Oh, my God....did THAT suck!!!

[little_bopeep]

I wasn't gonna say anything to anyone about the chicken I tried to make last night...but it was such a disaster that I just can't keep it to myself! :D

I don't know how many of y'all have a Big Easy Cafe (I think that's the correct name) in your area, but they have them in mall food courts as well as free-standing restaurants. One of our fav dishes there is Bourbon Chicken. So I'm looking in my pantry and freezer last night, thinking it would be a good Domino's night, when I happened to think happy thoughts about the boneless, skinless chicken thighs there.

Problem 1: no recipe--I'd have to wing it (get it--chicken? wing it? never mind). How hard could that be? Problem 2: no bourbon. Ok, that one's a little tougher. Hey, single malt scotch! How can you go wrong???

Gentle readers, single malt scotch is NOT a good substitute for bourbon in cooking!!! I made a very simple marinade with broth and garlic and a pinch of cayenne, black pepper, etc...no probs there. Then I grilled it under the broiler for a few minutes, basting with a mixture of honey and balsamic vinegar. And when I tasted it, my taste buds almost called Domino's themselves! I let DB taste it, since he's the scotch drinker, and he reached for the phone, too. But then he said "Hey-- throw a little BBQ sauce on it and see what happens." So I went to the fridge and got out the bottle of Kraft's mesquite-smoke flavor sauce and brushed it on, broiled again for a couple of minutes...and it was actually edible. Even the kids ate it!

So there are a few lessons to be learned here, friends: 1) Scotch is no substitute for bourbon in cooking; 2) Kraft BBQ sauce is a cure for all evil; and 3) Boyfriends are occasionally useful (usually, tho, at just opening jars and getting things down off high shelves).

[DmOrtega]

:p Do you think Julia Child started out a similar way?

[beejayw1]

ROFLMAO!

I remember once discovering that single malt Scotch is not a good substitution for Irish whiskey in Irish coffee. :rolleyes:

It's nice to know I'm not alone.

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by little_bopeep


2) Kraft BBQ sauce is a cure for all evil;

Than certainly scotch is the route of it....

Scotch blehhhhhhhkkkkkkkkkkk

[greysangel]

I'm not alone!!!

I also am of the opinion that Scotch is vile.

DH would be banned from his country if he shared his opinion of Scotch :D

JeAnne

[Little Bit]

This thread brings to mind something dreadful I did the other day. What was it??? Hmmm ... .
What's that saying, "A good memory can be unforgiveable" ?
Oh, yeah, I didn't have any rum, bourbon or brandy, and just added way too much homemade vanilla instead. NOT a happy choice, LOL!!

Anyhoo, you've got my sympathies.

[LGBurns]

BTW, just noticed that the September 2001 CL has a recipe for Bourbon-Glazed Salmon and in the note it says "The marinade in this recipe is also good on pork tenderloin or boneless chicken breasts." Page 117.

[clarksmom]

Recently I saw an article in CL pg 180 had to be sept oct talking about alcohol substitutes. This thread inlined me to read it for any hint of scotch substitutes. Needless to say there are none.

Scotch belongs on 2 things, plaid and on my suede shoes (scotchguard) to keep the rainoff.

Hang in there.

[aggie94]

Originally posted by LGBurns
BTW, just noticed that the September 2001 CL has a recipe for Bourbon-Glazed Salmon and in the note it says "The marinade in this recipe is also good on pork tenderloin or boneless chicken breasts." Page 117.

Yum! We love that recipe. I haven't used the marinade on chicken, but I did use it on salmon and pork tenderloin, and it was delicious on both. I also don't know if it would come close to the Bourbon Chicken you're trying to duplicate, but it's worth trying!

[little_bopeep]

Hmmmm....soitenly worth a try! I'll check it out. I copycatted the recipe for TGI Friday's Jack Daniels glaze, and I would have made that in a heartbeat...but it takes about 3 hours to make properly with the roasted garlic and all. Oh, and the fact that I didn't have any freakin' bourbon!! And I can tell you that it's FAB on salmon (or so the boyfriend says...I just can't do salmon...ewwww), mahi-mahi, chicken, porkchops, my fingers... :cool:

[Robyncz]

I just can't do salmon...ewwww

I'm with you, Little Bopeep, and I thought I was the only one. I have always thought that I SHOULD like salmon because it's so sophisticated, but I just can't do it (or any of the steaky fishes, for that matter). So glad to know I'm not completely alone!!

Oh, and my deepest sympathies for that meal. It sounds truly horrible ;)

Robyn

[Gina O]

No matter how hard I try, I cannot bring myself to like salmon either. I have tried it in nearly every form possible, hoping to find one I might like with no luck.

I do LOVE single malt scotch though. :) Gina

[PnguinTrax]

Good scotch is the nectar of the gods...and I'm not even Scottish or even close! :-)

Along the lines of OMG That Sucked...

When I was a wee lass, I decided to cook dinner for the family. I dutifully got out my mother's 196x edition of the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. Immediately thereafter I made this horrific concoction involving hotdogs, mustard and mashed potatoes. I'll give my family credit, they did eat the mess. They also remind me of that debacle...most recently 4 years ago at the rehearsal dinner for our wedding!

Then there was the time (same age as above) I put a can of beets in as a vegetable component for beef pot pie. Dad liked beets you see, and I wanted to make him something special. Have you ever seen a pink pot pie?? Unlike the hotdog thing, noone could eat it!

It's a miracle I wasn't damaged for life by those experiences.

Barbara

[little_bopeep]

Bless all of you who admitted that you don't like salmon! Seems to me that all fancy dinners in magazines and on cooking shows MUST contain salmon, asparagus, and some sort of raspberry dessert...none of which I can deal with. So I'm not the only one who prefers Mrs. Paul's fish filets, green beans and Jell-o chocolate pudding!

Now, dear friends, I shall share with you the TRUE nectar of the gods: In the fanciest glass you own, combine a couple of ice cubes, 1 shot kahlua, 1 shot Bailey's, 1 shot amaretto, and 1/2 shot single malt scotch. Prepare the floor surrounding you with pillows, because this drink will knock you on yer keester! There are many recipes out there for mudslides, but this one has to be my fav. I innocently made one for DB, and next thing I knew they were being served at parties all over the place. Adjust the amounts of the shots to suit yourself and enjoy.

[ElinorC]

You guys slay me!!
PnguinTrax, I haven't laughed so hard for a long time. Everytime I have pot pie I'll remember your pink one!
I have to admit that I belong to the 'hate salmon' bunch, even though I've tried very hard to like
it,I haven't succeeded. However, DH also doesn't care for it -- how about that for a marriage made in heaven? :D

[Julia1Pin]

Originally posted by LGBurns
BTW, just noticed that the September 2001 CL has a recipe for Bourbon-Glazed Salmon and in the note it says "The marinade in this recipe is also good on pork tenderloin or boneless chicken breasts." Page 117.

I substitute whiskey for bourban in this recipe (which we make all the time) and it tastes great.

[luv2cook]

I made the one pan whiskey porkies last night and didn't let the bourbon cook off enough before I threw it in the oven - oh, gawd was it bitter! There's a lesson to be learned about patience here...