The short version of Top Chef...(GAME!!! POINTS!!!)

[U4ea]

OK, so last week when I got bored, I watched a few episodes of "Top Chef" on Bravo. The inspiration for the elimination challenge was intriguing. You see, they had a 7 course meal to prepare (one course per chef) around the topic: The 7 Deadly Sins. They were each assigned a sin and got to choose which of the 7 courses they'd like to create using their sin as a guide.

 

Their ideas are here:

http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef_2/recipes/episode_9/index.shtml

 

I posted this in the Crafter's Chapter of the Illuminator's Guild, but I'm terribly curious about what ya'll would do with it. I was originally going to post it here, first, but... I thought we'd create a game out of it. *grins* So, the first 7 people to sign up will be assigned a sin. You pick the course (you can't pick the same course as someone else, so make sure you post your course after I assign you your sin) and YOU create your dish for the challenge. The one I love most will get the most points. ;)

 

So... first seven! :D

[Anirfyan Dayen]

Ohhhh Me Me!!!

I need points!

I will come up with something great!!

[Safia al-Maaz]

I want to try! Am I allowed, or am I still too new?

[Taymist]

Of course you can try Saf :)

 

Me too please Lor, this sounds fun.

[F Horn of Valere]

so is this just something where you post how to make it and you judge after cooking it? Or am I way way off?

[KellySedai]

I'm definitely in on this one. ;) It sounds so fun!

[U4ea]

LOL, I'm not cooking it. :P I'm just reading what you'd post and the one with the best idea wins! :D

 

Alright, so I have 3 and I need 4 more...

 

And Safia, there's no such thing as too new around here. *grins* you're a member as soon as you post "I wanna join." ;)

[Safia al-Maaz]

Ha. Ok good cause this sounds like fun! Any particular time this is starting? Or just as soon as there are enough people?

[U4ea]

I'd like to have enough people, but we'll start it mid-week, at the latest. Whether we have enough people or not...

 

*eyes people and drags 'em in...*

[U4ea]

Alright, we'll start without them. *shakes her head*

 

This is how this works, I'll post your name, then your sin, then your course.

 

The courses go like this:

First Course: appetizer

Second Course: soup

Third Course: salad

Fourth Course: sorbet to cleanse the palate

Fifth course: meat, such as poultry

Sixth Course: meat, red meat or fish

Seventh Course: dessert

 

 

Alright, here ya go!

Anirfyan- gluttony- sixth course

Safia- wrath- second course

Taymist- lust- seventh course

Kelly- envy- first course

Frenchie(?)- vanity- fourth course

Lor- greed- fifth course

 

For the record, I picked the two hardest ones I could think of for myself. LOL Have fun! :D

[Taymist]

Okies my dessert course - Lust - consists of the following... a traditional Scottish Cranachan and a Squidgy Chocolate Log. So, here's the recipes:

 

Cranachan

 

Preparation time less than 30 mins

 

Cooking time less than 10 mins

 

Serves 4

 

Ingredients

 

570ml/1 pint double cream

85g/3oz porridge oats

7 tbsp whisky

3 tbsp honey

450g/1lb raspberries

fresh mint, to garnish

 

 

Method

 

1. Toast the oats in a frying pan, being careful not to burn them.

2. Lightly whip the cream until it reaches the soft peak stage, then fold in the whisky, honey, oatmeal and raspberries.

3. Serve in dessert glasses garnished with a few raspberries and mint.

 

 

Squidgy Chocolate Log

 

This is a cake that has no flour in it – so it's extremely light and moist. It's also a bit wicked, with its chocolate mousse and whipped cream filling! During the rolling up, the cake will crack, but this is quite normal and looks most attractive.

 

Serves 8

 

Ingredients

 

6 large eggs, separated

5 oz (150 g) caster sugar

2 oz (50 g) cocoa powder

 

For the filling:

 

8 oz (225 g) plain chocolate

2 large eggs, separated

8 fl oz (225 ml) double cream

 

To finish:

 

icing sugar

 

Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 4, 350°F (180°C).

 

You will also need a tin 11½ x 7 inches (29 x 18 cm) and about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep, oiled and the base lined with silicone paper (baking parchment).

 

Method

 

Begin by making the chocolate filling. Break the chocolate in pieces into a basin and add 2 tablespoons of water. Now place the basin over a saucepan of barely simmering water and wait for the chocolate to melt. After that, remove from the heat and beat it with a wooden spoon until smooth. Next beat the egg yolks, first on their own, then into the warm chocolate mixture. Let it cool a bit then whisk the egg whites till stiff and fold them into the chocolate mixture. Cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for about an hour.

 

Meanwhile you can get on with the cake. First place the egg yolks in a basin and whisk until they start to thicken, then add the caster sugar and continue to whisk until the mixture thickens slightly – but be careful not to get it too thick. Now mix the cocoa powder into the egg yolk mixture, then, using a clean whisk and bowl, whisk the egg whites to the soft peak stage. Next carefully cut and fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture – gently and thoroughly – then pour the mixture into the prepared tin.

 

Bake the cake on the centre shelf for 20-25 minutes until springy and puffy. When the cake is cooked, remove it from the oven but leave it in the cake tin to cool (it will shrink quite a bit as it cools but don't worry, that's normal).

 

Then when the cake is quite cold, turn it out on to an oblong of silicone paper which has been liberally dusted with icing sugar. Peel away the cake tin lining paper from the bottom of the cake (which is now facing upwards), then spread the chocolate mousse filling over the cake. Next whip the cream softly and spread it over the chocolate filling. Finally, gently roll up the cake to make a log shape. This will serve eight people and, although it's unlikely that there will be any left, you can cover any remaining cake with an upturned basin and keep it in the refrigerator. As an alternative, an 11 oz tin of sweetened chestnut purée (crème de marrons) can replace the chocolate mousse.

 

 

I absolutely defy anyone not to lust after this dessert :twisted:

[Taymist]

What happened with this one? Did everyone do their courses???