Bombbrine Recipes

CHERRY BOMB CHOPS

Steps:

• Submerge pork chops the saucepan with the brine for 20 minutes. Remove and pat dry with paper towels.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Season the chops on both sides with kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper. Arrange the chops on a baking sheet and put in the oven. Roast the chops until an instant-read thermometer registers 90 degrees F, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, while the chops are in the oven, in a medium-size saucepan, add the canned cherries, 3/4 of a cup of Madeira, the orange zest, ginger, agave and a pinch of salt. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat to a strong simmer and reduce the sauce by half.
• Once the chops have reached 90 degrees F, remove them from the oven.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat, add the grape seed oil and heat until shimmering. Add the chops, being careful not to crowd them, and cook for 4 minutes per side. They will be golden and have a hard crust. Transfer them to a serving platter and tent with aluminum foil to keep warm. In the same skillet that the chops were cooked in, add the remaining 1/4 cup of Madeira and deglaze the pan over medium-high heat. Stir in the balsamic and cherry sauce and reduce by half. Turn off the heat, add the butter and stir to combine. Pour the cherry sauce over the chops and serve.
• In a large saucepan over high heat, add the water and remaining ingredients, except the ice. Stir until the salt dissolves. Remove from the heat, add the ice and stir until cool.

BOMB BRINE

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in a large non-reactive bowl, then add one gallon of water and stir until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved. Pour over the meat and marinate in the fridge for at least 24 and up to 48 hours.
• Make sure the ENTIRE bird is covered with the liquid, if not, you will need to turn it every few hours. Discard brine after done marinating, and gently pat the bird dry before cooking. The bird can be rubbed with oil and seasoned with your favorite spices after, or just cooked 'as is'.

BOMBOLONI

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in a small bowl with the cold water. Place the flour, eggs, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until the ingredients are dispersed, about 5 seconds. Add the dissolved yeast and beat for about 2 minutes on medium-high speed, until the dough is well combined and holds together. Add the cubed butter and mix for another 5 to 7 minutes, until the dough no longer sticks to the side of the mixing bowl. If the dough is overly sticky, you may need to add about 1 tablespoon of flour. It is usually necessary to scrape down the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula to encourage the dough to form a ball and come away from the side. Remove the paddle and pat the dough into a ball at the bottom of the bowl. Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest at room temperature for about 20 minutes. The dough will rise slightly.
• Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and punch it down to remove the air. Spread it onto a lightly floured baking sheet with your fingers and flatten the dough until it is about 3/4-inch thick. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight. It will slightly proof.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place on a lightly floured work surface. Flatten it slightly with your hands. Cut the dough into circles with a 1 1/2-inch diameter cutter, keeping the cuts as close together as possible. Pat any leftover dough into a rectangle and cut more circles out of it. (At this stage, the Bombolini can be frozen for up to 1 week if well wrapped in plastic wrap. Allow the Bombolini to defrost in the refrigerator before proofing.)
• Place the Bomboloni on a parchment covered baking sheet lightly sprayed with vegetable cooking spray. Space them 2 inches apart. Loosely cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap. Allow the Bomboloni to proof at room temperature for about 2 hours, until they have doubled in size and appear light and full of air.
• Heat the oil about 15 minutes in an electric fryer or in a 4-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat to 320 degrees F. If using a saucepan, check the temperature with a candy thermometer. Fry 5 to 7 Bomboloni at one time, any more than that and the oil temperature will dip down too much and they will not fry evenly. Fry for a total of 3 to 5 minutes, until they are golden brown. Turn to evenly fry each side. As they fry, they will increase in size. Remove the Bomboloni with a large slotted spoon and set on a paper towel to drain the excess oil.
• While the Bomboloni are still warm, roll them in a bowl filled with granulated sugar until evenly coated. If desired, fill the Bomboloni with a jam-filled pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain tip. Use a sharp paring knife to make a small hole on the bottom of each Bomboloni. Place the tip of the pastry bag in the hole and squeeze until the Bomboloni feels heavy. It is best to fill the Bomboloni while they are still warm and the dough soft and pliable. Serve immediately.

BLONDIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Line the pan with parchment, leaving an overhang, then butter the parchment.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside. In another bowl, whisk the melted butter and brown sugar together until combined. Add the vanilla and eggs and stir to combine. Fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, being careful not to overmix. Fold in the walnuts and 1 cup of the chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Scatter the remaining 2 tablespoons chocolate chips over the batter.
• Bake until the top is a light golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes, being careful not to overbake. Let cool on a wire rack. Remove the blondies from the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into rectangles, sprinkle with flaky salt and serve.