Alton Brown Corn Dogs Recipes

CANDY CORN

Steps:

• Combine the powdered sugar, dry milk and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse 4 to 5 times until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Set aside. Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in a 2-quart pot. Put over medium heat, cover and cook for 4 minutes. Add the butter, clip on a candy thermometer, and bring the mixture to 230 degrees F, about 1 to 2 minutes. When the sugar syrup reaches 230 degrees F, take the pot off the heat and remove the thermometer. Add the vanilla and the dry mixture, stirring continuously with a silicone spatula until well combined. Pour onto a half sheet pan lined with a silicone baking mat. Cool until the mixture is cool enough to handle, about 10 to 15 minutes. Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Add 2 drops of yellow food coloring to 1 piece and knead the dough until the color is consistent throughout. Add 2 drops of orange to the second piece, and knead until the color is consistent throughout. Leave the third piece white. Roll each piece of dough into a strand, about 18-inches long. Cut each strand in half. Roll 1 of the white pieces into a strand that is about 1/2-inch thick and about 22-inches long. Repeat with a yellow piece and orange piece. Lay the strands side by side and press them together using your fingers. Cut the strand into 4-inch pieces. Lay the strands, 1 at a time, onto the silicone mat and press into a wedge shape, like a triangle. Use a wire butter slicer to cut the candies into pieces. If you don't have a wire butter slicer, use a knife, metal bench scraper or pizza cutter to slice the dough into small pieces. Repeat the procedure with remaining dough. Lay the finished pieces on a piece of parchment or waxed paper to dry for 1 hour. Store in an airtight container with parchment paper between each layer.

ALTON BROWN'S CORN DOGS

Steps:

• Pour oil into a deep fryer or large heavy pot and heat to 375 degrees F.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cayenne pepper.
• In a separate bowl, combine the jalapeno, corn, onion, and buttermilk.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients all at once, and stir only enough times to bring the batter together; there should be lumps.
• Set batter aside and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
• Scatter the cornstarch into a dry pie pan.
• Roll each hot dog in the cornstarch and tap well to remove any excess.
• Transfer enough batter to almost fill a large drinking glass.
• Refill the glass as needed.
• Place each hot dog on chopsticks, and quickly dip in and out of the batter.
• Immediately and carefully place each hot dog into the oil, and cook until coating is golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• With tongs, remove to cooling rack, and allow to drain for 3 to 5 minutes.

CORN TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Place the Nixtamal into the bowl of a food processor and pulse 10 to 15 times. Add 2 tablespoons of the water and pulse 8 to 10 times, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice. Add 2 more tablespoons of water along with the salt and pulse until a dough begins to form. If the dough is still dry and somewhat crumbly, add the remaining tablespoon of water and pulse several times. Turn the dough out onto the counter and shape into a ball. Wrap the ball of dough in plastic wrap and allow to sit for 30 minutes. *You may also make tortillas from pre-ground masa flour following the directions on the bag.
• Preheat a cast iron griddle over medium-high heat until it reaches 400 degrees F.
• Divide the dough into 1 1/2-ounce portions, shape into balls, and keep covered with a damp tea towel.
• Cut a 1-gallon zip-top bag in half and line the base of a tortilla press with the plastic. Place 1 ball at a time onto the press and top with the other half of the plastic. Close the press and push down firmly several times until the tortilla is flattened. Remove the plastic wrap from the tortilla and place onto the cast iron skillet and cook for 1 minute on each side. Remove the tortilla to a plate lined with a tea towel. Cover the tortilla with a second towel to keep warm. Repeat with all of the dough. Use immediately or store in a zip-top bag in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Nixtamal:
• Rinse the corn under cool water; drain and set aside.
• Place the water and the lime into a 3 1/2 to 4-quart, non-reactive stockpot, set over medium-low heat, and stir to combine. Add the corn and bring just to a boil, stirring occasionally. Make sure that it takes at least 30 to 45 minutes to come to a boil. Once the mixture comes to a boil, remove from the heat, cover, and allow to sit at room temperature overnight. Do not refrigerate.
• Drain the corn in a large colander and rinse under lukewarm water for 5 to 6 minutes while rubbing the corn kernels between your fingers in order to remove the outer coating. Place the corn into a large bowl, cover with lukewarm water, and allow to soak for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain, rinse, and repeat. Use immediately to make masa dough for tortillas.

CORNED BEEF BY ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• Place the water into a large 6 to 8 quart stockpot along with salt, sugar, saltpeter, cinnamon stick, mustard seeds, peppercorns, cloves, allspice, juniper berries, bay leaves and ginger.
• Cook over high heat until the salt and sugar have dissolved.
• Remove from the heat and add the ice.
• Stir until the ice has melted.
• If necessary, place the brine into the refrigerator until it reaches a temperature of 45 degrees (I put mine in the refrigerator over night).
• Once it has cooled, place the brisket in a 2-gallon zip top bag and add the brine.
• Seal and lay flat inside a container, cover and place in the refrigerator for 10 days.
• Check daily to make sure the beef is completely submerged and stir the brine.
• After 10 days, remove from the brine and rinse well under cool water.
• Place the brisket into a pot just large enough to hold the meat, add the onion, carrot and celery and cover with water by 1-inch.
• Set over high heat and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to low, cover and gently simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until the meat is fork tender.
• Remove from the pot and thinly slice across the grain.
• My Crock pot method:.
• After 10 days, remove from the brine and rinse well under cool water.
• Place the brisket into bottom of crock pot.
• Add 5 potatoes cut in half and 1 pound baby carrots.
• Turn on high and cook for 2 hours.
• Add whole head of cabbage that you have quartered.
• Make sure you keep cabbage from touching the crock pot so it will not burn.
• Cook another 2 hours on high.
• Slice and serve with the vegetables.