Posted on 07/07/2005 4:42:35 PM PDT by carlo3b
Did anyone even miss me?Well, for those that were celebrating my absence, it's too damned bad, because I'm back.. and it appears that I will be around for at least a little longer..
My dear FReeper FRiends, your Chef has had a full plate in dealing with the medical community lately in fighting off a bout with cancer.. At times it looked as though I was loosing the fight, but with the grace of God, my dear close friends and family, and the help of a marvelous team of great doctors, and perhaps even a strong Italian stubbornness, it has been reconfirmed tonight, that I may have turned the corner..
It isn't time to get sauced yet, and I have been told, that I shouldn't count my Chicken Cacciatore before it's completely baked, nor should I believe that my Goose is fully cooked.. I am still scratching my noodle as to what the future has to offer, but this I can tell you, how much you amazing folks in particular and FReeRepublic in general has meant to me on the long, scary, lonely nights.. I read you every night as I lurked, laughed, and lauded the threads..
This experience has been a rude awakening that has cleared my thinking about a lot of things regarding the true blessings of life, love and what is really important about being alive.. Once it all sinks in, you will have to endure the reality that I will share it all with you..
I have a unlimited respect for our hospital and medical community even though it completely cleaned out my pocketbook, it worked miracles. The fact that I am here to complain about anything is in and of itself, a miracle.. This could never have happened without our medical, hospital, drug and insurance companies, working in a seamless capitalistic cooperation, with brilliant successes seldom seen outside of our American boarders..
SOOOOOooooooo.. I can't tell you how much I love you folks and it's really good to be alive.. Hugggggs and kisssssses .. Developing
Welcome back, Carlo! Yes, you were misssed!
I gained 3 pounds reading that. :)
And beef in Texas is the only way to do it (pig is good but beef rules)
I like beef. Especially the way y'all smoke a brisket in Texas.
I like BBQ too. Picnic shoulder, ribs, whole hog. Yep, I like BBQ, but beef is good too.
Great news! Your food threads are always a lot of fun, and you have definitely been missed. Keep getting well!
I am indeed honored to be welcomed here, especially by you and your many special FRiends..
Welcome back!! If we're feeling a little carb friendly, it's time to party.
Seafood and Sausage Gumbo
1 cup olive oil
½ cup butter
1 ½ cup all purpose flour/sifted
1 ½ cup yellow/white onion
1 cup green/red peppers
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup sliced okra
½ - 1 lb andouille sausage
creole seasoning (Emeril’s, Zatarain’s, your choice)
2 ½ cups shrimp stock (chicken/vegetable can be replaced or mixed)
2 lbs shrimp (peeled & deveined)
2 lbs crab (crawfish optional)
1 lb scallops
2 tablespoons fine chopped green onion/scallion
2 tablespoons parsley
6 cups long grain white rice
Louisiana gumbo file powder
Recommended Beer- Abita brew company- Turbo Dog Beer
ROUX
Open 1 bottle of beer. Drink. In a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, combine oil/butter and flour. Add a little beer. Sure, why not? Add a little more flour if gets too thin. Stir slowly and CONSTANTLY until dark brown (chocolate color) for 20-25 minutes. About 2 more beers worth.
Gumbo
Add the chopped onions, peppers, celery, okra and sausage. Season to taste with salt, pepper, GARLIC and creole season. Cook, stirring till vegetables are soft. 8-10 minutes. Stir in the stock with roux/vegetable mix until well combined. May add your favorite beer to stock for “character building.” Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for two hours, stirring occasionally. Have another beer.
Season seafood with creole season. Add seafood to pot and let cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for about 5 minutes. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Stir in the green onions and parsley.
Serve over rice with File powder and more beer.
Enjoy!!
BigBlueJon
bump
Don't worry, if we were throwing food at you, we certainly wouldn't "miss you".
But seriously, congrats and God Bless on being a cancer survivor. Welcome back.
Crab Sauce Recipe
(Best served with fine vermicelli or angel hair, since the sauce tends to run a bit thinner than usual)
Olive oil to cover bottom of large saucepan
8 Cloves Garlic
Brown and stir
Add 6-10 whole fresh (cleaned) blue claw crabs (shell and all), saute about 10-12 minutes, mixing so all get a turn at the bottom.
Add:
3 28-oz cans crushed tomato
2 6-oz cans tomato paste (Contadina)
2 8-oz cans tomato sauce
Rinse cans to get all tomato into pot (fill each about halfway, swirl, then pour into pot - vary to desired consistency)
Medium-to-low heat
Add:
Heaping tblsp Kosher salt
Heaping tblsp garlic salt
Chop Basil & Parsley in a 3/4 to 1/4 ratio
Add 1/4 cup of Basil/Parsley mix
Simmer about 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally
If tangy (depends on tomato batch), add sugar (about 1/4 cup at a time).
