Shrimp Foo Yung

Makes 4

Who doesn't like a good Egg Foo Yung? And this one with shrimp is...stupid good.

Ingredients

• 1 jar chicken gravy
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 6 eggs, beaten
• 1/3 cup green onions, finely chopped (plus a little extra to add as a garnish at the end)
• 3/4 cup fresh bean sprouts
• 1 cup cooked baby shrimp
• Vegetable oil

Directions

1. Pour the gravy into a pot, stir in the soy sauce and heat over low heat until bubbly and hot
2. Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium heat
3. Beat the eggs really well in a bowl
4. Add the green onions, bean sprouts and baby shrimp to the beaten eggs and stir well
5. Add a bit of oil onto the pan and pour the egg mixture onto the hot pan making 4 pancake sized rounds
6. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes and flip to cook the other side
7. Once both sides are cooked put a pancake onto a plate and spoon some gravy over it
8. Garnish with a little chopped green onion and enjoy

Popeye

Makes 2

The kids will love these. Okay - you will too.

Ingredients

• 2 large slices sourdough bread
• Butter
• 2 eggs
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat a skillet or griddle on the stove over medium heat
2. Cut a circle out of the center of the bread with a glass or some other round thing (big enough for the egg to go into but leave enough bread to hold it)
3. Butter the bread and both sides of the circles
4. Put the bread and the circles onto the pan to brown
5. Crack an egg into the hole in the bread without breaking the yolk and season with salt and pepper to taste
6. Cook until the bottom is browned and the egg is somewhat solid
7. Flip to the second side but not for too long
8. Don't forget to flip the circles so both sides are brown too
9. Carefully put onto a plate without breaking the yolk
10. Cut and eat the egg and bread together but use pieces of the cut out circle to dip into the yolk

Jo Jo Sandwich

Makes 1

My middle son Jordan loves to cook, and this is easly one of his favorites.

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• Butter
• Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 bagel sliced in half and toasted
• 2 slices Gouda cheese (smoked is really good)
• Deli sliced turkey
• Avocado
• Mayonnaise
• Thinly sliced cucumber

Directions

1. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat
2. Melt some butter and crack in the egg (break the yolk) and season with a little salt and pepper
3. Place slices of turkey breast onto the other side of the pan to heat through
4. Flip the egg to cook second side and top with cheese to melt
5. Spread a little mayo onto the toasted bagel and add everything else in this order - sliced avocado, cucumber slices, grilled turkey and then fried egg and finally top with other bagel half.

Spicy Italian Sausage and Peppers

Serves about 4

This is great served alone or you could serve it with pasta on the side.

Ingredients

• 1 pound spicy Italian sausage, cut into thirds on the diagonal
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, rough chopped
• Olive oil

Directions

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil
2. Cook and brown the sausage on all sides, about 10 minutes
3. Pour off the fat
4. Add the onions, bell peppers and garlic to the pan and continue to cook for another 10 minutes or until the peppers soften
5. Drizzle with a bit more olive oil if needed
6. Once the peppers are softened and the sausage is cooked through put on a plate and enjoy

Halibut with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Serves 2

So simple but so much flavor. You have to try this!

Ingredients

• 1 jar roasted red peppers with garlic cloves
• 1/4 cup whipping cream
• 1 pound halibut fillet without the skin
• Olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• Fresh basil leaves, chopped

Directions

1. Pour the red peppers (not drained) into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth
2. Pour the puree into a pan and cook over low heat until hot
3. Add the whipping cream to the sauce and stir well
4. Preheat a skillet over medium heat
5. Rub the halibut fillets with some olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste
6. Place fish in the heated skillet and cook for 2 - 3 minutes per side - don't over cook the fish
7. Spoon some sauce onto a plate and place the fish fillet on top
8. Garnish with chopped basil, a drizzle of olive oil and another sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper

Olive Foccacia Bread

Makes 10 - 12 pieces

Yes - it starts out as pre-made pizza dough but it is so good.

Ingredients

• 1 package pre-made pizza dough, uncooked
• Flour
• Olive oil
• 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, roughly chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary or 1 Tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
• Pinch of Kosher salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Flour your board and shape the dough into about a 1/2 inch rectangle (irregular is great - it doesn't have to be perfect)
3. Place the parchment paper over a baking sheet and put the dough onto the parchment
4. Drizzle the dough liberally with olive oil
5. Scatter the olives over the top and sprinkle -first with the rosemary, then with the parmesan cheese and finally the pinch of salt
6. Bake for about 20 minutes until the dough is cooked through but not too browned

Limoncello Cosmo

Makes one

We've all heard of a Cosmopolitan - right? Well...this is a lemony different version.

