Bubba Gump Inspired - Steamed Shellfish

In 2012 I visited the Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant in Ft Lauderdale and had a fantastic gastronomical experience.

My entree on that night was the Market order of their Steamed Shellfish. Here is how its described on their menu

Steamed Shellfish
A delicious mix of steamed Mussels, Clams, 
Snow Crab, Lobster Claw and Shrimp. Served 
with Jasmine Rice and a side of Mama’s best 
Garlic Bread. Market
If you are looking for more, try our even bigger 

portion. Market 

Needless to say I went for the Market potion and wow it was good. They served the meal in this medium sized saucepan than was more than half with all the delicious morsels. The broth that it was cooked in provided ample sauce to dip that delectable garlic bread into. I ATE IT ALL.
I was so inspired that replicated the meal to perfection for dinner at home a couple months later.

While writing this post I thought that I need to have another go at this recipe - taking it to another level . This time I'd like to add lobster and snow crab although snow crab and king crab availability locally is infrequent. So expect to see the improved 2.0 version soon.

Buttermilk Pancakes with Glazed Strawberry

Pancakes are as synonymous with breakfast as bacon with eggs. I have found to give the pancakes that IHOP texture requires buttermilk as an essential component of the recipe's ingredients.

Rather that the usual syrup I took inspiration from the Miami Marquis and glazed frozen strawberries to produce a strawberry syrup similar to how the Marquis served their NY Style Cheesecake.

There was also the choice of an omelette served with this stack which came together quite nicely.

The recipe for these pancake follows:







BUTTERMILK PANCAKES

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup melted unsalted butter plus 2 tablespoons for cooking
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder

In a medium bowl, whisk together all ingredients except 2 tablespoons butter until evenly combined and moistened thoroughly (some small lumps will remain). Set mixture aside to rest while griddle heats or cover and store in the refrigerator to rest up to 12 hours before using. (If batter rests, stir briefly before using.)

Heat a large seasoned cast iron skillet, frying pan, or griddle over medium heat. To check that the pan's properly heated, sprinkle a few drops of water on pan or griddle and water will "dance" around before evaporating.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in pan. When it foams, ladle 1/4 cup batter for each pancake and cook until bubbles cover the top, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until golden brown, another 1 minute. Repeat with remaining batter.

French Apple Pound Cake

French Apple Pound Cake - The Pseudo Chef 2013

I love cakes probably as much as the other guy however when that cake is paired with Apples I think I will appear ahead of everyone else. I dont know if this was mentioned in any previous post but I love apples with anything. My God no wonder in so many illustration of Adam and Eve the apple is used as the object of enticement. If the serpent had used caramelized apples then he would have snagged Adam sooner !

French Apple Pound Cake - The Pseudo Chef 2013

 Enough of the Bible stories let's get on with the post and the pics. I made this hybrid pound cake as part of an assessment; needless to say that the lecturer was wonderfully impressed as the cake delivered on all the key criteria, method, texture, appearance and taste.

French Apple Pound Cake - The Pseudo Chef 2013

Peer evaluation/feedback of the cake was also fantastic as not only did I receive numerous requests for the recipe but  I had to give samples as they practically stopped just short of threatening me with physical injuries.








The recipe is as simple as:

1. Follow standard pound cake recipe 
2. Caramelize your favorite apples 
3. Apply apples to pan and then cake batter 
4. Bake to perfection. 
5. Flip and enjoy.

Choux Pastry - Profiteroles (Puffs)

Profiteroles - The Pseudo Chef 2013

Wow I was browsing the blog on the weekend and noticed that I had not posted for quite some time. As a matter of fact its been more than a year since my previous post which was just a couple pics; and preceding post was from the previous year. So that is equivalent to one post per year which is absolutely unacceptable - you would agree.

Well the first step to recovery is in admitting that a problem exists and that I have conceded. I will endeavor over the next few weeks to post some of the recipes that I have attempted during my long hiatus from this blog.

Profiteroles - The Pseudo Chef 2013

 I restart my posting with one of the more common types of pastry that is extremely versatile as it can be used in both savory and sweet applications. Choux Pastry and particular the savory 'Puff' as it is usually referred to has been an absolute favorite for many years. I attempted this pastry more than 20 years ago as a teenager and the results were far less than impressive, But that was in the day of cookbooks with little or no illustrations far less step by step picture recipes. Today's pseudo can benefit from Google searches and Youtube videos that can provide all the techniques required.

Profiteroles - The Pseudo Chef 2013

This French is super easy to reproduce once you follow a few keys steps which I have outlined in the recipe below.











Profiteroles - Yield 14-18 Puffs

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup water
• 4 oz butter or margarine 
• 4 eggs
• pinch of salt 

Method 

1. Preheat oven to 230 C
2. Slightly grease a cooking tray with butter
3. In heavy bottom sauce pan over medium, heat put water,butter and salt to melt.
4. Once butter has melted and there is a rapid boil, add all flour at once. 
5. With a wooden spoon stir mixture vigorously until smooth cooking for about 5-7 minutes.
6. The mixture should come together in the pan forming a soft smooth dough.
7. Continue cooking until the mixture leaves a white film of flour on the base of the saucepan. 
8. Remove from heat into the bowl of a stand mixer and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes.
9. Once cooled add the eggs one at a time beating completely 
10. Scrape mixture into a piping bag and pipe into mounds on baking tray  
11. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 230 C then at 180 C for 20 minutes.
12. Remove from sheet to cooling rack and cool completely before adding filling.  

Couple Pics

Beef Stroganoff - Prikroy menya!

Some recipes cannot be perfected immediately and require practice and tweaking to achieve the desired or optimal taste as well consistency and appearance.

I think today after two previous attempts have perfected this version of beef stroganoff.

For the first time I am going to post my tweaked recipe. I hope you give this a try it is so so good - minimal ingredients tremendous flavor.





 Ingredients

• 1.5 -2 lbs beef stew
• 3 beef bouillon
• 1 yellow onion chopped
• 3 cups of water
• 2 large tablespoons of sour cream
• 4 oz of cream cheese
• Salt and pepper or steak seasoning to taste
• Coarse black pepper
• Red pepper flakes

Method

Season beef with salt pepper steak seasoning and garlic powder and leave to rest 1 hr in the fridge

Heat skillet with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Dump meat in to pan on high heat and cook until brown approx 5 minutes

Remove from heat and pour into slow cooker on high heat

Return skillet to stove add butter and when melted add chopped onion and cook till caramelized. Meanwhile add 3 bouillon to 3 cups of warm water and dissolve then add to the onions and bring to a boil for 3 minutes.

Pour everything into slow cooker.

Allow meat to cook for 3 hours or until tender.

Add cream cheese in chunks and stir to dissolve

Next add sour cream and stir to dissolve

Season to taste

Add fresh chopped chive and or parsley

If the sauce isn’t thick enough dissolve 2 teaspoons of corn starch in ½ cups of the sauce then return to the slow cooker and cook until it thickens stirring occasionally. Add Pepper flakes to taste.

Serve with pasta, rice or sauteed vegetables.

Bacon and Egg Toaster Cups with Baked Eggs and Monkey Bread.

I treated my family to a hearty breakfast today.

Ishmael had a great time and my dear wife was not  that far behind in the number of these treats they both consumed. I literally had to keep them at bay to complete the shots. Its been too long since I have posted a great breakfast like this...actually it wasnt since January 1st 2012.

For next Sunday I have already planned their breakfast which will be inspired by Cinnabon.