Category: Eat

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Eat

Lemon Cream Semifreddo

So what’s a “semifreddo” anyway? It actually means “half-cold” and it’s basically a frozen mousse that originated in Italy. And it’s amazingly delicious, especially on a hot summer Alabama day. This recipe comes from the February 2023 issue of Food & Wine magazine.

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Classic Almond Biscotti Recipe

Classic Almond Biscotti Recipe

Foundational recipe for a classic almond biscotti. From here you can riff on it to create other flavors and styles. The easy first riff is to substitute pistachios for the almonds. Enjoy with your favorite espresso!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Snack

Equipment

  • Electric mixer

Ingredients
  

  • 7 oz whole almonds
  • 2¾ cup all purpose flour
  • 1⅔ cup sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp anise seen
  • grated zest of lemon, lime, and orange
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350℉. On a baking sheet, toast almonds for 10-15 minutes until they smell nutty. Remove from oven and let cool.
  • Combine dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking powder, anise seed, and fruit zest – in a bowl. Using the paddle attachment, combine all ingredients at medium-low speed.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, and egg yolks, and vanilla extract.
  • With the mixer running on low speed, add the egg mixture to the bowl with the dry ingredients. When the egg mixture is almost incorporated, add the almonds and mix until just combined. Don't over mix.
  • Dump the dough onto a floured surface and incorporate any dry ingredients remaining in the mixing bowl. Don't over-combine. Ideally you want the dough to be somewhat workable.
  • Divide the dough into 3 equal parts. Roll each part into a log about 10"-12" long. You might find it helpful to use a dough cutter and use additional flour if the dough becomes too sticky. Place the logs on a parchment paper lined baking sheet(s) about 4" apart.
  • Bake logs at 350℉ for 45 minutes. They should be light brown and slightly soft. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 300℉.
  • Slice the logs into individual biscotti about ¾" thick. Lay the pieces on one side and bake for 10 to 15 minutes to dry them out, making sure not to burn them or turn them brown. Cool on a rack & store in an airtight container.
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Eat

Pickled Sugar Snap Peas

Pickled Sugar Snap Peas

Tangy and bright pickled sugar snap peas are a springtime treat and a great way to preserve a bumper crop of peas.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Resting Time 1 hour
Course Appetizer

Equipment

  • Mason jar

Ingredients
  

  • fresh sugar snap peas enough to fill the mason jar
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 2-3 sprigs fresh mint
  • 1 tsp peppercorns
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions
 

  • In a saucepan, heat the water, rice wine vinegar, salt, and honey, until completely dissolved.
  • Pick, trim, and rinse sugar snap peas and fill a mason jar with them, along with mint sprigs, peppercorns and red pepper flakes. Add lemon zest.
  • Pour the liquid into the jar until the peas are completely covered. Attach lid and gently agitate the jar so all the ingredients mix.
  • Leave in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.
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Eat

Clarifying Cooking Oil with Gelatin

Who knew, right? I’ve tried this technique multiple times now on some pretty nasty oil that’s cooked frozen french fries, fried oysters, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, and beignets and can attest that it does indeed work. The process is relatively simple:

1/2 cup water + 1 tsp gelatin per quart of used oil.

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Another Rib Rub Recipe

Another Rib Rub Recipe, Kansas City style

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Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup paprika
  • 1 tbsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper

Instructions
 

  • In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients together.
  • Make sure ribs are dry and the silver skin is removed. Add dry rub to ribs, coating them until the seasoning falls off, 30 minutes prior to cooking. Note that adding seasoning with salt too early will begin to cure the meat.
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Eat

Classic Shrimp Boil

Classic Shrimp Boil

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Course Main Course

Equipment

  • 1 Large 8-quart stock pot

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup Old Bay seasoning
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 4 quarts water
  • 1 can beer
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 8 red potatoes
  • 2 vidalia onions cut in wedges
  • 2 lbs coneceh sausage cut up
  • 8 pieces corn on the cob frozen
  • 4 lbs shrimp in shells

Instructions
 

  • In an 8-quart stock pot, bring water to boil, with seasoning, salt, bay leaves, and beer
  • Add potatoes and onions and cook over high heat for 8 minutes
  • Add coneceh sausage and cook for an additional 5 minutes
  • Add corn; continue to boil for 7 minutes
  • Add shrimp (still in shells) and cook for 4 minutes
  • Drain the cooking liquid and pour contents into several large serving bowls
  • Sprinkle with additional Old Bay seasoning as desired
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Eat

Pressure Cooker Chicken Wings

Pressure Cooker Chicken Wings

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Snack

Equipment

  • 1 Pressure Cooker In this recipe, I'm using the Ninja Foodi that comes with an air crisping lid.

