Brandy Peppercorn Sauce: So good you could bathe in it

We've been into mastering some of the classics lately. For instance, I think I've finally mastered the art of hollandaise. And I'm currently working on creating a perfect fudgey brownie (thanks to some inspiration from Nigella, I think I'm coming very close).  I think this recipe probably also fits nicely into the "classic" category.

There is a steakhouse here in Milwaukee that serves up perfectly cooked New York strip accompanied by the diner’s choice of any number of delicious sauces, including Bearnaise, blue cheese butter, au jus, and a rich beef gravy.

It happens that my favorite is the brandy peppercorn sauce, which marries the delicate sweetness of shallots and cream with the assertive punch of brandy and peppercorns. In fact, the first time I tried it, I liked it so much I  declared that I could “bathe in it."

While I probably wouldn’t recommend taking a bath in it (as appealing as that might sound), this recreation of that delicious sauce is pretty darned delicious poured over steak. Or pork chops. Or... just about anything, really.

Brandy Peppercorn Sauce

©BURP!

Celebrate with Us: White Chocolate Ice Cream with Brandied Cherries

When we were nominated for the Shepherd Express Best of the Milwaukee Web Awards, I was somewhat shocked, and completely flattered.  So, when we attended the awards ceremony on Tuesday evening and found out that we'd won in TWO categories (best food blog, favorite twitterer),  I was absolutely taken aback.

Milwaukee might be a relatively small place, but it's a positive hot bed for technology & social media.  So, it was truly humbling to be in the company of so many creative, media-minded individuals.  We've always aspired to making the Burp! blog a creative, friendly place -- not only where we share what WE do, but also where our readers come to chat about their latest creations.  And we're so glad that so many of you believe in what we're doing.

So, here's a big thanks to friends & bloggers who voted for us.  We're so incredibly honored. And we're tickled that you took the time to think of us!  We'd also like to give a HUGE shout-out to the runners up in both award categories.  Please stop over to their blogs and give them a hearty congratulations!

Digital Print Edition - Shepherd Express

Best Food Blog Award Runners Up:
Iron Cupcake / ironcupcakemilwaukee.com
Vegan Milwaukee / veganmilwaukee.com

Favorite Twitterer Runners Up:
@SJWhipp  (blogging at sjwhipp.com)
@radiomilwaukee  (http://www.radiomilwaukee.org/)

And check out all the award winners at Express.com

In celebration of our awards, we'd like to share another sweet treat with you.  Yes, we've been busy at the ice cream machine again.  And this time, it's serious.

Those of you who've been around for a while might recall that every year for Christmas we make chocolate covered brandy cordial cherries to give away as gifts.

Now, by mid-March, the confections themselves are usually long gone.  But, sometimes we still have a few extra brandied cherries lying around.  These cherries are the rejects -- the poor, stemless cherries that were tossed aside in favor of their more sturdily stemmed kin.  These cherries remain, swimming in brandy and staring longingly out of their clear glass jarred windows, until one of us rescues them for an impromptu cooking project.

One of the projects I've been meaning to get around to is coming up with a recipe for a decadent brandied chocolate cherry cake.  But, this batch of cherries ended up in a batch of celebratory white chocolate ice cream.

The rich creamy white chocolate ice cream makes a perfect sweet backdrop for the the slightly sweet, and definitively alcoholic, cherries.  The nice thing about brandied cherries is that, unlike their virgin brothers & sisters, they maintain a firm texture but don't freeze solid even when surrounded by frigid ice cream.

And... much like anything that's been steeping in alcohol for a time, they're pretty delicious.  This ice cream is the perfect addition to your Easter dessert tray or an accompaniment to that batch of brownies you've been wanting to make.

White Chocolate Ice Cream with Brandied Cherries

Enjoy!
And here's to another year of blogging and tweeting!


©BURP! Where Food Happens
Want more? Read Lo's latest ruminations at FOODCrush, her Milwaukee Magazine blog.