Category Archives: Appetizers

Crab Cakes


1lb Jumbo Lump Crab Meat
1 egg
1 tsp Soy Sauce
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp Hellman’s Mayo
1 tsp Mustard
1 tsp or to taste Old Bay Seasoning
Cracker Meal
Mix the egg, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, mayo,& mustard together in a bowl. Pick thru the crab meat and remove any cartilage or shells (shouldn’t have any using jumbo lump) Add the egg mixture to the crab meat and gently mix, try not to break up the lump crab. Sprinkle the old bay and gently mix into the mixture. Add the cracker meal…a little at a time…until the crab mixture holds together. The amount of cracker meal you use depends on the way you going to prepare the crab cakes. If you’re going to broil the crab cakes, you don’t need as much cracker meal.

Coconut Shrimp 2

Pina Colada Dipping Sauce:
1/2 cup sour cream 
1/4 cup pina colada nonalcoholic drink mix
1/4 cup crushed pineapple (canned)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar 
Shrimp:
6-8 cups canola oil (as required by fryer)
12 large shrimp, peeled and deveined (about 1/2 pound)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons coconut rum
1 cup panko Japanese-style bread crumbs
1/2 cup flaked coconut 
On the side:
salsa
Prepare pina colada dipping sauce first by combining all the ingredients.  Cover this and let it chill out in the fridge while you make the shrimp.  
Heat oil to 350 degrees.   
Measure 3/4 cup of flour into a medium bowl.  In another medium bowl mix together the remaining  3/4 cup flour, sugar, and salt.  Stir milk and rum into flour mixture.  Let this batter stand for five minutes.  While the batter rests, combine panko bread crumbs and shredded coconut into a third medium bowl.   
Butterfly cut each shrimp before you start the battering:  Use a sharp knife to slice through the top of the shrimp (where the vein was) so that you can spread the shrimp open.   Leave the tail intact.   
To batter the shrimp, dip each one in the flour, then the wet batter, then coat each shrimp with the panko/coconut mixture.   .Arrange the shrimp on a plate until all of them are battered.   Fry the shrimp by dropping six at a time into the hot oil for 2 to 3 minutes or until the shrimp are golden brown.   Remove shrimp to a rack or paper towels to drain.    
Serve shrimp with pina colada dipping sauce on the side, along with a small dish or your favorite salsa.

Coconut Shrimp

coconut_shrimp

Coconut Shrimp

1 cup beer , flat
1 cup self-rising flour
2 cups coconut flakes, (1 – 7oz. package)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 jumbo shrimp
dash paprika
For the batter, use an electric mixer to combine the beer, flour, 1/2 cup coconut flakes, sugar and salt in medium sized bowl.  Mix well and refrigerate, covered for at least one hour.
Prepare marmalade sauce, refrigerate.
Prepare the shrimp by de-veining and peeling off the shell back to the tail.  Leave the last segment of the shell plus the tail fins as a handle. When batter is ready, preheat oil in a deep pot or deep fryer to about 350 degrees.  Use enough oil to completely cover the shrimp.  Pour the remainder of the coconut into a shallow bowl. Be sure the shrimp are dry before battering.  Sprinkle each shrimp lightly with paprika before the next step.  Dip one shrimp at a time into the batter, coating generously.  Drop battered shrimp into the coconut and roll around so it is well coated. Fry four shrimp at a time for 2-3 minutes or until the shrimp become golden brown.  You may have to flip the shrimp over halfway through cooking time.  Drain on paper towels briefly before serving.

Serve with marmalade sauce.

coconut_shrimp

Coconut Shrimp

Coconut Shrimp

Ingredients

1 cup beer , flat

1 cup self-rising flour

2 cups coconut flakes, (1 - 7oz. package)

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

12 jumbo shrimp

dash paprika

MARMALADE DIPPING SAUCE

Instructions

For the batter, use an electric mixer to combine the beer, flour, 1/2 cup coconut flakes, sugar and salt in medium sized bowl. Mix well and refrigerate, covered for at least one hour.

Prepare marmalade sauce, refrigerate.

Prepare the shrimp by de-veining and peeling off the shell back to the tail. Leave the last segment of the shell plus the tail fins as a handle. When batter is ready, preheat oil in a deep pot or deep fryer to about 350 degrees. Use enough oil to completely cover the shrimp. Pour the remainder of the coconut into a shallow bowl. Be sure the shrimp are dry before battering. Sprinkle each shrimp lightly with paprika before the next step. Dip one shrimp at a time into the batter, coating generously. Drop battered shrimp into the coconut and roll around so it is well coated. Fry four shrimp at a time for 2-3 minutes or until the shrimp become golden brown. You may have to flip the shrimp over halfway through cooking time. Drain on paper towels briefly before serving.

http://cookingwith.sharonspringfield.com/blog/coconut-shrimp/

 

Chili’s Southwest “Eggrolls”

3 flour tortillas, not large (LaTortilla Factory Brand Originals LowFat LowCarb)
1 ounce chicken, cooked and shredded
2 tablespoons black beans, canned
2 tablespoons corn, canned
1 ounce fat free cheese, shredded (your choice of kind)
1 tablespoon red chili pepper, diced
3/4 cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained Dip
2 tablespoons avocados
2 tablespoons nonfat sour cream 
1/2 teaspoon Hidden Valley Ranch dip, dry
1 tablespoon tomato, diced
 pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Combine chicken, corn, cheese, chili pepper, and spinach in a microwaveable bowl.  Heat for 30 seconds in micro.   Warm tortillas in micro for 15 seconds.   On a clean, flat surface, lay out tortillas side-by-side.   Put 1/3 of chicken mix in the center of each tortilla.   To assemble each roll, fold the left and right sides in so no filling escapes during cooking, and roll up.   Place all 3 rolls seam side down on a baking pan that has been sprayed.    Bake 12 minutes, flipping 1/2 way through cooking.
While eggrolls are in the oven prepare dip.   
Sauce:.   
Combine sour cream, avocado, and dry dip mix in a small bowl until smooth.  Season to taste with pepper.   Top dip sauce with tomatoes before serving.   When eggrolls are done, allow to cool for a few minutes, then cup diagonally.
 2  Servings

Chicken Satay

3 limes
2/3 cup bottled Thai peanut sauce
12 chicken tenders (about 1 lb 4 oz)

Heat outdoor grill or ridged grill pan over medium-high heat. Squeeze 1 to 2 limes to get 2 Tbsp juice. Mix with peanut sauce. Pour all but 1/4 cup into a small bowl. Thread 1 chicken tender on each of twelve 10- to 12-in. wooden skewers. Brush both sides of chicken with the 1/4 cup sauce, then lightly coat with nonstick spray. Grill 2 to 3 minutes per side until chicken is cooked through. Serve with lime wedges and remaining sauce for dipping. Garnish with sliced scallions, if desired.