From Denny: Now that Spring weather has arrived you might want to get that grill cleaned up and ready for a mouth-watering steak. Chef Big Lou Elrose, the executive pit master at New York City's Wildwood BBQ, shares his successful recipe for spice rubbed pork steaks with apple bourbon barbecue sauce and grilled green beans.
Chef Elrose gave a few tips about his spice rub. He suggested you make it up at least a couple of hours before you wish to use it so the spices have time to blend together. He makes his rub months ahead of time and stores it in a shaker, ready to go. Since it has so much brown sugar in it you might want to refrigerate it, depending upon where you live.
Preparing the grill, Chef Elrose scrubs it down with a scrunched up piece of aluminum foil when his scrub brush is worn down or it's been misplaced. Then, to oil the grill, he places oil on a towel, and, with long tongs he oils the grill carefully. You can get flare-ups so be sure to use long tongs and stand away from the grill as you work. He also suggests leaving the rub to rest on the meat for at least 15 to 20 minutes before placing on the grill to cook.
Enjoy his simple but tasty recipes! Let the summer grilling begin... :)
Recipes Featured:
Big Lou's Grilled Pork Strip Steak
Big Lou's All Purpose Rub
Bourbon Apple BBQ sauce
Grilled Garlic Green Beans
Exploring the world of food and bringing home my finds for you! Lots of chocolate recipes, Italian, comfort food like Louisiana Cajun and food videos.
02 April 2010
Spring Into Grill Season: Mouthwatering Steaks
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01 April 2010
Yummy Homemade Coconut Cream Pie

Coconut Cream Pie by little blue hen @ flickr
From Denny: When it comes to holidays, new Spring weather and the coming summer, Southern cooks in my area often turn to making coconut cream pie. It's a real crowd pleaser and great for school functions, family gatherings and holidays.
If you don't have the time to make your own pie crust just purchase one from the refrigerated section of your grocery store as many of them are quite good. If you never have made your own, take the challenge and enjoy the fun of "making it from scratch" as the old cooks used to say.
If you don't like meringue to top the pie you can always use a whipped cream topping, preferably the real thing and not the imitation. Also, if you get in a hurry and forget to place the coconut on the topping to toast as it bakes just add toasted coconut later to each individual piece as you serve!

Coconut Cream Pie
From: Food writer Corinne Cook @ 2TheAdvocate
Makes: 1 ( 9-inch) pie
Ingredients:
1 (9-inch) pie crust, baked
Coconut Cream (or Custard) Filling:
2/3 cup sugar
3 tbls. cornstarch OR 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Small pinch of salt
2 cups milk
3 large eggs, (separate whites from yolks and place in separate bowls)
1-1/2 tbls. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup grated coconut
1/2 cup grated coconut for topping
Meringue:
3 egg whites at room temperature
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
6 tbls. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions:
Coconut Cream (or Custard) Filling:
1. Prepare pie crust and bake. Allow to cool completely.
2. In medium saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch or flour and salt.
3. Gradually stir in the milk and mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Boil for about 1-1/2 minutes more, then remove from heat.
4. Beat egg yolks with a fork until they’re well blended. While stirring, slowly stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks; then add it back to the hot mixture. Cook, while constantly stirring, another 1 or 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat.
5. Stir in the butter, vanilla and 3/4 cup grated coconut. Pour into baked pie shell which has cooled completely.
Directions for Meringue:
1. Using a mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar together until frothy. Gradually start adding sugar a little bit at a time. Beat until stiff and glossy and sugar is dissolved. Beat in vanilla.
2. Drop spoonfuls onto hot custard in pie shell and spread meringue to meet edges of crust to prevent shrinking and weeping. Make swirls or dab spoon on top of meringue to make points. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup coconut.
3. Bake in preheated 400-degree oven until lightly browned, about 7 to 9 minutes.
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Awesome Sauces 4 Spring and Summer Seafood

Boiled crawfish photo by adie reed @ flickr
From Denny: Spring is here in Louisiana and summer will be on its heels. The crawfish are in season and the shrimp, well, Gulf Shrimp are awesome any time from Louisiana to Mississippi to Florida. We prefer to eat local and are proud of our seafood. We are especially proud of our oysters for which we developed the pasteurization process to kill off potential dangerous bacteria. Because of this relatively new pasteurization process you can dine on raw oysters year round - if they are certified Louisiana oysters.
Compiled here are a number of simple seafood sauce recipes to enjoy on your seafood this spring and summer, whether you like raw oysters, boiled, fried, baked or broiled shrimp and crawfish. Remoulade, Creole and Cocktail sauces are very popular here. We will even take the last recipe of Beurre Creole sauce and layer it over a perfectly grilled steak. Lump crabmeat sauces are often combined with steak in our restaurants.
Recipes Featured:
Red Remoulade Sauce
Cajun Style Remoulade Sauce
Cajun Hot Sauce
Louisiana Traditional Creole Sauce
Louisiana Spicy Creole Sauce
Oysters Rockefeller Sauce
Shrimp Cocktail Sauce
Cocktail Sauce for large group
Cocktail Sauce
Beurre Creole

