Thai Spiced Shrimp Cabbage Coleslaw

Spicy, crunchy, fresh and zingy, Thai spiced shrimp cabbage coleslaw makes a great starter for a picnic, barbecue or dinner party. That said, we enjoyed it as main course one hot summer night.

I’m finally back in Dubai and trying to get into the usual swing of things, but we are still eating a lot of salads. It remains quite hot outside although my husband keeps telling me that the worst of the summer is over. I’m sure he is right but that doesn’t stop me from rolling my eyes just a little when I walk outside and my glasses steam up.

This week my Sunday Supper group is sharing recipes for Labor Day, which in the United States always falls on the first Monday of September, marking the last weekend of summer.

This year, that weekend will actually be a holiday for us here in the United Arab Emirates as well, as the faithful celebrate Eid al Adha, or the festival of the sacrifice, which honors Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, before God intervened and provided a sheep instead. You may have heard this one before because the story shows up in the holy books of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Here it’s a reason to feast with family and friends and share with the less fortunate.

Side note: Are you curious about my wonky bowl? Your eyes do not deceive you. It’s not completely round. At Wonki Ware, a South African enterprise, every piece is handmade by potters from disadvantaged backgrounds. I received my lovely bowl as a birthday present from dear friends and usually display it as a work of art on top of a small cupboard. Occasionally it gets used as a bowl when the dish merits special treatment. This Thai spiced shrimp cabbage coleslaw qualified!

Another recipe for Salad Month
Whatever you are celebrating next weekend, I hope you try my coleslaw with an Asian twist. And don't forget to scroll down for more Labor Day menu ideas.

Thai Spiced Shrimp Cabbage Coleslaw

Ingredients
For the dressing (makes 6 3/4 oz or 200ml)
1/4 cup or 60g fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sweet Thai pepper sauce
2 teaspoons soy sauce
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 1 - inch piece ginger, peeled and grated
1/4 cup or 60ml canola oil
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

For the shrimp cabbage coleslaw:
1 1/2-2 pounds napa cabbage, quartered, cored and very thinly sliced
4-5 sharp red radishes, sliced thinly in circles
3 medium carrots, peeled and grated
1/2 English cucumber, thinly sliced
1/2 cup thinly bias-sliced green onions (4 to 6)
7-8 stems cilantro, hard stems removed, and chopped
1 small red chili pepper, finely minced
1.1 lb or 500g cooked shrimp
2/3 cup or 95g roasted, slightly salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon black sesame seeds

Method
To make the dressing: Grate your ginger and try to save the juice so you can scrape it into the dressing as well.

In a small bowl or screw-top jar, whisk or shake together the lime juice, honey, sweet Thai pepper sauce, rice vinegar and soy sauce until the honey and salt are dissolved. Add the grated ginger, canola oil and sesame oil. Shake well.

To make the shrimp cabbage coleslaw: In a very large bowl, toss together the cabbage, carrots, radishes, cucumber, green onions, chili pepper and cilantro.

Add in the cooked shrimp and pour the dressing over it all and toss to coat.

Cover the bowl with cling film or transfer the coleslaw to a sealable container. Chill until ready to serve. It gets pretty juicy as the cabbage softens so be aware when transporting it.

Toss again right before serving. Add the peanuts and sesame seeds and toss again.

Enjoy!

Check out all the lovely Labor Day menu ideas my Sunday Supper friends are sharing today! Many thanks to our event manager Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures and our host Em Beitel.

Labor Day Menu Ideas

Scrumptious Labor Day Sides and Starters

• Foil Pack Grilled Potatoes by Hardly A Goddess
• Four Bean Salad by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Jalapeno Popper Deviled Eggs by Sunday Supper Movement
• Pasta Salad with Baby Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes by Simple and Savory
• Sausage and Peppers Salad by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Shelly’s Pasta Salad by Soulfully Made
• Sour Cream and Onion Potatoes by Cricket’s Confections
• Thai Spiced Shrimp Cabbage Coleslaw by Food Lust People Love
• Zucchini Parmesan Foil Packets by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

