| If you want to learn to copycat your favorite menu | | | | you have identified the ingredients, it's just a matter |
| item from Famous Dave's, this article will help get you | | | | of getting the proportions right. |
| going! | | | | So start cooking, and make good notes with each |
| Have you ever tasted something that was just | | | | attempt. You would think that you'd be able to |
| delicious, but you can't quite tell what that hint of | | | | remember what you tweak between each attempt, |
| something is in the background. It's a vaguely familiar | | | | but after a few tries they all seem to blur together. |
| taste, but you just can't put your finger on it. It's | | | | Don't be discouraged if it takes a few tries, just pour |
| right on the tip of your tongue. Oh yea, that pun | | | | a glass of wine and enjoy each valiant attempt. |
| was intended! | | | | To get you started here is a recipe for Famous |
| Well, you would like to try to recreate this recipe, | | | | Dave's Jalapeno Puree! |
| but it seems to be a carefully guarded secret at your | | | | Ingredients: |
| favorite restaurant, so I guess you're on your own. | | | | 5 fresh jalapeno chilies |
| The first thing that you should try to do is identify | | | | 1/4 cup olive oil |
| the flavor that is eluding you. You may want to scan | | | | 1 1/2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice (fresh really |
| through some recipes and see what spices are | | | | adds to the flavor) |
| typically found in this dish. Give each spice a taste | | | | 1 tablespoons of water |
| individually and see if any of them hit the mark. If | | | | 1 clove of minced garlic |
| you are still having problems identifying a particular | | | | 1 cup packed fresh cilantro (again, the fresher the |
| spice, this may be an excellent time to take a friend | | | | better) |
| to dinner, and see if they have better luck identifying | | | | Roast the five jalapenos under a broiler or on the grill |
| the flavors. | | | | until the skin is a bit charred. Place them in a brown |
| If they do, hurray, but if they do not you may want | | | | bag for approx. 5-10 minutes. Peel off the skins (the |
| to go to another restaurant and order the same dish. | | | | brown bag should make the skins almost fall off). |
| If the dish has the same flavor, you can see if this | | | | Remove the stems from the jalapenos. Puree them |
| chef is a little more forthcoming. Also, don't overlook | | | | with the other ingredients in a food processor. |
| the wait staff. They generally are pretty well versed | | | | Season with a dash of salt to taste (don't overdue |
| in what's on the menu and its ingredients. Now that | | | | the salt). Enjoy! |