Neelys Midnight Malt Recipes

NEELY'S MUFFULETTTA SANDWICH

Steps:

• Whisk together the mayonnaise, olive oil, vinegar, honey, lime juice, red pepper flakes, oregano, and 1 teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl. Add the onion, carrot, olives, artichoke hearts, peppers, celery, and parsley; toss, and season to taste with salt. Cover with plastic wrap and allow the salad to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Slice the bread in half, and pull some of the interior from the middle of the roll to make room for the other ingredients. Spread a generous amount of the olive oil salad on each half. (You will probably have some salad leftover; it holds for 2 or 3 days in the refrigerator.)
• Layer the meat and cheese on the bottom half, alternating layers of each meat with thin layers of cheese. Cover with the top half of bread, press gently, slice into wedges, and serve.

NEELY'S LIME BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spray the bottom and sides of a 9 by 13-inch cake pan with nonstick spray.
• To make the crust, combine the butter and confectioners' sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed for 2 to 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the flour and salt, and mix another minute until well combined. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan, and pat out to an even thickness over the bottom of the pan. Bake the crust for 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly golden. Remove from the oven, and cook on a baking rack.
• To make the topping, whisk together the eggs and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the flour, and whisk until just combined, then whisk in the lime juice and zest. Pour the lime topping over the cooled crust, then bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the filling is set.
• Allow the bars to cool completely. Generously dust with confectioners' sugar and cut into squares.

NEELY'S BREAKFAST SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Fry the bacon in a nonstick skillet until cooked but not yet crisp. Remove the bacon to a paper towel lined sheet tray. Let cool. Reserve the bacon drippings in the skillet.
• Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the cheese and bacon and toss. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of cream with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together. Remove the dough to the countertop and knead briefly until it is smooth and uniform in appearance. Pat the dough out to a 1-inch thickness. Using a biscuit cutter dipped in flour, punch out dough rounds. Push together the leftover dough and pat out again to 1-inch thick and cut out rounds. Arrange the biscuits on the parchment lined sheet tray.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon of cream and the egg. Brush the tops of the biscuits with the egg wash and sprinkle with kosher salt. Put immediately into the oven and bake for 18 minutes.
• When the biscuits come out of the oven, start frying the eggs. Heat the same nonstick skillet used earlier (to cook the bacon) over medium heat. Once heated, crack the eggs into the pan and cook until the white is set and the eggs begin to turn golden brown. Spoon some of the hot grease over the yolks to help it cook. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• To assemble the sandwiches, split the biscuits in half and spread some mango preserves on the inside of the biscuit tops. Put a small handful of arugula on each of the bottoms. Top with the fried eggs and cover with the top of the biscuit. Serve immediately.

NEELYS' PRIME RIB WITH RUBY PORT SAUCE

Steps:

• Mash the garlic and salt with a mortar and pestle until a paste is formed. Add the rosemary, and smash all together. Scrape the paste into a small bowl along with the olive oil, black pepper, and crushed red pepper.
• Spread the herb-and-garlic paste all over the meat. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in the fridge to marinate for at least 8 hours. Allow the meat to come to room temperature for 1 to 2 hours before roasting. (This will ensure even cooking.)
• Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F. Adjust a rack to the middle of the oven.
• Remove the plastic wrap, and place the meat in a large roasting pan. Roast for 20 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees, and continue to cook until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the roast without touching the bone reads 125 degrees for medium rare, or continue to cook until it reaches 130 to 135 for medium, about 2 hours and 20 minutes more.
• Remove the roast from the oven, tent with foil, and let rest for 20 minutes before carving.
• Serve with the ruby port sauce (recipe follows).
• RUBY PORT SAUCE
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Once the butter foams, toss in the shallots and garlic, and sauté until soft and tender, about 3 or 4 minutes. Pour the port and beef stock into the saucepan, and bring to a simmer. Let reduce for about 20 minutes, or until you have about 2 cups of brothlike sauce. Whisk in the remaining tablespoon of butter for a touch of added thickness and gloss. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Note
• Get the rib rubbed with the spices the day before, and set aside in the fridge.

THE NEELEY'S SMOTHERED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Pat the porkchops dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.
• Combine the flour, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne and paprika.
• Dredge the chops in flour mixture on both sides until lightly coated.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and coat with the peanut oil.
• When oil is hot, slip in chops and fry on each side, about five minutes per side, until golden brown.
• Remove chops from pan and set aside.
• Add onions to pan and saute until fragrant, about a minute.
• Add three tablespoons of the seasoned flour left over from dredging the chops to the skillet and stir with a wooden spoon until it makes a paste.
• Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, making sure there are no lumps.
• Turn up the heat and allow the chicken broth to reduce and thicken occasionally stirring.
• Once the sauce coats the back of your wooden spoon, pour in the buttermilk.
• Add hot sauce and stir to combine.
• Return the chops to the skillet and simmer for 15 more minutes until the chops are cooked through.

NEELY'S STRAWBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Roll out 1 sheet of the pie crust and put in a 9-inch pie plate, crimping the edges for a pretty presentation. Roll out the other sheet and cut into 1/2-inch thick strips with a sharp knife or pastry wheel. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix together all of the filling ingredients and pour into the crust.
• Arrange the strips over the top of the pie in a lattice pattern, tucking in the edges, or layer the circular shapes on top of the strawberries. Brush the top with the melted butter and sprinkle the sanding sugar. Bake the pie for 25 minutes and then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F. and bake until the top is golden brown, another 30 minutes. Let cool before serving with Strawberry Whipped Cream, if desired.
• Beat the heavy cream in a medium bowl until thick. Add the vanilla and confectioners' sugar and continue to beat until soft peaks appear. Add the jam, a little at a time, and beat until stiff peaks are formed.