Taking a Bite out of the Big Apple

As we all know, New York City is home to many television networks such as ABC and NBC. Yesterday I had an amazing opportunity to be apart of the live studio audience in a recording of ABC’s top daytime television show The Chew! Aside from being a huge fan of the show, I was interested to see what really happens behind scenes, and how the cast and crew collaborate to create it.

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The experience was AWESOME. The show was on how to make “Breakfast for Less” which as a broke college student I thought was very helpful! Guests included American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and reality television personality Bobby Flay and actor Kevin Bacon. During the breaks, American chef and one of the hosts of The Chew – Carla Hall, ran up to the audience to dance with people (including myself) which I thought was very sweet and humbling of her.

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My ticket!

As a gift, we were given Bobby Flay’s new brunch cookbook. To bring in the Fall spirit, I thought I’d share a delicious and inexpensive Mini Pumpkin Churro with a chocolate-orange dipping sauce recipe from the book!

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Brunch @ Bobby’s by Bobby Flay

CHURROS:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, plus more for finishing
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 3/4 cup pure pumpkin puree
  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature
  • Vegetable or canola oil, for frying
  • 3/4 cup pure cane granulated sugar, for rolling

CHOCOLATE-ORANGE DIPPING SAUCE

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • Zest of one orange
  • teaspoon grated orange zest

DIRECTIONS: 

For the dipping sauce: Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan. Put the chocolate in a medium bowl. Add the hot cream to the bowl with the chocolate and let sit for 1 minute. Gently whisk until smooth. Stir in the orange zest. Keep warm.

For the churros: Whisk together the flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, the cloves, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, the nutmeg and salt in a large bowl. Bring 1 1/2 cups water, the pumpkin puree, butter and vanilla to a boil in a medium saucepan, whisking constantly.

Pour the pumpkin mixture into the bowl with the flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined; it will be thick. Continue mixing and add in your eggs, one at a time, until well combined. The dough should be thick and smooth. Place the dough into a pastry bag with a large star tip.

Heat 2 inches of canola oil in a high-sided saute pan until it reaches 350 degrees F on a candy or fry thermometer.

Pipe the dough directly into the pan in 3-inch pieces, cutting off the pieces with a scissor. Fry until golden and crispy, 4 to 5 minutes.

Stir together the sugar and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon in a medium shallow bowl. Transfer the churros to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet or plate to drain the oil and immediately toss in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Dip in the chocolate-orange dipping sauce to serve.

Wa-la!

Besides being starstruck, I noticed how much effort it takes into making a television production. From lighting, to audio, cameramen/women and so forth. FIT’s Advertising and Marketing Communications and Film and Media programs are definitely ones you would want to pursue in order to be in the studio everyday as I saw first-hand!

In the studio!
In the studio!

If you are currently in the city – take advantage of the big apple and take a bite! There are so many things to do and people to see in the city that never sleeps! If you aren’t, I encourage to pursue your education in the city and school that gives to endless opportunities that you will benefit from.

Until next time… xoxo – M