Damn Commercials !!!

A few weeks back a red lobster commercial flashed across the tv screen and well the seafood lover I am it put me in the mood. If you have been following along you already know the misses is pregnant so that got her craving ball a rolling. It was replayed for what seemed to be like every 5th commercial for what seemed to be weeks, so I decided to have the Lady and our 2 sons pick their favorite item from the red lobster menu and I would reproduce it at home. I'm always up to a challenge, and I know I can make better food than some chain restaurant cook.....no disrespect.

So the menu ended up being new england clam chowder, side salad, coconut shrimp, popcorn shrimp, peach bourbon bbq shrimp, bacon wrapped scallops, peppercorn sirloin and of course some cheddar bay biscuits......then there were the request for some off the menu items I also made broiled butter garlic lemon gator tail, boiled some crawdads & corn, and for dessert it was bananas foster!

The family helped cook this feast under my order and it flowed so well like a 5 star kitchen that has been working together for years. The food came out perfectly and before dessert everyone was stuffed like we just left a free buffet. So after we cleaned our plates and clean the table, we went to the gym and worked off the dinner. By the time we got back home everyone was ready for dessert so I taught the boys how to make bananas foster and they still remember weeks later so that's a plus, but I think the taste helps too! After all was said and done the food was better and cheaper than red lobsters plus since we bought stuff in bulk there were shrimp, scallops, crawdads, and all left for other dinners later in the month. So I only have a clam chowder recipe for you, better than my last few posts which included none. The clam chowder recipe was wrote by my 13 year old son as I called out the things I was throwing into the pan so there might be something missing, I made it again and added what he did miss but just a warning, but as we all know a recipe is just a guide I never follow one 100%, always adding and subbing out something for another. Its what cooking is all about EXPRESSION! On to the recipes;

Clam Chowder

1 c diced white onions

½ c diced celery

½ c diced carrots

4 slices diced bacon

Fry bacon, remove to plate to drain.

Use bacon fat to sweat mirpiox, drain grease.

Add 2 cans 6.5 oz clams with sauce (reduce by ¼ or half)

1 ½ c milk

1 ½ c cream

1 tb basil

2 ½ tb parsley

1 tb cilantro

½ tb old bay

30 grinds pepper

Add bacon

Add can diced potatoes

Heat on med for 10 mins

Mix ½ tb cornstarch with 1 tb cream, add then heat additional 10 min covered on med-low.

For the love of waves & BBQ

So a few weeks back we ventured across the state, well not really ventured since we have made the trip time and time again. Plus it’s the coast I was born on and where God lead me to the love of my life. Back to the story we decided to head to Cocoa beach instead of going straight to my hometown.

Although we have some of the worlds most beautiful beaches here in the Tampa Bay area, the main reason to go to Cocoa beach is the waves, if you have ever visited a Gulf coast beach you know its rather flat and to an Atlantic coast born soul like me when I go to the beach I expect nice borderline knock you down size waves. So we made plans to get there around noon spend some time on the beach and then find some place to get some grub and head down to our original destination. We arrive at the beach late, and if you know me this is a regular occurrence.... Ha.

So we get out on the beach and quickly remember its spring break season so it’s packed. We find a nice spot to set up and rub each other down with some SPF 50 (gotta protect the tattoos and the kiddies). The misses is not really in a beach mood (cause aunt flow) she said she didn't want to attract sharks, so she was nominated to hold down the fort, while us boys head to the ocean. We hit the water and realized the marine forecast was a tad bit off on the water temp, but we forge on in and get use to the water rather quickly. The waves were decent when we got there but picked up as the day went on. Of course we get the random fish swimming between our legs, my oldest swears a snake swam around his leg and wrapped around one, I still say it was seaweed. Then I feel a small mouth with what felt like tiny little teeth try and take my baby toe from me, but my cat like reflexes let me keep the toe... but the father and his two daughters that were playing in the water about 20 feet from us didn't get as lucky. The wife says she heard them talking (they were seated near us to) after the dad carried one of the girls to shore with blood running down her face, saying a fish had bit her eyebrow then they ran to doctor her up in the bathroom and we didn't see them the rest of the day (hope all is well with her). So me and my boys play in the waves a little more, then went to dry off a bit on shore. We talk about our dinner plans and since we don't go to chain restaurants I had a few places in mind we decided on a beach side BBQ joint.

