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Mother’s Day Grilled Shrimp on Leek Polenta

Happy Mother's day to my wife, who loves leeks and spinach. I developed this dish with that in mind: Cajun flavored shrimp rest on a smooth bed of creamy polenta cooked with savory leeks, beside cooked spinach. The shrimp are bathed in a glazey wine sauce made with the reserved shrimp shells - a flavor that can only be found by cooking the shells themselves. The rich shell-wine sauce truly transforms this dish. For the shrimp: 2 Tbsp butter plus 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 lb shrimp (about 15-16 large), peeled, deveined, shells reserved 3 Tbsp favorite Cajun seasoning 3 cloves garlic, passed through a garlic press 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste) Zest of 1 lemon 1 Tbsp olive oil For the shell broth: 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 cup dry white wine 1 Tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 2 Tbsp cold water For the leek polenta: 2 Tbsp butter 1 leek cleaned and finely diced 1/2 cup polenta or coarse cornmeal (or you could also use grits) 2 cups chicken broth 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup grated parme...
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Creamy Baked Seafood Ziti

I love seafood and pasta with a white creamy sauce.  This one in unctuous, with scallops and shrimp paired with mushrooms. And it's super guest appropriate leaving you much more free to attend to guests while dinner is cooking, compared to a stove-top prep. Sauce: 2 Tbsp butter plus 1 Tbsp olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced through press 2 Tbsp flour 1/2 cup dry white wine Liquid from 1 4-oz can mushroom pieces 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 Tbsp capers 1/4 tsp dried dill weed Seafood Ziti: 1/2 lb scallops (I thawed frozen scallop pieces from Big Y) 1/2 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined, halved at the waist 1/3 lb ziti Mushroom pieces from 4-oz can 1/3 lb mozzarella cubed (or fresh mozzarella pearl balls) Topping: 8-10 grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise 1/2 cup panko crumbs (I used Italian flavored) 3 Tbsp butter   Preheat oven to 375F. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Melt sauce butter in oil in a small pot. Whisk in the flour and cook over medium heat for ...
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Honey Miso Pork Chops

This is a fantastic way to prepare pork chops, especially if it is not yet good outdoor grilling weather.  The rich honey miso sauce forms a sweet, sour and umami glaze over the chops that that beautifully complements the savory, meaty pork flavor. 2 bone-in pork chops 1 Tbsp butter plus 1 Tbsp olive oil Honey Miso sauce: 1 Tbsp honey 1 Tbsp red miso 1 Tbsp soy sauce 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar 1 Tbsp water 1/4 cup dry white wine 2-3 cloves garlic, minced Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Melt the butter in the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper and sear the chops in the skillet for about 3-5 minutes. Flip the chops and cook the second side until the center of the chops registers at least 145F. Remove the chops to a plate and cover to keep warm. They should continue to cook to about 150-155F while resting. Meanwhile, add the garlic to the skillet into the remaining oil, and cook 1 minute (add a dash more bu...
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Grilled NY Strip Steak with Chimichuri and Grilled Broccoli

Spring is coming and so grilling is in the air. This is a fantastic steak dinner, much less expensive than the big steak restaurants, even if you buy the best prime (or 100% grass-fed) beef. My father always said "Give me a quarter of what you would expect to spend in a restaurant and I'll go to the grocery store, and then give to your mother, who would prepare a feast you couldn't touch at a restaurant". That may be the case, and this is good evidence for his hypothesis. 2 NY Strip beef steaks (I used 100% grass fed) 2 broccoli crowns 1/4 cup favorite vinaigrette   3-4 thick pads butter (or herbed compound butter, see notes) Steak Marinade: 1/4 cup dry white wine 1/4 cup olive oil 2 tsp herbes de Provence, Italian herbs or thyme or rosemary   2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tsp kosher salt A generous dash of freshly ground black pepper 1 tsp Dijon mustard   Whisk together the steak marinade. Pour marinade into resealable plastic bag or a casserole. Add steaks. Flip several...
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Baked Stuffed Sole

This delicious stuffed sole strikes all the right chords. It's filling combines wilted spinach, moist succulent shrimp, toasted Italian breadcrumbs, lemon zest, garlic and butter. What's not to like? The sole fillets are rolled around this generous moist ball of filling and roasted with lemon. Light, flavorful, and oh so comforting. This is sure to please. 8 Dover sole fillets, about 1-1/4 lb 1/2 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined 2 slices Italian bread, toasted 2 cloves garlic, peeled and halved 2 Tbsp butter Zest of 1 lemon 2 5-oz bags fresh baby spinach leaves 3 Tbsp butter plus 1 Tbsp olive oil Juice of 1/2 lemon 1/2 lemon, quartered Dried dill weed Paprika Preheat oven to 375F. Lay out the sole on a clean flat work surface.   Break up the toast into a small food processor. Add the garlic. Pulse the processor until you have coarse crumbs. Tip crumbs into a medium bowl. Thinly slice half of the shrimp and add to the bread crumbs.   Quarter the other half and place in the ...
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Eggplant Lasagna

Every year our mother would allow each of us children to request the dinner on their birthday. Most of my brothers and sisters asked for lobster (which was sometimes granted!). My favorite was always lasagna and she always accepted that request. I am a total sucker for lasagna and any dish like it. Here is a version with a bit of roasted eggplant giving earthy flavor notes, and topped with tomato slices giving a fresh brightness to the dish. I like to use fresh mozarella for that oh so comforting melted cheese pull. 1 large eggplant, sliced into 6 slices, lengthwise 9 sheets no-boil lasagna 2 large ripe tomatoes, sliced into a total of about 10-12 slices 1 lb sliced fresh mozzarella log 1/4 lb Monterrey Pepper Jack cheese, finely diced, or grated, (or favorite meltable cheese) Fresh basil leaves for garnish Sauce: 1 lb ground lamb (or beef or pork) 1/2 lb bulk hot (or sweet or a mix of the two) Italian sausage   1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, minced Palmful fresh rosemary, minced 1 ro...
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