Month: April 2017

Spicy Shrimp Pho

First had this Vietnamese noodle soup in San Francisco, The portions they served were a little large, but awesome.

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Spicy Shrimp Pho (http://chefsavvy.com/spicy-shrimp-pho/)

Prep time 10 mins Cook time 20 mins Total time 30 mins  Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces whole wheat thin spaghetti (I substituted rice noodles for a less heavy Pho)
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon jalapeno, minced
  • 2 tablespoons green onion, sliced thin
  • 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce (or soy sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 cup button mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 12 ounces large shrimp, uncooked
  • ⅛ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped

Instructions

  1. Cook spaghetti until al dente (or prepare rice noodles according to package)
  2. Meanwhile add oil to a large pot or dutch oven.
  3. Add garlic, jalapeno and green onions. Saute for 1-2 minutes.
  4. Pour in chicken stock, fish sauce and sesame oil. Bring to a simmer.
  5. Stir in mushrooms and shrimp. Simmer until the mushrooms are tender and the shrimp is fully cooked.
  6. Take off of the heat and stir in pepper, lime juice, and cilantro.
  7. Divide the noodles among the 4 bowls and pour the soup on top.
  8. Garnish with extra lime wedges and cilantro if desired.

 

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Lobster Thermidor

Just before I get to the recipe, I want to say thank you to the 6000 visitors as of today, who have checked out this blog. You give me inspiration to keep going just when I think I should move on to something else!!

The following recipe was posted by Rachel Ray who has her own cooking show.  I almost hate to say that I was clearing out the freezer and found small lobster tails asking to be used for dinner…LOL. I know, its a little rich, but consider it for a special dinner, make that ROMANTIC dinner…hope you will have an opportunity to try it.

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Lobster Thermidor (Rachel Ray)

Ingredients

4 (6 to 8-ounce) packaged lobster tails,  jumbo shrimp or prawns can be substituted

  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 1 small white onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • Splash dry white wine or dry sherry
  • 1/2 cup milk, eyeball it
  • 1/3 cup grated white cheddar
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika or crab boil seasoning, recommended: Old Bay
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan
  • 2 tablespoons bread crumbs
  • Lemon wedges, for garnish
  • Handful parsley leaves mixed with 2 cups baby greens, for plate garnish

Directions

Bring a pot of water to a boil, 3 or 4 inches deep. Add lobster tails to the water and boil 7 to 8 minutes. Drain and shock under cold water to cool. Use kitchen scissors to cut away soft underside of tails. Remove meat and save the shells*, arranging them in a shallow casserole dish. Chop the cooked meat on an angle into chunks.

Preheat your broiler to high.

Heat a medium skillet and a small saucepot over medium heat. To the small saucepot, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add finely chopped onion and cook 3 to 5 minutes until very soft. To the skillet, add remaining 2 tablespoons butter. When the butter melts, add chopped lobster meat and sauté.

Add flour to sauce pot with onions and cook together another 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in wine or sherry, then milk. Remove sauce from heat and stir in cheddar cheese and paprika or crab boil. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over lobster meat and stir to combine. Pour lobster into and over the shells* in a casserole dish and top with Parmesan and bread crumbs. Broil on high until golden, 2 or 3 minutes. Serve each tail, spilling over with lobster bits in sauce, on a bed of mixed baby greens and parsley with wedges of lemon along side.

  • I did not use the shells…so much for my presentation…

Caramelized Leek, Parmesan and Ham Quiche

Still time to prepare this wonderful quiche for Easter morning, friends!Its not all that difficult, if you start with a refrigerated crust. Make sure to really clean the leeks well, as they often have dirt hidden inside!! Serve with some ice fresh strawberries…

Could also be good to use up that leftover ham after Easter!

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Caramelized Leek, Parmesan and Ham Quiche

 Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 oz. Ham
  • 1 Leek
  • 1 Egg wash
  • 2 Eggs,
  • 2 tbsp Brown sugar
  • 1 Salt and pepper
  • 1 tsp Olive oil
  • 1 tbsp Red wine vinegar
  • 10 slices Parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup Cheese, grated
  • 1/3 cup Cream
  • 1/3 cup milk

Directions

Prepare the caramelized leek. Clean the leek and peel off the top layer of skin. Cut in half length-ways then finely slice width ways. Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over a medium heat and gently cook the leek for a few minutes until soft. Add the brown sugar and red wine vinegar. Stir for another couple of minutes until the sugar has dissolved and set aside to cool.

Prick the bases of the pie shell with a fork about a dozen times evenly around the base. Place on a tray and into the oven for the time recommended on the package. 

Remove the pie shell from the oven. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes. Remove, brush the shell with egg wash and cook for a further 3 minutes.

 Remove the quiche from the oven. Evenly distribute the shaved ham and caramelized leek evenly over the crust.  Sprinkle over the grated cheese. In a mixing bowl whisk together the 2 eggs, ⅓ cup of milk and ⅓ cup of cream. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a jug and carefully pour into the pie shell. Cook for 20 minutes.

  • Cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing to serve.

 

 

Marinated Red Onions

This is an older recipe which I did not realize I had never posted before. I served this with my Slow Cooker Pulled Pork which was posted last year I believe. I served the pork on a ciabatta bun topped with a little sauce, the red onions and slices of avocados. Hope you might try this semi-Mexican dish. FYI…this recipe will last a couple of weeks in the fridge. Drain off the liquid before serving.

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And here is the recipe…

Marinated Red Onions (LCBO Food and Drink)

1 lb. red onions sliced (2 large)

2 cups white wine vinegar

¼ cup cilantro sprigs

½ cup lemon OR lime juice

½ cup orange juice

½ tsp. salt

 Put all of the ingredients together and marinade for at least 24 hours. The acid cooks down the onions… remember to drain it off before serving.

Serve with my Slow Cooked Pulled Pork!!

 

Roasted Garlic and Asparagus Soup

My mom always instructed me to snap off the bottoms of the asparagus stalks when I was a kid as they were never tender and I still follow that rule. She always threw them away in the garbage! I have started to save the end pieces by putting them in a freezer bag for latter use…i.e. soup! This latest find for soup combines two strong flavours  – asparagus and garlic. This recipe can be served cold by putting it in the fridge the next day OR serving hot. The former is more of a asparagus gazpacho. The latter is great with some shaved Parmesan cheese added after serving.

I would be interested in your opinion…

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Roasted Garlic and Asparagus Soup

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds asparagus, trimmed
  • 10 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
  • 3 cups low sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 cup 2% milk
  • cracked pepper and chopped parsley, for garnish

 Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450F.
  2. Line a baking sheet with foil and set aside.
  3. Toss asparagus and garlic with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Arrange asparagus and garlic on prepared baking sheet in one layer.
  5. Roast for 12 minutes, or until asparagus is soft, stirring once.
  6. Remove from oven and transfer asparagus and garlic to a blender. (I never blend it all as I like it a bit chunky).
  7. Add broth and milk.
  8. Blend until smooth. Depending on how large your blender is, you might have to do this part in batches.
  9. Transfer soup to a soup pot.
  10. Warm soup over medium-high heat, thinning with more broth by 1/4 cupfuls, if desired.
  11. Season with salt and pepper. Continue to taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly.
  12. Ladle into bowls.
  13. Garnish with parsley and serve.