Though we've never spoken I wish you a continued recovery. So happy to hear your feeling better :)
I recently moved out of mom's and now have to cook for myself (an adventure at times, lol). I can't wait to try a few of these recipies you've posted. Especially the LowCarb Napoletano Gazpacho!!!
Dear carlo3b,
How did you know that just this morning I have taken a vow of abstinence from refined sugar? Your post is surely a sign from the Almighty that it just wouldn't work for me. (Do you think Splenda would work as a substitute? )
My prayers are with you for your continued recovery! I love your recipes and have missed seeing them in the forum.
I'm going to hit you with an easy recipe that was a HUGE success at our neighborhood 4th of July party. I only made 2 dozen---could have served 7 dozen if I had the time and patience for cleaning the peppers!
Grilled Jalepeno Poppers
2 dozen fresh large jalepeno peppers
2 8 0z. packages cream cheese (you can use 1/3 reduced fat)
6 oz. cheddar cheese
Favorite seasoning blend/rub/salt
1 dozen slices uncooked bacon
Toothpicks
Clean and seed the jalepenos, removing as much of the ribs and seeds of the pepper as possible. Hold the pepper with the stem end toward you and "whittle" a slice from the side of the pepper from the pointed end toward the stem cap. Leave the stem end of the slice attached to the pepper. Using a small melon baller or metal baby spoon, clean the ribs and seeds from the pepper. GLOVES AND EYE PROTECTION ARE ESSENTIAL. TRUST ME!
Combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and seasoning blend (to taste) in a med. bowl. Stuff the peppers very full of cheese mixture, recapping with the flap you left on the pepper. (You will probably have some cheese mixture left, but it's better to be safe than sorry.) Wrap the pepper in 1/2 bacon slice and fix the bacon to the pepper with a toothpick. Grill completed peppers over med high coals, turning frequently, until bacon is cooked and almost crisp. (You can also smoke them, but I don't know exactly how long you would cook them. Experiment!) Take the toothpicks out before eating. : )
I have also made these with the crab dip you find in fish markets stuffed inside the peppers. Another delicious option is to use salami or pepperoni slices to wrap the peppers. The mutations are endless! All you have to do is clean dozens of searing hot peppers!
I'm going to hit you with an easy recipe that was a HUGE sucess at our neighborhood 4th of July party. I only made 2 dozen---could have served 7 dozen if I had the time and patience for cleaning the peppers!
Grilled Jalepeno Peppers
2 dozen fresh large jalepeno peppers
2 8 oz. packages cream cheese (you can use 1/3 reduced fat), softened
6 oz. cheddar cheese
Favorite seasoning blend/rub/salt
1 dozen slices uncooked bacon
Toothpicks
Clean and seed the jalepenos, removing as much of the ribs and seeds of the pepper as possible. Hold the pepper with the stem end toward you and "whittle" a slice from the side of the pepper from the pointed end toward the stem cap. Leave the stem end of the slice attached to the pepper. Using a small melon baller or metal baby spoon, clean the ribs and seeds from the pepper. GLOVES AND EYE PROTECTION ARE ESSENTIAL. TRUST ME!
Combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and seasoning blend (to taste) in a med. bowl. Stuff the peppers very full of cheese mixture, recapping with the flap you left on the pepper. Wrap the pepper in 1/2 bacon slice and fix the bacon to the pepper with a toothpick. Grill completed peppers over med high coals, turning frequently, until bacon is cooked and almost crisp. (You can also smoke them, but I don't know exactly how long you would cook them. Experiment!) Take the toothpicks out before eating. : )
I have also made these with the crab dip you find in fish markets stuffed inside the peppers. Another delicious option is to use salami or pepperoni slices to wrap the peppers. The mutations are endless! All you have to do is clean dozens of searing hot peppers!
Carlo, my dear friend, you know, of course, I've missed you and have been praying for you. Yesterday was my birthday and your statement above is the best present I could have ever received!
I'm so glad you've decided to share this with your FReeper family. God does indeed hear one small voice, but I believe such prayers are amplified by each additional voice.
Yes, you were missed. Some of us, even unknowing, missed you and knew to pray since you were brought so often or forcefully to mind.
Please be careful not to credit medicine for what it cannot do. It doesn't heal. Only God can do that.
I can thank God for releasing to men some ways by which our bodies can be helped to perform their healing abilities.
Some of those ways we use to promote healing can also kill so there again thanks be to God if the ways help enough but not harm so as to kill.
Glad you're back and doubly glad that I even saw the post. Thanks, Caro.
He just fractured his foot and is in a cast up to his knee. Hasn't figured out how to get upstairs yet, so may be awol from the computer once again.
Maybe he'll dream up a few more recipes while he's laid up.
Speedy recovery, Carlo.
Good to see you again, Carlo. God is truly with you.
{CyberHug}PaMom
Jeepers! Are we gonna hafta keep him away from sharp objects next??
Get well soon, Carlo.
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