the perfect roast chicken

There is always a dish that you can count on. Something that no matter how many times you make it, it never fails to impress. This is how I feel about this roasted chicken recipe. It is easy to make with minimum ingredients and you end up with an amazingly flavorful, tender, juicy chicken. The best part is that it pairs well with anything.

I found this recipe in this article from the Miami New Times. It was an interview with three of Miami's top chefs providing the best tips for making a great roast chicken.

The Perfect Roast Chicken

One 3 1/2 lb free-range chicken 

Kosher salt (+\- 1 tbs)

Freshly ground black pepper 

1/2 lemon 

1/2 head of garlic 

4 fresh thyme sprigs  (I used rosemary)

1 1/2 tsp canola oil

 

1. Buy the chicken the day before you plan on roasting it, and remove the neck and giblets from the cavity. Rinse under cold water and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Move the chicken to a plate and place it in the refrigerator uncovered overnight.

2. The next day, preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and insert the garlic, lemon and thyme inside the cavity. Season the chicken generously with kosher salt and pepper. Be sure to season the legs and the back of the chicken, too.

3. Put a 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and add the canola oil. Once the oil is hot, add the untrussed chicken breast side down, tucking the wings underneath the chicken. Place the skillet inside the oven and roast until the chicken starts to brown, for about 35 minutes.

4. Carefully take the pan out of the oven and lift the chicken out of the skillet using sturdy tongs or a wooden spoon. Place on a plate. Discard all of the pan juices, since they will practically all be fat. Place the chicken back in the pan -- this time, breast side up -- and continue to roast for about 30 minutes until juices run clear or an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.

This time I served it alongside linguini with roasted garlic. As always, it turned out perfect!

xo

P.S: Cigar City Hotter Than Helles Lager will compliment this dish nicely ;)

chocolate covered cherry Old Fashioned

Have you ever had one of those chocolate covered cherry candies before? You know the ones that come in cute little heart-shaped boxes for valentines day? Well, they are not really the best tasting chocolates but I think the concept is rather nice. Take a delicious cherry and cover it with delicious chocolate.... yum!...

So with that in mind, I wanted a drink that would combine those flavors. We decided to make an Old Fashioned with a twist.

Chocolate Covered Cherry Old Fashioned

To make it you will need:

• 2oz Bourbon or Rye Whiskey (we used Evan Williams bourbon)
• 2 dashes Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters
• 2 dashes Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters
• 1/4 to 1/2oz Simple Syrup (home-made)
• Ice
• Luxardo Maraschino Cherries with some of the Marasca syrup for garnish

 

 

First add bourbon, simple syrup, bitters, and ice to a tall mixing glass (I used a pint glass).

 

 

 



 Mix thoroughly until chilled

 Then strain into a cocktail glass

 

Last, garnish with cherry and a drizzle of Marasca syrup

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

I know I kinda went overboard with the videos but I was excited to try the slo-mo camera feature of the new IOS8!

 

xo

 

 

 

 

kush

 

 

Saturday lunch at Kush! A really cool place that carries amazing food and amazing beer! What's not to like?

 Their motto:  "good beer ain't cheap, cheap beer ain't good"

 Ambar is drinking: Due South Caramel Cream Ale on Nitro

 

 Laz is drinking: Cigar City Ligero (a Schwarzbier) & Wynwood Right on 95 (a Mango-RauchBier)

... I guess he had a craving for German style beers!

Everything is made from scratch, including the ketchup ;), with locally sourced ingredients from Florida farms.

*check out the "baggie" that came with our brownie... it had mint inside I promise*

 

 

I found this "Saved by the Bell" bathroom art quite fun and nostalgic, since I was a die-hard fan of the show back in the 90's. Its the little things....

I can't wait to come back.... super cool ambience, great food, fantastic beer selection. I think one of my new favorite places. Kush is located at 2003 North Miami Avenue in Wynwood.

xo

9pm cookie craving

Its 9pm, I'm tired, but I cannot just throw the towel and go to bed.... no, there is something keeping me from just giving into sleep, something that is stronger.....a nutty, chocolaty, rich cookie craving!
So what is a girl to do under these circumstances? Well.... Bake! Of course!

