Lamb Panini With Bourbon Raisin Sauce Recipes

ROMANTIC DINNER FOR TWO BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND BOURBON BISQUE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• With a sharp knife, prick the squash in several places to allow steam to escape while it cooks
• (otherwise it could burst). Place the squash in a baking dish lined with foil and roast for about 90 minutes, until the squash is soft when you push on it. Let cool for 30 minutes, so it=s easier to handle, then peel, seed, and remove strings. Cut the roasted squash into 1/2-inch pieces, or scoop meat out with a spoon.
• In a heavy soup kettle, heat the olive oil and add the onions. Cook until light golden brown and add the leeks and cumin. Cook for 2 minutes and add the garlic and ginger. When the garlic is fragrant, add the maple syrup, soy sauce, bourbon, sherry and nutmeg. Add the squash and stock and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and cook gently for 15 minutes.
• Using an immersion blender (or a regular blender), puree the soup until very smooth. Add the evaporated milk, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes; do not bring to a boil. Add the cornstarch mixture and stir until thickened, about 5 minutes. Serve in soup plates.
• If you like, garnish this soup with garlic and Parmesan cheese croutons and a dollop of non fat sour cream.

CHICKEN BREAST IN A PORT AND RAISIN SAUCE

Steps:

• Soak the raisins in the port wine at least 1 hour or, preferably, overnight. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. When hot, saute the chicken breasts on one side until golden brown. Turn the chicken over and transfer to an ovenproof dish. Bake for 10 minutes. In the meantime, in the saute pan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the shallots and sweat them for 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms and saute them for 2 minutes. Add the vinegar and reduce until almost dry. Stir in the raisins and their soaking liquid. Cook until the liquid is reduced by half. Add the cream or evaporated milk, nutmeg, and cornstarch mixture. Cook for 2 more minutes, but do not bring to a boil. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Spoon the sauce onto serving plates, set a chicken breast on top, and garnish with fresh herbs.

BOURBON WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the walnuts, stirring constantly. Add the brown sugar and cook until melted. Remove from the heat and carefully add the bourbon. Return to the heat and cook out the alcohol, about 3 to 5 minutes. Be careful as mixture may ignite. Add cream and bring to a slow boil. Combine milk and cornstarch.
• Add milk mixture into sauce stirring constantly until thickened.

BOURBON RAISIN SAUCE

Steps:

• combine all ingredients in a sauce pan.
• over medium heat whisk until butter melts and sauce thickens about 5 minutes.

MOROCCAN LAMB TAGINE WITH RAISINS, ALMONDS, AND HONEY

Steps:

• Whisk together ras-el-hanout, salt, pepper, ginger, saffron, and 1 cup water in a 5-quart heavy pot. Stir in lamb, remaining 2 cups water, onion, garlic, cinnamon sticks, and butter and simmer, covered, until lamb is just tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Stir in raisins, almonds, honey, and ground cinnamon and simmer, covered, until meat is very tender, about 30 minutes more.
• Uncover pot and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until stew is slightly thickened, about 15 minutes more.