What do you get when you give a bunch of professional journalists sharp knives, a couple bottles of champagne, and instructions to work together to prepare a gourmet meal? An incredibly lively — and dangerously unpredictable! — dinner party that you’ll never forget. Some of the best times among friends are spent in the kitchen, and this night proved that once again. Check out this rockin’ menu we compiled and prepared with help from our friends at the DC-based cooking school “Company’s Coming:”
Appetizers: Portuguese Tuna and Beans; Goat Cheese Spread; Sizzling Lemon Shrimp with Garlic; Selection of Grilled Gourmet Sausages
Entree: Flat Iron Steak with Shallot Confit; Rissotto with Red Wine, Pancetta, and Parmesan; Boston Lettuce Salad with Pine Nuts
Dessert: Molten Chocolate Cake with Raspberries
Wines: Montelliana, Prosecco, ‘Montello e Colli Asolani’; 2007 La Carraia, ‘Orvieto,’ Classico; 2007 Banfi, ‘Chianti Classico’
And now the winning take-away recipe from the evening….Molten Chocolate Cake! ( This is not, repeat not, a healthy dessert, but it’s a divine re-creation of a classic steakhouse favorite that I love to order when I’m out.)
Molten Chocolate Cake from Ed and Jinny Fleischman
1 cup butter
8 oz bittersweet chocolate
4 eggs
4 egg yolks (in addition to the 4 whole eggs!)
1/2 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons of flour
(1) Prepare ceramic ramekins or other small baking cups by buttering the inside and dusting with flour. Repeat twice for each cup – this is key so the cake will pop out.
(2) Melt butter over low heat in saucepan. Add chocolate and stir until just melted.
(3) Beat eggs, yolks and sugar until light and thick. Stir the butter and chocolate together and add in the egg mixture. Quickly beat in the flour.
(4) Divide mixture evenly between ramekins. Either refrigerate for later baking or continue by baking.
(5) Place ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 6-7 minutes at 450 degrees. (Note: the center will not be firm but the sides will be set.)
(6) Remove from oven and let cool for about 10 seconds before flipping out of the mold.
PeanutButterMilk 