Red-Eye Poutine

here's to Dad...

When I think about my dad and the things he likes they include: house projects (he's the ultimate fixer-upper), TV (he's master of the controller), hamburgers/hot dogs/chicken patties (he's pretty much a simple meat guy), and coffee. When I was growing up that was a very familiar smell to me every morning and on evenings when we had family or friends over. I have grown to love coffee myself (must have every morning to function!) and that started at a very young age. So, for this next series I'll be focusing on coffee and at the same time creating Dad-worthy dishes.

This dish is an appetizer my dad is sure to love - poutine. Poutine is a Canadian-born concoction of french fries, gravy, and cheddar cheese curds. If you've never had it or heard of it, check out this article. I'm twisting up this classic dish by adding coffee. I was inspired by "red-eye gravy," which is typically served with ham. My dad loves gravy and biscuits and loaded cheese fries, so I think I have a winner here. Celebrate Dad today, make this dish. Here's how...

Ingredients - Serves 6-8
1 (32 oz.) Bag Frozen French Fries
4 T Unsalted Butter
1/4 C All-Purpose Flour
1 Shallot, minced
1 Clove Garlic, minced
2 1/2 C Low-Sodium Beef Broth
1 1/2 C Brewed Coffee
2 T Ketchup
1 T Cider Vinegar
1 T Black Pepper Corns
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1 tsp. Kosher Salt
10 oz. Cheddar Cheese Curds

Directions
Make the fries: Follow the baking (or frying) instructions on the bag. If baking, keep the oven warm. If not, heat the oven to 425 degrees.

Meanwhile, make the gravy: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and flour and whisk to make a roux. Add the minced shallot and garlic, cook for 1-2 minutes. Slowly add the beef broth and coffee, whisking. Whisk in the remaining ingredients, except for the cheese curds. Increase the heat to med-high and bring to a boil. Cook, whisking, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Keep warm. Optional: Strain the gravy to remove the peppercorns.

Make the poutine: Put the fries in a shallow dish, top with the gravy and cheese curds. Put into the warm oven and bake until warmed through and the cheese begins to melt, 8-10 minutes. Serve immediately. Make this Dad-worthy meal today.

Happy Father's Day Dad!