Shrimp Quesadillas with Peaches, Caramelized Onions & Brie Serves 2-4 Ingredients: 1 cup of red onion, diced 2 Tablespoons butter, divided – stock 2 Tablespoons olive oil, divided – stock Splash of balsamic vinegar – stock Salt & pepper – stock 2 peaches, sliced (you can also use frozen peach slices) – $2.99 4 sprigs[…]
Hot Crab Dip with Old Bay Seasoning
Hot Crab Dip with Old Bay Seasoning Serves 10 Ingredients: 8 oz. whipped cream cheese, softened – $2.19 3 scallions (about ¼ cup), chopped fine – $0.99 ½ of a red bell pepper (2/3 cup) , chopped – $1.07 a heaping ½ cup grated Monterey Jack cheese – $1.09 ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese –[…]
Roasted Tomato and Kalamata Olive Pasta Sauce
Roasted Tomato and Kalamata Olive Pasta Sauce Serves 4 Inspired by a recipe in Real Simple Ingredients: 2 pounds tomatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks – $6.50 1 teaspoon sugar – stock Salt & pepper – stock ¼-cup olive oil, plus some for drizzling on the tomatoes – stock 4 anchovy fillets, finely chopped (you want[…]
Crab Cake Bake: An Ode to Lizzie Dean
Crab Cake Bake Serves 8 Ingredients: 4 eggs, beaten – stock 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard – stock 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce – stock ½ cup chopped scallions, both white and green parts – $0.79 4 Tablespoons finely chopped parsley – $0.99 3 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning – stock 1 small Jalapeno pepper, minced – $0.24[…]
Sesame Ginger Salmon over Soba Noodles
Sesame Ginger Salmon over Soba Noodles Serves 4 Inspired by Mother Thyme Ingredients: 4 6-oz salmon fillets – $7.99 3 Tablespoons sesame oil – stock 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar – stock 1 Tablespoon honey – stock 2 Tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce – stock ½-Tablespoon mirin – stock 2 garlic cloves, minced finely or run through[…]
Cajun Shrimp Bisque
Mariel here. My mom presented luscious-looking Crab Ravioli on Tuesday, so I thought I’d follow suit and whip up my own seafood-inspired treat. While I typically don’t cook cajun anything, I stumbled across this delicious soup on, well, StumbleUpon. That’s the magic of these social bookmarks, they open you up to a whole wide world[…]
Crab Stuffed Ravioli with a Duxelle of Mushrooms, Shallots, Red Peppers, and Pistachios
Crab Stuffed Ravioli with a Duxelle of Mushrooms, Shallots, Red Pepper, and Pistachios Serves 4 Tip: Uncooked ravioli can be prepared the day before. Keep in the fridge, in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Cover carefully with plastic wrap. If planning ahead and freezing all or part of the[…]
Simply Scampi
Mary Anne here. As I write this, the wind is positively roaring outside my window; the thermometer has plummeted into the single digits and the windchill factor boasts a cool minus 8. It’s this time of year when my body – revolting against well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions – craves all things butter. And what better[…]
Shrimp Po’ Boys with a Spicy-Sweet Remoulade
Mary Anne here. It would seem we’re on a sandwich roll here – get it? Oh whatever. From Mariel’s Crispy Chicken, Fried Egg and Prosciutto Sammie and my Classic Lobster Roll to these ridiculously rich Open-Faced Peach and Prosciutto with Brie and Arugula Sandwiches, we could practically open a deli! Thanks to the steamy temps outside, I[…]
The Classic Lobster Roll
Mary Anne here. It has always astonished me that the scavengers of the sea command such ridiculous market prices. A century or so ago, these hard-shelled crawlers were actually considered peasant food, but you’d never know it if you’ve bought Lobster Rolls on the eastern tip of Long Island. Last year, fresh shelled lobster meat[…]
A Boatload of New England Clam Chowder
Mary Anne here. Writing this recipe tonight reminds me of the old expression “Mad dogs and Englishmen” as it’s probably a bit insane whipping up my lazy man’s chowder amidst an early June heat wave. But I do love chowder and since summer just seems to scream for clams, I’ve dutifully transcribed my favorite rendition in[…]
Farfalle with a Shrimp Pomodoro Sauce
Mary Anne here. Dining al fresco is one of my favorite signposts that spring has sprung in earnest, and this creation beautifully captures the promise of warm weather staples like fresh basil and rosy tomatoes. It’s a simple repast that tastes as bright as the new season. I’ve been making this sauce in various forms[…]
Crab Salad Sandwiches with a Zesty Grapefruit-Honey Dressing
Mariel here. This weekend was one for the books. Despite the weatherman’s warnings that Saturday would be rainy and gray, Mother Nature pulled out the big guns and dished up two days of clear blue skies and 70-degree temps. My husband and I headed east to see both of our moms for Mother’s Day and[…]
Beer-Battered Coconut Shrimp with Orange-Ginger Marmalade
Mary Anne here. While we normally don’t pay much attention to the “suggested” recipes sent our way – we have to eat what we make, after all – Sam’s Club recently passed along a shrimpy serving suggestion that struck my fancy. Unlike the pay-for-play Panera and Nutella craze that you’ve seen splashed about the internet,[…]
Soy-Glazed Black Sesame Shrimp with Soba Noodles
Mariel here. Notice anything different around here? A little more color maybe? Some fancy new fonts? An entirely new design? You better, we just sunk a decent-size chunk of change into refreshing our beloved Feast on the Cheap. It’s official, we’re coming for you Contessa, hold on to your macramé Martha, and Paula, you’re fine[…]
Crab-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Mary Anne here. From the time he was a little boy, my eldest son has been wild for Portobello mushrooms, whether they’re grilled, sauteed in oil and splashed with Balsamic vinegar, or just plain raw. This past week ushered in a flurry of frantic activity in my nursing job, so my boy came home to[…]
Crab Louis Salad Over Avocado
Mary Anne here. This delectable Crab Louis was created on an Indian summer day when the thermometer topped out at a sultry 89 degrees. I had purchased a pound of lump crab meat on sale at my local grocer’s and decided this salad would be the perfect salute to summer’s last gasp. While this is[…]
Dressed-Up Shrimp Quesadillas with Mango and Gouda
Mary Anne and Mariel here. Recently Mariel and I enjoyed a few days alone at our little family abode and, per usual, food was at the forefront of our conversation. As we pondered what to have for dinner one night, Mariel requested that we make my “fancy quesadillas,” the ones with shrimp and Gouda cheese.[…]
Smoked Salmon Challah Bites
Mary Anne here. As I’ve mentioned before, the Ellicott clan was raised in a Christian-Judeo household. We were confirmed Catholics but our step-dad, George, was a devout Jew. And as he embraced our Christmas and Easter traditions with all the enthusiasm of an excited toddler, we honored his religious holidays as well – and none[…]
Mango Gazpacho Topped with Crab and Avocado
Mary Anne here. This summertime sauna doesn’t appear to be wafting away from the Northeast anytime soon…and slaving over a hot stove has never been so unappealing. I’ve been subsisting on a steady diet of ice cubes and frozen sorbet, but sadly, while my over-heated brain craves cold empty calories, my body tells me it’s[…]