Mardi Gras Gourmet Club

Click here to view slideshow

Virgin Hurricane

(For an individual serving)

• 3 oz. orange juice
• 3 oz. pineapple juice
• 1 oz sweet & sour mix
• ½ oz. grenadine

 Mix juices and sweet & sour mix. Chill. Pour over ice. Top with grenadine. Garnish with fresh pineapple & oranges.

Crab Cakes

• 1 pound crabmeat, picked free of shells – or used canned
• 1/3 cup crushed crackers 
• 3 green onions, finely chopped
• ½ cup finely chopped bell pepper
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• ½ lemon – juiced
• ¼ tsp. garlic powder
• Dash of cayenne pepper

In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients, except for the flour and peanut oil. Shape into patties and dust with flour.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When oil is hot, carefully place crab cakes, in batches, in pan and fry until browned, about 4 to 5 minutes. Carefully flip crab cakes and fry on other side until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Serve warm with preferred sauce.

Alternative Crab Cake – without the Crab – “Zucchini Cakes”

• 2 1/2 cups grated zucchini
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning TM
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil for frying

 In a large bowl, combine zucchini, egg, and butter or margarine. Stir in seasoned crumbs, minced onion, and seasoning. Mix well.

Shape mixture into patties. Dredge in flour. In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium high heat until hot. Fry patties in oil until golden brown on both sides.

Fabulous French Bread

Dissolve together:

• 2 ½ cups warm water
• 2 TBS sugar
• 2 TBS yeast

 Add:

• 2TBS oil
• 1 TBS salt
• Let salt dissolve in mixture.

 Then add: ½ of 6 cups of flour. After adding the first 3 cups, the dough should be smooth before adding any additional flour. Slowly add each additional cup making the mixture as smooth as possible. It is a stiff dough.

Let rise until doubled. Punch down.
Divide dough in half, with a rolling pin, roll into a rectangle.
From the long horizontal side, roll into a loaf, pinching the ends as you go.
Let rise about ½ hour.
Cut slits in the top, wash with an egg.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Mardi Gras Salad with Creole Thousand Island Dressing

• Yellow Bell Peppers, Cut in ¼ inch strips
• Chopped Green Leaf Lettuce
• Seedless Cucumber, Thinly Sliced
• Red Cabbage, Thinly Sliced

In large bowl toss above ingredients together.
Serve with Creole Thousand Island Dressing

Creole Thousand Island Dressing

• 2 cups mayonnaise
• ½ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup sweet pickle relish
• 1 TBS. Creole Mustard
• 2 tsp. hot pepper sauce
• ½ tsp. Creole seasoning

In a small bowl, combine above ingredients. Cover and keep refrigerated.

Spicy Jambalaya

• 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 3 TBS Creole seasoning, divided
• 2 pounds large fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails left on)
• ¼ cup olive oil, divided
• 1 pound andouille sausage, cut into ½ inch thick slices
• 2 cups chopped yellow onion
• 1 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 3 cups long-grain white rice
• 1 TBS. minced garlic
• 2 quarts chicken broth
• 2 cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
• 2 TBS. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. hot pepper sauce
• 3 bay leaves

In a medium bowl, combine chicken and 1 TBS. Creole seasoning, set aside. In another medium bowl, combine shrimp and 1 TBS Creole seasoning, set aside.

Heat 2 TBS. olive oil over medium high heat. Add chicken and sausage; cook for 10 – 12 minutes, stirring frequently, or until browned. Remove chicken and sausage from pan and set aside.

Heat remaining 2 TBS olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, peppers, celery and 1 TBS. Creole seasoning. Cook for 5 minutes, or until tender. Add rice and garlic, cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Add reserved chicken, sausage, chicken broth, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, salt, hot pepper sauce and bay leaves, stirring to combine.

Reduce heat to medium low. Cook, covered for 30 – 35 minutes, stirring occasionally until rice is tender.
Add reserved shrimp; cover and cook for 5 more minutes or until shrimp are pink and firm. Discard bay leaves. Serve as a main course or a side.

