Spicy Shrimp Ravioli

 

TALL Blonde is having great fun creating another ravioli filling.  Here she plays with shrimp that is inspired by Shrimp Scampi by using fresh garlic with a twist of adding hot Thai chili.  There is also no cracker meal and egg filler typically found in crab cakes.  These shrimp are elegant in their own right as they pack a pure protein punch.

Spicy Shrimp Soup

 

Soup:

At the turn of the century in America, before we had foods of convenience created in the late 20th century, soup was considered a French dinner table dish and served only within homes of great wealth and gentility.

TALLBlonde created this spicy shrimp stew-like entrée. It is healthy, packed with flavor and a perfect compliment with crusty and buttered French baguette. If you have an aversion to shellfish any white fish will work equally well. So let's make an elegant and high society meal tonight.

Fresh Tomato Clam Focaccia

 

TALL blonde has always been a bit intimidated by making Focaccia bread, don't ask me why?   I have baked bread many times but Focaccia just seemed so specialized I feared it would become my personal culinary failure.  Then I saw  ATK (America's Test Kitchen) make their version and this is it.

The bread is an ATK recipe, the flavor packed topping is mine.  The dough is very hydrated with 2 cups of cool water and is so soft it doesn't hold its shape.  This is a no-knead dough.  Once mixed allow it to rise, fall and rise again.  This long proofing method reduces the amount of tight gluten molecules and the finished bread is so tender it melts in your mouth. The fresh tomato-clam topping is very flavorful and you won't miss the cheese. Look at that airy fluffy crumb pictured above. I have to thank ATK for this easy, melt in your mouth recipe. My husband and I are not big eaters but we gobbled up the whole pan in one sitting.

There is one draw back, a stand mixer is preferred.  You can mix it yourself but lifting weights at the gym is an easier workout.

Lobster, Baby

 

Lobster cakes

This recipe is luscious,  buttery, delicate yet decadent and very Lobster-y!

I do have a ProTip cheat, wanna know wat it is? You will just have to watch TALLblonde three minute "how-to" videoTALLblonde three minute "how-to" video. And away we go. Serves 4.

3 small uncooked lobster tails, or 8 oz. cooked lobster

1 Tbl. salted butter

1 small shallot, finely diced

1/2 tea. lemon zest

1 Tbl. fresh Italian parsley, finely diced

2 tea. hot sauce

1 egg

Secret cheat

-> Watch this 3-minute HOW-TO You Tube Video (you'll be glad you did)

QUESTION: What do I do with excess stuffing? Easy, roughly spoon 1 inch drops of stuffing onto a cookie sheet and bake at 400-degress until the shaggy edges are browned and crispy.  These are fabulous as a topping to any hot bowl of soup especially chicken noodle.

• Calories: 180 kcal
• Protein: 17.94 g
• Fat: 5.31 g
• Carbohydrates: 13.55 g

TALL Blonde Style

TALL Blonde Bottoms Up

TALL Blonde Stories - Archive

Honey Pecan Shrimp : Just Like Fast-Food

 

There are those times when I am really craving fast-food, even if I have to make it at home. Here is TALL blonde's version of Honey Walnut Shrimp, but using pecan nuts instead of walnuts simply because pecans were available in my pantry and I am not a big fan of bitter walnuts. Feel free to substitute it back if you are a recipe purist.

Brazilian Moqueca

Moqueca is a flavorful and creamy fish stew from Brazil. Tomato and bell pepper based sauce with a twist. This includes coconut milk and heavily flavored with cilantro. I say this up front for those of you that do not care for it.  You can use any combination of shellfish and firm white fish.  I prefer to use equal amounts of cod and large shrimp. 

The tomato coconut sauce is brought to a rolling boil then turned off, add the fish and allow it to slowly cook in the residual heat in a lidded pot so the fish cooks evenly and not rubbery. You will also need the use of a strong food blender.

Mango Chutney (or Peach)

Truth be told I developed this recipe to reverse engineer my most favorite brand of prepared Mango Chutney and very difficult to source.  This recipe is an amalgam of different flavor profiles to make the best Mango Chutney to throw into any dish at the last moment without much additional preparation.  This is terrific on any pan seared or poached white fish,or as a glaze on roasted lamb or your favorite pork ribs.  Even drizzled on a basic cheese pizza can bring sheer joy and delight to your taste buds with this sweet and acidic exotic elixir. I am truly proud to bring you this TALLBlonde Mango Chutney recipe.  Get a clean quart-sized jar ready as you will only need to make this recipe once a year. While this may seem laborious on its surface I would like to think it is so good you will make an effort to make it twice a year to replenish your well used and well enjoyed supply. When you consider $8 for an 8 oz. jar this is so worth making.

Sweet Hot Mango Prawns

Here is another TALLBlonde 'Shelter-In-Place Food' recipe that I likely would not have tried without being shackled to the homestead.  Adapted from Jaime Oliver 5 Ingredients - Quick and Easy Sticky Mango Prawns.  That guy is a genius!

Shrimp Mushroom Rice - VIDEO

 

My mother used to ask if I was partly Chinese because I love eating rice so much. HA, wouldn't she know? I would flood my white rice with melted butter, hollow out a sourdough dinner roll and fill it with rice while at the dinner table.

In a two and a half minute video I can show you how to make this delicious and healthy rice dish. It is a meal, not just a side dish.  Remember health has the word "heal" and this dish will heal you craving for something satisfying.

Shirley Temple's Crab Cakes

Last night I was watching a 1-hour documentary from NBC News Bay Area series "Revelations". It is an ongoing beautifully scripted series on the various histories of California's Bay Area successful industries, celebrities, geography, tragedies, and historical news events.  Sports to earthquakes to wine and much more are covered.  As a real Homer, born and raised here I have watched every episode in the series even on topics of little interest to me such as surfing and every time I watch I learn something wonderful.

The most recent airing told the story of how the Bay Area contributed to the space race and the formation of NASA Ames Research facility.  BUT- as I Iove to cook a tiny little story appeared about Shirley Temple-Black's well guarded recipe for wonderful crab cakes, and here we go with Ms. Temple-Black's recipe in her own hand:

Luscious Shrimp Beans

Green Beans with Shrimp

Sweet, salty, crunchy, garlicky, umami, easy.
That's all you need to know about these quick and savory "not-your-mother's" green beans.