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 lbs frozen chicken wings
  • 2 tbsp canola oil

Instructions
 

  • Pour water into the pot. Place wings in the pressure cooker basket and place in pot.
  • Set pressure to high & set time to 7 minutes. Select start/stop to begin.
  • When pressure cooking is complete, quick release the pressure. Carefully remove lid when the unit has finished releasing pressure.
  • Pat wings dry with a paper towel and toss with 2 tbsp of oil. If seasoning wings, now is the time to generously sprinkle with seasoning. Replace basket in pot.
  • Close the crisping lid. Select air crisp, set temperature to 390° and set time to 20 minutes. Select start/stop to begin.
  • After 10 minutes, open the crisping lid, lift basket and shake wings, add more seasoning if desired, replace basket and resume cooking.
  • When finished, transfer to a serving bowl, and serve hot with celery strips and blue cheese or ranch dressing.
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Eat

Pressure Cooker Short Ribs

Pressure Cooker Short Ribs

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Course Main Course

Equipment

  • 1 Pressure Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 6 bone in beef short ribs
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 1 onion peeled and chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 carrots chopped
  • 2 parsnips chopped
  • 2 celery ribs chopped
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • water

Instructions
 

  • Season short ribs on all sides with salt and pepper. Select sear/sauté on pressure cooker and set to high & select start. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in the pot until hot, approx. 3-4 minutes.
  • Add short ribs to pot and brown each side for 4 minutes until browned on all sides. Remove when done.
  • Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in the pot. Add the onions and sauté until softened, 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and cook another minute until soft and fragrant.
  • Add chopped carrots, celery, thyme, salt, and pepper to the pot and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add wine and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  • Add short ribs back into the pot, keeping them in one layer if possible. Add broth, sugar, and bay leaves.
  • Set pressure to high and set timer for 45 minutes
  • When pressure cooking is complete, natural release the pressure for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, quick release to vent and remove lid after unit has finished releasing pressure.
  • Carefully remove ribs and vegetables with a slotted spoon and transfer to a serving tray. Set sear/sauté to high and bring the sauce to simmer. Mix 1 tbsp cornstarch and 1 tbsp of water together in a small bowl or ramekin and add to the sauce to thicken to the desired consistency.
  • Serve short ribs over polenta or mashed potatoes with vegetables and sauce.
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Eat

Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp Scampi

Great recipe for a date night as well as a busy weeknight because it's easy to prepare and quick to make. I usually serve over angel hair pasta, with some crusty bread and a fresh garden salad. I typed this as a recipe for 2 people using 1 lb of shrimp, but it could probably be stretched to 3, depending on how much shrimp everyone eats.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Servings 2 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbs butter
  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 1 tbsp shallot, minced
  • 2-3 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • ½ cup chicken broth or white wine
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
  • ½ lemon
  • 1-2 tbsp chopped parsley for garnish
  • angel hair pasta

Instructions
 

  • Boil salty water, with oil added, to cook the angel hair pasta. I prefer the pasta cooked al dente, which for angel hair is pretty quick, 4-5 minutes max.
  • While the water is coming to a boil, preheat a pan over medium high heat, and chop or mince the shallot and garlic. Go ahead and chop up some fresh flat leaf parsley for the garnish while you're at it.
  • melt butter into oil in the pan. Sauté the shallot and garlic until tender and aromatic, about 2 minutes.
  • Add the wine or chicken broth, along with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, and allow to reduce by about half.
  • Add the shrimp and sauté until just pink and no longer translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Squeeze juice from half a lemon and add the parsley for garnish. Serve over angel hair pasta.
Categories
Eat

Sausage Plate with Potatoes and Cheese

I've made this sausage plate many times after getting the idea from the December 2021 issue of Food & Wine. I'm compiling it here because I keep forgetting where I saw it (in the Bottle Service article) so that I can quickly refresh my memory of what they included on the plate.
I like to use chicken sausages from Trader Joes, where there are a variety of flavor profiles to choose from, but any sausage you like will do. This is the kind of recipe where you basically compile a bunch of ingredients together to make a plate, so there's minimal actual cooking involved, other than grilling or pan frying the sausage and roasting or boiling the potatoes.
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Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

  • 1 package sausages
  • 1 lb baby yellow potatoes
  • 8 oz brie or other soft cheese for melting
  • assorted cured meats
  • salad greens
  • cornichons or pickles
  • baguette

Instructions
 

  • Slice round of brie or camembert in half, and then slice lengthwise so that you can place the rounds, rind-down and cut side up, on an oven-safe skillet for melting.
  • Roast of boil potatoes until ready to serve.
  • Grill or pan fry sausages until cooked, per instructions, usually about 12-15 minutes. I like to pan fry for 5-7 minutes and then poach in white wine, covered., until cooked through.
  • Arrange cooked sausage, potatoes, charcuterie, and salad on a rustic plate.
  • Arrange rack in top of oven and preheat broiler to high. Roast the cheese until pourable, usually 3-5 minutes. Pour melted cheese over the each plate.
  • Serve with a baguette or crusty bread.