Think Spring

As Nadia G says, "It's OK to play with your food, alright."

Creole Cheesecake

Shrimp Cheesecake Crust: 
4 oz grated Parmesan cheese 
1 C Panko bread crumbs 
1/2 C pecans  
1/2 tsp Creole seasoning 
1/2 C melted butter 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine cheese, bread crumbs, pecans, and seasoning in food processor and pulse until mixture is finely ground. Stir in butter until moist and press into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan and bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove to cool. 
*Note, I used individual ramekins in a water bath instead of the spring form pan. 

Filling: 
2 (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese, softened 
12 oz grated, smoked Gouda cheese 
4 oz grated Parmesan cheese 
1 C chopped onion 
1/4 C chopped celery
1/4 C chopped green pepper 
1/2 C chopped smoked or roasted red peppers 
2 jalapeno peppers seeded and chopped 
1/4 C chopped green onions 
2/3 C cream 4 eggs, beaten 
1 pound chopped shrimp 
1/3# chopped Andouille sausage 

Prepare pan by wrapping the outside with foil. Place the spring form pan into a water bath (after pan is wrapped with foil, place in a bigger pan and put a couple inches of water in the larger pan.) Sauté the vegetables, shrimp, and sausage in a skillet until tender and shrimp is almost done. Set aside to cool. 
Meanwhile, with an electric mixer, beat the cheeses together until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time and blend after each addition. Blend in the heavy cream. Gently fold the seafood, sausage, and vegetables into the cheese mixture and pour into the crust (wrapped pan in the water bath). 
Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours or until set. 
*Note, I used individual ramekins in a water bath instead of the spring form pan to speed cooking.

Black Eyed Pea Cakes with Beer Braised Greens

Combine 3/4 can peas and 2 garlic cloves in a food processor; process to a thick paste. Combine pea mixture, remaining peas, 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs, 1/2 fine chopped red onion, salt/ pepper, and 2 whisked eggs in a large bowl. Stir in 3/4 C cooked quinoa. Shape into a 1/2-inch-thick patties. Place a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons oil; swirl to coat. Add 4 patties; cook 4 minutes on each side or until golden. Don't over crowd your pan or you'll heat. Rough chop 6 C of greens, 1 clove garlic, and the other 1/2 of your onion. Place a big skillet or dutch oven over med-high heat. Drizzle with olive oil and add onion and garlic. Keep them moving and saute for a minute. Add greens all at once and turn heat up to almost high. Fold greens over after a minute or two. Add 1/2 bottle of beer or 6 oz wine and cover. Check after another minute or two. Place cakes over greens to ensure they are warmed through. Sprinkle greens with Parmesan if desired. Serve cakes atop greens. I made a simple Southwest sauce with 1/2 Miracle Whip and Red Hot sauce to drizzle on top.

5 Minute Chocolate Cake

Crock Pot Caramel Sauce

Unopened can of condensed milk with label removed
Crock pot with water enough to cover can
Cook on low for 8 hours.
MUST allow to cool then transfer to fridge overnight.
NEVER open warm can.
This is easily the best caramel sauce for apples, ice cream, or whatever you fancy.

Babaganoush

First we halved an eggplant longways, sprinkled with sea salt and rested. After 45 minutes, squeeze the eggplant gently to release all the nasty liquid trapped inside.
Place on a smoker cut side down for 1.5 hours. (Roast in oven if you can't smoke it.)
Cool and scoop out flesh onto food processor. Add 1 clove garlic, juice from 1/2 of a lemon, 1/3 cup olive oil, salt/ pepper. Process adding additional olive oil until smooth to your liking.
We sliced wheat bread and drizzled with olive oil, toasted, and added fresh rosemary for dippers.

Eggs'troidinary Floral Breakfast

First we made some simple hash with crumbled bacon, potatoes, onions, and peppers.
Then slice a pepper and place slices in skillet with a touch of oil. When they start to sizzle, add an egg to each pepper.
Serve atop hash for a festive, floral breakfast.
We used yellow peppers but use green for St Patty's Day, Red for Valentines Day, or use whatever you have like we did.

Roasted Shrimp Atop Angel Hair and Greens

Tonight, with my recent health issues, my lovely assistant/ wife, will be helping prepare our meal.
First we started water boiling for our pasta. 6-7 min salted boiling water to al dente.
We placed raw, peeled, deveined, shrimp on a sheet pan and drizzled with olive oil, salt/ pepper.
Place in a 400* oven for 8-10 minutes or until pink and translucent.
Toss sauteed mushrooms, leeks, and garlic into pasta. Add fresh picked sunflower greens, or other and toss with a 1/4 stick of butter.
Plate and top with shrimp.
Easy, Simple, Delicious.

Farmers Breakfast Muffins

1 bag frozen hash browns, thawed
1/3 stick butter, melted
4 slices cooked bacon, chopped
6 eggs
1/3 cup milk
3 mushrooms
1/4 cup bell peppers, chopped
1/2 shredded cheese

Combine hash browns, butter and salt/ pepper. Mix well
Press the mixture into muffin cups to form a muffin shape.
Bake at 400* for 12 minutes.
Beat eggs with milk until starting to fizz on top.
Add bacon, mushrooms, peppers, egg mixture until distributed over 12 muffins.
Bake at 400* until set.

For sauce if needed, mix 2 tablespoons of mayo and 2 teaspoons of Texas Pete hot sauce. Mix well and lightly drizzle over plate.