[prairiebreeze]

Carlo, can you help? I think I'll be fixing fish this Christmas Eve instead of our normal clam chowder. Do you have any recipes or recommendations for making either red snapper or grouper especially delicious?

I'll also have access to shrimp. LOTS of shrimp. Would appreciate any ideas you have for shrimp too.

Thanks, and I'm so glad to read you are doing well. Prayers lifted for your continued smooth recovery and strength to return quickly.

Prairie

[carlo3b]

Prayers lifted for your continued smooth recovery and strength to return quickly...

Welllll.. it worked my dear FRiend.. :)

Creole Shrimp & Crab Étoufée

Don't get frightened.. This recipe takes longer to read than to do.. Remember, the hardest step is getting everything together.. :)

• 3 lb.. raw shrimp, peeled
• 1 stick butter
• 4 Tablespoons oil
• 4 medium onions, finely chopped
• 1/2 bell pepper, finely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups cold chicken stock
• 1 rounded tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 bunch finely chopped green onions
• 3 Tablespoons minced parsley
• 3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco
• 1 lb. crab meat, picked over
• For serving: cooked rice

1) Heat the butter and oil in a large pot. Add the onions, bell pepper, and celery and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the garlic.
2) Mix the cornstarch with 1 cup of the stock and stir into the vegetables.
3) Stirring constantly, add the wine, tomato paste, green onions, parsley and Worcestershire sauce.
4) Add the shrimp, partially cover the pot, and simmer for 10 minutes.
5) During this simmering time, slowly add the additional stock, salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce. Simmer an additional 10 minutes.
6) Add the crab meat and cook another 5 minutes.

[carlo3b]

Red Snapper Naples

Italians are to seafood what Germans are to beer. The Italian coastal fishing is remarkable, and thus their diet and recipes are renowned. However, the USA is no minnow net when it comes to fishing or seafood recipes. As a chef/owner of gourmet restraurants, I had to use only tried and true recipes.. This is one of those.. :)

• 4 fresh red snapper fillets, 6-8 oz. each
• Juice of two lemonds (or for Veracruz, limes)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 yellow onions, cut into thin strips
• 2 green bell peppers, cut into thin strips
• 4 oz salad shrimp, or diced gulf shrimp
• 4 medium ripe tomatoes, cubed
• 1 Tbs. chopped flat Italian parsley, (or, if you would like a great Snapper Veracruz, substitute with cilantro)
• 1/2 Tbs. chopped jalapeno pepper
• Pinch oregano
• Pinch sweet basil
• 2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup tomato puree
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. Tabasco

1. Marinate the fish fillets with lime juice for a few minutes.
2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat and sauté the garlic, onion, bell pepper, and tomatoes until tender.
3. Reduce the heat to medium low and add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, then add the shrimp and snapper fillets. Cover and cook for about 8-10 minutes, until fish is cooked. Goes well with mixture of white-wild rice, or for Veracruz, sub a Spanish style rice.
Serves four.