FRIED CALAMARI

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Fried Calamari
Fried Calamari that is crispy and tender with just the right amount of spice.
Course Appetizers, snack
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings
people
Ingredients
Course Appetizers, snack
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings
people
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. One day in advance: Slice the bodies into rings. Put them in a zip lock bag with the tentacles and pour the buttermilk over them. Squeeze the air out of the bag and put it in the refrigerator over night. There are enzymes in the buttermilk that will break down the squid and tenderize it. When you are ready to serve: Heat oil to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside. Whisk the flour and spices together in a shallow pan. Drop the squid into the flour mixture. Toss to coat with flour. Set them aside on your lined sheet pan. Repeat with the rest of the squid until it’s all been dredged in flour. Fry the calamari in hot oil Pour about 3 inches of oil into a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Set it on the stove over high heat. While the oil is heating, line a sheet pan with paper towels. Set it aside. The oil is ready when you dip a piece of calamari into the oil and bubbles form around it immediately. Fry the calamari in batches. Don’t overcrowd the pot. Stir them around with a slotted spoon as they fry, turning them over so they cook on both sides. They’ll take about 3 to 5 minutes to fry, depending on size, thickness, etc. When they are beautifully golden brown, remove them from the oil. Drain them well over the pot. Then transfer them to your paper-lined pan. Sprinkle with plenty of kosher salt and chopped parsley. Serve with lemon wedges or a side of tomato basil dipping sauce.
Recipe Notes

* Time saving tip for parties: prepare the calamari in advance and freeze them on a cookie sheet. Once they are frozen, put them in a zip log freezer bag until ready to use. They can go right from freezer to the fryer. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

LOBSTER DIP

Alton Brown suggests that a dip is defined based on its ability to “maintain contact with its transport mechanism over three feet of white carpet”.

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Lobster Dip
Creamy with chunks of lobster and a kick of cayenne, this seafood dip is great with a variety of crackers or bread. Use crab or lobster in this dip, or use a combination.
Course Appetizers
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Course Appetizers
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Put milk, butter, cream cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, onion, salt, paprika, and cayenne in a bowl. Blend until smooth; Use a rubber spatula to fold in the seafood. Chill until ready to use. Let sit at room temp for ½ hour before using.
Recipe Notes

Recipe Notes Crab can be substituted for the lobster or you can use a combinatioin of the two. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH BACON


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Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon

Rich and creamy with a buttery, crunch crust. This comfort dish is irresistible!

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes

Servings


Ingredients

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes

Servings


Ingredients


Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Meanwhile, melt a stick of butter in a large sauce pan. Add the flour and cook until golden brown - a few minutes. Slowly stir in the milk and cook until thick. Add the gouda cheese, cheddar cheese, pepper, nutmeg, cayenne and bacon. Pour into small ramekins or a large baking dish that has been prepared with oil.

  2. Mix the bread crumbs with the parmigiano reggiano. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta. Melt the remaining stick of butter and drizzle over the bread crumb mixture. Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.


Recipe Notes

Recipe Notes According to a wide-spread misconception, macaroni was brought to Italy by Marco Polo, returning to Venice from China in 1292. This hypothesis has long been disproved, since it seems that macaroni was already used in Italy at least a century before. Moroccan geographer Muhammad al-Idrisi, who lived in Sicily, documented macaroni in Sicily and in particular in Trabia. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

MINI LOBSTER TARTS FRA DIAVOLO

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Mini Lobster Tarts Fra Diavolo
Sweet,hot and crunchy little bites of lobster that are seriously addictive.
Course Appetizers
Cuisine English
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Servings
tarts
Ingredients
Course Appetizers
Cuisine English
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Servings
tarts
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Add lobster tails to a medium pan with the white wine and poach on low heat for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let cook in the wine.
  2. Meanwhile, combine the cream and eggs in a medium sized bowl. Whisk until smooth. Then stir in the rest of the ingredients. Top with about ½ tsp of red pepper jelly on each tart and bake another 5 minutes to melt the jelly. Serve.
  3. Cut the lobster into bite-size chunks. Put one chunk of lobster in each tart shell. Pour the egg mixture into each shell evenly. Place the filled shells on a parchment paper¬lined cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown and set about 12 minutes. Top with about ½ tsp of red pepper jelly on each tart and bake another 5 minutes to melt the jelly. Serve.
Recipe Notes

