Retro Dining Mad Men Style
Well kids tonight is the night! The premiere of Mad Men's final season is upon us! What to serve while retro dining? We'll pull out the TV trays and stack them high with Polynesian Pork and chocolate cherry pudding cake. Chocolate pudding cake is a Poor Man's Molten Lava Cake (remember fifteen years ago when those were such a big deal? Who realized that our moms had been whipping them up since they flipped open their first copy of Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook?). And what Mad Men viewing would be complete without a house cocktail? Find your inner Don, Peggy, Betty, Joan, Pete, or Roger (heck, even little Sally can shake a fine beverage): Vodka gimlets all around!
Grilled Polynesian Pork
Combine equal parts pineapple juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce and pour half over 1-inch cubes of pork. Marinate 30 minutes. Lace pork on bamboo skewers.
Toss 1-inch pieces of green pepper, red onion, pineapple, and mushrooms in olive oil; generously season with salt and pepper. Lace on bamboo skewers.
Over medium-high heat grill skewers until done.
In sauce pan bring reserved marinade to simmer and slowly reduce to syrup. Serve with skewers over rice with additional soy sauce and cashews.
Chocolate Cherry Pudding Cake
For the batter:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
7 maraschino cherries, drained and patted dry
In mixing bowl whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
In separate bowl mix together milk, oil, vanilla, and almond. Add to flour mixture and stir until well blended.
Pour mixture into an ungreased 2-quart casserole. Push cherries into batter, about 1 1/2 inches apart.
For the pudding:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cup boiling water
In mixing bowl whisk together sugar and cocoa. Slowly add boiling water and whisk until well combined. Gently pour over batter.
Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 25 - 30 minutes or until cake has risen to top of casserole and is set.
Serve hot or chilled, garnished with cream or whipped cream.
Grilled Polynesian Pork
Combine equal parts pineapple juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce and pour half over 1-inch cubes of pork. Marinate 30 minutes. Lace pork on bamboo skewers.
Toss 1-inch pieces of green pepper, red onion, pineapple, and mushrooms in olive oil; generously season with salt and pepper. Lace on bamboo skewers.
Over medium-high heat grill skewers until done.
In sauce pan bring reserved marinade to simmer and slowly reduce to syrup. Serve with skewers over rice with additional soy sauce and cashews.
Chocolate Cherry Pudding Cake
For the batter:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
7 maraschino cherries, drained and patted dry
In mixing bowl whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
In separate bowl mix together milk, oil, vanilla, and almond. Add to flour mixture and stir until well blended.
Pour mixture into an ungreased 2-quart casserole. Push cherries into batter, about 1 1/2 inches apart.
For the pudding:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cup boiling water
In mixing bowl whisk together sugar and cocoa. Slowly add boiling water and whisk until well combined. Gently pour over batter.
Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 25 - 30 minutes or until cake has risen to top of casserole and is set.
Serve hot or chilled, garnished with cream or whipped cream.
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