Last Call Recipes

BBQ'D CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• For the BBQ rub: Whisk together turbinado sugar, salt, granulated sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, granulated garlic, onion powder, cayenne, cumin and pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• For the cauliflower: Heat a grill for cooking over high heat and line a baking sheet with a large doubled piece of heavy-duty foil.
• Place cauliflower on prepared baking sheet. Coat entire head of cauliflower in butter using a pastry brush, then sprinkle 1/4 cup of the BBQ rub on the entire surface, including the bottom. Roll the edges of the foil up to create a rim around the cauliflower, then tent with more foil. Place baking sheet on grill and cook, covered, for 15 minutes. Carefully remove the foil lid and cook, covered, until just tender, another 25 minutes. Brush on BBQ sauce and continue to cook, covered, until nicely glazed, about 5 minutes. Cut up and serve with homemade ranch dressing, for dipping.
• Mix the mayonnaise, buttermilk, garlic, dill, honey and mustard in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container for up to one week.

LAST CALL

Steps:

• SHAKE all ingredients with ice and fine strain into chilled glass

SALTED BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHUNK SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Beat the butter, granulated and brown sugars and vanilla with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, scraping down bowl as needed. Add flour and mix just until combined. Add chocolate chunks and mix just until incorporated. (Mixture will look crumbly.)
• Divide dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper, waxed paper or plastic wrap and use your hands to form the dough halves into logs about 2 to 2 1/4 inches in diameter. Chill until totally firm, about 2 hours. I hastened this along in the freezer (30 minutes, tops) but did feel that the cookies were better after resting longer. (But do know that it works!)
• When you're ready to bake the cookies, heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 1 or 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Lightly beat the egg and unwrap the chilled cookie logs to brush it over the sides. Sprinkle the coarse sugar on the open wrapping and roll the logs into it, coating them.
• Using a sharp serrated knife, cut logs into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. You're going to hit some chocolate chunks, so saw gently, squeezing the cookie to keep it from breaking if needed. Arrange cookie slices on prepared baking sheets 1 inch apart (they don't spread much) and sprinkle each with a few flakes of sea salt. Bake until the edges are just beginning to get golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly before transferring the cookies you don't eat immediately to a wire rack to cool.

PIRATE'S LAST CALL

Steps:

• Place the cherries and sugar in the bottom of a 12 ounce glass, and mash with a spoon or muddler. Add the rum and ice. Pour in the soda, stir, and serve.