Ina Gartens lemon pasta with Roasted Shrimp

My husband and I both love Ina Garten the Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network. We tried roasting shrimp after seeing a Barefoot Contessa episode a while back and it makes an incredible difference to the flavor. It's so easy to do, it's now our preferred way to cook shrimp. We make this a lot for shrimp cocktails we like to have ours with some warm butter. While we were watching Ina the other day make a lemon pasta with roasted shrimp we had to try it. Of course just like most of her dishes it was amazing you have to try this.

2 pounds (17 to 21 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined
Good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound angel hair pasta
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Zest and juice of 2 lemons
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the shrimp on a sheet pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.Toss well, spread them in one layer and roast for 6 to 8 minutes, just until they're pink and cooked through.

Meanwhile, drizzle some olive oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add the angel hair and cook until al dente, about 3 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking liquid. Quickly toss the angel hair with the melted butter, 1/4 cup olive oil, the lemon zest, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and about 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking liquid. Add the shrimp and serve hot.
Enjoy!
Allison
Allisonskitchen.blogspot.com

RED LOBSTER SHRIMP GUMBO

Red Lobster Shrimp Gumbo
1-1/2 cups melted butter
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups chopped onions, cut into 3/8″ pieces
1 cup chopped green peppers, cut into 3/8″ pieces
1 cup chopped celery, cut into 3/8″ pieces
1 lb. Andouille sausage, cut into 1/2″ pieces
1/2 lb. Tasso smoked meat, cut into 1/2″ pieces
1 tbsp. paprika
3 tbsp. “Emeril’s Bayou Blast” seasoning
2 tsp. gumbo file, ground
1 tsp. ground Ancho pepper (optional for extra heat)
10 cups cold chicken stock or broth
2 tbsp. brown sugar
2 bay leaves
1/2 lb. shrimp, cleaned and peeled with tails removed
Salt and Pepper to taste
Combine the melted butter and flour in a large heavy pot, stirring constantly over media heat. Cook until the roux is a dark, chocolate brown color (about 20 to 25 minutes).
Add the chopped onions, green peppers, celery, Andouille sausage and Tasso smoked meat. Cook, stirring continuously, until the vegetables are very soft (about 8 to 10 minutes).
Add the paprika, the “Emeril’s Bayou Blast” and the gumbo file. If you want a spicier dish, add the Ancho pepper. Cook for about 1-2 minutes.
Add the cold chicken stock or broth. Stir until the roux mixture and the broth are well combined.
Add the bay leaves and the brown sugar, bringing the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
Add shrimp to the soup approximately 15 to 20 minutes prior to serving (size of the shrimp will determine how long they need to cook). Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serves 10-12
Source: Red Lobster

LEFTOVER MASHED POTATO PANCAKE RECIPE

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and I wish everyone a very Happy New Year!  Today I want to share a very simple recipe with you for using up leftover mashed potatoes, I remember my grandmother and my mom making these for breakfast they go great with eggs! But my husband likes them for dinner as well.  There is no exact science for this recipe, because you never know how much potatoes you have left over but here is the basics and just adjust from it.

1 bowl of leftover cold mashed potatoes (lets say about 2-3 cups)
salt and pepper to taste
1 egg well beaten (maybe 2 if you have more potatoes)
1-2 T of flour (again maybe more but be careful if you add to much flour you will have something of a fried potato biscuit !! instead of a creamy fluffy potato cake)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and shape into a patty with your hands don't worry if the mixture is a little loose but you don't want it falling all apart ( this is when you should add a little more flour)

Now fry in butter or bacon fat nice and slow till browned on both sides don't try to flip to soon or they will fall apart. Well I have a great picture to show you, but i can't seem to upload it right now.  so I will try to add it later.
Enjoy!

Allison

BEST BAKED BEANS EVER!!!

Do you think you can't improve on your best baked bean recipe? Well think again my friends. We have been making this bean recipe for years and it is a HIT at any gathering. Your family will Love this. This can be a meal by itself with a nice crusty bread, or a fantastic side dish. Super duper easy, just put every thing in the crock pot and let er go.

Oh by the way I could not find a butter bean at the grocery store to save my soul. So just improvise if you have to I used northern beans instead.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED
1/2 lb ground beef and 1/2 cup chopped onion browned and drained
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
  2 Tbsp. mustard
1 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 16oz can kidney beans, drained
1 16oz can pork and beans, drained
1 16oz can butter beans, drained
Save sum of the juice from the beans in a small cup for later
Mix and but into the crock pot on low for about 2-3 hours till hot and bubbly. or if your in a real hurry mix and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees
Use some of the liquid from the beans to add during cooking if you would like it a little more soupy. but don't add it right away till they cook for a while and you see the consistency. that's it they are done.
Enjoy!
Allison

Amazing Steak Seasoning Recipe!!
We always seasoned our steaks at the Restaurant before they hit the grill and we do the same at home, I hope you enjoy this family recipe that we used for years at our restaurants.  Once you get all your ingredients together its super easy to make.

4 t Kosher Salt
2 t Paprika
1 1/2 t pepper
3/4 t of the following:
onion powder
garlic powder
cayenne pepper
coriander
turmeric
old bay
garlic salt
cumin
Put all ingredients into a jar and shake well. Use on steaks or roasts.
Enjoy!!
Allison
Allison's Kitchen

DEVILED EGGS WITH NO MAYO

Well I was ready to make some deviled eggs, I had the eggs done and NO Mayo!! I looked at my eggs for a second then thought I will just make them with out the mayo. So one day if you find your out of mayo and want deviled eggs here is what I did.

I Started with 6 eggs,  mash the yolks with a fork.
Add a few shakes of Worcestershire Sauce
A little squeeze of mustard
A dash of garlic salt
1/2 a pack of splenda ( or you can use sugar )
A dash of celery salt
A dash of pepper
1 Tab of salad dressing ( I used Kens Sweet Vidalia Onion ) but I bet Ranch or Blue Cheese would work.
1 tsp. Tarragon
2 Tab melted butter
Stir well till smooth but into your egg and top with sliced olive and I sprinkled Old Bay on top/
Enjoy!
So the next time your out of Mayo give this a try they were just as yummy .

Enjoy! Hope your all having a great summer
Allison

EASY FRENCH BREAD

We are getting a lot of rain down here today, so I thought it would be a good day to post a blog about my easy French Bread. This recipe is for a 2 LB loaf and it comes out perfect every time.
I make this in my bread machine then bake it in the oven. You have to try this one its fantastic!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups water, at about 105 degrees
4 cups flour ( bread flour)
1 1/2 tsp salt I like kosher
2 1/2 tsp dry yeast

Directions:
Add the ingredients in the order your bread maker needs
For mine it's water first
Then I add 1/2 of the flour and the salt then the rest of the flour then the yeast on top
Set your machine for the Dough cycle.

When your dough is done take it out and cut dough in 1/2 on a floured board roll each 1/2 into a long rope.  Place on a greased baking sheet that has a little corn meal on it and cut small slits about 4 just through top to the bread.
Brush with ice water then cover with a tea towel and let rise for 1 hour then brush with egg wash and I like to sprinkle a little kosher salt on top of my bread before I bake it. If you want a softer crust brush with cream instead of egg wash.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 25-35 min.
Enjoy!
Allison