December 2016 Newsletter

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Beautiful Gems

Thank You, Great Spirit, for the beautiful gems You've placed in my pathway.
 Family, friends, all of nature to brighten my life each day.
 Thank You, Great Spirit, for the varied ingredients You've provided to compile life's recipe.
 Family, friends, all of nature; unique, yet pertinent, compiled to reveal a life of beauty.
 Thank You, Great Spirit, for Your Love and Guidance, that You shower upon us each day.
 Family, friends, all of nature; leaving a glimpse of You while crossing my pathway. 
Paula 2003

RECIPES:


SHRIMP & ANDOUILLE TOWER

Vodka Cream Sauce

2 Tbs. olive oil
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
2 tsp. chopped fresh oregano (or 1/2 tsp. dried)
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp. dried)
1/4 tsp. dried red chile flakes
1/3 cup homemade or low-salt canned chicken or vegetable broth
1/4 cup vodka
1/2 to 2/3 cup heavy cream
In medium skillet, heat olive oil, add onions & sauté until translucent. Add garlic & cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes, oregano, thyme, chile flakes, broth & vodka. Cook until reduced by half. Stir in cream & cook until thickened, 3-4 minutes.

Tomato Grit Cakes

2 cups chicken broth
1 can Rotel tomatoes w/green chiles
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1-1/2 cups quick cooking grits
Bring first 4 ingredients to a boil, stir in grits. Reduce heat & cook until thickened 10-15 minutes.
Stir in:
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Spray a small sheet pan with cooking spray. Spread grits onto pan, about 1" thickness. Refrigerate until firm.
Cut rounds with 2" biscuit cutter. Dredge in seasoned flour.
Heat 1/2" canola oil in large skillet. Add grit cakes in single layer. Cook until lightly Browned & heated through. Place on paper lined baking sheet & keep warm in 200 degree oven.

Sautéed Shrimp & Andouille

1 lb. 18-20 jumbo shrimp, peeled, deveined w/tail on
1/2 lb. andouille sausage, sliced on a diagonal
2 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. Old Bay seasoning

Season shrimp with Old Bay. Melt butter in large skillet. Add sausage and cook 5-7 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon. Add shrimp to same skillet & cook 2-3 minutes per side until cooked through. Do not over cook the shrimp.

On a bed of fresh baby spinach. Place a grit cake, top with a couple of shrimp & sausage slices. Repeat 1 or 2 more times. Spoon warm Vodka Sauce over the top & garnish with fresh parsley.

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Crab & Shrimp Dip

1-1/2 cups raw shrimp, chopped

8 oz. crab meat

1/2 cup diced red onion

1/2 cup diced green bell pepper

4 Tbsp. Butter

1 tsp. Seasoning salt

1 tsp. Smoked paprika

1 Tbsp.  Old Bay seasoning

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella

1 cup sour cream

2-3 Tbsp. Mayonnaise

Shredded Colby Jack cheese

Tortilla Chips for dipping 

In saucepan or skillet, sauté shrimp, onions, bell pepper with seasonings until onions & peppers are tender. Add cream cheese, mozzarella, sour cream & mayo. Stir until thoroughly combined and cheeses are melted. Fold in crab meat. Chill for 1 hour before serving. 

For individual servings, place 1/2-3/4 cup in ramekin, heat for 2 minutes in microwave, stirring halfway through. Top with shredded Colby jack cheese to garnish. Serve with tortilla chips for dipping. 

For serving full amount, place in casserole dish & bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes until bubbly. Top with shredded cheese & bake for 5 additional minutes. 

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Shrimp Lo Mein

1 lb. medium shrimp, thawed

1 large clove garlic, minced

1" piece of fresh ginger, minced

1/4 cup diced red onion

2 cups spinach/Swiss chard (or green of your choice, like bok  choy) This is just what I had on hand. 

2 cups broccoli florets

1/2 cup baby carrots sliced on the diagonal

1/2 red bell pepper, cut in strips

1 pkg. Hokkein stir fry noodles (use both packets in package)

1 tsp. Chicken base mixed with 1 cup water

1/2 cup TSang Classic Stir Fry Sauce

2 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil, divided

Heat wok with 1 Tbsp. Vegetable oil, add onion, garlic & Ginger. Stir fry for 1 minute, add shrimp & cook 1-2 minutes longer. Remove shrimp & aromatics to plate. 

Add 1 Tbsp. Oil to wok. Add broccoli, carrots, greens & bell pepper. Sauté 1-2 minutes. Add the chicken base & stir fry sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp tender, 3-4 minutes. 

Stir in noodles & shrimp with aromatics, cook 2 minutes longer, tossing to coat noodles with sauce. 

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Bang Bang Shrimp

Aka Paula's Mo' Betta Shrimp

Dipping sauce:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

3 Tbsp. Thai chili sauce 

1 Tbsp. honey

Dash of Kosher salt

Few grinds of coarse black pepper

1 Tablespoon water

Whisk together ingredients for dipping sauce.

Vegetable oil, for frying

1 cup buttermilk

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cornstarch

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1 1/4 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tail-on

Bibb lettuce leaves, for serving

Thinly sliced scallions, for garnish

Directions

Make the sauce: Mix the mayonnaise, chili sauce, honey, 1/4 teaspoon salt, black pepper, Old Bay and 1 tablespoon water in a large bowl; set aside.

Prepare the shrimp: Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees. Meanwhile, pour buttermilk in a shallow bowl. Whisk the flour, cornstarch and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper, Old Bay in another shallow bowl.

Working in batches, dredge the shrimp in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess, dip in the buttermilk then return to the flour mixture, turning to coat each side. Fry the shrimp in the hot oil until lightly golden, 2-3 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain the oil temperature. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon.

Arrange the lettuce in a shallow serving bowl or on individual plates. Top with the shrimp and garnish with scallions. Serve the dipping sauce on the side.

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   Cannoli Dip

Yield: 8 - 10 servings

Ingredients

15 oz Ricotta cheese, strained*

8 oz Mascarpone cheese

2/3 cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting if desired

1 cup heavy cream**

1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (chopped pistachios would also be good)

Directions

In a mixing bowl using a spatula, blend together Ricotta and Mascarpone cheese, while pressing mixture along bottom of bowl to smooth mixture. Fold in powdered sugar. In a separate mixing bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Add half of whipped cream to Ricotta mixture and fold until combined, then add remaining half and fold until combined. Fold in chocolate chips, reserving 1 - 2 Tbsp to garnish. Serve topped with remaining chocolate chips, dusted lightly with powdered sugar if desired and serve with graham crackers, strawberries, cannoli chips or fried flour tortilla chips dusted lightly with cinnamon.

*To strain I simply lay the ricotta over several layers of paper towels, then wrap and squeeze to remove excess moisture. You want to remove enough moisture that the Ricotta should hold it's shape pretty well so you may want to do this step twice.

**If you don't want the dip fluffy you can reduce the amount of heavy cream or even omit it (which will give it a texture closer to a traditional cannoli filling). If you do omit it you may want to reduce the powdered sugar by a few Tbsp.

Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

Serve with broken waffle ice cream cones or in mini puff pastry shells.