Lunch for Amanda

Amanda is leaving today to further her studies, but first a trip to New York and a quick look at Europe.
It was decided to have a BBQ lunch at work

So I was instructed to come up with some tasty treats
The Party Boys again came to the party with

A very Simple dip and Spicy Nuts

Caramelised Onion Dip with Fresh Sage

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cups thinly sliced onion
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Potato chips, for serving

Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat.
Add onions and sage. Cover and cook until onions
are deep golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool.
Whisk together mayonnaise and sour cream in a medium bowl to blend.
Stir in the cooled caramelized onions, season with salt, and pepper.
Cover dip and refrigerate until flavors blend, about 2 hours.

Spiced Nuts
I have made a couple of changes to the nuts recipe
I think that the Party Boys frequently under season so I adjusted the recipe to my taste

Preheat the oven to 180C

3 cups mixed nuts (pecans, walnuts and almonds, brazil cashews)
2 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground mustard ¼ teaspoon cayenne
½ teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon white pepper
3 teaspoons Maldon salt

Put the nuts in a mixing bowl and set aside.
Put the butter into a small saucepan and place over medium heat.
As the butter melts, add the thyme leaves, cumin, mustard, cayenne, allspice, and pepper.

Allow to simmer for 1 minute.
Pour the butter mixture over the nuts,
add the salt and toss well to coat.
Put the nuts onto a baking sheet in 1 layer. Put the pan into the preheated oven until the nuts are a golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove and let cool. Serve immediately or keep in a sealed container for 1 week.
These were very tasty.

Next of course we had The Ultimate Hamburgers see Dec 26th 2006 post.

We supplied some marinated hapuka for the vegos

Those juicy hamburgers found themselves on Penny’s dress

Amanda's still working... someone's got to do it!!!

Customers enjoying themselves

Emily and Glen still working

Of course we had to have some sweets and I found this recipe from Ina Garten The Barefoot Contessa.
Chocolate Cookies with White Chocolate
This is the basic recipe but I have added an extra which I think made them probably the best Chocolate Chip cookies yet.
Lindt make a superb Intense Orange Chocolate and I used that along with chopped up white chocolate.
Wow that orange flavour turned these already excellent cookies into something really special.

All those white bits are the yummy white chocolate

225 gms unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 cup caster sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs at room temperature
2/3 cup good unsweetened cocoa
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
250 gms good white chocolate chips
100 gms packet Lindt Intense Orange Bitter Sweet chocolate chopped.

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Pre-heat oven to 170C fan bake

Cream the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy
Add the vanilla, then the eggs, 1 at a time, and mix well.
Add the sifted cocoa and mix again.
Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt and add to the mix with your mixer on low speed until just combined.
Fold in the chopped chocolate.

Drop the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, using a rounded dessertspoon.

Dampen your hands and flatten the dough slightly.
Bake for exactly 15 minutes (the cookies will seem underdone).
Remove from the oven and let cool slightly on the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Amanda loved them...my going away present.

Bon Voyage Amanda.