This April we are taking Culinary Couples back to the 1920s in New York.  Let's meet at Ryan and MJ's and enjoy some dinner - Mafia style!

Bourbon Sidecar:  Ann & Jason

Alcohol in the 1920's was not easy to come by - unless you knew the location and password to get into your neighborhood speakeasy.  Luckily as part of the Mafia, we were in the inner circle.

Ann and Jason made a classic 1920's cocktail - the sidecar.... but with our favorite.. bourbon!

 ... Shhhhh!  Don't tell!!!! 

Recipe:

Makes two:
4 oz bourbon
2 oz Cointreau
2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 3-inch strip of lemon zest

1. Chill two cocktail glasses.
2. Fill a shaker with ice.  Add bourbon, Cointreau, and lemon juice.  Shake assertively for a minute or so.
3. Strain into chilled cocktail glasses; garnish with a trip of zest.

http://brooklynsupper.com/2015/03/bourbon-sidecar-cocktails-exciting-news/#more-7054

Caponata:  Kim & AJ

Kim & AJ dressed to impress and brought an impressive Italian favorite straight out of Sicily... Caponata!  The mixture of eggplant, tomatoes, onions, olives, basil, and capers spread on baguette slices was just what we needed to pair with our bourbon sidecars!

Recipe:
http://www.olivetomato.com/caponata-a-real-sicilian-appetizer/

• 3 eggplants cut in ½ inch cubes
• 2-3 tomatoes chopped
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 tablespoons capers rinsed
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• ½ cup Greek olives kalamon cut in half
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil
• Salt/Pepper

*celery and pine nuts are also typically used, but I did not use them in this recipe.

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash the eggplant and cut into ½ inch cubes (do not peel). Place in a colander, salt and let the eggplant sit for about an hour, this helps remove the bitterness but also to absorb less oil. In the meantime cut and prepare all your other ingredients.

2. Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat in a large pan that is about 2 inches deep.

3. Add the eggplant and sauté until it starts to turn golden, about 5 minutes.

4. Add the onion and continue to sauté until soft, add the other tablespoon of oil if it is not enough.

5. Add oregano, olives, capers and chopped tomatoes with their juices and simmer for about 20-25 minutes.

6. Mix the sugar with the vinegar and pour over the pan. Heat a few minutes until you can no longer smell the vinegar.

7. Remove from heat, add salt and pepper to taste.

8. Sprinkle some chopped basil.

*Remember the olives and capers contain salt.

* You can use more olive oil if needed.

Vodka Pasta, Italian Salad, & Garlic Bread:  Ryan & MJ

There's nothing like a home cooked meal but a home cooked Italian comfort food meal made with Mafia love is a-whole-nother story.  This was amazing!

 The chefs...

The "gang"...

Recipes:

Vodka Pasta:

Cook some bacon and crush it up (cook the whole packet cause you will snack on that shit while you make the rest of the meal but leave enough for the pasta)

For the sauce: 

Once you add all this shit simmer on ultra low with the lid for an hour before serving make sure you check on it too - you can bring to a nice heat right before adding to pasta

Start with a vodka sauce base 2 jars

2 cans diced tomatoes

Basil tear the leafs before adding and rinse the pesti's off (the whole fucking plant so like 2 handfuls  - but not too much cause we're not making a fuckin salad)

Crushed red pepper (just enough for some heat)

Garlic from the press (just enough so it will bring a slight taste of garlic I used 3 big ones on this batch)

Some salt and pepper (just a pinch of each)

If your sauce is too red add some heavy cream (just till the sauce looks pinkish don't over do it with that shit)

For the pasta:

3 boxes of penne spaghetti

Boil them don’t overcook them

Add butter for 3 boxes I used a stick

Add some milk not a lot just enough to make creamy with the cheese

Add 3 cheese Italian blend enough that it’s creamy with the milk

Add the sauce

Add the bacon (i did about a cup on this maybe a smidgen more)

Serve and top with parmesan

Mascarpone & Dark Chocolate Cream in White Chocolate Cups Plus a Surprise Visit!:  Heather & Eric

We finished off our evening with a beautifully crafted Italian dessert masterpiece - Mascarpone and Dark Chocolate Cream in White Chocolate Cups - made by Heather and Eric.  In the words of the Mafia, "these were f***ing beautiful!"

We also got a surprise visit from Tony who had some bad luck and was found "swimming with the fishies".

The night finished with some awesome Mafia impersonations done by the gang :)

Recipes: