El Guapo & Randy Reed's Cooking Thread

[theresa113 0]

I have no food in my house. I'm thinking about thawing some frozen shrimp, sauteeing in butter/olive oil and garlic...maybe some salt/pepper/cayenne...and maybe throwing it on some pasta. I wish I had some cream, but I only have about a half cup of 1% milk, don't think that will do the trick, unfortunately. Thoughts? There's some onion lying around, american cheese, frozen sausage, random stuff in the fridge and pantry. If anyone has ideas, I've got about an hour before I start cooking.Or I could just make mac and cheese.

Do you have wine, parsley, basil, garlic and tomatoes? I make a fresh pasta sauce with those ingredients for my shrimp. I also add a tad of lemon juice, S&P. I am not usually a fan of cream and shrimp... But... you could make a light roux with some butter and flour first in the pan and then add the milk. The butter will add fat back into the sauce, make sure to use equal parts flour and butter and make sure you actually cook the flour so your sauce does not taste pasty. Stream the milk in slowly and whisk. HOWEVER... if you want some real flavor do this...Brown your sausage. Take out the sausage and then add flour and maybe some butter depending on how much fat you have in the pan. Scrape the pan with a wooden spoon to get up all of the brown pieces. Once you cook the flour add the milk. Thicken and add in the sausage. This is how I use to make sausgae gravy for my son when he would want biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Oh... and some black pepper and a pinch of cayenne. As far as American cheese there is only one good place for that... the garbage.

[gooch 0]

Do you have wine, parsley, basil, garlic and tomatoes? I make a fresh pasta sauce with those ingredients for my shrimp. I also add a tad of lemon juice, S&P. I am not usually a fan of cream and shrimp... But... you could make a light roux with some butter and flour first in the pan and then add the milk. The butter will add fat back into the sauce, make sure to use equal parts flour and butter and make sure you actually cook the flour so your sauce does not taste pasty. Stream the milk in slowly and whisk. HOWEVER... if you want some real flavor do this...Brown your sausage. Take out the sausage and then add flour and maybe some butter depending on how much fat you have in the pan. Scrape the pan with a wooden spoon to get up all of the brown pieces. Once you cook the flour add the milk. Thicken and add in the sausage. This is how I use to make sausgae gravy for my son when he would want biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Oh... and some black pepper and a pinch of cayenne. As far as American cheese there is only one good place for that... the garbage.

shrimp+sausage+spice+rice=jambalya!!!!

[speedz99 145]

1. throw away the american "cheese" that shit is just wrong2. sausage and peppers and shrimp with a tomato sauce and pasta would be good

I had it to make a garbage plate last night...it's a necessary ingredient for that one. But obviously it wouldn't go near pasta or shrimp.

Do you have wine, parsley, basil, garlic and tomatoes? I make a fresh pasta sauce with those ingredients for my shrimp. I also add a tad of lemon juice, S&P.

Unfortunately I only have fresh herbs when I went to the store specifically to get them.

Brown your sausage. Take out the sausage and then add flour and maybe some butter depending on how much fat you have in the pan. Scrape the pan with a wooden spoon to get up all of the brown pieces. Once you cook the flour add the milk. Thicken and add in the sausage. This is how I use to make sausgae gravy for my son when he would want biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Oh... and some black pepper and a pinch of cayenne.

This is a great idea, and I'll do it at some point for biscuits and gravy. As for tonight, I ran out to the store to grab some half & half so I can make a cajun shrimp alfredo dealy, since I did realize that I have some nutmeg to grate and good parmesan...also to grate. I've never done this before, so cross your fingers for me.

[Randy Reed 0]

I had it to make a garbage plate last night...it's a necessary ingredient for that one. But obviously it wouldn't go near pasta or shrimp.Unfortunately I only have fresh herbs when I went to the store specifically to get them. This is a great idea, and I'll do it at some point for biscuits and gravy. As for tonight, I ran out to the store to grab some half & half so I can make a cajun shrimp alfredo dealy, since I did realize that I have some nutmeg to grate and good parmesan...also to grate. I've never done this before, so cross your fingers for me.

I use cream in my shrimp/pasta as well. Try pepperjack it really works.