Remoulade

• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup chopped onion
• ½ cup chopped green onions
• 2 TBS. chopped garlic
• 2 TBS. prepared horseradish
• 3TBS. Creole whole grain mustard
• 3 TBS prepared yellow mustard
• 3 TBS ketchup
• 3 TBS. chopped parsley leaves
• ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and process for 30 seconds. Use immediately or store. Will keep for several days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Buttermilk Fried Pork Chops

• 4 center cut pork chops (about ½ inch thick)
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 ½ cups seasoned flour*
• 2 cups flour
• 2 TBS salt
• 1 TBS celery salt
• Cooking oil

Place chops in a ziploc bag and pour in the buttermilk. Squeeze and mush together to make sure the chops are thouroughly covered. Let stand in the buttermilk in the fridge for several hours.

Dredge in seasoned flour. Put chops on a cooling rack and let sit for a few minutes before cooking.

Heat oil in a large heavy frying pan to medium high heat. (I put in enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan, but not so much that they are deep fried).

When oil is hot, add chops and let cook uncovered for about 2 minutes. Turn down heat to medium low and let cook until bottoms are browned and juices accumulate on top.

Gratin Dauphinoise

• 3 pounds potatoes, thinly sliced
• 6 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated
• ¾ pint double cream
• Salt
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• 2-4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 ounce butter

Grease a heavy-bottomed baking dish with some of the butter.

Layer the potato slices in the dish, slightly overlapping each other, seasoning lightly with the salt and pepper, and sprinkling with cheese on each layer.
Sprinkle with cheese on the last layer.

Put the cream, garlic and sprigs of thyme in a pan and bring them gently to a boil, then remove the thyme and pour the hot cream over the potatoes.
Dot the top with remaining butter, and cheese, if desired.

Bake for about 1 -1 ½ hours at 300, or until the potatoes are soft and the top is crispy and golden brown.

Southern Green Beans & Pecans

• 1 pound Fresh green beans
• 4 ounces bacon
• ¼ cup pecan halves
• 1 roasted red pepper
• 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/8 tsp. freshly ground pepper
• Salt
• 2 TBS. butter

Place a small pot of water over high heat to boil. Drop the trimmed green beans into the boiling water for about 5 minutes, until tender, but crisp.

While the green beans are cooking, brown the bacon and nuts in a large sauté pan over medium heat. When the green beans are done, drain them and add them to the sauté pan.

Add the pepper strips, garlic powder, pepper, salt and butter. Sauté together for 2 minutes on high

White Hot Chocolate

• 1 ½ cups cream
• 3 cups whole milk
• 8 oz white chocolate
• ½ tsp. vanilla
• ½ tsp. almond extract

Warm milk and cream. Add chocolate, stir until melted. Add vanilla & almond extract.

Keep warm, but do not boil.

Beignets

• 1 pkg. Active Dry Yeast
• 1 ½ cups Warm Water
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 7 – 8 cups all purpose flour
• ¼ cup soft shortening

 In a large mixing bowl, sprinkle yeast over water; stir to dissolve. Add sugar, salt, eggs, and milk. Blend with blender. Add 4 cups flour, beat smooth. Add shortening and beat in remaining flour.

Cover with plastic wrap and let chill overnight. Roll out on floured surface to ¼ inch thick. Cut into squares. Deep fry for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned on both sides.

Serve warm sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Southern Pralines

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• ½ cup evaporated milk
• 2 TBS. butter
• 1 ¼ cups pecan halves
• ¼ tsp. vanilla

Grease a baking sheet.

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sugars and milk. Bring to a boil. Stir in butter, pecans and vanilla.

Heat, without stirring, to between 234 and 240 degrees.

Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.

Beat until thickened, the drop onto prepared surface and let rest until completely cooled.

Comfort Food Gourmet

Click here to view slideshow

Lemon Spritzer

• 1 Tablespoon citric acid
• 1 Tablespoon lemon extract
• 2-2 ½ cups sugar (to taste)
• 2 – 2 liters 7 up or Sprite

Mix ingedients well. Be sure to dissolve sugar. Refrigerate. Serve with Ice. Add any garnishes – raspberries, lemon slices, lime slices, cranberries.

Erika discovered this from her caterer friend about 15 years ago We’ve been using it at baby showers and weddings ever since.

Snow Man Cheese Ball!

What could be better than a ball of cheese? Have Fun!

