Spaghetti Squash With Eggplant Marinara Sauce

Spaghetti squash is a fantastic alternative for pasta. This dish is packed with health benefits as the entire dish is made with fresh vegetables. Your family and your waistline will love it!

Ingredients:

1 Spaghetti Squash
1 Eggplant
1/3 Cup Diced Onion
1/3 Cup Diced Celery
1/3 Cup Diced Bell Pepper
2 Cloves Garlic (minced)
1/2 Cup Merlot Wine
1 Jar Of Prego Marinara Sauce (Or your favorite store bought variety)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise then scoop the seeds from the middle and discard. Drizzle EVOO over the interior of both halves of the spaghetti squash then season with Kosher salt and black pepper. Turn both halves down on a baking sheet and place in a 425 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes.
Dice the eggplant into small pieces and season with Kosher salt. In a large skillet, sauté the onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic in EVOO until translucent then add the diced eggplant and continue to sauté until the eggplant is softened. Then add the Merlot wine and continue to cook until the wine is reduced by half. Add the jar of marinara sauce then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Once the spaghetti squash is done, remove from the oven and rake the inside of the squash with a fork. Place the spaghetti squash on a plate and top with the eggplant marinara sauce then sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve with a glass of Merlot and a slice of garlic toast.

Corn & Crab Bisque

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Onion (minced)

1/4 cup Carrots (minced)

1 stick of real butter (salted)

3/4 cup of All Purpose Flour

3Tbs Tomato Paste

1can of Whole Kernel Corn (drained)

2 cans Crab meat (approximately 16oz)

1 1/2 cups Seafood Stock

2 cups Chicken Broth

1/4 cup Cooking Sherry

1tsp Worchestershire Sauce

1tsp Lemon juice

1/2 pint Heavy Whipping Cream

2Tbs Old Bay Seasoning

1tsp Cayenne Pepper (or to taste)

Pinch of Kosher Salt to taste

Directions:

In a sauce pan, sauté the onions and carrots in 2 Tbs of butter, till tender then set aside. In a 6 quart pot, melt the remaining butter then add the flour to make a light roux. Once the flour begins to lightly brown, gradually whisk in the seafood stock and chicken broth. Once you have the desired thickness, whisk in the tomato paste, Old Bay seasoning, Cayenne pepper, cooking sherry, Worchestershire sauce, lemon juice, and the sautéed onions and carrots. Then add the can of corn and let simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Then add the crab meat and continue to simmer for 5 minutes. Then stir in the heavy cream until well combined and heated through. 

Enjoy!

Serve with toasted, garlic French bread & a nice glass of wine. 

Broiled Flounder Filet With Clarified Butter

Ingredients: 1 Flounder (bones removed)

                   Kosher salt

                   Black pepper

                   Lemon pepper seasoning

                   Onion powder

                   1 stick of real butter          (unsalted)

                   Parsley Flakes

Recipe: Buy a flounder in which the bones have been removed. Season lightly with kosher salt, black pepper, lemon pepper seasoning, onion powder, and parsley flakes. Place the seasoned fish on a foil lined baking sheet that had been prepared with a non stick cooking spray. Set the oven to broil. Place the fish in the oven for approximately 10 minutes. The fish is done when you touch it and the fish begins to flake. If the fish is firm to the touch, cook a few minutes longer. 

To make the clarified butter, cut the stick of butter into several smaller pieces and place in a sauce pan. Begin to melt the butter on low heat. A white foam will develop on top of the melted butter. Remove the foam by using a spoon. Then strain the butter through several layers of cheese cloth, lined in a strainer. Place the clarified butter in a small sauce cup and serve on the side of the fish, for dipping. Enjoy!

Shrimp Po-Boy

There is nothing better than Gulf Fresh Shrimp, fried to perfection and served on a fresh loaf of New Orleans style French bread, with all of the fixins.This is what makes a great Po-boy sandwhich, that everyone should enjoy. Once you have one, you will want to move close to the water so you can get that Gulf Fresh Shrimp anytime that you like.