[speedz99 145]

Yup. Garlic sauteed in butter. Add shrimp for for 1 minute on each side. 1 cup half & half. Salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste. Dash of nutmeg. Cook down. Add pasta.Fucking delicious.

[El Guapo 8]

We are moving so I am trying to use up all the fresh food in the fridge for less to transport. So last night I made quesadilla's that were awesome.I took some homemade corn tortillas, drizzled a baking sheet with olive oil, filled them with Cheddar, Mozzarella, pepper jack, sauteed onions and bell peppers, salt, pepper, then drizzled some more olive oil on top. Baked for about 10 min, then broiled for a couple to crisp them up.I served them with sour cream with fresh chopped chives and hot sauce to taste.

[gooch 0]

Unfortunately I only have fresh herbs when I went to the store specifically to get them.

would be so easy for you to keep a nice pot of basil and rosemary growing year round, make it happen

[gooch 0]

Yup. Garlic sauteed in butter. Add shrimp for for 1 minute on each side. 1 cup half & half. Salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste. Dash of nutmeg. Cook down. Add pasta.Fucking delicious.

try to throw in a splash of absinthe or pernod and a squish of lemon next time too

[LadyGrey 6]

would be so easy for you to keep a nice pot of basil and rosemary growing year round, make it happen

I like to keep a basil plant growing on the windowsill and they tend to last a long time if you water them regularly. On the other hand, I've tried to keep parsley growing several times and it always dies on me within a week or two. It's a shame because fresh parsley goes with everything but basil only really suits Italian dishes.

[gooch 0]

I like to keep a basil plant growing on the windowsill and they tend to last a long time if you water them regularly. On the other hand, I've tried to keep parsley growing several times and it always dies on me within a week or two. It's a shame because fresh parsley goes with everything but basil only really suits Italian dishes.

i live in the great white north so i can just keep the rosemary going, too little sun for others unless i get a grow light, but i rarely use parsley[crass joke]you know the difference between parsley and pussy?[/crass joke]no one eats parsley

[El Guapo 8]

I rarely go out to dinner any more. I went to Chili's tonight nothing really looked appetizing so I just got a chicken sandwich. It just was not very good. Especially since I have been eating really good home cooked food recently,

[DinkDonk 1]

I rarely go out to dinner any more. I went to Chili's tonight nothing really looked appetizing so I just got a chicken sandwich. It just was not very good. Especially since I have been eating really good home cooked food recently,

Go somewhere that's not Chili's. I love going out to eat.

[El Guapo 8]

Go somewhere that's not Chili's. I love going out to eat.

Well I was meeting a client and it was convenient, and since I was buying, easy on the wallet.I love going out to eat also. When my wife and I were dating, pre kids, we would go downtown at least once a month and try a new restaurant. That was nice.

[DinkDonk 1]

Well I was meeting a client and it was convenient, and since I was buying, easy on the wallet.I love going out to eat also. When my wife and I were dating, pre kids, we would go downtown at least once a month and try a new restaurant. That was nice.

For the record, I too prefer cooking an excellent meal with my girlfriend to going out to eat. It's just easier to go out most of the time. She has class all day and tons of homework, so we usually save the real cooking for weekends.

[rivergirl 2]

last night, while watching diners,driveins and dives, they featured this AWESOME looking meatloaf, wrapped in bacon. I really really want to try this at home. They showed the recipe, and not too hard to scale it down the only problem is, they wrapped it in something to bake it initially, i'm assuming this absorbed the grease. Any ideas what i can use to do this???? At first i thought it was simple parchment paper, but that really wouldn't get rid of much. I did go out and buy the leanest ground beef i could find, hoping that helps, but i can see the bacon causing alot of fat issues

[gooch 0]

last night, while watching diners,driveins and dives, they featured this AWESOME looking meatloaf, wrapped in bacon. I really really want to try this at home. They showed the recipe, and not too hard to scale it down the only problem is, they wrapped it in something to bake it initially, i'm assuming this absorbed the grease. Any ideas what i can use to do this???? At first i thought it was simple parchment paper, but that really wouldn't get rid of much. I did go out and buy the leanest ground beef i could find, hoping that helps, but i can see the bacon causing alot of fat issues

i would think that it was parchment to keep the bacon from crisping too early

[Suited_Up 2]

I rarely go out to dinner any more. I went to Chili's tonight nothing really looked appetizing so I just got a chicken sandwich. It just was not very good. Especially since I have been eating really good home cooked food recently,

They have solid Fajita's.I used to work there a long time ago, so I actually kinda like everything to a point, but probably Burger's and Fajita's are towards the top.

