March 30th - Mardi Gras - Cook: Patrick

I knew I was going to have a busy Tuesday as I had scheduled a beautification session with my hairdresser.   Not sure how it happened but I left with a full head of my natural hair color.  Due to the fact that I was going to be a little short on cooking time, I needed recipes that would be fairly quick to prepare but still very flavorful.  I decided upon a salad, pasta and dessert.

The Menu:

Protein Plus (Salad) 

Shrimp Fra Diavolo with Linguine

Frozen Raspberry Whip with Strawberries (This will link you to a historical blog that contains the recipe- This was delicious and very easy to make - so I had to repeat the recipe)

The salad recipe was from a cook book that Toffer purchased for me called Super Salads.  There are a bunch of salad recipes in here that have various benefits from healing to mood boosters.   

Protein Plus Salad:

Ingredients:

300g Cottage Cheese

Ground Pepper

1 Stalk of Celery - thinly chopped

1/2 Green Pepper - Cubed

10 Radishes - Quartered

100g of Walnut pieces

Directions:

Pour Cottage Cheese into a bowl.  Add pepper to taste, celery, green pepper, radishes.  Mix to combine.  Sprinkle with walnuts.

This salad was quite tasty and filling.

Shrimp Fra Diavolo with Linguine - From Cooks Illustrated:
If you don't have The New Best Recipe cookbook from Cooks Illustrated, you truly must get a copy.  None of these recipes have ever failed me.

Serves 4 to 6 - so you know I had to double the recipe. 

One teaspoon of red pepper flakes will give the sauce a little kick, but add more to suit your taste.

Ingredients

1 pound medium-large shrimp (preferably 31 to 35 count), peeled (and deveined, if desired), preferably Gulf or Mexican Whites

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or more, to taste)

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 1/2 tablespoons table salt

1/4 cup Cognac or brandy

4 tablespoons minced garlic (about 12 medium or 8 large cloves)

1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained

1 cup medium-dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc

1/4 cup minced fresh parsley leaves

1 pound linguine or spaghetti

Instructions

1. Bring 4 quarts water to rolling boil, covered, in large Dutch oven or stockpot.

2. While water is heating, heat 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet over high heat for 4 minutes. Meanwhile, toss shrimp, half of red pepper flakes, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in medium bowl. Add shrimp to skillet and quickly spread in single layer; cook, without stirring, until bottoms of shrimp turn spotty brown, about 30 seconds. Off heat, stir to turn shrimp, and add cognac; let stand off heat until cognac warms slightly, about 5 seconds, and return pan to high heat. Wave lit match over skillet until cognac ignites; shake skillet until flames subside, transfer shrimp to medium bowl, and set aside.

3. Off heat, cool now-empty skillet 2 minutes; return to burner and reduce heat to low. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil and 3 tablespoons garlic; cook, stirring constantly, until garlic foams and is sticky and straw-colored, 7 to 10 minutes. Add remaining red pepper flakes, 3/4 teaspoon salt, sugar, tomatoes, and wine; increase heat to medium-high, and simmer until thickened and fragrant, about 8 minutes. Stir in reserved shrimp and accumulated juices, remaining 1 tablespoon garlic, and parsley and simmer until shrimp have heated through, about 1 minute longer. Off heat, stir in remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.

4. While sauce simmers, add linguine or spaghetti and remaining 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water, stir to separate pasta, cover, and cook until al dente; reserve 1/3 cup pasta cooking water and drain pasta. Transfer drained pasta back to now-empty Dutch oven or stockpot; add about 1/2 cup sauce (without shrimp) and 2 to 3 tablespoons reserved pasta cooking water; toss to coat. Divide pasta among warm serving bowls, top with a portion of sauce and shrimp, and serve immediately.

Julie is always such a sweetheart; she always calls to find out if the cook for the evening needs anything.  I'm usually quite diligent with my list but this time I happened to forget to purchase some fresh bread!  It cost a whole $2.00 but the loaf was a nice and needed touch to serve with dinner!  Carbs - Schmarbs!

We watched the Biggest Loser as always.  Darn it!  Red Girl is back!  Hate her!  Get rid of her!  However, I must give her credit were credit is due.  She's the only one there playing the game.  She had voted to get rid of Sam when they had the chance, all the other idiots voted off someone that would never have been a threat to winning the grand prize!  DUH!  Most o' dem Americans are sure smart!

Thank GOD for PVR's.  We managed to watch 2 hours of idol in about 30 minutes.  Fast forward through the crap singers that should never have even made the top 100 (Not a typo).  Heck, if Jude was a younger American woman and auditioned, they would have loved her unique voice and she'd probably be in the top 10. 

JULIE - YOU OWE US RECIPES!

Jude is making dinner next week!  I sure hope she takes Monday off and surprises us with something wonderful.

Have a Safe and Happy Easter Weekend!  Drive safely!