Ingredients:

2lbs Fresh Shrimp 110-130 count (small shrimp) peeled.
1 box Zatarans Seasoned Shrimp Fry
1 Large loaf of French bread

Recipe:

In a mixing bowl, place 2 to 3 tablespoons of the Zatarans Shrimp Fry and mix with water until it is a thin mixture. Place the remaining shrimp fry in a large bowl. Take the shrimp and place in the wet mixture of the Zatarans and coat them, then place the shrimp in the dry Zatarans shrimp fry and coat them well. In a large skillet or deep fryer, heat vegatable oil to 350 degrees. Place the shirmp in the hot oil and cook for 3 to 4 minutes and remove to a platter lined with paper towels to drain excess oil. Place the French bread in a 400 degree oven for 3 minutes, to heat. Slice the loaf open and dress with mayo, lettace, dill pickle, tomatoe, and then pile on the shrimp and enjoy.

Can be served with onion rings or french fries. I hope you enjoy your shrimp po-boy.

Lobster Saucier

WOW! This is fantastic. It so easy to do. I got the lobster ravioli from Sam's Club. The ravioli is stuffed with real lobster and cheese, all I had to do, was to make the sauce. I made the same type of sauce as the Chicken D'Iberville, but with a couple of lobser tails. If you want to do some entertaining, this is the perfect meal to prepare.

Ingredients:

2 1lb Lobster tails (Steamed)
1 Package of Lobster Ravioli
2 Cups of heavy cream
1 Tbs. Sundried Tomatoes (Diced)
1 Tbs. Fresh Basil (Chopped)
1 Tbs. Sundried Tomatoe Pesto
3 Tbs. Fresh grated parmasian cheese.
2 Cloves of minced garlic
1/4 Cup Pinot Grigio wine


Recipe:

Either steam the lobster tails yourself or have the seafood department of your store steam the tails for you. Once the lobster is steamed, remove the meat from the tails and dice the meat. In a sauce pan, coat the bottom with evoo and a pat of butter, then add the minced garlic, diced sundried tomatoes, chopped basil, and the diced lobster meat, and saute' for a minute then add the Pinot Grigio, the heavy cream and the sundried tomatoe pesto, and stir until everything is mixed well, then reduce the heat, add the parmasian cheese and simmer, stirring ocassionally.
In a seperate pot, of  boilong water with about 3 tablespoons of salt in the water, add the lobster ravioli and boil for approximately 3 to 4 minutes, then remove the ravioli from the water and place in the sauce to coat the ravioli, then serve.

Chicken D'Iberville



This is a great pasta dish that anyone can do. This takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and everyone will think that you spent hours in the kitchen. I will show you how easy it is and that there is no need to feel intimadated about cooking fantastic pasta. With a little inspiration from Sandra Lee with her Semi Homemade and Rachel Ray with her 30 minute meals, you will be ready to Throw Down with Bobby Flay and invite Guy Fieri over for his Big Bite. 

Ingredients:

1 Package of Fresh Chicken Ravioli (Found in the fresh pasta section in your grocery,)

2 or 3 Boneless and skinless chicken breast

3 Sundried Tomatoes (Diced)

1 Tbs Sundried Tomatoe Pesto

2 Cups of Heavy Whipping Cream

2 Cloves Minced Garlic

5 or 6 Fresh Basil Leaves (Chopped)

1/4 Cup of Pinot Grigio Wine

Fresh Parmasian Cheese

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

Recipe:

Season the chicken breast on both sides with kosher salt and ground black pepper. Cook the chicken in a skillet using EVOO. Once the chicken is done, remove from the skillet then add the minced garlic, sundried tomatoes, and the fresh basil. Then add the Pinot Grigio wine to deglaze the skillet. Then add the 2 cups of heavy cream and about 2 tablespoons of the paramsian cheese, and the tablespoon of sundried tomatoe pesto, and stir to mix everything well. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce begins to thicken. While the chicken is cooking, in a large pot, bring about 4 cups of water to boil and add 3 pinches of kosher salt to the boiling water.

When you begin to simmer the sauce, place the fresh ravioli pasta into the boiling water and cook for about 3 minutes. Then remove the ravioli from the water, using a slotted spoon or stainer and place directly into the sauce. Coat the ravioli with the sauce and then plate it. Take the chicken breast and cut into about 1 inch squares and place on top of the pasta, garnish with fresh grated parmasian cheese and serve.

Seafood Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms

You just thought the crab cakes were good. Now try this. Get some portabella mushrooms and stuff them with the crab cakes that you just made and top it with a creamy seafood alfredo. Man, talk about good eating. Be prepared to loosen the belt and un buton your pants after you have this. It is great with a glass of your favorite wine. This is a meal all in itself.

