Southern Skirt Edition ~ “Skirtin’ Around the South”
~ Potato Kugel Gratin, adapted from Martha Stewart ~
Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mix 4 teaspoons coarse salt with 1 teaspoon pepper. Sprinkle some of the mixture in the bottom of a buttered oblong baking dish. Cut 3 1/2 pounds russet potatoes in 1/8-inch-thick slices and stand them up on edge in the pan. Thinly slice 5 shallots and place them evenly within potato slices.
Distribute 3 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves throughout; brush potatoes with 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil and season between slices with remaining salt and pepper. Place dish on a rimmed sheet to catch liquid that possibly spills.
Add 1 teaspoon dry white wine.
To the egg and broth mixture, add 1 cup matzo meal and combine well. Pour combination over potatoes. Tap the baking sheet on the counter to allow egg mixture to sink in between potato slices. Cover with parchment, then foil; bake 45 minutes. Remove parchment and foil; rotate the pan, bake an additional 40 minutes. Turn up the heat to broil; broil for 5 minutes then take out of the oven, letting it rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.
~ Prickly Pear Tequila BBQ Sauce, adapted from David Katz ~
Roast 3 medium red onions coated with canola oil. Discard hardened black ends and/or pieces. Place in a blender with 3/4 cup pureed prickly pear fruit– 7th picture down…
[Mother grows these magnificent plants in her yard– a luxury to have.]
Cut them in half after pulling the peelings off, remove the “rocks”– the seeds… wear gloves throughout process to prevent thistles going into skin.
Heat in a saucepan with spices and seasonings of the following:
1/2 teaspoon freshly toasted and ground coriander seed, 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly toasted and ground cumin seed, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 minced serrano chiles (lining and seeds removed),
and 1 teaspoon lime zest. Cook until fragrant, 2 minutes.
Blend together 1/2 cup white Worcestershire sauce (we used dark), 1/2 cup tequila, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, and 2 tablespoons lime juice. Add combined liquid, then 3/4 cup water and 2 teaspoons salt; more salt if needed. Stir and melt in 3 tablespoons unsalted butter. May wish to add dark brown sugar.
~ Scarlet Muscadine Dressing, Skirt in the Kitchen ~
Brown bacon pieces. Stir and add red wine vinegar, brown sugar, extra-virgin olive oil in a fine steady stream, minced onion, prepared horseradish, Dijon mustard; and lastly, muscadine wine.
Serve salad warm with a spoonful of mild goat cheese in the center.
~ Backstrap Venison, Skirt in the Kitchen ~
Soak meat, pat-dry with paper towels, season with pepper spices of: McCormick Fiery 5 Pepper, McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning, and kosher or sea salt. Season both sides well, carefully lay into hot olive oil or grapeseed oil.
Dip into Prickly Pear Tequila Sauce.
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