Chef or No Chef: Bethesda, Part 1

Let's begin at the beginning. When faced with a challenge, the Two Butt Kitchen never backs down. So when a group of three guys from Mississippi that we'd just met called our cooking skills into question at a disco party last January, we were definitely up for a game. Thus, Chef or No Chef was born.

We had a secret ingredient -- apple cider -- chosen by Kevin (the appointed judge/host), 30 minutes at the sketchy Safeway for shopping, a $20 limit, and an hour when we got back to the kitchen.

Frantically, we ran around the store with our consummate sous chef and videographer, Kristen, in tow (photos here also courtesy of Kristen), choosing ingredients and debating their merits. We definitely had the checkout boy tricked into thinking we were actually filming a reality show. The final menu for team Two Butt:

1. Pistachio-crusted chicken breast wrapped in prosciutto in an apple cider-cherry reduction sauce with thyme.



Ingredients:

For the chicken:
4 boneless chicken breasts
1 cup unsalted pistachios, shelled
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 egg, beaten
4-6 slices prosciutto
salt and pepper

For the sauce:
3 cups apple cider
1/2 pound fresh black cherries, pitted
sprigs of fresh thyme
1 clove garlic

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Pound chicken with wooden mallet until 1/2 inch thick. season with salt and pepper or brine overnight before starting. Toast pistachios over low heat, then grind roughly in food processor. Mix pistachios with flour, salt and pepper and set aside. Coat chicken by dipping first in egg, then in pistachio mixture and lay flat on foil-lined baking sheet. Carefully wrap each breast in slice of prosciutto, with opening on foil. Bake at 350-degrees for 20 to 30 mins or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.

For the sauce, quickly sautee the garlic, add the apple cider and bring to a boil. Let the cider simmer and reduce. When it starts to thicken, add roughly chopped black cherries and thyme. When the sauce has thickened but not become syrupy, remove from heat and serve with the chicken.

2. Butternut squash pureed with sage




Boil chopped butter nut squash until soft. Place in food processor and add butter. Lots of butter. Then finish with salt, pepper, and chopped fresh sage.


We also made:
Mixed greens with pears and raspberries in an apple cider vinaigrette and apple cider-bourbon hot toddies with chocolate-dipped ginger snaps. But these were less of a hit, so we'll let you use your imagination.

Stay tuned for the boys' contributions.