Ingredients

• 3 ounces Limoncello

• 1 ounce vodka

• 1 ounce cranberry juice

• 1 wedge fresh lemon

• Ice

• A few fresh cranberries for garnish, optional

Directions

• Place ice in the shaker

• Add the limoncello, vodka and cranberry juice

• Put on the top, and shake like you mean it

• Pour into a martini glass for straight up or over ice if you like on the rocks

• Squeeze in the lemon and drop the wedge in

• Add cranberries if using

• Enjoy

Honey Soy Marinated Lamb Chops

Makes 6 appetizer servings

The honey makes this marinade into a kind of glaze once it's grilled.  They are really good!

Ingredients

• 1 "Frenched" rack of lamb, rinsed and patted dry
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 large (or 3 small) garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped fine

Directions

1. Cut the rack of lamb into individual lamb chops
2. Mix the soy with the honey, garlic and cayenne
3. Marinate the lamb chops (if you only have 10 minutes - cool or if you have more time...that's better)
4. Preheat grill to medium hot
5. Grill the chops for about 4 minutes on one side and flip over
6. Continue cooking the second side for about 3 more minutes
7. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve

Pina Colada Pancakes

Makes about 10 - 12 small ones

I love flaked coconut. These can be a great dessert or breakfast treat.

Ingredients

• 1 cup pancake mix (from a box)
• 3/4 cup coconut milk, canned
• 1/4 cup white rum
• 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• Butter
• Fresh pineapple, skinned and diced very small
• Maple syrup (optional - but don't leave it out)

Directions

1. Preheat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium high heat
2. Combine the pancake mix with the coconut milk, rum and coconut flakes and mix well
3. Melt some butter in the pan and spoon the batter onto the butter to make small pancakes
4. While those cook cut your pineapple
5. Cook the pancakes until they are browned on one side, flip and brown the other
6. Place a nice scoop of diced pineapple onto a plate and add a small stack of the pancakes next to it
7. Drizzle the pancakes with the syrup (or you can eat them with the fruit alone if you want)

Coconut Macaroons

Makes 15 small macaroons

Mrs Cooking Guy loves these - and with only three ingredients they're so easy...and soooo good.

Ingredients

• 7 ounces coconut flakes
• 7 ounces (1/2 can) sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Lightly grease a baking sheet or cover with parchment paper
3. In a bowl, mix coconut, condensed milk and almond extract just well enough to bind together
4. Shape into small mounds or pyramids
5. Place on the baking sheet and bake 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden brown
6. Try to let cool (if you can) before eating

Poutine

Serves 3 - 4

If there was a dish that could be called "Canadian" this would be it.

Ingredients

• 1 bag frozen french fries

• One 12 ounce jar beef gravy

• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

• 1 tablespoon Maggi, soy or Worcestershire sauce

• 1 cup cheese curds, broken up or fresh mozzarella, diced fairly small

Directions

1. Preheat oven per french fry package instructions

2. Spread the fries evenly onto a baking sheet and bake as package instructs - until browned and crunchy

3. In a small pot mix the gravy with some freshly ground black pepper to taste and the Maggi/soy/Worcestershire sauce and heat over low heat until hot and bubbly

4. Break up the cheese curds or dice the mozzarella

5. On a plate layer as follows: french fries, cheese, gravy/sauce mix

6. Add a little more freshly ground black pepper to taste

7. Be sure to get a little of everything in each bite

8. Oh Canada!

Avocado & Crab Benedict

Serves 2

Buy decent crab - and that doesn't mean having to go down to the docks.  You can great crab at the supermarket - look for the pasteurized kind in the refrigerated section. 

Ingredients

• 4 eggs, poached
• 2 English muffins, split & toasted
• 1/2 cup crab meat - crab with a 'c', not a 'k'
• 1 avocado, ripe
• 1/2 cup hollandaise sauce, no need to make it - you can buy it
• Old Bay Seasoning

Directions

1. Top English Muffins with avocado and then poached eggs
2. Top eggs with crab and then with hollandaise sauce
3. Sprinkle each with Old Bay seasoning

Crab Omelet

Makes 1

Being a guy, of course I like eggs. And if I was single, this would be my "hey, know what I could make for you tomorrow morning' kinda of pick-up-line. But I'm married and would never use a line like that. Honest honey...