Ingredients:

Portabella mushroom caps
Crab cakes
1/2 lb of  Shrimp
Package of crawfish tails
Jar of roasted garlic alfredo sauce
Zataran's Jazz It Up for Seafood
1/2 cup Pinot Grigo wine
Fresh grated Parmasean cheese


Recipe:

Remove the stems from the portabella mushrooms and wipr the mushrooms clean. Then drizzle the mushroom caps with evoo (extra virgin olive oil) and grill them until they are tender. Remove from the heat and place a crab cake in the center of the mushroom. Place the mushrooms with the crab cakes in a 325 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes. While the mushrooms are in the oven, make your seafood alfredo sauce. In a skillet, saute' the shrimp and crawfish tails in evoo and sprinkle in some of the Zataran's Jazz It Up for Seafood. As the shrimp began to turn pink, add the wine and simmer for 2 minutes, then add the jar of alfredo sauce. Stir until everything is combined well and the sauce begins to thicken. Then add a couple of tablespoons of the grated parmasean cheese. Remove the mushrooms from the oven, place on a plate and cover with the alfredo sauce, and enjoy.

Crab Cakes

This is one of my recipes that alot of my friends have been requesting. These crab cakes are so big that you can only eat one, but you will crave more. These crab cakes also make the best crab meat po-boy that you have ever eaten. These are so easy to make, I'm sure that you will make these all of the time.

Ingredients:

2 Cups of Italian bread crumbs
3 1/2 Tablespoons of Old Bay Seasoning
1 LB. Can of crab, claw meat
4 Large heaping spoons of mayo
2 Tablespoons of mustard
2 Eggs (beaten)
1/4 Cup of creole seasoning (The Trinity... onions, bell peppers, and celery)*
Yields about 7 to 8 crab cakes.

Recipe:

In a large mixing bowl, place the 2 cups of bread crumbs and the Old Bay Seasoning and mix them together. In a small saucepan saute' the creole seasoning in either butter or evoo, until the onions and peppers are tender. Then add the creole seasoning and the remaining ingredients to the mixture. Mix everything until the mixture is moist all the way through. You may have to add a little mayo to get the mixture moist enough. Once you have it mixed together, pinch enough of the mixture to fill the palm of your hand and form it into a pattie and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Once you have made all of the patties, place them in the refrigerator for approximately one (1) hour. After an hour, remove the patties from the refrigerator and fry them in a small amount of olive oil, until they are golden brown. Serve them with you favorite remolude sauce and enjoy.

Note: For left over crab cakes, heat them in the oven on 300 degrees for approximately 15 minutes or until heated through.

* Creole seasoning. You can find this in most grocery stores in the produce section, which is already chopped up. It is a great time saver.

Char Grilled Oysters

 

This is one of the best ways to eat this wonderful delicacy that we have to offer from the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Once you try these oysters, you won't want to have them any other way. This is a very simple dish to prepare and everyone will enjoy the rewards at the end.

Ingredients:

• Oysters (As many as you want to shuck)
• 1 lb. of real butter (salted)
• Minced garlic
• Zataran's Jazz It Up for seafood
• Lemons (Cut into halves)
• Shredded Parmasian Cheese

Recipe:
 First melt the butter with 2 Tbs of minced garlic. Open the oysters using an oyster knife and leave them on the half shell. Sprinkle the oysters with the Zataran's Jazz It Up for seafood, then place the half shelled oysters on a hot grill. As the oysters are cooking, use a serving spoon or ladle to drizzle the melted butter and garlic mixture over the oysters. Be careful because the fire will flame up with the melted butter. After 3 minutes, of cooking, place shredded parmasian cheese on top of each oyster, then remove the oysters from the grill. The cheese will continue to melt on the hot oysters. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes and enjoy.

Grilled Meatloaf Sandwhich

Grilled Meatloaf Sandwich

Wondering what to do with that left over meatloaf? Well you are going to love this sandwich. It is very tasty and easy to fix. This makes a great and filling meal.

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of Texas style toast
• 2 slices of left over meatloaf
• 1 slice of cheese
• pat of butter
• Budweiser Original Barbecue Sauce

In a skillet, toast one side of both slices of the Texas style toast. Then add the pat of butter and the 2 slices of the left over meatloaf. Pour a small amount of the barbecue sauce on one side of the 2 slices of meatloaf. After a couple of minutes, flip the meatloaf over to heat the other side. Dress the un-toasted side of the Texas style toast with mayo and the slice of cheese. Place the 2 slices of meatloaf on the cheese and then add the other slice of toast. Serve with french fries or your favorite chips and a pickle spear.

