Grits and Shrimp

I have yet to discover what makes me happy. The discovery of new things in life that can bring arrays of emotions are endless. It is almost impossible to list every single thing that can or cannot make me happy. But most importantly in accordance to the social media outlet. The way people treat me depends on how happy I will be for that particular moment of interaction. One thing I know that makes me happy which is independent of any kind of human interaction would be cooking. Cooking in my own solace and privacy.

 

INGREDIENTS:

  • Water – 2 1/4 Cups
  • Grit quick (dry quick cooking grits, not instant) – 2/3 cup 
  • kosher salt – 1/4 Tsp 
  • Milk – 1/2 cup 
  • Butter (divided) – 3 tbs
  • Olive oil – 1 tbs
  • Dried oregano – 1/4 Tsp
  • Crushed red pepper flakes – 1 pinch
  • Lemon (juiced) – 1
  • Hot sauce – 3 tbs
  • Kosher salt – 1/4 Tsp
  • Medium shrimp (peeled and deveined) – 12 ounces

DIRECTIONS

  1. Combine water, grits, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in milk and 1 tablespoon butter. Continue cooking an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until thickened.
  2. Combine remaining butter and next 6 ingredients (through salt) in a large non-stick skillet; bring to a boil. Add shrimp, and cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until shrimp are done.

https://www.yummly.com/#recipe/Shrimp-and-Grits-1227216

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I have been wanting to make this for so long. You can customize this recipe to your liking. I have made the frosting with cream cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream with salt to taste. The decorations for the cake is also up to you. You can use any sort of salads, lettuce, vegetable even sandwich meat.

This is a savory cake that is similar to a sandwich, but with large amounts of filling and garnish, similar to a layered cream cake. It should be served cold and cut like a dessert cake. I find that it is best to make it a day ahead and just keep it in the fridge. For my filling, I used a mixture of chicken salad. You can alternate several fillings if you want. I have just used one for the entire cake. It is visually very impressive and just as good to eat.

 

Creampuffs

 

This is sort of a throwback recipe. I have done this one a while back and they came out pretty nicely. I was very proud to have thrown this together for my parents.

 

INGREDIENTS

  • Water – 1 cup
  • Butter – 1/2 cup
  • All-purpose flour – 1 cup
  • Eggs – 4
  • Heavy cream – 2 cups
  • Powdered sugar – 1/3 cup
  • Vanilla – 1/2 tsp

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. In a small saucepan bring water and butter to a boil. Stir in the flour, reducing heat to low. Stir vigorously, over low heat for 1 minute, or until the dough forms a ball. Remove from heat.
  3. Beat in all of the eggs at once. Continue beating until smooth.
  4. Drop 1/4 cup of dough about 3 inches apart on a baking sheet.
  5. Bake for 35-40 minute, until puffed and golden. Cool completely.
  6. While they are cooling, prepare the whipped cream. Using a stand mixer whisk the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until stiff peaks.
  7. Once the puffs are cool, using a serrated knife, cut the top 1/3 off each puff. Fill each puff with a scoop of whipped cream. Place the top back on.
  8. Dust with powdered sugar

https://www.yummly.co/recipe/Cream-Puffs-1221055

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Woke up dazed feeling amazed. Wanted to do something new but quick and special too.

There isn’t really a set recipe to make banana pancakes. Basically, I used 1 large banana, 1/4 cup of flour, 2 egg and a bit of cinnamon sugar. Spread some confectioners sugar on top with some blueberries drizzled with Maple syrup.

 

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The happiest people seem to be those who have no particular reason for being happy except that they are so.
-W.R. Inge
Clergyman and Writer
I try very hard to remember that but if all else fails I simply cook. That makes me happy. Here is a recipe from that weekend of fun cooking.
INGREDIENTS
  • Sweet potatoes (peeled and cut into 1inch cubes) – 2 1/2 pounds
  • Light brown sugar – 3/4 cups
  • Butter (softened) – 1/4 cups
  • Salt – 11/2 tsp
  • Vanilla extract – 1/2 tsp
  • Ground cinnamon – 1/2 tsp
  • Nutmeg – 1 pinch
  • Pecans (chopped and divided) – 1/2 cups
  • Cooking spray
  • Marshmallows – 2 cups

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Place the sweet potatoes in a pot with 1/3 cup of cold water. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes or until very tender. Drain. Let cool slightly.
  3. Transfer sweet potatoes in a large bowl. Add brown sugar, butter, salt, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 1/4 cup of pecans. Mash sweet potato mixture with a potato masher.
  4. Spray an 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray. Transfer the sweet potato mixture into an even layer. Add remaining pecans and top with marshmallows. Bake for 25 minutes or until marshmallows is toasted. Remove from oven. Scoop and serve.