Red Lobster Shrimp Gumbo

Ingredients :

1-1/2 cups melted butter

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups chopped onions, cut into 3/8" pieces

1 cup chopped green peppers, cut into 3/8" pieces

1 cup chopped celery, cut into 3/8" pieces

1 lb. Andouille sausage, cut into 1/2" pieces

1/2 lb. Tasso smoked meat, cut into 1/2" pieces

1 tbsp. paprika

3 tbsp. "Emeril's Bayou Blast" seasoning

2 tsp. gumbo file, ground

1 tsp. ground Ancho pepper (optional for extra heat)

10 cups cold chicken stock or broth

2 tbsp. brown sugar

2 bay leaves

1/2 lb. shrimp, cleaned and peeled with tails removed

Salt and Pepper to taste

How To Prepare :

1. Combine the melted butter and flour in a large heavy pot, stirring constantly over media heat. Cook until the roux is a dark, chocolate brown color (about 20 to 25 minutes).

2. Add the chopped onions, green peppers, celery, Andouille sausage and Tasso smoked meat. Cook, stirring continuously, until the vegetables are very soft (about 8 to 10 minutes).

3. Add the paprika, the "Emeril's Bayou Blast" and the gumbo file. If you want a spicier dish, add the Ancho pepper. Cook for about 1-2 minutes.

4. Add the cold chicken stock or broth. Stir until the roux mixture and the broth are well combined.

5. Add the bay leaves and the brown sugar, bringing the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.

6. Add shrimp to the soup approximately 15 to 20 minutes prior to serving (size of the shrimp will determine how long they need to cook). Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serves :10-12

Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Ingredients :

1 1/2 cups Creme-filled Cookie Crumbs*

2 tablespoon Margarine, Melted

32 oz Cream Cheese, Softened

1 1/4 cups Sugar

3 each Large Eggs

1 cup Sour Cream

1 teaspoon Vanilla

6 oz Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips**

1/3 cup Strained Raspberry Preserves

6 oz Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

1/4 cup Whipping Cream

* Cookie crumbs should come from 18 Cream Filled Cookies that have been finely crushed. 

** This 6 ozs of Chocolate chips should be melted and cooled slightly.

How To Preoare :

1. Combine crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch spring form pan. Combine 24 ozs of cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in sour cream and vanilla; pour over crust. 

2. Combine remaining 8 ozs cream cheese and melted chocolate, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add Red Raspberry preserves; mix well. Drop rounded measuring tablespoonful's of chocolate cream cheese batter over plain cream

cheese batter, do not swirl. 

3. Bake at 325 degrees F., 1 hour and 25 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. 

4. Melt chocolate pieces and whipping cream over low heat stirring until smooth. Spread over cheesecake. Chill. 

5. Garnish with additional whipping cream, whipped, raspberries and fresh mint leaves, if desired.

Source - Cheesecake Lovers Cookbook

Meatloaf Supreme

Ingredients :

2 cups soft white bread pieces (crusts removed)

1 cup milk

2 pounds ground beef sirloin

2 eggs

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

3/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

1 cup finely chopped fresh carrots

1 cup finely chopped celery

1 large clove garlic, minced OR pressed

Brown Gravy (recipe follows)

How To Prepare :

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine bread pieces and milk and let stand 10 minutes.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine beef, eggs, salt, garlic pepper and allspice. Mix well. Stir in bread mixture until thoroughly blended; set aside.

3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil until hot. Add onion, red pepper, carrots, celery and garlic and cook until onions are soft but not browned. Stir into beef mixture, mixing well.

4. Shape into a large 12x5-inch loaf in a foil-lined 9x13-inch baking pan.

5. Bake in preheated 375-degree oven 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake 60 to 70 minutes longer.

6. To serve, cut meatloaf in 1 1/2-inch thick slices. Serve topped with Brown Gravy.

Serving : 08 

Brown Gravy

Ingredients :

4 tablespoons fat from baking pan OR 4 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

1 1/2 cups beef stock

1/2 cup milk

salt and pepper to taste

dash of ground allspice

How To prepare :

1. In a medium saucepan, combine 4 tablespoons fat from baking pan OR 4 tablespoons butter. 

2. Heat over medium heat until hot or butter is melted. 

3. Stir in 4 tablespoons flour until smooth and mixture turns golden brown, stirring constantly.

4. Remove from heat and whisk in 11/2 cups beef stock and 1/2 cup milk. Return to heat and stir until

sauce comes to a boil.

