Mustard seeds add a spicy heat to condiments.
Mustard is by definition a condiment prepared from the seeds of the mustard or Brassica plant as it is known by scientists. However, the variations of mustard are constantly changing, even though it seems a lot of people still think of mustard simply as the bright yellow hot dog condiment introduced in 1904 at the World's Fair. Applejack, is an old-fashioned liqueur that colonists made by freezing their apple wine and scraping off the ice repeatedly until the alcohol was concentrated and no more ice formed. The sweetness of the applejack liqueur blends with the spiciness of the mustard seed, forming an appetizing condiment to set off your roasted meats, cheeses, toasts, pretzels and any other food you feel like spreading it on.
Instructions
1. Save your coffee grinder for coffee and buy a separate one for spices.
Pour your mustard seeds into a spice or coffee-bean grinder. Pulse it for several minutes until the seeds are ground into a fine powder, being careful not to breathe the mustard dust when you open the lid.
2. Apples and mustard complement each other like yin and yang.
Heat equal parts of apple-cider vinegar and applejack liqueur in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Spoon the ground mustard, honey and sea salt into a quart mason jar. Pour the hot liquid over the ingredients and stir briefly. Cover the mixture and cool it to room temperature.
3. Garlic and ginger add depth to homemade mustards.
Cure the mustard for at least a week at room temperature before refrigerating it. Stir the mixture every few days and add a little more applejack if necessary to moisten the seeds, since they will continue to absorb the moisture.
4. Sea salt wakes up the mustard in your mouth.
Test the mustard after two weeks to see if the bitterness of the freshly ground mustard has dissipated.
5. Use interesting jars to hold your homemade mustard.
Pour the two-week-old mustard and any extra garlic or fresh ginger into the blender. Turn it on "High" and add more applejack if necessary until the mixture is creamy.
6. Spoon the prepared applejack mustard into interesting containers and serve it as a spicy condiment for roasted meats or add applejack mustard to your favorite spreads.
Tags: applejack liqueur, applejack mustard, applejack necessary, ground mustard, more applejack, more applejack necessary