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The January 2018 Challenge is...

Discussion in 'Food & Cooking' started by kaiquekuisine, Jan 1, 2018.

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  1. Jan 1, 2018 #1
    kaiquekuisine

    kaiquekuisine

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    So guys as promised the first Challenge of the year is here. I chose this ingredient simply because I love it. I´m addicted to it, I consume it daily.
    It also has yet to be featured as a challenge ingredient.

    A side from being a cook, my family produces and exports this ingredient, my country (Brazil) is one of the worlds largest producers and exports it.
    You may see it a lot in desserts or sauce work, its bitter, its dark, and we probably have it every morning, it´s.... COFFEE!!

    Coffee may be tricky, but it isnt just a drink. It can be used as a rub, in a sauce, it can be infused into dishes in a really creative way, it´s also quite often seen in desserts. I really want to see versatility with coffee. It´s one of my food passions, and since I cant start my morning without it, well I just had to start off my year with it too, as well as the first challenge of the year.



    I have a really big passion for this ingredient, I do gigs at a cafe, I spend hundreds of bucks a year on coffee. I produce small quantities of this treasure, and follow the market as well, so to me it was a pretty easy decision on what I would choose for this challenge.

    For newcomers the guidelines are on this link... https://cheftalk.com/threads/monthly-cooking-challenge-guidelines.92248/

    coffee.png

    So let´s start off the month with some fun and coffee.
    I declare that the challenge has begun!!
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2018
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  3. Jan 1, 2018 #2
    Iceman

    Iceman

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    FANTASTIC!
     
  4. Jan 1, 2018 #3
    teamfat

    teamfat

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    Shucks. If I were still homebrewing beer, I'd be putting together a coffee stout. I'm sure I'll come up with some other ideas.

    mjb.
     
  5. Jan 1, 2018 #4
    phatch

    phatch Moderator Staff Member

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    Sniff sniff. I smell red-eye gravy...​
     
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  6. Jan 1, 2018 #5
    maryb

    maryb

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    Another one I am sitting out, I HATE coffee!
     
  7. Jan 2, 2018 #6
    hank

    hank

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    OMG
     
  8. Jan 2, 2018 #7
    koukouvagia

    koukouvagia

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    I love coffee! Never used it as an ingredient aside from desserts so it's a real challenge for me.
     
  9. Jan 2, 2018 #8
    morning glory

    morning glory

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    I'm not a huge fan of coffee either - but I do love a challenge!
     
  11. Jan 2, 2018 #9
    hank

    hank

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    Never miss an excuse for a cocktail :) Spanish Coffee!

    Spanish Coffee.JPG

    photo credit Mrs Hank
     
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  12. Jan 2, 2018 #10
    butzy

    butzy

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    That's going to be a difficult one for me.
    I like Irish coffee, but I have never cooked with coffee.....
     
  13. Jan 2, 2018 #11
    kuan

    kuan Moderator Staff Member

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    Oh come on @maryb ! Challenge yourself!
     
  14. Jan 2, 2018 #12
    teamfat

    teamfat

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    ct_cup.jpg
     
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  15. Jan 3, 2018 #13
    hank

    hank

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    you mock me sir!
     
  16. Jan 3, 2018 #14
    morning glory

    morning glory

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    I've got a few ideas - coffee and meat and I can see working a treat. Beans seem a good idea - I'm thinking on those lines. Desserts are easy and I have lots of ideas. But fish/seafood doesn't seem to go with coffee.... could that ever possibly work? I have an idea percolating...:)

    Its certainly an interesting challenge!
     
  17. Jan 3, 2018 #15
    drirene

    drirene

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    Desserts are easy and I have lots of ideas. But fish/seafood doesn't seem to go with coffee....

    Sounds fishy to me...
     
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  18. Jan 3, 2018 #16
    kaiquekuisine

    kaiquekuisine

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    So I have here a dish to break the ice.
    It´s a pasta dish, pretty simple handmade pasta, with some veggies, but the trick is the meat.
    Lamb marinated with a variety of spices, including cinnamon and coffee.

    Pasta.jpg
     
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  19. Jan 3, 2018 #17
    someday

    someday

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  20. Jan 3, 2018 #18
    teamfat

    teamfat

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    Yes, I didn't realize how dirty it was until I posted that picture. Tomorrow the machine get shut down for cleaning, blowing out the dust, etc.

    mjb.
     
  21. Jan 6, 2018 #19
    kaiquekuisine

    kaiquekuisine

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    I´m pretty anxious to see who´s going the first dish of the challenge this weekend. Hope you guys are brewing up some ideas :p (no pun intended with the "brewing").
     
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  22. Jan 6, 2018 #20
    Iceman

    Iceman

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    Here ... I'll kick it off ...

    ... TiraMisu

    My cheese mix uses ordinary mascarpone w/ half as much very dry ricotta and heavy whipped cream. That way is not so diabetes inducing. Into that goes a good few drops of almond or hazelnut oil and oil of coffee. Along with that is a cup of confectioner's sugar. I blitz this up real nice in a stand mixer. Where I shop there are two(2) types of ladyfingers; soft and crunchy. I used both and combinations ... I think I like the crunchy best. A trick for assembly is to touch the bottom of each end so they stick to the plate and not move on you. Layers is up to you; I like two(2) or three(3) depending on my attitude, number of servings and who is paying. The coffee mix is 50% really freakin' strong coffee and 25% coffee liquor and butterscotch schnapps. Assembly is ladyfinger, coffee juice, cheese ... repeat. The cheese mix is added by squeezing nice lines from the famous zippy-bag w/ cut off corner. On the top layer after the cheese a nice skim of whipped cream goes on then a dusting of powdered cocoa mixed w/ some confectioner's sugar. You can go strait cocoa if you like. Enjoy.

    IMG_0167.jpg IMG_0168.jpg
     
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