Delicious Labor Day Entrees

• Malaysian Chicken Satay by Sprinkles and Sprouts
• Grilled Hasselback Fajita Chicken by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
• Maple Turkey Burger with Cheddar, Bacon and Apple by Caroline’s Cooking
• Pork Spiedini Hoagies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Sous Vide Sirloin Steak with asparagus by Our Good Life
• Sriracha Deviled Crab Sandwich with Key Lime-Bacon Slaw by Gourmet Everyday
• Tom’s BBQ Spare Ribs with North Carolina BBQ Sauce by Recipes Food and Cooking
• Vietnamese Grilled Steak Salad by Palatable Pastime

Luscious Labor Day Desserts

• Blueberry Crisp Bars by Pies and Plots
• Fudgy Brownie Trifle with Chocolate Mousse by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Watermelon Treats by The Freshman Cook

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Chili Cheese Dog Baked Potatoes

Ban the bun and pass the potatoes! These chili cheese dog baked potatoes will be a favorite at your next family dinner or barbecue.

After making a good pot of hearty spicy beef chili to serve over a chili cheese omelet a few weeks ago, I was looking for ways to make the leftovers into different meals. One night we had chili cheese dogs. Not being much of a bread person, I ate the first one in a hot dog bun and then had a second wienie straight on the plate with just the chili and toppings.

The next day, with leftover chili still to eat, I considered my options. A bowl of chili with tortilla chips? Another chili cheese dog? And then it hit me. Chili Cheese Dog Baked Potatoes! No buns, just lovely baked Russet potatoes with their toasted skins cut open and fluffy insides filled with all the good stuff a chili cheese dog would have. Genius, no?

I may never eat a chili dog in a bun again.

Chili Cheese Dog Baked Potatoes

Ingredients - for 2 chili cheese dog baked potatoes
2 large Russet potatoes
1 teaspoon canola oil
1 cup or 240ml chili of your choice - or make my hearty spicy beef chili
2 good quality wieners
4 oz or 113g sharp cheddar, grated

Optional toppings:
Chopped onions
Minced fresh jalapeños
Mustard

Method
Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C.

Scrub your potatoes clean and dry them thoroughly. Poke them several times with the tines of a fork. Rub the potatoes with the oil and place them on a baking pan. Or, if you have metal shish kabob skewers, you can put one through each potato and put them directly on the oven rack.

Bake the potatoes for 45-50 minutes or until they are cooked through.

Panfry or grill the wieners until they are golden on the outside and hot on the inside. Warm the chili as well.

Once the potatoes are done, cut them open lengthwise and use a towel or oven mitts to push them open from the ends, to fluff up the insides. Add a wiener to each potato.

Top each with half of the chili and then the cheese.  Garnish with additional ingredients, if desired.

Enjoy!

This week my Sunday Supper group is sharing creative hot dog recipes and I am hosting! Please check out the fabulous recipe links below.

Many thanks our event manager, Cricket of Cricket's Confections and my co-host Mary Ellen from Recipes, Food and Cooking who will be handling the Twitter chat this evening.

Cheesy Dogs

• Cheesy Pretzel Dogs by A Mind “Full” Mom
• Jalapeño Popper Hot Dogs by Life Tastes Good

Meaty Dogs

• Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs with Fruit Salsa by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Honey BBQ Hot Dogs by Home Sweet Homestead
• Hot Dog & Hamburger Cowboy Beans by Soulfully Made

Regional Dogs

• All American Hot Dog by The Freshman Cook
• Banh Mi Hot Dog by Cricket’s Confections
• Buffalo Hot Dogs by The Crumby Kitchen
• Copy Cat Detroit Coney Dogs by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Matcha Ochazuke Hot Dog Rice by NinjaBaker.com
• Memphis Hot Dog by Bottom Left of the Mitten
• Philly Mushroom Swiss Dog (Low Carb) by My Life Cookbook
• Sauerkraut Stuffed Dogs by Gourmet Everyday
• South of the Border Hot Dogs by My Blissful Mess

Tex Mex Dogs

• Chili Cheese Dog Baked Potatoes by Food Lust People Love
• Burrito Dogs by Our Good Life
• Hot Dog with Chili Sauce by Recipes Food and Cooking
• Taco Hot Dog is Nacho Regular Dog by Sunday Supper Movement
• Hot Dog Breakfast Tacos by Pies and Plots

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Patatas Bravas Chorizo Sausage Rolls

Take a traditional sausage roll into delicious Spanish territory with these patatas bravas chorizo sausage rolls. ¡Olé! They are perfect with a chilled glass of rosé or beer for your summer party or picnic.

