Shrimp & crabmeat étouffée with grits

Active: 1 hour; Total: 1 hour; Yield: 8 servings 

Chicken stock or water	12 cups
Grits, uncooked	2 cups
Salt, kosher	1 teaspoon + 1 ½ teaspoons
Oil, vegetable or olive	¼ cup
Butter, unsalted	3 tablespoons
Onion, white; chopped	2 cups
Celery; finely chopped	1 cup
Bell pepper, red; finely chopped	1 cup
Garlic, finely chopped	1 tablespoon
Flour, all-purpose	½ cup
Clam juice, fish  or chicken stock	3 cups
Dry sherry	½ cup
Worcestershire sauce	¼ cup
Sage, dried; rubbed	2 tablespoons
Thyme; finely chopped	1 tablespoon
Cayenne pepper	½ teaspoon
Nutmeg, freshly ground	¼ teaspoon
Tomato paste	1 tablespoon
Pepper, freshly ground	½ teaspoon
Shrimp, raw, jumbo; peeled, butterflied, tail on	1 ½ pounds
Crabmeat, lump jumbo; drained, picked clean	1 ½ pounds

1. Stir together the stock, grits, and salt in a large saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. 
2. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 45 minutes. 
3. Combine the oil and butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat; cook until the butter is melted. 
4. Add the onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic; cook, stirring often, until the onion is translucent and the vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes. 
5. Add the flour, and stir briskly. 
6. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes brown, being careful not to burn it, 20 to 25 minutes. 
7. Stir in the 3-cups juice/stock, sherry, Worcestershire, sage, thyme, cayenne, and nutmeg. 
8. Increase the heat to medium-high, and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. 
9. Stir in the tomato paste, salt, and pepper; reduce the heat to medium, and simmer, stirring often, until creamy and thick, about 15 minutes. 
10. Add the shrimp, and cook, stirring occasionally, until just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. 
11. Reduce the heat to medium-low. 
12. Gently fold in the crabmeat, and cook, undisturbed, until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. 
13. Remove from heat; season to taste. 
14. Plate the grits, and then properly smother them with the gravy. 

Recipe mildly adapted from Food & Wine Annual 2025.

Shoyu ramen

Active: 1 hour 15 minutes; Total: 6 hours 30 minutes; Serves: 4

Broth, chicken, low-sodium	8 cups
Mushrooms, shiitake, dried	16
Kombu	30 grams
Bonito flakes	20 grams
Mirin	1 ¼ cups
Soy sauce	1 ¼ cups
Sake	½ cup
Sugar, granulated	¼ cup
Ginger, sliced	2-inch piece
Scallions, halved	3
Garlic, peeled	3 cloves smashed + 8 cloves sliced
Sugar, brown	2 packed tablespoons
Water	1 ½ cups + 6 cups + 6 cups + 6 cups
Pork belly, skin-on	1 pound
Eggs, cold	4 large
Oil, canola	½ cup
Cayenne	1 tablespoon
Sesame seeds	2 teaspoons
Wheat noodles, fresh	4 ounces

Chicken dashi 

1. In a medium pot over medium heat, bring the broth to a bare simmer; remove from heat and let cool for 2 minutes. 
2. Add the mushrooms and kombu, and let steep for 5 minutes. 
3. Add bonito flakes, and let steep 5 minutes more. 
4. Strain the dashi; reserve solids. 

Tare & chashu 

1. In a large pot over medium heat, bring the mirin, soy sauce, sake, sugars, ginger, scallions, smashed garlic, and 1 ½-cups water to a low simmer, then reduce heat to low. 
2. Meanwhile, in a medium pot over medium heat, bring the pork and 6-cups water to a bare simmer; immediately drain, and gently rinse the pork. 
3. Transfer the pork to the pot with the tare, and bring to a simmer. 
4. Cover and cook over low heat until tender, about 1 hour 20 minutes. 
5. Let cool 20 minutes, then strain and reserve the tare liquid. 
6. Refrigerate the pork and tare separately. 