Black & Blue Meatloaf

This is a favorite at our house. It has the just the right hint blue cheese, which gives it a great flavor. Try it, I'm sure that you will enjoy it as much as we do.

Ingredients:

• 2lbs lean ground beef
• 1 medium onion (chopped)
• 1 medium bell pepper (chopped)
• 1 cup of plain bread crumbs
• 2 eggs (beaten)
• 3/4 cup of Budweiser Original Barbeque Sauce
• 1/4 cup of blue cheese crumbles
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp fresh gound black pepper
• 1Tbs Emeril's Original Essence

Place all of the above ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix together with your hands. Once all of the ingredients have been well mixed together, place in a loaf pan and form the meat mixture into a loaf shape. Pour additional barbeque sauce along the top of the loaf. Place into a 425 degree oven for approximately 1 hour. About ten (10) minutes before it is done, sprinkle additonal blue cheese crumbles along the top of the meatloaf and finish baking. Once the meatloaf is done, remove from the loaf pan and cut slices approximately 1/2 thick, and serve.

This goes great with some garlic mashed potatoes. Prepare this and you will be an instant hit. My daughter does not like meatloaf, but when she tried this one, she loved it. I'm sure you will too.

Garlic & Herb Butter

Garlic & Herb Butter

You will love this garlic and herb butter. Use this butter to enhance the flavor of your favorite fish, chicken/poultry, or steak dishes. When you cook with this butter, it will make your entire house smell wonderful.

Ingredients:

• 2 Sticks of butter (room temperature)
• 2 Whole garlic bulbs
• 2 Sprigs of fresh Rosemary
• 3 Sprigs of fresh Thyme
• 2 Tbs of Extra virgin olive oil

Cut the tops off of the bulbs of garlic and drizzle with the olive oil and wrap in aluminum foil and place in a 400 degree oven for approximately 1 hour. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Finely chop the rosemary and thyme. In a mixing bowl, combine the 2 sticks of butter, chopped rosemary, thyme, and the cloves of roasted garlic. Once all of the ingredients have been mixed together, form the butter mixture into ball shape and wrap with wax paper then refrigerate until it is hardened.

NOTE: If you are watching your diet, you can substitute the 2 sticks of butter for : I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. This is really a healthy choice.

Cheesy Crab Dip

Cheesy Crab Dip

This one is a real winner with everyone. It is easy to make and everyone will crowd around this, while entertaining. You can serve it with just about anything. I serve it with a toasted and seasoned french bread slices. It also goes well with savory crackers or Melba toast.

Ingredients:

1 Tbs chopped onions
1 Tbs chopped bell pepper
1 Tbs chopped celery
1 clove minced garlic
1 Tbs olive oil
3 Tbs white wine
Heavy cream
1 16oz block of Velveeta cheese (cut into 1/2 inch cubes)
1 6oz can of fancy crab meat (If you can't get fresh crab meat)
Creole seasoning

In a saute' pan, place the olive oil, chopped onions, chopped bell peppers, chopped celery, minced garlic and season with a dash of creole seasoning. Cook over medium heat until the onions are tender. Add the crab meat and heat through. Then add the white wine and cook until slightly reduced. Then add a splash of heavy cream and stir. Reduce heat so the cream will not boil. Then gradually add the cubes of Velveeta cheese and stir until melted.
Remove from the heat and place in a serving bowl and serve.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. This is my first ever blog and it was inspired by my beautiful wife, Melanie. I am a law enforcement officer in South Mississippi and I have been catching crooks for most of my adult life. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking for my family and friends. It gives me great pleasure to watch people enjoying great tasting food.

With this blog, I will share some of my family's favorite dishes as well as some of my very own tasty creations. I hope that you will try some of the recipes and share them with your family and friends. I would also ask that if you have a favorite recipe that you and your friends enjoy, please share it here.

Included in this blog, if there is something that you need a recipe for, you can type in the food that you want to cook and then click, cook it, and it will then give you recipes to choose from along with a grocery list. I hope you find this helpful.

Thanks for checking out my blog, and I hope to see you here often. You never know, I just might share a story of two with you from time to time. In my line of work, just when you think that you have seen it all... someone will surprise you!

I Send You Best Wishes With These Dishes!