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!

Homemade is Always Better: Baked Chicken Taquitos

So, I've been wondering -- who buys those taquitos that they sell in the frozen foods section of the grocery store?  And -- are they actually good?

And also -- why don't people just make them at home?  They're really not difficult to construct. They take minutes to cook. And, contrary to popular believe, they don't require a deep fryer to get that uber crispy delicious exterior.

Now, we should disclose that we really hate cookbook claims that healthier versions of traditionally unhealthy foods taste just as good as their fat-laden counterparts, in part because it’s almost never true.

Fortunately, we found at least one instance where the baked version is just as good as fried, and maybe even better.

These deliciously smoky chicken taquitos bake up crispy and delicious thanks to a brush of melted butter and some time in a hot oven.  They’re the perfect snack for game day, or any time you’re craving that fast Tex-Mex food fix.

Baked Chicken Taquitos

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