5. Boil 1 minute. 

6. Add salt and pepper to taste and a dash of ground allspice.

Chocolate Espresso Kahlua Mousse

Ingredients :

1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup Nutella spread

2 tablespoons Kahlua coffee liqueur

Whipped cream, for garnish

Toasted nuts or peanut brittle, for garnish

How To Prepare :

1. In a small bowl, stir the espresso powder into the heavy cream until dissolved.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl, add the espresso mixture to the Nutella, then add the Kahlua. Mix with a whisk for 1 minute and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Continue beating until softly whipped. Spoon into a serving bowl or glasses and refrigerate for 2 hours.

3. Before serving, garnish with whipped cream and toasted nuts or peanut brittle.

Serves : 4

Source: LA Times

Crusted Seared Tuna

Ingredients :

 

1 good quality square tuna steak

black, white and red sesame seeds

4 tomatillos clean and peeled

2 roasted garlic cloves      

1/2  avocado   

1/4 cup of champagne vinegar or any other vinegar

1 jalapeño without seeds or veins         

1/2 Spanish onion       

1 tablespoon of cilantro minced       

1 tablespoon of parsley minced        

4 leaves of basil        

1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil      

Salt, pepper 

How To Prepare :

1. Coat the tuna steak on all sides with the sesame seeds.

2. Add olive oil to a saute pan over medium.  Then add the tuna steak and sear for 2 minutes on each side.  Let rest a minute and then slice the tuna.

3. In another saute pan over medium heat add some olive oil.  Saute the onions for 2 minutes.  

4. In a blender, combine the tomatillo, onions, roasted garlic, avocado, jalapeno, cilantro, parsley, basil and champagne vinegar. Blend until smooth.  Transfer to a saucepan and heat on medium. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Serve the tuna with the tomatillo sauce.

Serves : 2

Source: Good Day New York

Cheese Ravioli with Fresh Vegetables

Ingredients :

1 lb mini round cheese ravioli, 

 cooked according to package directions

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 clove fresh garlic, chopped

2 7-oz jars roasted red peppers, sliced in strips

1 whole, medium fresh zucchini, sliced in half moons

1/2 cup black olives, sliced

1 cup chicken broth

Grated Parmesan to taste

Fresh chopped parsley for garnish

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

How To Prepare :

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in saucepan. Add roasted red pepper strips, zucchini moons, garlic and black olives. Cook while stirring for 2 minutes or until the zucchini reaches desired texture. Add chicken broth and let sauce simmer for 2 minutes. Season with salt and cracked black pepper to taste.

2. Drain cooked ravioli well. Toss ravioli in a small amount of olive oil to prevent sticking. Add cooked ravioli to sauce. Blend well, allowing sauce to cover ravioli.

3. Place sauced ravioli on serving plate. Top with grated Parmesan cheese and parsley.

Serves : 4

Source: Olive Garden

Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients :

1 garlic clove

1/2 sweet onion

2 cups plain tomato sauce

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon salt

Pinch of sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 zucchini, cleaned and skin left on

1/2 bell pepper, seeded.

1/2 cup broccoli florets

1/2 cup eggplant

1 carrot

How To Prepare :

1. Sauté garlic and onion in a saucepan until tender.

2. Add tomato sauce and spices. Allow to simmer.

3. In a blender, puree zucchini, pepper, broccoli, eggplant, and carrot until smooth.

4. Add vegetable puree to tomato sauce and allow to simmer for 15 minutes, until flavorful.

5. Serve over child's favorite pasta, or anywhere else you would normally use spaghetti sauce.

Serves : 4