Ginger Almonds By Alton Brown Recipes

GINGER ALE

Steps:

• Place the ginger, sugar, and 1/2 cup of the water into a 2-quart saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat, cover and allow to steep for 1 hour.
• Pour the syrup through a fine mesh strainer set over a bowl, pressing down to get all of the juice out of the mixture. Chill quickly by placing over and ice bath and stirring or set in the refrigerator, uncovered, until at least room temperature, 68 to 72 degrees F.
• Using a funnel, pour the syrup into a clean 2-liter plastic bottle and add the yeast, lemon juice and remaining 7 cups of water. Place the cap on the bottle, gently shake to combine and leave the bottle at room temperature for 48 hours. Open and check for desired amount of carbonation. It is important that once you achieve your desired amount of carbonation that you refrigerate the ginger ale. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, opening the bottle at least once a day to let out excess carbonation.

GINGER ALMONDS BY ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• 2. Combine the ginger and salt in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
• 3. Chop up the arbol chile until most pieces are around 1/8". I usually use dried chile.
• 4.Heat the olive oil and sesame oil in a medium-large saute pan over medium-low heat. Add the arbol chile and cook, stirring frequently, until the chile begins to give off an aroma, 30 to 45 seconds.
• 5. Add the almonds and cook, stirring frequently until lightly toasted, approximately 5 minutes.
• 6. Add the soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce and cook until reduced slightly and the pan looks dry, approximately 1 minute.
• 7. Immediately remove the nuts to the large bowl and toss with the ginger mixture.
• 8. Spread the coated nuts into a single layer on a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove the pan to a cooling rack for at least 30 minutes or until completely cool.
• 9. Keep dry in a sealed container and it'll easily last a few weeks, that is if it hasn't been eaten long before.

CANDIED GINGER

Steps:

• Spray a cooling rack with nonstick spray and set it in a half sheet pan lined with parchment.
• Peel the ginger root and slice into 1/8-inch thick slices using a mandoline. Place into a 4-quart saucepan with the water and set over medium-high heat. Cover and cook for 35 minutes or until the ginger is tender.
• Transfer the ginger to a colander to drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid. Weigh the ginger and measure out an equal amount of sugar. Return the ginger and 1/4 cup water to the pan and add the sugar. Set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until the sugar syrup looks dry, has almost evaporated and begins to recrystallize, approximately 20 minutes. Transfer the ginger immediately to the cooling rack and spread to separate the individual pieces. Once completely cool, store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Save the sugar that drops beneath the cooling rack and use to top ginger snaps, sprinkled over ice cream or to sweeten coffee.

MANGO-GINGER KOMBUCHA

Steps:

• Heat 3 cups of the filtered water to 200 degrees F in an electric kettle and place the tea leaves in a 4-cup liquid measuring cup. Pour the water over the tea leaves and let steep for 10 minutes. (If using a traditional kettle or pot, bring the water to a boil and let cool for 1 for 2 minutes before using.)
• Strain the steeped tea into a 1-gallon glass jar. Add the sugar and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Discard the tea leaves.
• Add the remaining 8 cups filtered water to lower the temperature to lukewarm. If the water is still warmer than 100 degrees F, leave on the counter for 10 minutes, then recheck. Anything hotter than 100 degrees F can damage the SCOBY.
• Add the kombucha and the SCOBY. Cover the jar with a coffee filter secured with a rubber band and place in a warm, well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight until the mixture begins to take on a pleasantly sour and tangy flavor and is lightly effervescent, 2 to 3 weeks. The ideal fermentation temperature is between 75 and 85 degrees F.
• When you're happy with the flavor, wash your hands very well. Gently remove the SCOBY and transfer to a clean bowl. Reserve 2 cups of the kombucha and add to the bowl with the SCOBY.
• Add the mango and the ginger to the jar with the remaining kombucha. Re-cover with the coffee filter and rubber band. Let sit at room temperature until the kombucha has taken on the flavor of the fruit and ginger, 2 to 4 days. Meanwhile, you can start a second batch of kombucha with the SCOBY and reserved 2 cups of plain kombucha, following the same steps above using a clean 1-gallon glass jar (see Cook's Note).
• When the flavored kombucha is ready, strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or bowl. Discard the solids, then divide the kombucha evenly among six to eight 12- to 16-ounce plastic soda bottles with tight-fitting lids Be sure to leave at least 1 1/2 inches of headspace in each bottle for gas to expand. Twist the lids on tightly and park on the counter until the bottles are firm to the touch, indicating that the kombucha is carbonated, 1 to 3 days. Move to the fridge and chill before drinking. The kombucha will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

GINGER SNAPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cardamom, clove and salt.
• Place the brown sugar and butter into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on low speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the molasses, egg and fresh ginger and beat on medium for 1 minute. Add the crystallized ginger and using a rubber spatula, stir to combine. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until well combined.
• With a 2-teaspoon-sized scoop, drop the dough onto a parchment-lined half sheet pan approximately 2 inches apart. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 12 minutes for slightly chewy cookies or 15 minutes for more crisp cookies. Rotate the pan halfway through cooking.
• Remove from the oven, sprinkle with sanding sugar, if desired, and allow the cookies to stay on the sheet pan for 30 seconds before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with all of the dough. Store in an airtight container for up to 10 days. If desired, you may scoop and freeze the cookie dough on a sheet pan and once frozen, place in a resealable bag to store. Bake directly from the freezer as above.