Month: March 2016

Oven Braised Chicken

Oven Braised Chicken

Merri’s Oven Braised Chicken 1 Chicken, broken down, or several pieces of your favorite chicken part 1 Tablespoon olive oil 3 shallots, diced or one sliced leek 6 whole, peeled, garlic cloves 1 bunch fresh thyme 1/2 cup white wine (I used pinot grigio) 3 

Velvet Chicken with Soy-Ginger Vinaigrette

Velvet Chicken with Soy-Ginger Vinaigrette

Velvet Chicken Serve with a warm ginger-soy vinaigrette and a tuft of pea shoots or micro-greens—or simply piping hot in a bowl of broth with snippets of chives. Serves 4 Rinse and dry 1 (4-pound) chicken and discard giblets. Tie the legs with kitchen string. 

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail – Merri style

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail – Merri style

Merri’s Mexican Shrimp Cocktail
 
1 12 oz package of frozen raw medium shrimp
1 large slice lemon
1 avocado
1/2 large cucumber
1/2 to 1 cup cherry tomatoes
1/2 of a large bunch of cilantro
Lime juice to taste
V8 juice to cover
Tabasco sauce and lime wedges on the side
Thaw and remove the shells and tails from the shrimp.  Place in a large sauce pan and add water to one inch above the shrimp.  Generously salt, and add a thick slice of lemon.  Bring to a boil and boil just 3 minutes.  Check and if they have turned pink, they are done.  Larger shrimp may take longer, but you are unlikely to go over 5 minutes.  Do not overcook or they will be tough and chewy.
Drain the shrimp, and place the shrimp in ice and ice water to chill.
Cut large dice from the avocado.  Peel and seed 1/2 of a large cucumber.  Cut the cucumber into dice slightly smaller than the avocado.  Dice the cherry tomatoes.  Do a rough chop of the cilantro.
Place the avocado, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and cilantro into a large bowl.  Squeeze lime juice over the top and add salt and pepper to taste if you like.  Gently mix together so that you don’t start breaking up the avocado.
Drain and add the chilled shrimp, then pour over the V8 juice to an amount you are happy with.  Mix together then serve with lime wedges and Tabasco (or other hot sauce of your choice) on the side.
Tips:
This is really at its best if you have time to chill it before serving.  If you don’t have that time, at least tried to have the shrimp and V8 chilled.
Adjust to your own tastes.  Diced red onions and finely diced jalapeños are often added.
Merri made meatballs!

Merri made meatballs!

These came out wonderfully.  They are tender and full of flavor.  Now I need to decide on how to use them!  Meatball subs?  Spaghetti and Meatballs?  Just heated up and on their own? Merri’s Meatballs   1 1b lean ground beef 1/2 1b (or a