I love sausage rolls. In fact, they are one of my favorite snacks, whether made with puff pastry, short crust or yeast dough. And I don’t really mind which kind of sausage you put in the middle. Even a hot dog will do.

Back when my girls were students at the International School of Kuala Lumpur and I was often on campus doing volunteer work, I would eat sausage rolls most every morning. They were homemade - baked fresh each day - by the wonderful cooks who staffed the canteen.

Best of all, sausage rolls are portable so they are great for an on-the-go snack or picnic. Serve them hot or room temperature. Either way, they are delicious.

These patatas bravas chorizo sausage rolls are a spicy twist on my classic English sausage rolls.  If Spanish folks made sausage rolls, this is how I imagine they’d turn out. Not that they do, as far as I know.

Ingredients for 2 dozen bite-sized sausage rolls
For the sausage rolls:
7 1/2 oz or 215g puff pastry
Flour, for dusting
6 oz or 185g hot chorizo
6 oz or 185g potato, peeled and diced
1 small onion, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon crushed red chili pepper
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 egg

For baking
1 egg, beaten

Method
Remove the casing from the chorizo and chop it into small dice.

Cook the chorizo and the diced potatoes with a splash of water, covered, for about 5-7 minutes. When the water has evaporated and the oil has been released from the chorizo, remove the cover and add the onion.

Cook, with a splatter guard, over a medium high heat until the potatoes are browned and tender and the onions are soft.

Add in the tomato paste, crushed pepper, paprika and sugar. Stir well and cook for another 2 minutes.

Leave the mixture to cool for a few minutes and then spoon it into a food processor. Process with 1 egg till you have a homogeneous mixture that still has small pieces.

Roll the puff pastry into two long sheets on a lightly floured surface. Spoon the patatas brava chorizo filling onto the puff pastry.

Roll it up almost all the way then brush the beaten egg on the last section to help seal the roll. Wrap the rolls up in cling film and chill for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 400°F or 200°C.

Use a serrated knife to cut the sausage rolls into bite-sized pieces. Set them on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment or a silicone liner. Brush them with the beaten egg.

Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until the patatas brava chorizo sausage rolls are puffed and golden.

Now pour yourself a glass of chilled rosé or beer and enjoy!

Are you a fan of picnics and picnic food? This week my Sunday Supper group is sharing our best recipes to take along on a picnic. Many thanks for our event manager Em, and our host this week, Christie of A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures.

Starters, Skewers, and Sandwiches al Fresco

• Antipasto Skewers by Soulfully Made
• Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Cream Cheese Slider Sandwiches by Bottom Left of the Mitten
• Italian Layered Portable Picnic Jars by The Weekend Gourmet
• Low Carb Ham Pinwheels by Cricket’s Confections
• Patatas Brava Chorizo Sausage Rolls by Food Lust People Love
• Refrigerator Pickled Ratatouille Vegetables by My Life Cookbook
• Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps by The Crumby Kitchen

Stow-and-Go Sides and Salads

• Authentic German Potato Salad by Sunday Supper Movement
• Avocado Bacon Loaded Pasta Salad by Daily Dish Recipes
• BBQ Ranch Pasta Salad by Cooking With Carlee
• Broccoli Slaw by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Jalapeno Popper Macaroni Salad by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Marinated Zucchini and Summer Squash by Caroline’s Cooking
• Old Fashioned Potato Salad by Life Tastes Good
• Roasted Cauliflower Salad by Family Foodie
• Southern Cornbread Salad by Gourmet Everyday
• Summer Quinoa Salad by Simple and Savory
• Watermelon and Avocado Salad by Take A Bite Out of Boca
• Whole30 Cauliflower Potato Salad by Bites of Wellness

Drinks and Desserts for Outdoor Dining

• Banana Snack Cake by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Blueberry Hand Pies by Our Good Life
• Cantaloupe Mint Lemonade by Palatable Pastime
• Cherry Poke Cake by Pies and Plots
• Chocolate Caramel Layer Bars by Turnips 2 Tangerines
• Chocolate Cherry No Bake Bars by The Freshman Cook
• Mixed Fruit Drink by Basic N Delicious
• Rice Krispie Sushi by NinjaBaker.com

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Screwmosa Cocktails

Add a little oomph to your next brunch by serving screwmosa cocktails, the delightful offspring of a screwdriver and a mimosa. That’s right orange juice, vodka and sparkling wine!