Bake these tarts in advance, refrigerate or freeze them. When you are ready to serve, top them with the red pepper jelly and heat in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

SCALLOPED OYSTERS, THE PERFECT HOLIDAY SIDE DISH!

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Scalloped oysters, the perfect holiday side dish!
Scalloped oysters are rich and creamy with a hint of peppery heat.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
people
Ingredients
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
people
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Drain the oysters into a 2 cup measuring cup reserving the liquid. Set the oysters aside.
  2. Add the cream to the liquid. Add all of the seasoning. Combine the crackers with the melted butter. Butter a 9 inch square pyrex baking dish and set aside. To assemble: Put 1/3 of the crackers into the baking dish. Then add half of the oysters spreading them out evenly over the crackers. Pour 1/3 of the liquid evenly over the oysters. Add another 1/3 of crackers, then remaining oysters, then 1/3 of the liquid and finish with remaining crackers and pouring the last of the liquid over the entire dish. Bake 30 minutes until the top is golden brown. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes

Recipe Notes Saltines can be used in place of the Ritz crackers for a lighter, less rich effect. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

SHRIMP PERNOD WITH SPINACH CAKES

Pernod is an anise-flavoured, or black licorice flavoured liqueur.  This beverage becomes cloudy when diluting over ice because it is  aniseed-based. It contains oils called  terpeness, which are soluble in an aqueous solution that contains 30% ethanol or more by volume. When the solution is diluted to below 30% ethanol, the terpenes become insoluble causing the beverage to become cloudy.

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Shrimp Pernod with Spinach Cakes
A restaurant-quality dish with a creamy sauce and a hint of licorice flavor.
Course Main Dish
Prep Time 45 minutes
Servings
people
Ingredients
Course Main Dish
Prep Time 45 minutes
Servings
people
Ingredients
Instructions
For the Shrimp Pernod
  1. Combine ½ teaspoon salt, cayenne and garlic powder and rub the shrimp with it. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute the shrimp for 3 minutes. Add the onions, celery and garlic and sauté for 2 or 3 more minutes. Add the pernod and cook for 1 minute. Add the parsley and cream and bring to a boil. Season to taste.
For the Spinach Cake
  1. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add ¼ cup of flour. Stir constantly for 5 to 6 minutes to make a blond roux the color of sandpaper. Add the onions and cook, stirring for about 2 minutes until slightly wilted. Add the milk and stir until the mixture thickens. Add the spinach, salt, cayenne, pepper, nutmeg and garlic and cook stirring for about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Add bread crumbs, parmigiano reggiano, and Pernod and mix well. Let cool for about 30 minutes.
  2. Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and shape into patties. Heat the oil in a non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Combine the remaining ¼ cup flour and the rub. Dredge the patties, coating evenly in the flour. Fry the cakes for about 2 minutes on each side until golden. Transfer to a warm platter. Spoon shrimp and sauce over the cakes and serve.
Recipe Notes

Shape the spinach cakes a day in advance, dredge in flour and refrigerate until ready to fry. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

BASIC GRILL RUB


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Basic Grill Rub

Apply this rub 3 to 24 hours in advance before grilling chicken, lamb or seafood. The flavor profile will knock your socks off!

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 Minutes

Servings

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 Minutes

Servings


Instructions
  1. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Apply this rub 3 to 24 hours in advance before grilling chicken, lamb or seafood. Sprinkle 2 to 3 teaspoons per pound of meat then gently rub it in with your fingertips.


Recipe Notes

© Galley Chef All Rights Reserved