Best Mean Chefs Apple Brine Recipes

MEAN CHEF'S MAPLE BRINE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in large stainless steel pot.
• Bring to simmer, remove from heat and cool completely Remove turkey neck and giblets.
• Rinse turkey well.
• Put turkey in cold brine.
• Use a stainless, plastic or other non-reactive container.
• Add water if brine doesn't cover bird.
• Refrigerate 2- 4 days, turning bird twice a day.
• To cook: remove turkey from brine, pat dry, brush with olive oil.
• Either grill or cook in oven.
• It is also advantageous to leave the dry turkey in the refrigerator for at least 4 hour or overnight, uncovered.
• This completely dries out the skin to insure a crisp finish.
• DO NOT stuff turkey.

GRILLED APPLE BRINED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium-high heat, add 1 cup of water, apple juice, pepper, salt, sugar and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer making sure to stir occasionally to dissolve the salt and sugar. Remove from heat and add to a large bowl with 2 cups of ice.
• Once the brined has cooled add pork chops. Brine for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
• Remove pork from brine, rinse with cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
• Heat grill or grill pan over medium heat. Sprinkle 1 side of the pork chops with 1/2 the grill seasoning. Place chops on hot oiled grill, seasoned side down. Sprinkle the topside with remaining grill seasoning. Grill chops for 4 to 5 minutes per side. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

APPLE-BRINE

Steps:

• Dump all the ingredients into a large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for 15 minutes. Strain the brine into a bowl, cool to room temperature, and then chill completely in the refrigerator before using.
• Add chops to the brine and let them marinate in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours. Pull them out and dry them off before using in a recipe.
• Brining Pork Chop
• The new leaner style pork is missing something-fat. That great old conveyor of flavor and succulence has been bred right out of the loin meat of my favorite critter. Lean meat may be healthier, but I found that eating a pork chop was just not worth tiring my jaws out. That changed when I got turned on to brining. During the process the protein strands in the meat unwind and then get tangled up with other unwound strands, allowing them to trap moisture inside these new little webs. This results in juicier meat with better texture after cooking. Things get even better if you add some sugar to the brine, which boosts the caramelized flavorof the grilled surface of the meat. Give it a try and see for yourself how adding a brining step to your pork prep will have you lickin' your chops again.

MEAN CHEF'S APPLE BRINE

Steps:

• bring apple juice, sugar and salt to a boil over high heat, skim foam, let cool to room temperature.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• Brine turkey for 24 hours.
• Quantity is sufficient for a 14 pound turkey.

APPLE-SPICE BRINE FOR TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• In saucpan stir together, apple cider, brown sugar, salt, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary and pepper.
• Bring to a boil and stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Remove from heat and add water and allow to cool.
• Place poultry in a container large enough to hold the poultry (I used plastic container for a turkey breast).
• Pour cooled brine over poultry and seal. (If using a ziplock bag, squeeze out as much as possible before sealing).
• Refrigerate for 3-4 hours.
• PREPARE STOVE-TOP SMOKER:.
• Add 2 tablespoon Alder wood to bottom of stove-top smoker.
• Line drip tray with foil and spray.
• Remove turkey from brine and place on rack.
• Use closing lid if possible, otherwise fashion an aluminum tent for the cover.
• Follow stove-smokers manufacture instructions for smoking poultry.

APPLE BRINE

Steps:

• Dump all the ingredients into a large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for 15 minutes. Strain the brine into a bowl, cool to room temperature, and then chill completely in the fridge before using.
• Add chops to the brine and let them marinate in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours. Pull them out and dry them off before grilling, or using in a recipe.
• Makes enough for 4-6 pounds of pork.

MEAN CHEF'S PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Use a 10-inch (measure across the bottom) cast iron pan. (although this cake can be made in a round cake pan, it is better if you use cast iron).
• Drain pineapple slices and place on paper towels to absorb moisture. (you will need 8 whole slices; the other 6 will be cut in half).
• Whisk or stir the flour, baking powder, and salt together just to blend; set aside.
• In a separate bowl, stir the vanilla into the creme fraiche or sour cream; set aside.
• Melt 2 oz of butter in the cast iron pan.
• Add the brown sugar and bourbon (if using) and cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the sugar melts.
• Place 1 whole pineapple slice in the center of the pan and 7 whole slices surrounding it.
• Place the half slices side by side against the sides of the pan, the two cut edges down touching the brown sugar.
• Place pecan halves in the middle of each pineapple slice and in the gaps between the fruit.
• Place remaining butter (4 oz.) and the granulated sugar in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or use a hand-held mixer, and beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.
• The butter and sugar must be beaten until light and fluffy; don't rush it- the process can take 3 to 4 minutes with a heavy-duty mixer and 6 to 8 minutes with a hand-held mixer.
• Reduce speed to medium adding eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Working with a rubber spatula, carefully fold in dry ingredients and creme fraiche alternately- 3 additions of dry ingredients, 2 of creme fraiche. (you will end up with a thick batter).
• Spoon batter over pineapple and smooth the top by spreading the batter with an offset spatula.
• Put the cast iron pan in the oven and bake for 20 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of cake comes out clean (test in a couple places to be certain).
• As soon as the cake is removed from the oven, turn it out onto a round plate large enough to hold the cake.
• If any of the fruit sticks to the skillet, use a small spatula to place it back on the cake.
• NOTE: The cake can be kept wrapped in plastic at room temperature overnight.