Pumpkin and Shrimp Corn Chowder

This chowder  recipe takes advantage of the last of the fall corn harvest and the arrival of pumpkins in the pumpkin patch. Diced potatoes  with a taste of smoked paprika and Creole seasoning gives this new seasonal favorite delivers a new twist to a not so traditional chowder. So warm and satisfying, this dish is perfect with a chunk of rustic French  bread.

Enjoy!

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients:
4 Fresh ears of corn
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 Tablespoons butter, divided
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into ¼ inch dice
½ cup celery, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
½ cup celery, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 bay leaf
4 cups chicken stock
1/2 pound Yukon gold potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
1 cup heavy cream
Sprigs of flat leaf Italian parsley, for garnish

Directions:
In a shallow dish, with a serrated knife, strip the kernels off the corn. Set aside.

In a large Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of butter over medium high heat and cook the shrimp for 4 to 7 minutes or until they become completely opaque and pink. Remove the shrimp to a plate, and set aside.

Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter and cook the garlic, onions, celery and red bell pepper for 3 to 5 minutes. Add the corn to the Dutch oven and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the flour and continue to cook for an additional 2 minutes. When the flour begins to brown, add the smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, bay leaf, chicken stock, pumpkin puree and potatoes. Bring the chowder to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.

While the chowder is simmering, reserve 8 shrimp and chop up the remaining shrimp into bite sized pieces. Add the heavy cream, Creole seasoning, and chopped shrimp to the Dutch oven. Stir until the cream is incorporated and allow the chowder to heat through. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Remove the bay leaf.

Ladle into soup bowls and serve warm, garnished with parsley sprigs and top with the remaining whole shrimp.

Style Notes:
Staub Burnt Orange Mini Pumpkin Cocotte (3/4 quart) 
The Home Cook’s personal, French White Plate, Venetian Glass Charger, and Silver Spoon

Lobster and Artichoke Pizza

This pizza was inspired by the Old Port Lobster Flatbread appetizer served at the  Hancock Gourmet Lobster Company in Topsham, Maine. Instead using a standard pizza dough to make the crust, I opted for a puff pastry. Pepperidge Farm’s Puff Pasty is the one I like to use, but you can use any standard commerically made products that can be found in your local supermarkets. This decadent treat  It is perfect for a Sunday afternoon lunch.

Ingredients:

For the Lemon Butter Herb Marinade:
Makes About 1 Cup

1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 Tablespoon fresh minced rosemary
1/2 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1/4 Tablespoon lemon peel
1/4 cup melted butter
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste

Directions:
Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, salt cayenne pepper in a nonreactive (glass, ceramic, or stainless steel) bowl and whisk until the salt crystals are dissolved. Add the rosemary, parsley, garlic and lemon zest. Stir or whisk in the butter to combine. The virtue of this marinade is its freshness: Use it within 1 to 2 hours of making. Stir again before using.

For the toppings:
Ingredients:
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4  cup  Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup Asiago Cheese
1/4 cup Fontina Cheese
1/2 pound lobster meat (click here for the resource)
1/2 cup  Suns of Italy Marinated Artichoke Hearts, chopped (click here for the resource)
2 Tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped
Crush red pepper flakes, to taste
Pepperidge Farms Puff Pastry (click here for the site)

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 430 degrees F.

Make the marinade. Add about 1/2 cup of the marinade to a small non reactive bowl. Add the lobster meat and cover with plastic wrap and set in the refrigerator to marinade for about 20 minutes.

Roll out the puff pastry and  place on a foil-covered pizza pan. Blind bake the pastry

In a small bowl, combine olive oil and minced garlic and using a pastry brush, brush onto the dough.

Sprinkle about 1/3 cup of the cheeses on top.

Remove the lobster meat from the marinade and drain. And a layer of the lobster and artichokes on top of the pastry. Sprinkle on the parsley, the red pepper flakes, and the rest of the remaining  cheeses.

Bake at 430 degrees for about 18-22 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and crisped, to your liking.

Pumpkin French Toast

2 Comments

DSC00965

This easy to make Pumpkin Spice French Toast recipe is a fun Autumnal twist on a favorite breakfast dish. Flavored with a subtle pumpkin spice flavor, the bread slices are quickly soaked in an egg pumpkin milk bath then pan fried in butter to perfection. I used a homemade cinnamon bread in this recipe, but feel free to use whatever type of bread that you like. The finishing touch:  a  light dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of warm maple syrup,  will make this a breakfast treat that entire family will enjoy.

Bon Appetite!

Serves 4
Ingredients:
3/4 cup milk
3 eggs
1/4 cup unsweetened canned pumpkin
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (click here for the recipe)
2 Tablespoons melted butter or non-stick spray
8 slices of day old French bread or brioche
Powdered sugar, for serving
Pure maple syrup, for serving

Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk the milk, eggs, pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice.

Coat a cast iron skillet or griddle with melted butter.

Soak the bread slices in the egg mixture for 2 seconds on both sides. Do not let the bread soak very long, or the bread will become soggy.

Heat the skillet on medium heat. Place the battered slices in the skillet and fry the slices long enough until each side is dry and speckled brown, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Dust the French toast with powdered sugar and serve with warm maple syrup and a pat of butter.

 

Style Note:
Plate: Lauren By Ralph Mandarin Dinner Plate