Screwmosa cocktails should come with a warning, so here it is. These go down toooooooo easy. The bright fresh orange juice tastes like pure sunshine. The sparkling wine tickles your nose and tongue, a party in your mouth. You won’t really taste the vodka, but don’t forget it’s in there!

Screwmosa Cocktails

Ingredients – for 1 Screwmosa Cocktail – serve in a Champagne flute
1 oz or 30ml best quality vodka
2 oz or 60ml chilled fresh squeezed orange juice
3 oz or 90ml chilled brut sparkling wine – or more to top up the glass

Note: One 750ml bottle of sparkling wine holds enough to make eight screwmosa cocktails. To create those eight drinks you will need 8 oz (480ml) vodka and 16 oz (960ml) fresh orange juice.

Method
Add the vodka to your flute, then pour in the orange juice so they mix.

Top up with the brut sparkling wine. I used Prosecco for these but any brut sparkling wine would be delicious.

Enjoy!

This week my Sunday Supper friends are sharing easy drink recipes to celebrate summer. Many thanks to our event manager, Cricket of Cricket's Confections and our host Christie of A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures. Let's get this simple cocktail recipe party started!

Classics with a Twist

• Blackberry Gin Mule by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Boozy Rootbeer Float 2 Ways by My Life Cookbook
• Frozen Banana Daiquiri by Restless Chipotle
• Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Pimm’s Cup by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Spiked Arnold Palmer Cocktails by Hardly A Goddess
• St. Germain Gin and Tonic Cocktail by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

Make Mine a Mocktail

• Dreamsicle Mocktail by The Freshman Cook
• Watermelon Mint Mocktail by Bites of Wellness

Simply Different

• Florida Cider Caipirinha by Gourmet Everyday
• Raspberry Lemon Blush by Our Good Life
• Screwmosa Cocktail by Food Lust People Love
• Skip and Go Naked by Positively Stacey
• Spiked Spa Water by Simple and Savory

Tasty and Tropical

• Blackberry Mojitos by The Chef Next Door
• Fresh Cherry Margaritas by The Crumby Cupcake
• Frozen Peach Margaritas by Pies and Plots
• Perfect Pina Colada by My Imperfect Kitchen
• Pineapple Margaritas by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Prickly Pear Margarita by Palatable Pastime
• Strawberry Sunset Lemon Drop by Soulfully Made

Very Vino

• Boozy Watermelon Slushies by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Cantaloupe Wine Slushie by Family Around the Table
• Cava Sangria by Caroline’s Cooking
• Easy Red Wine Sangria with Spiced Peaches by Cricket’s Confections
• Pink Lemonade Sangria by Baking Sense
• Sparkling Chambord Sangria by Books n’ Cooks
• Watermelon Sangria by A Mind Full Mom

For even more inspiration check out these Simple Mixed Drinks for a Refreshing Summer by Sunday Supper Movement.

 
 

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Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is a delicious twist on a family favorite, adding extra nutrients to our comfort food. No one can resist the cheesy goodness!

We talk about eating the rainbow for optimum health, which seems to imply that only the most colorful vegetables are high in nutrients. But despite its bland appearance, cauliflower is actually one of the most nutritious vegetables, with one serving supplying more than 70 percent of our daily recommended intake of vitamin C, along other vitamins and nutrients. It makes the top 30 list compiled by the Center of Disease Control.

For this cauliflower mac and cheese, I like to choose macaroni that is a bit bigger than your average elbow variety. Then I chop the cauliflower florets into pieces about the same size as the macaroni will be when it is cooked. This gives the dish a more homogeneous look and texture, so if you are feeding picky eaters who would normally try to separate the veggies from the pasta, they likely won't even notice the cauliflower. The sharp cheddar sauce makes it all taste like deliciously normal mac and cheese.

