Can't Buy Me Love

For The Love Of Money

(Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!)

So you didn't win the lottery... well tomorrow's another day.

Just remember that money "Can't buy me love"... or as my granddaddy always said "but it can buy you something that looks a whole lot like it"! Ole Grandpa... what a kidder.

And, even though you didn't win you can still live it up. Let's celebrate with a little gourmet meal and a "Millionaire" cocktail. We'll put on some tunes to remind you that you should "be thankful for what you got".

The pots are on!

The Plate... 

Gourmet Grilled Cheese / Caramelized Onions

And... The Millionaire Salad

Ok, you can still pretend like you're rich without breaking the bank with these two awesome treats. What's not to like about grill cheese. And, if you jazz it up a little it's even better. 

And, do we really need to say anything about lobster? Anytime is a good time for lobster. 

What you need... 

The Grill Cheese-

2 tbsp canola oil

5 tbsp butter / softened

2 large onions / sliced

2 tsp sherry vinegar

1 tsp sugar

12 slices Italian bread (ea about 1/2 inch thick)

8 oz Gruyere / thinly sliced

The Millionaire Salad-

2 1lb lobsters or lobster tails

8 oz mix salad greens

1 large ripe mango

1/3 cup peanut oil

fresh ground pepper

1/2 red onion / thinly sliced

3 tbsp sherry vinegar

1 tbsp lemon zest

kosher salt

What you do...

The Grill Cheese

Heat the canola oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large sauce pan over medium heat. 

When the butter melts add the onion and cook until caramelized (a little brown, about 20 minutes).

Add the vinegar, sugar and 2 tbsp water.

Continue to cook until all the liquid has evaporated. 

Transfer the onions to a bowl.

Butter 1 side of each bread slice. 

Lay 6 slices butter-side down on a work surface. 

Top each with 2 slices of cheese a little onion and then 2 more slices of cheese.

Top with another slice of bread (butter-side up).

Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. 

Add the sandwiches and cook until the cheese begins to melt and the bread browns.

Flip and continue to cook until brown.

Cut in half and serve.

The Millionaire Salad-

Parboil the lobsters about 5-10 minutes

Remove the meat from the claws. Cut the tails in half lengthwise and remove the meat.

Put the lobster aside in the fridge for now.

Rinse and dry the salad greens / cut into bite-sized pieces.

Peel and cut the papaya into 1 inch chunks. Save the hull for serving.

Heat a pan over medium heat. Add the oil to the pan. 

Lightly pepper the lobster and add it along with the red onion to the pan.

Cook the lobster and onion for about 3 minutes turning frequently.

Remove the meat to a plate leaving the onion in the pan and remove from heat.

Add the sherry vinegar and lemon zest, salt and pepper.

Add any juice that has accumulated on the plate with the lobster meat.

Return the pan to medium heat and add the mixed salad greens.

Using tongs, continuously toss the salad until they are warmed not cooked (about 1 minute).

When the greens are warm, lift them out of the pan and fill papaya shells.

Fill with the lobster and papaya. 

Spoon the dressing from the pan over the salad and serve. 

Enjoy.

The Playlist... 

Can't Buy Me Love

And, just like the song says- "Dollar sign, dollar sign in your eyes. shiny things, diamond rings gonna make you blind. 

The best advice here is from our good friend Ben Harper when he sings about "Diamonds on the inside"... isn't that what you really want? 

Anyway, you didn't win... time to "Be Thankful For What You Got"!

         The "Playlist" runs on Spotify- Click on the link to listen to Can't Buy Me Love

The Bar... 

The Millionaire

So you're not a millionaire... you can at least drink like one.

What you need...

4 oz rye whiskey or bourbon

1 1/2 oz Grand Marnier

4 dashes pastis or bitters

1/2 oz grenadine

1/2 oz lemon juice

1 egg white

What you do...

Add rye (or bourbon), Grand Marnier, bitters (or pastis), grenadine, lemon juice (if using), and egg white to cocktail shaker without ice. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds to blend all ingredients.

Fill shaker 2/3 full with ice. Shake again, vigorously, until egg white is frothy and drink is well-chilled, about 30 seconds.

If you shake the drink very well, twice, before straining, you should emulsify all the white before any of it curdles, and you can simply strain the drink into two chilled coupe glasses. If you open the shaker and see a few curdled bits of white, double-strain by pouring it out of the shaker through a standard strainer into a fine mesh or tea strainer held above the chilled glasses.

Dollar Sign, Dollar Sign...

Make You Go Blind!

Please... Day Drink Responsibly 

& 

Keep On Cookin'!