzek says

      February 5, 2011 at 5:04 pm

      @Kim Thanks for the beautiful comment. That Watermelon Sorbet was my first post ever ๐Ÿ™‚ I haven’t been to a farmer’s market in North County. I do love going to that flower spot near Quail Gardens. I can’t remember the name, but they have beautiful flowers for cheap. I will definitely do another margarita recipe. Probably closer to summer.

      @Hayley and Bill Thank you so much!!

      @Kooky Girl I totally had to google Courgette. I understand now ๐Ÿ™‚ Definitely give that tart a try. It was one of my favorite recipes. Thanks!

      Reply

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    Brandon and Federico

    I'm Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Read Moreโ€ฆ


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