Love cauliflower? You might enjoy my Cauliflower Cheese Pie with Potato Crust, Cauliflower Cheese Waffles and Cauliflower Leek Roquefort Tart. All three are seriously good. 

Variations on Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Sometimes I make this cauliflower mac and cheese with bacon, as outlined below; sometimes I make it without. Either way, it’s delicious and filling enough to be a main course. It’s also very tasty with some chopped frozen spinach thawed then added to the cheese sauce. Serve it alongside a fresh green salad, or with some sun-ripe summer tomatoes simply seasoned with a sprinkle of salt and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Ingredients
8 oz or 227g pasta
1 small head cauliflower (about 11 1/2 oz or 325g florets), divided into florets and chopped
6 1/3 oz or 180g smoked streaky bacon, chopped – about 5 thick-cut slices (or 3 tablespoons of butter or olive oil)
4 tablespoons flour
1 small onion, minced
2 large cloves garlic, minced
2 cups or 480ml cold milk
12 oz or 340g extra sharp cheddar or cheese of your choice
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne - optional
1/2 cup or 35g fresh bread crumbs

Method
Boil the pasta according to the package instructions, setting the timer for half of the recommended al dente cooking time. Add in the chopped cauliflower when your timer goes off. Cook pasta till al dente.

Drain and set aside, still in the colander, while you make the cheese sauce.

Fry the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon and all but three tablespoons bacon fat. If you don’t have enough fat, make up the difference with butter, canola or olive oil.

If you don’t want to add bacon, start with three tablespoons of butter, canola or olive oil.

Sprinkle in the flour and mix well to make a roux.  Cook the roux for a few minutes to get rid of the floury taste.

Add the minced onion and garlic into the roux. Cook over a low fire until they are softened.

All at once, whisk in the milk, whisking quickly so that the flour and milk don’t form lumps.

Cook until the sauce thickens and reduces in volume, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350° or 180°C and butter or grease a baking pan or casserole dish.

Add in three quarters of the grated cheese and stir until melted. Add in the dried mustard and stir.  Season with salt, black pepper and a little cayenne, if desired.

Pour the cauliflower and pasta back into the pot with the bacon, saving a little of the bacon to sprinkle on top.

Pour on the sauce and fold to combine. In case you are wondering why it isn't orange, my favorite extra sharp cheddar is an Australian brand. They don't tend to put the coloring in it that many American cheesemakers do.

Spoon the mixture into your prepared baking pan or read note below.

Note: If the pan you cooked everything in is ovenproof, you could skip transferring the mixture to a baking dish, and move on to the next step - the topping- but for me, the best cauliflower mac and cheese is all about the crunchy, chewy top covered with extra cheese and bread crumbs, baked till golden. So I like to spread mine out in a wide dish to maximize the square footage of that top.

Combine the reserved cheese and bacon with the breadcrumbs. Sprinkle over the cauliflower mac and cheese.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-30 minutes or until golden brown and crunchy on top.

Enjoy!

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must tell you that while my husband and I will fight over the crispiest bits, our younger daughter would have you skip the last step altogether. She likes her mac and cheese straight from the pot, unbaked and sans crunchy pieces. If your kids feel the same, the last step can indeed be skipped.

After all, today’s Sunday Supper event is all about getting kids and other picky eaters to eat their veggies. If you are looking for delicious recipes that will add more healthy vegetables to your family menu, check out this week's kid friendly vegetable recipes for picky eaters. Many thanks to our event manager, Cricket of Cricket's Confections and our host for this event, Anne from Simple and Savory for all of their work behind the scenes.

Kid Friendly Vegetable Recipes for Picky Eaters

Breakfast

• Cinnamon Zucchini Muffins by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Creamy Kid Sized Smoothies by The Freshman Cook
• Sweet Potato Crust Quiche by Pies and Plots
• Sweet Potato Muffins with Veggie Cream Cheese by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

Dinners

• Cauliflower Mac and Cheese by Food Lust People Love
• Chicken and Broccoli Shells and Cheese by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
• Eat Your Veggies Beef Tacos by Simple and Savory
• Hidden Vegetable Pasta Sauce for Orange Orzo by Caroline's Cooking
• Veggie Ramen by NinjaBaker.com

