Freezer Find #3: Shrimp Rustica

Here's another freezer find!!  If I'm being honest, this one is actually from a few weeks ago.  We've had so many leftovers I haven't made too many new items to share.  This one is really good and easy.  It turned out to be an "everything but the kitchen sink" kind of meal.

The canned items in this dish are things that I make sure to always have in the pantry.  They are some of my pantry "staples."

Here's what you'll need for the job:

• 1 bag of raw shrimp, thawed and cleaned
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 3-4 green onions, diced
• 1 pkg of sliced mushrooms (a small can will substitute)
• 1 cup of red wine
• 3 large roasted red peppers (canned), chopped
• 3 large fresh tomatoes, chopped (1/2 can of diced tomatoes will substitute perfectly)
• 1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can quartered artichoke hearts
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 T capers
• Garlic, minced
• EVOO
• S&P
• Crushed red pepper

Here's what to do:

1. Heat EVOO in a cast iron skillet. 
2. Add garlic, red onion, green onion and mushrooms. Saute.
3. Season with S&P and crushed red pepper.
4. Once onions and mushrooms begin to brown, add red wine and reduce to a simmer.
5. Simmer and let thicken for about 10-15 minutes.
6. Remove from heat.
7. Add roasted red peppers, tomatoes, black beans, artichoke hearts and capers to the pan.
8. Stir gently to combine.
9. Lay shrimp on top, then top with parmesan cheese.
10. Broil in the oven for 15 minutes or until shrimp are pink.

I served this in a bowl with a piece of garlic toast.  It was delicious!  Another thing to love about this dish... it's a one dish meal!

Enjoy!!

Freezer Find #2: Hot & Smoky Drumsticks

We're still cleaning out the freezer over here.  A few nights ago I came across a bag of frozen drumsticks in the bottom of the deep freeze.  With my packaging intact, I thawed them out and decided to "revive" them.

I'll let you know that I was quite excited to try drumsticks, given that nearly all of my experience cooking chicken has been with white meat.  I grew up never really eating dark meat, but since meeting my husband I've really done a lot in the way of branching out.  I am pretty proud of the look on his face after biting into these guys, though!  This was definitely one of my first rodeos at cooking dark meat.

Here are the foodie items you'll need for the job:

• Chicken legs/drumsticks
• Chili powder
• Paprika
• Cayenne pepper
• Garlic powder
• Lemon juice
• EVOO
• S&P
• 2 T Butter

Warning... limited measurements were used in this recipe.

And the tools:

• Gallon size Ziplock bag
• Cast iron skillet
• Broiling pan, or oven safe cooling rack and baking sheet

The prep work:

1. Open the Ziplock bag and fold the sides down toward the outside.  This way you won't make a monsterous mess of the marinating vessel.
2. Drop in the drumsticks.
3. Add a lot of chili powder (enough to get a good spice coating started).
4. Then add almost as much paprika.  Did I mention no measurements were used in this...??
5. Add cayenne pepper.  A little goes a long way here, folks.  Add at your own risk!
6. Add enough garlic powder to lightly dust everything.
7. Add a good amount of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
8. Throw in a few dashes of lemon juice.  Fresh squeezed isn't really imperative in this dish.
9. Then finally, a drizzle of EVOO.
10. Seal the bag, getting as much air out as possible, mix the chicken and spices around, then marinate in the fridge until about 10 minutes before you're ready to cook.

Showtime:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Remove the chicken from the fridge and let it warm up a bit for more even cooking.
3. Heat the cast iron skillet to high heat adding the butter and a drizzle of EVOO.  Why both?  The butter allows for browning and keeps the oil from burning.
4. Sear the drumsticks on all sides in the hot pan, cooking on each "side" for about 3 minutes.
5. Place chicken on broiling rack and cook in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes.

We enjoyed this with spicy tomato green beans and whole wheat mac & cheese.  Doesn't get much better than that!

Any comments/suggestions/ideas/requests, send 'em my way!!  Happy eating!

Tabouli

I'm not sure if you all are aware of my Lebanese roots, but my maternal grandparents were natives of Lebanon and came to America in their early years to build a life for their six amazing children.

OBVIOUSLY my grandmother brought her Lebanese recipes and cooking along with her.  I've never made so many of the things that she could do, but one thing I know and love to make is tabouli.  It makes me feel connected to her each time I make it.

Sooo... in the midst of the Freezer Finds I'll continue to share with you, here is an oldie but a goodie.  Most of this recipe is completely by feel and there is really no way to mess it up.  This recipe makes about 8 servings but keeps really nicely in the fridge.  I hope you enjoy it!  I haven't met anyone that hasn't loved this.