[speedz99 145]

last night, while watching diners,driveins and dives, they featured this AWESOME looking meatloaf, wrapped in bacon. I really really want to try this at home. They showed the recipe, and not too hard to scale it down the only problem is, they wrapped it in something to bake it initially, i'm assuming this absorbed the grease. Any ideas what i can use to do this???? At first i thought it was simple parchment paper, but that really wouldn't get rid of much. I did go out and buy the leanest ground beef i could find, hoping that helps, but i can see the bacon causing alot of fat issues

Just cook it on top of a few layers of bread...that's what I do for bacon cheeseburger meatloaf. I've never fully wrapped it in anything but the bread soaks up the grease nicely.

[kobe2odom8 14]

They have solid Fajita's.I used to work there a long time ago, so I actually kinda like everything to a point, but probably Burger's and Fajita's are towards the top.

i had fajitas there a couple days ago and i was very disappointed. the burgers are def the best

[rivergirl 2]

so i did the bacon-wrapped meatloaf and OMG!!!i did a little improvising...i wrapped it in foil, then put it on a rack in a roasting pan poking holes in the bottom of the foil for the grease to escape. After 20 minutes in the oven, i unwrapped the foil and let the bacon get crispy crispy. It was super good. I'm definately recommending it. I just made a basic meatloaf too, so whatever you like to use to make it then layer alot of bacon and roll around meatloaf. (mine was a little too big so i used a couple pieces of bacon on top to cover. It's incredibly moist from the bacon that you don't even need to do a gravy and if you serve it over some mashed potatoes, the bacon/potato thing is incredible. Next time, i'm going to add cheese to my potatoes cause i think that will bring it over the top!!

[LadyGrey 6]

If you haven't done it yet, make your own tortilla chips. They are totally different from the storebought ones or the ones you get in the restaurant. They are crunchy but not as crumbly as normal ones - they don't fall to pieces when you bite them, and they don't get soggy when you dip with them.How I make mine:First heat the oven to 375F or so.3 mini tortilla wraps per person. I like wholewheat, they taste better and I think the colour looks good too. Cut them in half, half again, and half again. You should have 8 triangles per wrap used.Lay all the triangles out on a foil-lined tray. I spray mine quickly with Pam spray because it helps the seasoning stick. I sprinkle them with salt and freshly ground black pepper. They would also be great with some kind of spice or garlic granules. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes, then check them. They should feel firm and brittle when touched, but they shouldn't be much darker than they started out. Touch a couple from different areas of the tray otherwise you might end up with some that are still a bit soft, those aren't nice. If there is any give, any sponginess when you press the chip, give it another minute or two and check again. I ate mine with my delicious chili (non carne). They are also great with guac, salsa, all the normal fixings.

[El Guapo 8]

We have been moving for the last week, so we have been eating way too much pizza and fast food. Tonight I wanted a real meal and I looked in the fridge to use up stuff that would go bad if not used soon. I had a sweet potato, random salad fixings and baby asparagus that needed to be eaten. I made the following:- Scalloped sweet potatoes roasting in orange juice, dried cranberries, a little butter and brown sugar.- Salad with apple, pine nuts, avocado, red bell pepper and green lead lettuce.- Baby asparagus lightly tossed in olive oil- Atlantic cod pan fried dredged in egg wash and ground biscuits. (seasoned with salt, pepper, paprika and chili powder)It did not really all go well together, but individually they were all great.

[AAsnake88 0]

That does sound like an odd combo, but when there's stuff that needs to be used up asap you don't always end up with a perfectly complementary meal.Nice work, iron chef.

[El Guapo 8]

That does sound like an odd combo, but when there's stuff that needs to be used up asap you don't always end up with a perfectly complementary meal.Nice work, iron chef.

Gracias. It was good, but I would not have planned that meal. I just did not want to throw out $30 in produce in the next few days.

[speedz99 145]

- Salad with apple, pine nuts, avocado, red bell pepper and green lead lettuce.

I hope the kids didn't eat this one.