Ingredients

• 2 tablepoons red bell pepper, diced fine
• 2 eggs, beaten well
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Butter (or olive oil)
• 1/3 cup crab meat
• 1/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese

Directions

1. Preheat nonstick skillet over medium heat
2. Add the red pepper and a smidge of olive oil and cook until slightly softened
3. Meanwhile beat the eggs well and add some freshly ground black pepper to taste
4. Melt about a teaspoon or so of butter (or put the oil) in the pan and pour the eggs over the red bell pepper
5. Cook the eggs by pulling them away from the sides of the pan so the raw egg runs underneath to cook
6. Once the egg is somewhat set add your crab and cheese
7. Fold the omelet in half and continue to cook so that the crab heats in the center, the cheese gets melty and the eggs finish cooking
8. Place the omelet on a plate and sprinkle with a little more freshly ground black pepper

Zamba

Makes 2 big servings

This is my son Zach's morning breakfast. It's his version of a Jamba Juice smoothie.

Ingredients

• One big handful frozen mango squares
• A handful frozen strawberries (not to many or it ruins the whole thing)
• 1 banana, peeled and cut into large pieces
• equal amount orange juice and cranberry juice to cover the fruit
• 5 pieces of ice, no more & no less

Directions

1. Add fruit to your blender and pour in juice just to cover
2. Add ice and start blending at medium so that everything begins to get chopped up
3. Turn up the blender a couple of times and blend until every thing becomes really smooth and well blended

The Worlds Freshest Pea Soup

Makes 4 - 6 servings

This is not that thick, army green gross stuff. This is fresh, bright and really delicious. But if you want the old-school version, I'm sure you can find it in a can in the back of an old supermarket somewhere...

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup red onion, diced
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 - 2 ounce package of Ready Bacon, diced
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1 - 16oz bag frozen peas
• 1/4 cup whipping cream
• Kosher salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Sour cream

Directions

1. Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat, add oil and cook the red onion until very soft and beginning to brown slightly
2. Add bacon and continue to cook everything starts getting crispy
3. While that cooks, heat the chicken stock in a separate pot
4. Once it boils, add the peas and cook for about 2 1/2 minutes
5. Drain the peas (reserving the broth) and put into a blender and add just enough broth to cover
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste
7. Cover and blend until smooth
8. Add the whipping cream and continue blending until really smooth
9. Serve in a bowl and top with a spoonful of sour cream and some of the red onion/bacon mixture

Mini Boiler-Makers

Makes one

A 'boilermaker' is most often a shot glass of whiskey, dropped into a larger glass of beer. The size and the added spice make this one a little different.

Ingredients

• 1/2 ounce beer
• 1/2 ounce scotch
• Hot sauce, like Cholula

Directions

1. In a shot glass pour in the beer and scotch and add a couple nice shakes of the hot sauce
2. Stir well and sip

The Pinky

Makes 1

Named after Michelle who once produced the show. I nicknamed her 'Pinky' after a silly email name of hers. Anyway, I made this for her bridal shower and everyone loved it.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1/2 ounce orange juice
• 1/2 ounce Chambord
• 2 ounces champagne

Directions

1. Put ice in a glass and add vodka, oj and Chambord
2. Top with champagne and stir slowly to mix
3. Drink

Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Makes about 1 cup

Works for pasta, fish or pretty much anything. I put this on a fried egg that's on top of a grilled piece of whole wheat bread - then I drizzle the whole thing with a little really good extra virgin olive oil. Then I eat it. Then I make another one - ok, I'll stop now.

Ingredients

• 1-12 ounce jar roasted red peppers with garlic (if you can find them), drained
• 1 large clove garlic (if you don't have garlic in the peppers)
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Approximately 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth, or more if desired

Directions

1. Put everything in a blender except broth and blend - pretty easy so far huh?
2. Add broth until you get the thickness you like
3. Heat before using

Cranberry Marg

Makes one

I really like my regular margarita, so this is pretty much like that - but with cranberry juice added. Hey, why mess with a good thing?

Ingredients

• 2 parts tequila
• 1 part Sweet & Sour
• 1 part cranberry juice
• 1 splash Grand Marnier
• 1 lime wedge
• Handful of fresh cranberries, optional

Directions

1. Fill a glass with ice and add tequila, sweet & sour, cranberry juice and Grand Marnier
2. Add slice of lime and some cranberries
3. Stir well and drink

Turkey Tacos

Makes 6

I mean really - there are only so many turkey sandwiches or pot pies you can eat with leftover turkey before you want to poke your eyes out. Try these, ok?

Ingredients

• 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
• 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups leftover turkey
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 2 carrots, shredded
• 1 cup leftover mashed potatoes, warmed
• 6 corn tortillas, warmedsour cream

Directions

1. Cook onion in oil over medium heat until softened
2. Add turkey and cumin and stir well until heated through
3. Add carrots, stir and remove from heat
4. To a heated tortilla add some sour cream, mashed potato and then top with turkey mixture
5. Eat away...