RED RÉMOULADE SAUCE
From: wafb.com (TV station)
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Yields: 2 Cups
This Creole-style rémoulade is thought to be the original Louisiana version. This sauce can be served over shrimp, lump crabmeat or salad.
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup olive oil
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¾ cup Creole mustard
½ cup sliced green onions
¼ cup chopped parsley
¼ cup minced celery
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp paprika
salt to taste
Louisiana hot sauce to taste
DIRECTIONS:
In a large ceramic mixing bowl, combine olive oil, vinegar and Creole mustard. Whisk until well blended. Mix in green onions, parsley, celery and garlic. Add paprika for color. Continue mixing until well blended. Season with salt and hot sauce. Cover with plastic wrap, place in refrigerator and allow to sit overnight.


Shrimp Remoulade at Tujaques, photo by gary j wood @ flickr
CAJUN STYLE REMOULADE SAUCE
From: Wayne Allen @ Cooks.com
INGREDIENTS:
1/4 of a large red pepper
1/2 stalk of celery
1 green onion (including all the green)
1/4 cup of fresh parsley leaves
3/4 cup of mayonnaise
2 tbs of Dijon mustard
2 tbs of ketchup
2 tbs of horseradish
a couple shakes of worcestershire sauce (Lea and Perrins brand is best)
a couple shakes of Tobasco bramd hot sauce
2 tsp of paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
DIRECTIONS:
Puree in food processor or blender until smooth.

CAJUN HOT SAUCE
From: Cooks.com
INGREDIENTS:
FOR 2 1/2 CUPS SAUCE:
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 1/2 c. onion, chopped
1 c. celery, chopped
1/2 c. bell pepper, chopped
1 green raw jalapeno pepper with seeds, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
SEASONING MIX:
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. white pepper
1 tsp. red (cayenne) pepper
1 c. fresh tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 c. tomato sauce
1 bay leaf
1 1/4 c. seafood stock or shrimp stock
3/4 c. brown sugar, packed
DIRECTIONS:
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium high heat. Add onion, celery, bell pepper, jalapeno and garlic and cook about 3 minutes. Add the seasoning mix and stir well. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce and bay leaf, cover, and bring to a boil. Add the stock and brown sugar and return to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook about 15 to 20 minutes.
Use this sauce for a shrimp and rice dish: Add the 1 lb. raw medium shrimp, peeled and deveined shrimp and bring the mixture back to a boil. Cover, cook about 5 minutes, and remove from heat. Serve the shrimp on top of a mound of rice surrounded with sauce. Serve with lots of cold beer.

LOUISIANA TRADITIONAL CREOLE SAUCE
Yield: 2 cups
INGREDIENTS:
2 tbsp. chopped green onion
2 tbsp. chopped green pepper
1/4 c. sliced fresh mushrooms
1 tbsp. oil
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. dried sweet basil
16 oz. can low sodium tomatoes, undrained
DIRECTIONS:
Saute onion, green pepper and mushrooms in oil over low heat 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 20 minutes. Serve with fish, chicken or beef.

LOUISIANA SPICY CREOLE SAUCE
For: Fish or roasted meat
From: Cooks.com
INGREDIENTS:
3 tsp. melted butter
2 bell peppers, chopped fine
1 finely chopped onion
1 garlic clove
1 (#2 1/2) can tomatoes with puree
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
4 diced chili peppers
DIRECTIONS:
Boil 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring with wooden spoon. Sauce is placed over meat in a flat dish in refrigerator overnight. Then, when ready, cook meat as desired.

COCKTAIL SAUCE for boiled shrimp
YIELD: 4 1/2 cups - for serving a large group.
INGREDIENTS:
2 c. ketchup
2 c. chili sauce
1/4-1/2 c. prepared horseradish (we like the cream variety at our house)
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c. cider vinegar (we prefer fresh lemon juice)
6 drops Tabasco sauce (we like Louisiana Hot Sauce brand, less vinegary, and we use more since it is not as hot as Tobasco - about 2 Tablespoons)
1/4 c. finely minced celery
1/4 c. finely minced onion
DIRECTIONS:
Mix together and refrigerate. Use for all seafood cocktails.

SMALLER VERSION COCKTAIL SAUCE - or used as a BLOODY MARY DRINK MIX
SHRIMP COCKTAIL SAUCE
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 c ketchup
1/4 c. lemon juice (or less)
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. horseradish
6 tbsp. minced celery
3 tbsp. grated onion (or less)
1/4 tsp. salt
DIRECTIONS:
Chill. Yields 1 1/2 cups sauce. 1 cup sauce will serve 4 to 6 cocktails.

SHRIMP COCKTAIL SAUCE - tomato sauce version
INGREDIENTS:
1 small can tomato sauce
Dab of Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. brown sugar
Dab of Garlic salt
1/2 bottle cocktail sauce
Picante sauce to taste
Creamy horseradish to taste
DIRECTIONS: Mix all together.