Nitamago 

1. In a medium pot over medium heat, bring 6-cups water to a boil. 
2. Prink the bottom of the eggs with a pin. 
3. Gently lower the eggs into the pot with a spoon, and simmer for 6 minutes; drain. 
4. Transfer the eggs to an ice bath, and let cool 5 minutes. 
5. Thoroughly and gently crack the eggshells, then return to the ice bath to cool for 10 minutes more. 
6. Carefully peel the eggs, and transfer to a medium bowl. 
7. Pour tare over; weigh down the eggs with the reserved spent kombu to fully immerse in liquid. 
8. Let marinate in the refrigerator at least 4 hours, and up to 12. 

Garlic la-yu 

1. In a small pot over very low heat, simmer the garlic in canola oil, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 15 minutes. 
2. Remove from heat, stir in the cayenne, then the seeds; let cool. 

Serving 

1. Slice the chashu into 2-inch-wide slices; torch lightly, if desired. 
2. In a pot of boiling water, cook the noodles, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 1 to 2 minutes; drain. 
3. In a small pot over medium heat, bring the dashi and mushrooms to a simmer; cook 1 minute. 
4. Transfer the dashi to a serving bowl, then add tare and noodles. 
5. Top with mushrooms, chashu, nitamago, scallion, and a drizzle of la-yu. 

Recipe from Delish magazine by June Xie.

Devil's ginger

Active: 5 minutes; Serves: 1

Vodka (Hanger One, per the restaurant, but I’m using Skyy)	2 ounces
St. Germaine	¾ ounce
Ginger, grated with microplane	1 tablespoon
Lime juice, fresh	½ ounce
Simple syrup	¼ ounce
Cayenne	Dusting
Ginger, candied	Garnish

1. Muddle fresh ginger in a cocktail mixer, and add ice. 
2. Add vodka, St. Germaine, juice, and simple syrup; shake for a minute to combine and chill. 
3. Strain into a chilled glass, lightly dust with cayenne, and garnish with a chunk of candied ginger on the rim. 

Based on a favorite cocktail served at Cafe Cruz in Capitola, CA.

Super crispy fried chicken sandwich

Active: 30 minutes; Total: 2 hours 30 minutes; Makes 12 sandwiches

Pickles, dill chips; ½ cup brine reserved, about 60 pickle chips reserved	32 ounces
Salt, kosher	1 tablespoon + 1 tablespoon
Paprika	2 teaspoons
Pepper, freshly ground	1 teaspoon + 1 tablespoon +
Cayenne	½ teaspoon +
Garlic powder	½ teaspoon
Onion powder	½ teaspoon
Chicken thighs, boneless, skinless	12
Buttermilk or well-stirred whole milk yogurt	1 cup
Water	½ cup
Egg	1 large
Flour, all-purpose	4 cups
Cornstarch	¼ cup
Oil, peanut
Mayonnaise	1 cup
Hamburger buns	12
Lettuce, shredded	6 cups
Tomatoes, ripe, sliced	12

1. Stir together the pickle brine, 1-tablespoon salt, paprika, 1-teaspoon pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl. 
2. Place chicken thighs in a gallon-sized ziplock plastic bag; pour in the brine mixture. 
3. Seal the bag, and massage until the chicken is evenly coated. 
4. Place in the refrigerator; let marinate at least 2 hours, up to 8 hours or overnight. 
5. Whisk together the buttermilk, water, and egg in a large bowl. 
6. Remove the chicken from the brine; discard the brine. 
7. Add the chicken to the buttermilk mixture. 
8. Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, 1-tablespoon salt, and 1-tablespoon pepper in a shallow dish; set aside. 
9. Preheat your oven to 200°F. 
10. Pour oil to a depth of ½ inch in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet; heat oil over medium to 350°F. 
11. Working in batches, remove three or four chicken thighs from the buttermilk mixture, and place in the flour mixture, pressing to adhere. 
12. Lift from the flour mixture, and gently shake off excess. 
13. Carefully place the chicken in hot oil, taking care not to overcrowd the skillet. 
14. Cook, adjusting heat as needed to maintain oil temperature of 350°F, and turning every 1 to 2 minutes using tongs, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest portion of thigh registers 165°F, and the breading is golden browned and very crispy, 6 to 8 minutes per batch. 
15. Remove the chicken from the skillet, and place on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. 
16. Place in preheated oven to keep warm while repeating the frying process with the remaining chicken. 
17. Spread 1 heaping tablespoon of mayonnaise onto the cut sides of each bun. 
18. Arrange five to six pickles on each bun bottom; top with one chicken thigh, ½-cup lettuce, and a tomato slice. 
19. Cover with top bun; serve immediately. 

