Cooking with Jack Daniels
Tennessee's famous sippin' whiskey, Jack Daniels, has many uses - team it with cola, mix it in a cocktail or cook-up a sizzling three-course meal.
In Lynchburg, Tennessee, Mr Jack Daniels used to have his noonday meal at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House in the late 1800s. A hundred years or so later, Jack's great-grandniece, Miss Lynne Tolley, took over the running of the boarding house and the tradition of providing real home-cooked food using Jack's infamous liquor.
Here are some of Miss Mary's recipes...
Tennessee Onion Soup
Tennessee's take on French onion soup has a nice kick to it - a perfectly satisfying starter and a sure sign of good things to come.2 tablespoons oil
6 large onions, sliced
85ml Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
a quarter teaspoon thyme
3 pints (1.7 litres) beef broth
6 slices French bread, toasted
350g grated smoked Cheddar cheese
Heat butter and oil in large soup pot. Cover and cook onions over low heat for about 30mins, stirring occasionally until it is a rich brown colour. Stir in Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey, thyme and broth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 15-20 minutes. Ladle into ovenproof bowls. Top each with a slice of French bread and a sprinkle of cheese. Grill until cheese is melted and bubbly. Makes 6 servings.
Pan-Fried Porterhouse Steaks with Lynchburg Pan Sauce
The key to success is a big cast-iron skillet. "It'll cause a good bit of smoke in the kitchen, but it's worth it," say the cooks at Miss Mary's.Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
65ml Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey
Sprinkle the dry steaks with salt and pepper. Heat 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 10 minutes. Coat with oil. Place steaks in pan and cook until seared and brown on one side, about 5 minutes. Turn and cook 5 minutes on the other side for medium-rare; 6 minutes for medium. Remove from skillet and rest on a board while you make the special Lynchburg pan sauce.
Melt butter in skillet; stir in Worcestershire sauce and whiskey. Bring to a boil; cook 1-2 minutes. Slice steaks, if desired. Pour sauce over steaks and serve with vegetables and potatoes of your choice. Makes 2 servings.
Jack Daniel's Pumpkin Pie
If you can fit a third helping of Jack's finest in, how about some boozy pumpkin pie?110g brown sugar
50ml honey
half teaspoon vanilla
65ml Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
350g pumpkin (cooked and pureed)
23cm (9 inch) piecrust, pre-baked for 10 minutes
Preheat oven to 210°C (425°F). Lightly beat eggs. Add sugar, honey, vanilla and Jack Daniel's. Whisk until frothy. Stir in cream and pumpkin. Mix until smooth. Pour into piecrust. Bake for 10 minutes then lower the temperature to 180°C (350°F) for an additional 30 minutes or until pie is set. Serve warm or cold, naked or with mascarpone cheese or vanilla ice cream.
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