Here's what you need:

• 1 cup of bulgar wheat (you can find this in the bulk section in any Central Market, Whole Foods, or Sun Harvest)
• 1 bunch of green onions, diced
• 1/2 white onion, finely diced
• 1 bunch of curly parsley, picked and chopped
• 1 handful of mint, chopped
• 4-5 Roma tomatoes, seeds removed and chopped
• juice of 3-4 lemons (fresh lemon juice is a MUST)
• canola oil
• S&P

Here's what you do:

1. Put the dried bulgar in a bowl and cover it with water so that there is about an inch of water covering everything.  Set it aside and let it soak while you are chopping the ingredients.
2. Do all your chopping.
3. Throw everything in a bowl.  Yes.  One bowl.  Everyone parties together.
4. Drain the water off the bulgur now, as best you can, and throw the bulgur in to party with the others.
5. Add the lemon juice.
6. Drizzle canola oil.  Not too much, just like a very light salad dressing.
7. Season with S&P to taste.
8. Let it marinate overnight in the fridge.  You can stir it occasionally.
9. Stir it again the next morning and add seasoning as needed.
10. Enjoy!

Here's what mine looks like when it's done...

And if you can't find bulk bulgar, you should be able to find Bob's Red Mill Bulgar Wheat.  This still has the hull on it.  Doesn't taste bad but is much nuttier and the overnight marination is critical to softening the hull enough to eat without a weird crunch.  That looks like this...

It is very refreshing and can be modified by adding more, or taking away, any one ingredient.  In the Middle Eastern custom, it is traditional to have this "salad" be more of a parsley based salad than wheat based.  

I've also seen crumbled goat cheese added for a protein addition.  Never tried this but I'm a goat cheese fan so I will one day.  Tried using watermelon instead of tomatoes once... Tried it ONCE. Catch my drift??  I like it my way (surprising), but the point is, it's very flexible!

I hope you love it!  Any questions, holler!

Freezer Find #1: Venison Crock Pot Roast

Let me start by saying, it is "clean out the freezer week(s)" at the Marleys household.  Due to this simple fact, these posts are going to be creative... surprising... and surprisingly good!  Above all things, please know that any freezer disasters will not be shared.  No need to impart madness in your kitchen.

So... first freezer find... drumroll...

VENISON!!!

I know.  Many people do not eat "gamey" meat.  Due to the fact that some major hunting season are upon us, I will not allow more game to enter the freezer unless game has been removed.  Therefore, the surplus of venison in our freezer pushed me to get creative. 

So... here's how it went down.  Please keep in mind that venison is a very lean meat.  This requires that some fat be added to make this whole thing worth our time.

What we're working with:

• 2ish lbs (??) Venison, trimmed and cleaned
• 1 Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup, family size and the real deal
• 1 pint of chicken stock, mine was homemade but if you're buying go for low sodium
• 1/2 bottle of red wine
• 1 pkg of Baby Bella mushrooms, sliced and cleaned
• 1 large sweet onion
• 1 bulb of garlic
• a few springs of rosemary
• fresh parsley
• S&P
• EVOO
• Paprika
• Garlic powder

How to work it:

1. Lay the venison on wax paper (disposable, whew) and drizzle with EVOO.  Season with S&P, garlic powder and paprika. Don't be shy with any of these items.
2. Put the seasoned venison in the bottom of the Crock Pot.
3. Rough chop the onion and lay it on top of the venison in the Crock Pot, from here forward referred to as the CP. 
4. Cut the garlic bulb in half so that you basically halve all of the cloves. Put the two pieces in the CP. Don't worry, the skin won't matter and you can remove the entire bulb after cooking.
5. Put the mushrooms on top next.
6. Bring the Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup to the party. Just put it all over the ingredients. It will run down in the cooking process to make for complete deliciousness.
7. Pour in the chicken stock.
8. Pour in the wine.
9. Lay springs of rosemary and rough chopped fresh parsley on top.
10. Cover and select your cooking time according to your CP.

Here's what it probably looks like at this point...

I know... lumpy and weird but don't worry.

Uncover, eat and then try to mask the shock you are experiencing at the delightful flavors happening in this dish.

I'm starting to feel like there is nothing a Crock Pot can't do, and no meat it can mess up, or over cook. If not everyone in your family is eating at the same time, turn the Crock Pot to warm and it will be hot and ready for your entire crew, whenever they are ready!