An Edible "Happy Hour"

For a very brief second we are turning the wheel in a different direction at the Piccolo Gourmet. Normally we would blog an ethnic dish near and dear to our hearts. However, in the spirit of Charlie's experiment last week, (the invention of a "risotto dulce",) David grabbed the testing reins this week.

All week he could not shake the random idea of combining cocktails with baked goods. Nothing like his tia's rum cake, or anything along those lines ... something completely different. He finally decided to make a "brittle", and this idea was cemented by answering the question: "How could I bring a mixed drink into the office without being fired"? You must burn off the alcohol. Thus, the brittle idea was born.

A person's heart stretches across multiple people, places, and things. Mexico, in paticular, is near (and dear) to David's heart. That said, for this dessert, tequila became the alcohol of choice. The idea was to make an edible margarita but to burn off the alcohol to make it "work appropriate". Here is what he did:

1. Make a toffee: Melt 1 and 1/2 sticks of butter in a saucepan with 1 cup of sugar.

2. Stir constantly on medium heat. The mixture will bubble.

3. When the toffee finally turns toffee-colored, add the contents of a single, mini José Cuervo Blanco (or your favorite tequila). Beware! The mixture will splatter some, so stand back from your stove. But continue to stir from a distance. All will be well.

4. Pour this onto a cookie sheet covered in waxed paper. Let cool.

5. While the toffee is cooling, zest 1 lime and juice half of it.

6. Temper (thanks for the exact word, Jenny) 6-8 oz. of white chocolate.

7. Add the lime zest and juice to the chocolate.

8. When the toffee is COMPLETELY cooled, gently wipe off the grease remaining on the toffee from the butter.

9. Spread the tempered chocolate-lime mixture over the cooled toffee.

10. While still tacky, sprinkle some coarse sea salt granules over the top. The idea is to make a two-layered brittle. Break apart to form little bites and share with friends.

The Piccolo Gourmet will experiment more with this idea, and / or other related material. In the meantime, get out in your kitchen and experiment!! Have fun and get creative.