Cook Anything Good This Weekend?

[Low-N-Slow]

Picked up some Lamb Chuck Chops from Dorignac's. $3.99/ lb. Marinated in white balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, a dash of Worcestershire, olive oil, ground white pepper and Greek spices. Charcoal grilled, and served with a salad of romaine hearts, Roma tomatoes, basil, feta, and sweet onion with a vinaigrette of white balsamic, EVOO and white pepper.

Tomorrow, will be making meatballs with fresh Italian sausage and lean ground beef. Will serve with basil-infused marinara over angel hair, I think. Made a slaw to accompany with fennel, red cabbage, scallions, and crispy bacon, dressed with a mayo, red wine vinegar, and fennel frond dressing that I saw on an episode of the latest TNFNS, Melissa d'Arabian.

Originally thought the fennel-based slaw would be perfect with the anise from the Italian sausage in the meatballs, but found after making, that citrusy notes would go well with the orange juice/honey-glazed chicken on the episode from whence I got the recipe. I still think it will work, though.

[Oyster]

Not too much.

Made Shrimp Salad Friday. Saturday did a large Chuck Roast in the Crock Pot. Went to watch the L-SUCKS game down the block where had Venison Chili. Did the leftovers Sunday night.

Need a shot of cool. Got Gumbo on the brain. Think I'm tired of this weekend rain...

[hungryone]

Was gifted with 5 lbs shrimp, so I made shrimp sauce piquante using Richard/Rima Collin's recipe (from their peerless "New Orleans cookbook"), & made some simple grilled shrimp with lime & chile, as well as a variation of shrimp de jonghe (shrimp, garlic, breadcrumbs, butter, baked until browned).

[jodyrah]

I also use their recipe for shrimp sauce picante...just wonderful. Red beans are stellar as well. Made a pot of sauce, meatballs/spaghetti. Could have just eaten the La Boulangerie baguette with sauce and been happy. Also made fried chicken and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Last night was salmon marinated in orange oil, lime, ginger, garlic, soy, a bit of brown sugar and a nasty little chili pepper.

[Schuarta]

Got fishy last night. SO prepared tilapia sauted in herbs and olive oil, served with red beets and creamed spinach (made with cream cheese). I did the apps with a bowl of mussels prepared with a wine, lemon, garlic, butter and paprika sauce.

Since we have a fresh mussel problem here in the desert, we have stocked the freezer with bags of frozen mussels bought at WalMart of all places. They are as good as the sauces you prepare for them, and $2.50 a bag.

[sirvelvet]

Cajun bouillabaisse with redfish, speckled trout, crawfish, and lump crabmeat. Served with bread pudding and bourbon sauce. Delicious!

[jimbeaux]

I grill quite a bit but usually don't have the time to smoke something. I had a hankering for smoked brisket so I picked up a small marinated brisket from Rouses and gave it a try. Grilled/smoked it for about 3 hours then finished it for an hour in the oven with small potatoes, onions and carrots. Came out still pretty tough and without as much smoke flavor as I wished. It was only a pound of meat so I am thinking it was either too small or, conversely, maybe I did not cook long enough. It did make great sandwiches the next day when I sliced it cold, and it seemed to pick up more of a smoke flavor. One bright spot was the mixed bag of small potatoes I picked up at Rouses. It included several Airondack Blues which had intensely purpled flesh and a great taste. Oh, and the black bean soup I cooked while not tending the grill came out fantastic, with bits of ham, a Spanish style sausage from Langenstein's, and andouille.

[JRO]

Killer venison chilli for sorry ass LSU game Saturday, probably venison burgers after Sundays win against the Giants