I wanted something quick and easy but good enough to satisfy my need for chocolate. So I made Dark Chocolate Pistachio Cookies. You can find the recipe here from Joy the Baker, who I am crazy about (yes, another one for my baking-girl crush list).

The cookies were delicious! With just the right balance of chocolate I was looking for, they were a bit softer than what I usually prefer, I tend to like crunchy cookies best, but still satisfying.

 

I made them pretty large (about 2tbs each) and got 20 cookies. They were perfect with a cup of hot tea...

 

xo



not your average convenience store

Mendez Fuel is not your average gas station convenience store. Of course you can count on them for essentials like snacks and drinks but you will be impressed to find that they have an amazing craft beer selection.

 

 

But the greatest part of this place.... they do growlers fills, yes you read right....growler fills of our locals faves like Funky Buddha, Wynwood, and M.I.A. Brewing Co.

 

 

These growlers are perfect to share at parties and they also make great gifts. You can get about 2 pint glasses per growler. They are only $7.99 plus the cost of the beer, so once you have your growler you just pay for the beer fill.

 

 

Another great thing about Mendez, their awesome juice and smoothie bar and sandwich counter, perfect for a quick lunch!

 

Mendez Fuel is located at  3201 Coral Way, Miami, FL and you can follow them on instagram http://instagram.com/mendezfuel to get updates of what's on tap.

 

 

xo

cocktail hour

I don't know why but Tuesday is the toughest day of the week for me, maybe I am still tired from having to much fun on the weekend or it may be because they are still many workdays ahead.
I find that a delicious cocktail is a good solution to help me get in the right mindset to survive the rest of the week and unwind a bit more.

So as promised.....

I give you a "Very Old Cabin"

It is sweet, lemony, and refreshing! Perfect!

What you'll need to make this deliciousness...

• 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
• 1 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz grade B maple syrup
• 2 dashes angostura bitters
• lemon peel for garnish

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass over large ice cube and garnish with lemon peel.

 

 

I hope you try it! Cheers!

 

 

xo

home bar

In this home we are heavy beer drinkers but we also enjoy spirits and wine. Laz loves to find recipes for cocktails and add his personal touch to them. Such as his version of a Cuba Libre made with Dr. Pepper instead of Coca-Cola... he calls it "Yo era medico en Cuba" which translates into I was a doctor in Cuba; it is actually pretty funny not just if you understand Spanish but if you know a bit about Cuban culture :)

With our limited space we decided that if we were going to have a bar we needed it to be functional, so we created a bar/library.

We used a storage shelf from Ikea that we decoupaged with vintage-looking scrapbook paper. This shelf was perfect for books so we decided to use it to keep Laz's beer-books (recipes, homebrewing guides, magazines, etc.) as well as my collection of  "Everyday Food" from Martha.

 

Apart from a variety of spirits and books we also keep a small selection of wine, a cork collection, some flasks and a few decanters. And no bar is complete without mixers, garnishes (like Luxardo Cherries!) and several flavors of bitters.

 

I promise I will post some easy cocktail recipes soon!

 

xo

the benefits of nitrogen

It is no secret that my favorite beer style is stout. The dark, rich creaminess, that is usually hinted with coffee and chocolate is what I prefer :)

Today I am enjoying Wake Up Dead Russian Imperial Stout Nitro, by Left Hand Brewing Co.
It is amazingly delicious with cocoa flavors smooth mouthfeel, due to the nitro. It is a 10.2% ABV beer so it must be enjoyed slowly.... my favorite way to drink!

Unlike regular beers, Nitro beers are carbonated with 70% nitrogen and 30% carbon dioxide, creating a smoother, even creamier beer.

This video demonstrates the best way to pour a nitro beer....


Most of the time you can find the same beer in both Nitro and CO2 editions. Left Hand offers both choices. It is interesting to compare how the flavors and characteristics can change in the same beer. Give it a try! Let me know what you think.

xo