Sides

• Broccoli Tots by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Cheesy Cauliflower by Bottom Left of the Mitten
• Kid-Friendly Baked Potato Fries by Hardly A Goddess
• Salad on a Stick by My Imperfect Kitchen
• Zuppa di Ravioli by Gourmet Everyday

Snacks

• Dairy Free Veggie Ice Pops by Our Good Life
• Healthy Homemade Taquitos by Cricket’s Confections
• Vegan Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies by A Mind Full Mom
• Veggie Egg Rolls by My Savory Spoon

 

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Baked Chili Maple Bacon

Kick your brunch bacon up a notch by brushing it with chili-spiked maple syrup. This baked chili maple bacon is cooked in the oven, for crunchy bacon without the splattering grease.

I am a huge fan of bacon for breakfast or brunch, especially when it is combined with sweet and spicy elements like chili peppers and maple syrup.  Today my Sunday Supper group is sharing brunch recipes that can be made ahead of time. I suggest you bookmark this post for Mother's Day.

Ingredients
1 lb or 450g thick cut smoked streaky bacon
1 small hot red chili, stem removed
1/8 cup or 30ml maple syrup

Method
Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C.

Place your bacon strips single file on wire cooling racks set in two baking pans.

Use a mortar and pestle to grind the chili pepper, even the seeds if you like things spicy, into a fine paste. Add in the maple syrup and stir well to combine.

Bake the bacon for 20 minutes, switching the pans from top to bottom shelves in the oven midway through.

Remove from the oven and brush with the chili maple syrup. Return to the oven and bake for 5 more minutes.

Remove from the oven and turn the slices of bacon over. Brush with the rest of the chili maple syrup. Return the bacon to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes or until the bacon is done to your liking.

Enjoy warm or to save it for the next day, wrap the baked chili maple bacon in foil and store in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven the next morning, still wrapped in the foil, or remove the foil to warm in the microwave.

Many thanks to our event manager, Cricket of Cricket's Confections and our host, Cindy of Cindy's Recipes and Writings. Check out these great links from our Sunday Supper tastemakers.

Make Ahead Sunday Supper Brunch Recipes

Breakfast Pastries

• Apple and Bacon Cornmeal Scones by Caroline’s Cooking
• Lemon Crumb Cake by Life Tastes Good
• Nana’s New York Crumb Cake by The Crumby Cupcake
• Overnight Nutty Coffee Cake by Family Around The Table

Eggs

• Asparagus Quiche in Hash Brown Crust by Wimpy Vegetarian 
• Baked Deviled Eggs with Toast Points by Turnips 2 Tangerines
• Ham and Cheese Empanadas by Asian In America
• Make Ahead Baked Monte Cristo Cassarole by Sprinkles and Sprouts
• Overnight Breakfast Casserole by Soulfully Made
• Sorrel, Chive & Duck Egg Frittata by Wholistic Woman
• Sous Vide Egg Bites by Cricket’s Confections

Sides and Veggies

• Asparagus Tart with Goat Cheese and Spring Greens by Monica’s Table
• Baked Chili Maple Bacon by Food Lust People Love
• Blackberry Orange Oatmeal Bowls by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Brussels Sprouts Salad with Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette by Helpful Homemade
• Vegetable Lasagna by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

Sweets

• Carrot Cake Pancakes by Brunch-n-Bites
• Citrus Crepes with White Chocolate Drizzle by Gourmet Everyday
• Flourless Chocolate Torte by Pies and Plots
• No Bake Peanut Butter Pie by The Freshman Cook
• Raspberry Mascarpone French Toast Casserole by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

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Grilled Baby Octopus

Grilled baby octopus is one of our favorite dishes, for a main meal or appetizer. The octopus is cooked until tender with garlic, hot chili peppers and red wine, then grilled to add smoky flavor and crunch. Believe it or not, even children love this dish!

Years ago when we lived in Brazil, our house was just a block from the beach. Living so close to the coast meant fresh seafood at reasonable prices, even during a time of hyperinflation. We fell in love with octopus there and have looked for it and cooked it everywhere we’ve lived, ever since. This same recipe can be made with larger octopuses. Just extend the cooking time until they are tender and cut them into manageable pieces for grilling.