Recipe from Food&Wine Magazine, August 2020

Pimiento cheese & tomato tea sandwiches

Active: 30 minutes; Servings: 24

Cream cheese, room temperature	4 ounces
Pimientos, diced	2 ounces
Mayonnaise	3 tablespoons
Miso paste	2 tablespoons
Canna-infused coconut oil, room temperature	1 tablespoon + 1 ½ teaspoons
Garlic powder	¼ teaspoon
Onion powder	¼ teaspoon
Cayenne	Pinch
Pepper, freshly ground	Pinch
Cheese, Gruyère, grated	½ cup
Cheese, sharp cheddar, grated	1 cup
Salt
Tomatoes, heirloom, medium, preferable three different colors	3
Bread	6 slices
Herbs, fresh	Garnish

1. In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer, combine the cream cheese, pimientos, mayonnaise, miso, canna-infused coconut oil, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and pepper. 
2. Beat for about 1 minute on medium speed until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined. 
3. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, and beat once more. 
4. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the cheeses, mixing until well combined; ensure you incorporate all the way from the bottom and up the sides of the bowl. 
5. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. 
6. Using a serrated knife, cut the tomatoes into 1/8- to 1/4-inch slices; if your tomatoes are large, halve them vertically before slicing. 
7. Place the tomato slices on paper towels to absorb some of the juices. 
8. Lay out the bread slices. 
9. Spread each piece with an equal amount of the cheese spread, about 3-heaping tablespoons (49 grams each), avoiding the edges where the crusts will be cut off.
(Chef note: For the most accurate dosage, weigh the total amount of the cheese spread, and divide by six to determine the amount to spread per slice.)
10. Arrange three to four tomato slices on top, partially overlapping and alternating colors. 
11. Cut off the crusts. 
12. With the long side facing you, halve each piece of bread vertically, then on the diagonal, so you end up with four equal triangles. 
13. Garnish with fresh herbs, and enjoy! 

Chef's notes:

• On my first attempt, I used an 8.01% total THC & 9.53% total CBD balanced bud with my canna-infused oil. With James as my novice cannabis user and test subject, I asked him hourly about his reaction. He ate two full slices, which equals eight appetizer servings. He ranked his high around 10 to 20 percent after an hour. Closer to 70 percent after 2 hours. He's a bit sleepy but still fully functionally after 4 1/2 hours!

 Recipe from Edibles.

Pressure-cooked tandoori-style chicken

Yogurt, plain	2 cups
Turmeric, ground	1 teaspoon
Salt	½ teaspoon
Garlic, minced	1 clove
Cayenne	Pinch
Garam masala	1 teaspoon
Lemon juice, fresh	1 teaspoon
Sugar	2 teaspoons
Chicken breasts, boneless, skinless	8
Oil, canola	2 tablespoons
Chicken stock	½ cup
Rice, cooked
Cilantro, chopped

Note: This recipe uses an Instant Pot.

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the yogurt, turmeric, salt, garlic, cayenne, garam masala, juice, and sugar. 
2. Place the chicken in a large resealable plastic bag, and pour the marinade over the chicken. 
3. Seal the bag, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. 
4. Remove the chicken, and reserve the marinade. 
5. Press Sauté and heat the pot until the indicator reads Hot. 
6. Add the oil and swirl the pot to evenly coat, then brown the chicken on all sides; press Cancel. 
7. Add the marinade with the stock, lock the lid, press Poultry, press Adjust to select More, and cook for 5 minutes. 
8. Release the pressure naturally, and remove the lid. 
9. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a bowl and keep warm. 
10. Press Sauté and simmer the sauce is reduced and thickened, about 10 minutes. 
11. Return the chicken to the pot, and serve with rice garnished with cilantro. 

Recipe adapted from The Easy Pressure Cooker Cookbook.