• 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• 6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
• 2 cartons (4 ounces each) whipped cream cheese
• Assorted fresh vegetables or crackers

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce and pepper sauce until smooth. Stir in the cheddar cheese, bacon and onions. Shape into balls . Cover with whipped cream cheese - can wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled. Garnish as desired.

This recipe started it’s life in our family a few years ago. It has appeared as a pumpkin, Frankenstein, and others. Just tint the whipped cream cheese and off you go!

Wedge Salad

• 8 oz cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Ground black pepper to taste
• 1 head iceberg lettuce, cut into 8 wedges

Toppings

• Grape tomatoes, halved
• Green onions, thinly sliced
• 8 oz crumbled blue cheese
• Diced apples
• Dried cranberries
• Hard boiled eggs
• Bacon crumbles
• Dark chocolate chunks

Combine blue cheese, sour cream, buttermilk, mayonnaise, vinegar, olive oil, sugar, garlic, and pepper in a bowl; blend using a hand mixer; chill until serving. (Better if made the night before!)
Build the salad by placing 1 lettuce wedge on each of 8 plates. Drizzle equal amounts of dressing over each wedge. Scatter desired toppings loosely over wedge.

Our sister Rachel’s favorite salad to bring to family functions

Rolls- Grandma’s best!

This is comfort food royalty

Start 5 hours before serving

• 1 small potato – cooked and mashed or use potato flakes. It needs to equal 1 cup
• 2 Tablespoons yeast dissolved in 1 cup warm water and 1 teaspoon sugar
• 4 cups evaporated milk (can use 2c evaporated milk-2c water)
• 4 tablespoons melted butter + extra to dip dough=yummy!
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 4 eggs
• Flour – a lot

Note: I do this in my kitchen aid with mixer and then dough hook
Boil potato, mash (or flakes). Dissolve yeast in water and sugar. Let sit 5 minutes- ish Mix together yeast mixture, warm milk, butter, sugar, salt, eggs and potato. Add just enough flour to make a soft mix (about 3 cups). Mix just until blended and let rest for 10 minutes. Add about 7 more cups of flour ( enough to make a soft dough – you can handle this dough). Turn into a large bowl sprayed with pam. Cover and let rise to double 3 times. Dip roll into melted butter and place on pan. Let rise once more in pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Makes 4 dozen + rolls.

This recipe is our Great Grandma Safrans’ (from Germany). Every important event in our lives have been accompanied by these!

Grilled Halibut

Just for the Halibut!:)

Marinade (4 steaks worth)

• ¼ cup lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup white vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon lemon pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt

Mix ingredients together and place in a Ziploc bag.
Place fish carefully in bag, coat all steaks. Let marinate for 1 hour in fridge.
Grill on medium high for 10 – 12 minutes. Flipping only one time. Fish should be flakey and opaque all the way through.

Tip: Spray the bottom of a grill basket with oil and cook fish in basket. If you don’t have a basket…buy one. Otherwise coat the grill with oil before igniting.
This is a new recipe…we couldn’t resist pairing it with cranberry relish – Hope you like it!

Cranberry Relish

Fresh and Yummacious!

• 1 orange
• 2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1 cup diced red delicious apple
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 (8 ounce) can unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained

Cut unpeeled orange into 4 pieces, remove seeds.  Position knife blade in food processor bowl.  Add orange, and process until finely chopped.  Transfer to a non-aluminum bowl.

Place cranberries in processor bowl, process until coarsely ground.  Add cranberries, apple, sugar, and pineapple to chopped orange; stir well.  Cover and chill at least 8 hours.  Yield: 12 (1/4 cup) servings.

This is one of Mike’s Family recipes….try it with turkey!

Sweet Potato Delishesness!

( Is that a word?)

• 3 large cooked (boiled) sweet potatoes – peeled
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping

• 1/3 cup melted butter – no substitute
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoon cinnamon (I use pampered chef cinnamon plus)
• Chopped pecans

Combine and mash the first five ingredients. Pour mix into a baking dish. Top mixture with melted butter. Mix flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over potatoes. Top with chopped pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

A Thanksgiving Tradition for many years - Elfrieda Style (Erika’s Mom)