Monday Night Meals: Week 14

New England Patriots VS. Houston Texans

Boiled Shrimp

Ingredients:

1 lb. shrimp

lemon

1 t peppercorns

1 t celery seeds

3 sprigs thyme

3 sprigs parsley

1 T salt

1 t cayenne pepper

3 bay leaves

¼ c white wine

4 c water

Seasoning

2 T paprika

1 T salt

2 T garlic powder

½ t thyme

1 t oregano

1 t onion salt

½ T cayenne

1 T black pepper

Cocktail Sauce

1 c ketchup

¼ of lemon (from above)

1 T horseradish

1 t Worcestershire sauce

hot sauce

salt and pepper

Directions:

            Begin with a small bowl and mixing all the seasoning spices together, set aside. In another small bowl, prepare the cocktail sauce. Place the ketchup, juice from lemon, horseradish and Worcestershire sauce in the bowl, mix well together. Add salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste. Place into refrigerator.

            Meanwhile, peel and devein the shrimp. In a deep saucepan, add the water, wine, bay leaves, thyme, parsley, peppercorns, celery seeds, salt, and cayenne. Sprinkle around a teaspoon of seasoning mixture into the pot. The lemon should be cut into quarters. Squeeze two segments into the pot, and then add the lemon as well. Bring the mixture to a roaring boil. Add the shrimp, allowing to fully cook, about three minutes. Remove mixture from heat and let shrimp stand for five minutes. Drain the shrimp, removing all the herbs, and place into refrigerator. Allow chilling, about one hour.

            Serve the shrimp cold with cocktail sauce. Enjoy! Go Texans!

Note: You can use the seasoning mixture on any type of meat and seafood for a spicy kick.

Boston Baked Beans

Ingredients

1 small bag of small navy beans (white), about 4 cups

1 yellow onion

2 cloves

1 c molasses

2 T spiced rum

1 t baking soda

10 strips of bacon

2 t ground mustard

2 T salt

pepper

Directions:

            Wash beans in a bowl, removing any floaters. Place beans in a large pot, add water to cover beans about two inches. Turn on medium heat. Peel the outside of the onion, and trim the ends. Place the cloves into the onion, placing into the center of the beans. Add the baking soda, stir well, and bring to a boil.

            Reduce heat to a medium-low, stirring occasionally. Allow the beans to simmer about twenty minutes. Preheat oven to 275 F. Meanwhile, cut the bacon into one-inch strips.

            Add the bacon, molasses, rum, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir well; slight foam will form on top. You can lightly skim off some of the foam. Bring mixture to an additional boil. Remove from heat and place into the oven.

            Allow the beans to bake for four to five hours. Occasionally check on mixture and stir. You may add water if needed. Remove from heat, serve and enjoy! Go Patriots!