Then back to the water we go, we have to deal with what feels like even colder water this time but the waves are twice as big as when we got out. We get a decent way out and we start to dive through some waves and then body surf back to shore. After a few times of doing this and being at the beach for a few hours we decided to head back to shore and go get changed for dinner. After drying off and tossing on some clothes we head to our dinner spot "Slow & Low BBQ" home of the 6lb Joel's Crazy pork sandwich.

 We get there and let the kids pick where we sit so out on the patio we go, and the place is packed so this is a good sign.

We get seated at a nice table by the bar and we all dive into the menu's; deciding on their BBQ nachos for our appetizer, I see a cup of Brunswick stew on their menu and after watching an episode of Diners, Drive inns, & Dives with this stew in it I wanted to try some as soon as I came across it. What luck the very next time we go out to eat there it is staring at me on the menu. While we all pick and choose what we want for our entree and sides our nachos come and we are ready to order..... My oldest gets their "Big Brat" sandwich, the youngest of the group got a hamburger, the Misses got the normal sized "Joel's Crazy pork sandwich on garlic Texas toast, I went with a Blacken Mahi Mahi sandwich and of course a cup of Brunswick stew.

Our awesome waitress takes the menus and we dig into these amazing nachos that are topped with pulled pork, fried jalapenos, and all your favorite nacho toppings. They were delicious and the perfect start to an amazing dinner. After we finish off the nachos she brings out the stew, which was absolutely fantastic (be on the look out for my version coming soon!). We relax and reflect on the day as we wait for dinner, and talk about service the food came quick and hot. We all get our food, the big brat was huge and from the time it took my son to inhale it I'm guessing it was quite tasty, my wife's sandwich was piled high, the youngest was delivered a great looking burger and curly fries, and my Mahi was blacked perfectly! Although I didn't get pictures of the food (a mistake I won't make again) it all looked great. The table was pretty silent except for the occasional can you pass this or that for the next few minutes which is always a good thing when eating. We all are pretty close to being finished, and the question of dessert comes up, everyone is a little worried that by the time they finish dinner their won't be room.... but me being me I had looked at the menu on the drive over (via: urbanspoon blackberry app) and was already set on getting their fried banana sundae. The misses and I decided to share our dessert (trying to eat healthier), each of the boys get their own, one with a peanut butter pie and the other with a chocolate oreo cookie cake. I can say that when the fried banana sundae came to the table I was amazed they also did half caramel and half chocolate for us, they sat the oreo cake in front of the youngest his eyes grew wide, the peanut pie was inhaled as fast as it was sat down so I didn't get a sample, but this oreo cake was the choice of the slowest eater I know(which is fine by me I like to take my time as well) so I got a bite and as it was tasty, their cake couldn't hold a candle next to my wife's homemade chocolate cupcakes (check her out at http://www.electriccupcakes.com/), the cake was a bit dry and flavorless but the kid didn't seem to mind to much. We finished off our dessert and waited for the youngest but he opted for a box to take the rest home in, they both begged for the cherries we had placed atop our sundae, so they each got one and I paid the tab left a good tip and as we all stood up it became all to knowledgeable that we ate WAY too much but it was so worth it.

So if you're ever in Cocoa Beach and hungry be sure to stop at Slow and Low BBQ at 306 N Orlando ave Cocoa Beach 32931, check their site http://www.slowandlowbarbeque.com/ for specials and more. Great atmosphere, even better food, perfect pricing, and awesome service!

While there I was inspired to make a BBQ ranch spinach and cabbage salad with BBQ Chicken. Here's that recipe for those of you who like a quick and easy dinner this is another one. It’s close to my southern BBQ shrimp but tastes so different you could eat them back to back and not grow tired. So try it for yourself……

Here’s the recipe;

BBQ Ranch Spinach and Cabbage Salad (with bbq chicken)

Pinch of each Rosemary, Sea salt, old bay, paprika, basil, and minced onion

8 Grinds fresh black pepper

½ ts liquid smoke

1 ts Worcestershire sauce

Splash of Red wine

Water to cover

Boil chicken

Sauce:

1 ¾ tbls Ranch

¾ tbls Mayo

Few drops hot sauce

1 tbls Garlic

½ tbls Dijon

1 ½ tbls Horseradish

Pinch Old bay

40 Grinds black pepper

Pinch Paprika

Pinch Cayenne pepper

½ ts Basil

½ ts Parsley

½ tbls BBQ sauce

Salad:

Spinach

Cole slaw mix

Sprinkle of your favorite Italian cheese

Croutons to top

Eat and Enjoy!!