Ingredients
1 lb 10 oz or 750g baby octopus, ink sacs and beaks removed
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 red chili peppers, stems removed
1/2 cup or 120ml hearty dry red wine
A few generous grinds from a black pepper mill

Method
Cook the octopus in a covered saucepan or pot over a medium heat with the garlic, peppers and wine for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

The liquid will come out of the octopus and the whole thing will look very soupy.

After the 15-20 minutes are over, take the lid off and continue to cook until the liquid reduces by at least half. Perhaps another 15-20 minutes. The octopus should be fork tender now.

Put the baby octopus on a hot grill just off to the side of the charcoal. Put the lid on because these are going to sputter and spit.

Remove lid every couple of minutes and shift the octopus around. Remove when charred your satisfaction. Ours took about 10 minutes.

Depending on the size of your octopus you might want to chop them up into bite-sized pieces but if they are really tiny, you can serve them whole.

Serve with plenty of fresh lime juice squeezed on and a good sprinkling of flakey sea salt.

Enjoy!

This week our Sunday Supper group is sharing our favorite seafood recipes. Many thanks to Em, our event manager and our host, Claire from Sprinkles and Sprouts.

Love seafood? Check out these Sunday Supper Recipes:

Appetizers

• Chili-Lime Scallops by Girl Abroad
• Cilantro Lime Shrimp by Simple and Savory
• Coconut Mahi Kale Salad with Citrus Dijon Vinaigrette by Gourmet Everyday
• Crab Cake Bites by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Crab Cakes with Tartar Sauce by Palatable Pastime
• Easy Salmon Sliders by Sunday Supper Movement
• Grilled Baby Octopus by Food Lust People Love
• Manhattan Clam Chowder by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Mediterranean Shrimp Bruschetta by The Weekend Gourmet
• Salmon Tartare by Caroline’s Cooking
• Smoked Salmon, Orange and Avocado Salad by Sprinkles and Sprouts
• Ten-Minute Sweet and Spicy Shrimp by Jersey Girl Cooks

Main Dishes

• Cioppino by Monica’s Table
• Easy Tilapia Pomodoro Dinner by My Life Cookbook
• Frutti Di Mare by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Lemony Salmon and Asparagus Foil Packets by Our Good Life
• New Orleans Style Barbecue Shrimp by Flour On My Face
• No Fail Beer Battered Fish by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• One Pan Mustard Crusted Halibut and Vegetables by Pies and Plots
• Pecan Crusted Cod by From the Bookshelf
• Salmon Honey-Lemon Teriyaki by Asian In America
• Saucy Cod Fillets Florentine by Turnips 2 Tangerines
• Scallops with Orange Butter Sauce by My savory spoon
• Seafood Fettuccine Alfredo by The Freshman Cook
• Seafood Laksa by Brunch-n-Bites
• Sheet Pan Salmon by Bottom Left of the Mitten
• Shrimp Salad Sandwich by Soulfully Made
• Shrimp Scampi Pasta by Crazed Mom
• Soft Shell Salmon Tacos with Mango Salsa by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Sweet and Sour Salmon by Cricket’s Confections
• Teriyaki Mahi Mahi with Mango Salsa by Wholistic Woman

Roasted Spring Vegetables

A good roasting in a hot oven brings out the best in most vegetables. Theoretically a side dish, I love a plate of these for a vegetarian main course. When you add a garlicky dressing, your roasted spring vegetables can be elevated to center stage.

This week my Sunday Supper group is sharing easy spring recipes. Which puts me in mind of baby vegetables and spring lamb. Fortunately a nearby supermarket that always has a stock of baby veg so I picked up a selection. I ended up not using them all because my pan was full and if you want caramelized roasted spring vegetables, it is key not to crowd them in the pan.

If the baking pan is too full and there’s not room for air to move between the vegetables, they’ll just steam together and will not roast. Left behind were tiny bulbs of fennel and baby corn. Now I need to think of another recipe to make with those!

Ingredients
For the roasted vegetables:

7 oz or 200g each assorted baby vegetables
(I used small pickling onions, baby leeks, new carrots, baby zucchini and patty pan squash.)
1/4 cup or 60ml extra virgin olive oil

For the dressing:
Leftover oil from the vegetables

2 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons cloudy apple cider vinegar or your favorite good quality vinegar
1 teaspoon honey

Fine sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Method
Preheat your oven to 400°F or 200°C. I have a convection fan that I like to use for roasting as it circulates the heat more evenly. If you don’t, you can turn the oven up a few degrees to compensate.

