Scott Peacocks Quick Pickled Crudites Recipes

SCOTT PEACOCK'S QUICK-PICKLED CRUDITES

Steps:

• In a nonreactive bowl, stir together vinegar, 1/2 cup hot water, sugar, and 2 teaspoons salt until salt and sugar have dissolved. Pack vegetables into a nonreactive container, such as a canning jar.
• Pour vinegar mixture over vegetables. Let cool completely, about 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 week. Drain and serve.

BASIC PICKLING

Steps:

• Heat sugar and vinegar in a nonreactive stockpot over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved.
• Add remaining ingredients, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover, and simmer 30 minutes. Remove from heat, and let stand overnight at room temperature.
• Transfer mixture to jars or airtight containers, and store, covered, in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

FENNEL STEM PICKLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In a medium bowl, mix together onion, oil, 1 tablespoon salt, and pepper. Spread onion mixture in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until onions are tender and beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature.
• In a small nonreactive saucepan, mix together vinegar, sugar, and remaining 2 1/2 teaspoons salt; bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in red pepper flakes, mustard seeds, chile powder, garlic powder, Chinese five spice, and turmeric.
• Place cooled onion mixture, fennel stems, cucumber, jalapeno, and bell pepper in two 1-quart glass jars or one 2-quart glass jar; toss to combine. Pour hot vinegar mixture over vegetables, adding water if necessary to cover. Cover jar and transfer to refrigerator; refrigerate at least 24 hours before serving, and up to 2 weeks.

SMOKY SHRIMP-AND-SAUSAGE GRAVY

Steps:

• Sprinkle garlic with a pinch of salt; mash into a paste with the side of a knife. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, season with salt and black pepper, and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add shallot, thyme, Aleppo pepper, and garlic; reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, until shallot turns translucent, 3 to 4 minutes (if onion starts to brown, reduce heat further).
• Add tomato and a generous pinch of salt; increase heat to medium. Cook, stirring frequently, until tomato breaks down, about 3 minutes. Add sausage; cook 2 minutes more. Stir in stock, increase heat to medium-high, and boil until liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Stir in shrimp and simmer until partially cooked, 1 to 2 minutes, depending on size.
• Stir in cream and simmer until shrimp are just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes more, depending on size. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper, and stir in parsley and scallion just before serving. Serve gravy in individual cups with hot split biscuits and spoons on the side.

SCOTT PEACOCK'S CLASSIC BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

Steps:

• Set a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 500 degrees. Sift together the cream of tartar and baking soda to make baking powder. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the lard or butter. Working quickly, rub it between your fingertips until half is coarsely blended and the remaining pieces are 3/4-inch thick.
• Make a well in center of the flour. Add all the buttermilk and stir the mixture quickly, just until it has blended and a sticky dough forms. (If the dough appears dry, add 1 to 2 tablespoons buttermilk.)
• Immediately turn the dough onto a generously floured surface. Using floured hands, briskly knead about 10 times until a ball forms. Gently flatten the dough and, using a floured rolling pin, roll to 3/4-inch thick.
• Using a fork dipped in flour, pierce the dough through at 1/2-inch intervals. Flour a 2 1/2- or 3-inch biscuit cutter. Stamp out rounds and arrange on a heavy, parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 12 minutes. Remove and brush with melted butter. Serve hot.

BRANDIED FIGS

Steps:

• Wash figs a few at a time by quickly dipping them in a bowl of cool water. (Do not soak.) Place in a single layer on a kitchen towel; drain. Sprinkle 3/4 cup sugar evenly in a wide nonreactive pot. Top with figs, then sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup sugar. Cover; refrigerate at least 12 hours and up to 2 days.
• Place pot over low heat, uncovered, and bring figs to a bare simmer. (Tilt pan from side to side or swirl a bit to help sugar dissolve, but do not stir, or fruit may get damaged.) Partially cover and simmer 10 minutes; remove from heat. Cover; let stand 4 hours.
• Repeat step 2 twice; figs should turn translucent in final simmering stage. (If necessary, allow to simmer longer than 10 minutes in final simmer, until they do.)
• Carefully spoon hot figs into hot sterilized canning jars (ideally pint-size or smaller). Bring syrup to a boil, skimming any scum that rises to surface. Turn off heat; stir in brandy. Taste; add more brandy as desired. Pour hot syrup over fruit to cover. Seal and process in a hot-water bath 10 minutes. Figs can be stored in a cool, dark place up to 1 year.