Yes the first weekend of the playoffs and a few surprises. Not who won but how wintry it
was up here in the “hood” everyone was holed up at home with all the chimneys smoking
away watching the games. A few hearty souls ventured out for early morning walks as the
clouds that were down on the ground frosted your eyebrows and chilled you to the bone. So
as I was on my walk yesterday I just kept thinking about the recipes I was going to make
for Saturdays games. But what about Sunday, well I Would have to give that some thought.
Like I said a few days ago some simple easy non traditional recipes are perfect for a change
of pace. So I decided on these.
Paprika spiced almonds – simple and quick a great snack to munch on to start the game
with a glass of wildfire Trinity or a good pilsner beer. The aroma of these nuts being
toasted will really get your crowds appetites rolling.
Chop salad - A hearty, chunky dish that will hold up through both games and actually gets
better as it marinates.
Corn crab and shrimp chowder with JK chardonnay - hot and hearty with warm sourdough
bread. You best double up on this recipe so it lasts through both games, and it doesn’t hurt
to have some left over for Sunday’s games.
AND THEN the Desert – Creme de Menthe pie – a spectacular ending to a great afternoon
of football
PAPRIKA SPICED ALMONDS (makes 1 lb )
1 1/2 tbsp course sea salt
1/2 tsp smoked sweet Spanish paprika
4 cups blanched almonds
2 tbsp olive oil
Grind the salt and paprika to a fine powder with a mortar and pestle. place the almonds on
a baking sheet and toast in a preheated oven, @ 400 degrees for 8 to 10 mins, stirring
occasionally until golden brown. Watch carefully after 7 mins as they can burn quickly, pour
quickly into a heat proof bowl. Drizzle over about 1 tbsp oil to start and stir to coat all nuts,
add more oil if necessary. sprinkle with salt and paprika mixture and stir again. serve at
room temperature.
Chop Salad ( serves 8 )
2 medium cucumbers peeled and chopped
1 small red onion chopped
1 large red pepper chopped
1/2 lb cherry tomatoes sliced in half
1 15oz can baby corn drained and chopped
1 15oz can pitted black olives sliced
1 15oz can artichoke hearts chopped
1 can garbanzo beans drained
1 6 to 8 oz stick hard salami sliced into 1/4 ” rounds and then quartered.
1 head iceberg lettuce – chopped really course and kept separate.
1/2 lb cheddar cheese cubed OR 1 5oz container blue cheese crumbles
Mix all chopped ingredients together in a large bowl. Pour on dressing (recipe below) and
toss to coat, refrigerate until ready to serve. To serve put a handful of chopped lettuce in a
bowl and then spoon on chopped salad, salt and pepper to taste. Add some cubed cheddar
or blue cheese crumbles on top.
DRESSING
6 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 4 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 tsp dijon mustard salt
and pepper, whisk all together. increase proportionally if more dressing is needed.
CORN CRAB AND SHRIMP CHOWDER
6 slices bacon cut into small diced pieces
1 tbs unsalted butter
2 cups diced ( 1/4"
4 scallions sliced very thinsalt and pepper to taste
1 cup cooked crab meat
2 cups medium shrimp cut into thirds
1/4 cup flat leaf parsley chopped
1 loaf sourdough bread – sliced and wrapped in foil, heat in the oven
place bacon in large soup pot and cook over medium heat stirring to render, 5 to 7 mins.
add butter and let it melt. Add onion and cook stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 10
mins. Add flour, cook, stirring for 1 minute. Add broth, bay leaves and paprika cook 5
minutes to flavor the broth. Add potatoes, peppers and thyme, cook until potatoes are
tender. Add half and half, corn and scallions, season with salt and pepper simmer 10 mins,
remove bay leaves and thyme. Add crab and shrimp simmer 10 more mins keep warm on
the stove. Garnish bowls with parsley serve with warm bread.
CHOCOLATE, PISTACHIO CREAM DE MENTHE PIE IN GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
1 graham cracker pie crust
2 envelopes dream whip whipped topping mix
2 3/4 cups cold milk – divided
1 tsp vanilla
2 pkg** ( 4 serving size each ) jello instant pudding and pie filling - **1 chocolate and 1
pistachio**
1 oz green creme de menthe
In large mixing bowl add whipped topping mixes, 1 cup milk and vanilla beat with electric
mixer on high speed 6 minutes or until topping thickens and forms peaks. Add remaining 1
3/4 cups milk and both packages of pudding mix. Beat on high speed 2 minutes add creme
de menthe, mix scrapping sides of bowl occasionally . Spoon into pie crust smooth to sides.
Refrigerated at least 3 to 4 hours before serving.
So this was Saturday, there’s two more games on Sunday. Well you might have some salad
or chowder left over but we need to add something a little different to keep every one’s
interest, especially your own. Besides a wintry Sunday is such a great day for cooking
something comforting. How about Grandma Blanches french meat pie or Ruth’s meatloaf
from her cookbook ” a knife full of cinnamon” better yet lets take the best parts of both
recipes and create a new england meat pie that would make the Arrow diner jealous. Check
back tomorrow for this recipe. and don’t forget the wine.
And just in case you need to get traditional I have a classic hot wings recipe with your
choice of seven different sauces that will work great for next weeks divisonal playoff games.
″
) onion
2 tbsp all purpose flour
4 cups chicken broth
2 bay leaves
1 tsp sweet paprika
2 russet potatoes peeled and diced
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 cup half and half
3 cups canned corn kernels
1 red bell pepper diced 1/4
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