Trim the vegetables of stems and scrub them clean. Since they are tiny, leave them whole. Pile them in a large mixing bowl.

Drizzle the olive oil over them and toss to coat. Sprinkle on some fine sea salt and give the veggies a couple of good grinds of black pepper. Toss to disperse the salt and pepper. You can use salad spoons but clean hands work the best. Plus, you are going to use your hands in the next step so might as well get them dirty. 

One by one, transfer the vegetables to a large baking pan, spacing them evenly. 

Put the vegetables in the oven to roast for 30-35 minutes or until they are golden and possibly a little charred in places.

There will be seasoned oil left in the bowl. We are going to use it for the dressing.

Grate or mince the garlic cloves into the oil. 

Add in the vinegar and honey and whisk to combine. Add another good pinch of salt and more freshly ground black pepper. Set aside. 

When the roasted spring vegetables are ready, remove them from the oven and scrape them and any sticky bits from the pan into the bowl with the dressing while they are still hot. 

Toss or stir to coat the vegetables with the dressing. Serve warm or at room temperature. 

Enjoy!

As I mentioned, this week our Sunday Supper tastemakers are sharing easy spring recipes. Check out this fabulous link list. Many thanks to our host, Anne of Simple and Savory and our event manager, Cricket of Cricket’s Confection.

Breakfast

• Broccoli and Asparagus Frittata by A Mind "Full" Mom
• Herb and Leek Frittata by My Imperfect Kitchen

Main Courses

• Creamy and Tangy Avocado Chicken Salad by Cooking On The Ranch
• Grilled Lamb Lollipops with a Lemon and Pea Dip by Sprinkles and Sprouts
• Lemon Quinoa Salad with Asparagus and Tomatoes by Hardly a Goddess
• Pad Thai Spring Rolls by Brunch-n-Bites
• Parmesan Crusted Pork Tenderloin by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Spring Pizza with Goat Cheese & Asparagus by Wholistic Woman
• Spring Power Bowl by Simple and Savory

Veggies and Sides

• Alfredo Scalloped Potatoes with Ham by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
• Asparagus Ham and Swiss Danish Braid by Crazed Mom
• Asparagus Soup by Bottom Left of the Mitten
• Cheesy Potato Asparagus Tart by Sunday Supper Movement
• Herbed Lemon Potato Salad by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
• Microwave Carrots and Peas by Cricket’s Confections
• Roasted Spring Vegetables by Food Lust People Love
• Shaved Asparagus Salad by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Pastas

• Crab and Asparagus Pasta by My Savory Spoon.com
• Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus Rotini Pasta by Recipes Food and Cooking
• Pasta Salad with Artichoke Hearts & Feta by Soulfully Made
• Simple Pasta with Peas, Ham and Cream by Cooking With Carlee
• Spinach Artichoke Pasta Recipe by Life Tastes Good

Seafood

• Baked Swordfish and Asparagus with Lentils and Chermoula by Caroline’s Cooking
• Flaked Salmon Arugula Spinach Watercress Salad by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Prosciutto-Wrapped Salmon with Brie by Books n’ Cooks
• Red Snapper in a Saffron-Tomato Broth with Artichoke Hearts & Potatoes by Gourmet Everyday
• Roasted Shrimp and Asparagus Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette by Jersey Girl Cooks
• Salmon with Parsley Pesto and Peas by Cooking Chat

Cakes, Pies, and Sweets

• Coconut Custard Pie by Renee's Kitchen Adventures
• Fresh Strawberry Meringue Cake by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Mango Banana Bread by Asian in America
• Meyer Lemon Panna Cotta by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Upside Down Brown Sugar Apricot Cake by The Bitter Side of Sweet

Cookies and Bars

• Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies by Pies and Plots
• Coconut Mango Chia Pudding Parfait by The Crumby Cupcake
• Maple Syrup Madeleines by The Finer Cookie
• Oatmeal Rhubarb Bars by Turnips 2 Tangerines
• Pistachio Lemon Bars by From the Bookshelf

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