Oysters Rockefeller Sauce
PREP TIME: 1 hour
SERVES: 6
This, the most famous of all oyster dishes in Cajun country, was first developed at Antoine’s Restaurant, by Jules Alciatore in 1899. Named Rockefeller because of its incredible rich flavor, the original recipe included no spinach.
INGREDIENTS:
1 dozen shucked oysters with liquid
1/4 pound butter
1/4 cup diced onions
1/4 cup diced celery
½ cup chopped green onions
2 tbsps diced garlic
1 cup cooked frozen spinach (thawed)
1 tbsp flour
1 pint heavy whipping cream
½ ounce Pernod or Herbsaint
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp Louisiana Gold Pepper Sauce
salt and cracked black pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
In a two quart sauce pan, melt butter over medium high heat. Sauté onions, celery, green onions and garlic, approximately three to five minutes or until seasonings are wilted. Add cooked spinach, and using a metal spoon, chop well into the vegetable mixture. Cook until spinach is hot and well incorporated into seasonings. Add flour and blend well into mixture, being sure to remove all lumps. Add whipping cream and oyster liquid, stirring constantly until sauce is thick and bubbly. Add Pernod, sugar, Worcestershire and Louisiana Gold. Continue stirring until all is well blended. Season to taste using salt and pepper. To ensure a sauce-like consistency, additional cream or water may be added. Continue to cook approximately 10 minutes, add oysters and cook 5 minutes. Pour the contents of the sauce pan into a blender and puree on high speed. Serve 2-ounces of the Oysters Rockefeller Sauce with your favorite trout, chicken or veal dish.

Beurre Creole
PREP TIME: 15 Minutes
YIELDS: 1 Cup
This sauce is excellent over broiled or sautéed fish or grilled shrimp.
INGREDIENTS:
8 ounces unsalted butter, chipped
½ cup dry white wine
2 tbsps lemon juice
2 thin lemon slices
¼ cup jumbo lump crabmeat
¼ cup diced tomatoes
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp sliced green onions
8–10 whole peppercorns
1 whole bay leaf
3 whole basil leaves
1 tsp tomato sauce
dash of Louisiana hot sauce
salt and cayenne pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
In a sauté pan, combine wine, lemon juice, lemon slices, crabmeat, tomatoes, garlic, green onions, peppercorns, bay leaf and basil over medium-high heat. Sauté approximately 3 minutes or until juices are rendered into the pan. Add tomato sauce, blend well into mixture and continue to cook until juices have been reduced to approximately 2 tablespoons. Swirling pan constantly, add a few chips of butter at a time until all is incorporated. Do not use a metal spoon or wire whisk as hot spots may develop and butter will separate. Season to taste using hot sauce, salt and pepper. Serve as is, or strain if desired.

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31 March 2010
Funny April Fools Day

* April 1. This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four. - Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson, 1894
* Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed. - Mark Twain
* A fellow who is always declaring he's no fool, usually has his suspicions. - Anonymous
* Politicians never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge. - Thomas Reed
* Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. - Chinese Proverb
* Don't approach a goat from the front, a horse from the back, or a fool from any side. - Jewish Proverb
Hike on over to The Social Poets to enjoy a funny video, funny photos, and - I totally guarantee you haven't seen this fashion outfit - it's the weirdest fashion statement yet. Not even Lady Gaga wore this crazy thing! :)
Check it out the full post of laughs: Funny April Fools Day - Cheeky Quote Day 31 Apr 2010
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30 March 2010
Chef Rocco Dispiritos Cheap Yet Healthy Comfort Food
From Denny: The Early Show on CBS runs this segment called "Chef on a Shoestring" where the challenge is to prepare a three course meal for four people that costs under $40.
Celebrity Chef Dispirito has appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" TV show and has a new best-selling cookbook called "Now Eat This: 150 of America's Favorite Comfort Foods, All under 350 Calories." When we think of comfort food we usually don't think of the word "healthy." Well, Chef Dispirito will prove comfort food can be healthy with fewer calories and a lot less expensive! His cookbook is already topping the New York Times sales charts.
Recipes featured from his cookbook:
Wedge of Lettuce with Bacon and Blue Cheese
Charred Beef Burgers with Baba Ghanoush
Sweet Potato Fries
Peach and Blueberry Cobbler With Ginger And Cinnamon


Discounted over at my Amazon book store - Now Eat This: 150 of America's Favorite Comfort Foods, All under 350 Calories by Chef Rocco Dispirito
Celebrity Chef Dispirito has appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" TV show and has a new best-selling cookbook called "Now Eat This: 150 of America's Favorite Comfort Foods, All under 350 Calories." When we think of comfort food we usually don't think of the word "healthy." Well, Chef Dispirito will prove comfort food can be healthy with fewer calories and a lot less expensive! His cookbook is already topping the New York Times sales charts.
Recipes featured from his cookbook:
Wedge of Lettuce with Bacon and Blue Cheese
Charred Beef Burgers with Baba Ghanoush
Sweet Potato Fries
Peach and Blueberry Cobbler With Ginger And Cinnamon


Discounted over at my Amazon book store - Now Eat This: 150 of America's Favorite Comfort Foods, All under 350 Calories by Chef Rocco Dispirito
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