Martian Dream Car Recipes

Steps:

• Additional items you will need: food-safe dremel for carving details, latex balloons, hot knife, protective clothing for using the isomalt.
• For the Pink Sugar Cookie:.
• In a stand mixer, beat butter, sugar, salt, egg and milk. Slowly incorporate flour until dough ball forms. Split into two balls and chill until ready to use.
• Heat oven to 375F and roll out dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet using powdered sugar to prevent sticking. Cut out shapes using stencils made from card stock and save scraps for the next batch. Bake 9 to 11 minutes until edges just begin to brown. Remove from oven and smooth by placing parchment paper over the top of freshly baked cookies and press down flat with a slightly smaller baking sheet. Once cool, place on paper towel to absorb any butter before assembling.
• For the Royal Icing:.
• Beat egg whites until frothy. Add a cup of powdered sugar at a time until incorporated. Once mixed, place in a piping bag and use to glue cookies and add interior and exterior embellishments!
• For the Isomalt Windshield:.
• Fill latex helium balloon with water to the size you want your dome to be (don't fill it too much, though). Let out any and all air COMPLETELY (this is important as the water is what distributes the heat and prevents the balloon from popping). Tie off the balloon, blot dry with a paper towel and place right side up on a smaller glass or ramekin set on a large sheet of parchment paper.
• On the stove, heat two cups of isomalt on low/medium heat until completely liquid (About 10-15 minutes) Add food coloring and allow to rest until all bubbles have gone and it's cooled down a bit.
• Cover every inch of your body and make sure no one is around that could be affected if the balloon should pop. Gently pour isomalt syrup over the water-filled ballon and allow to set for half an hour.
• Once the isomalt is set, hold the ballon over the sink and cut a small hole with a blade to allow the water to drain without getting the isomalt wet (it will dissolve if it comes in contact with water). Once the balloon is empty, peel it out and use a hot knife or heated blade to cut off the drips until you have a smooth-bottomed dome!
• Any fogging of the candy glass can be easily remedied by hitting those spots with a torch for just a second!. Apply to your cookie craft and use royal icing to lock the pieces into place.

Steps:

• Slice the cucumbers.
• Slice rings of onion.
• Add all ingredients and toss with vegetables.
• Make well in advance. The liquid from the cucumbers blend and make a sauce.

Steps:

• Fill a 2-quart saucepan halfway with water and bring to a boil.
• Meanwhile, slit chiles lengthwise, then stem, seed, and devein.
• Add chiles to boiling water and remove from heat. Let stand, uncovered, until chiles are softened and have turned a brighter red, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast annatto and cumin seeds in a dry small heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring, until fragrant and a shade darker. Transfer to a bowl to cool, then grind seeds to a powder in a grinder or mini food processor.
• Transfer chiles to a blender, then add 1 1/2 cups soaking liquid, ground seeds, garlic, vinegar, and 1 tablespoon salt. Blend until smooth, at least 2 minutes. Pour sauce into a large (3 to 4 -quart)shallow container and cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle meat with 2 teaspoons salt, then add to sauce and turn meat to coat using tongs or your hands (wear protective gloves to prevent staining). Marinate meat, covered and chilled, at least 8 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Holding both ends of a banana leaf, drag leaf slowly over a burner on medium-high heat until it changes color slightly and becomes shinier. Repeat on other side of leaf, then toast remaining banana leaves.
• Cut off tough edges from banana leaves with kitchen shears, then cut 8 (11-inch square) pieces from leaves, discarding remainder. Put each leaf on a 12-inch-square piece of foil, then arrange 2 pieces of meat and some sauce in center of each leaf, using all of sauce, and top each mound with a bay leaf (or if using California leaves, with half a bay leaf). Fold in all 4 sides of each banana leaf to enclose meat, then wrap tightly in foil. Arrange packages, seam sides up, in 1 layer in a large roasting pan and add just enough water to measure 1/8 inch in bottom of pan (about 2 cups).
• Bake adding more water as necessary to prevent pan from becoming dry, until meat is tender and falling off the bone (open 1 package to test), about 3 1/2 hours for beef or 2 1/2 hours for lamb.
• Discard foil and bay leaves and serve meat in banana leaves if desired (do not eat banana leaves).

Steps:

• Combine everything in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.