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.

Best banana bread

Active: 20 minutes; Total: 1 hour 30 minutes; Serves: 8 to 10

Butter, unsalted, melted	½ cup
Pecans, toasted, chopped	1 cup
Flour, all-purpose	1 ¾ cup
Sugar, granulated	½ cup
Baking soda	1 teaspoon
Cinnamon, ground	1 teaspoon
Salt, fine	½ teaspoon
Nutmeg, freshly grated	¼ teaspoon
Eggs, lightly beaten	2 large
Buttermilk, sour cream, or yogurt	½ cup
Sugar, brown	½ cup
Vanilla extract	1 teaspoon
Bananas, mashed	1 ½ cups

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F; lightly butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. 
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the pecans, flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. 
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, butter, buttermilk, brown sugar, and vanilla; stir in the bananas. 
4. Fold the banana mixture into the flour mixture until just combined. 
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and lightly tap the pan on the counter to evenly distribute the batter. 
6. Bake until browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. 
7. Let the bread cool for 10 minutes in the pan on a rack, then turn out onto the rack to cool completely. 

Recipe from Food Network.

Painkiller

Active: 5 minutes; Serves: 1

Rum, dark (Pusser’s preferred)	2 ounces
Pineapple juice, fresh	4 ounces
Orange juice, fresh	1 ounce
Cream of coconut	1 ounce
Nutmeg, freshly grated	Garnish

1. Shake all ingredients (excluding the garnish) with ice. 
2. Pour into a glass filled with ice. 
3. Garnish with nutmeg, and a pineapple wedge, if you’re feeling fancy.

Chicken fricassée with mushrooms & thyme

Active: 15 minutes; Total 40 minutes; Serves: 4 to 6

Chicken thighs, bone-in, skin on	3 pounds
Salt, kosher
Butter, unsalted	2 tablespoons + 1 tablespoon
Onion, yellow; chopped	1 medium
Mushrooms	1 cup
Garlic, grated	3 cloves
Nutmeg, freshly ground	½ teaspoon
Pepper, freshly ground
Flour, all-purpose	2 tablespoons
Wine, dry white	½ cup
Thyme	7 sprigs
Bay leaves	2
Stock, chicken	1 ½ cups
Cream, heavy	½ cup
Broccoli florets	3 cups

Chef's note: Time durations are inaccurate. Take your time. Raw chicken is disgusting.

1. Pat the chicken dry, and arrange on a tray, skin side up; season with salt. 
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2-tablespoons butter. 
3. Once the foaming subsides, add the chicken skin side down, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for about 7 minutes, until the skin is crispy and golden. 
4. Flip the chicken, cook for 1 minute more, then return the pieces to the tray skin side up. 
5. Add the onion, scraping the bottom of the pan to free up any browned bits; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes, until softened and translucent. 
6. Scoot the onions to the side of the pan, then add the remaining 1-tablespoon butter. 
7. Once it is melted, add the mushrooms and stir to coat in the butter. 
8. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, until lightly browned. 
9. Add the garlic and nutmeg, season with salt and pepper, and stir to combine; cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant. 
10. Stir in the flour, and cook for 1 minute more. 
11. Stir in the wine and bring to a simmer; stir constantly for about 15 seconds. 
12. Add the thyme leaves and bay leaves, followed by the stock, stirring to combine. 
13. Nestle the chicken pieces skin side up along with any accumulated juices; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. 
14. Reduce the heat if needed to maintain a steady simmer; cover the pan, and cook for 12 minutes. 
15. Uncover and transfer the chicken to a platter or plate. 
16. Stir in the cream, bring to a simmer, and let reduce for about 3 minutes, until slightly thickened. 
17. Stir in the broccoli and return the chicken to the pan; cook for about 3 minutes, until the broccoli is bright green and just tender. 
18. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and scatter parsley on top. 
19. Serve with rice, couscous, or potatoes. 

Recipe from Food52.com, by Melina Hammer.

Chicken with ricotta dumplings

Active: 10 minutes; Total: 1 hour 10 minutes; Serves: 6

Cherry tomatoes	20 ounces
Olives, Nicoise	3/4 cup
Wine, dry red	1/3 cup
Salt	1/8 teaspoon +
Pepper, freshly ground	1/8 teaspoon +
Nutmeg, freshly ground	Pinch +
Chicken, boneless, skinless thighs	6
Olive oil, extra virgin	1 tablespoon
Ricotta	8 ounces
Parmesan, grated	½ cup + 2 tablespoons
Egg, lightly beaten	1 large
Flour, all-purpose	¼ cup
Oregano, fresh snipped	1 tablespoon

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. 
2. In a 3-quart rectangular baking dish, combine the tomatoes, olives, wine, salt, pepper, and nutmeg; bake 20 minutes. 
3. Pat chicken dry with paper towels; brush with oil. 
4. Add chicken to the tomato mixture; bake 20 minutes. 
5. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, ½ cup parmesan, egg, flour, oregano, pinch of salt, pinch of pepper, and pinch of nutmeg. 
6. Drop dumpling dough from a tablespoon onto the hot chicken mixture. 
7. Sprinkle with 2-tablespoons parmesan; bake 20 minutes. 
8. Let stand 5 minutes, sprinkle with fresh oregano, and serve. 

Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens.

Kale & sausage lasagna with pumpkin béchamel

Butter	4 tablespoons
Flour	6 tablespoons
Milk, hot	4 cups
Salt	¼ teaspoon
Pepper, white, freshly ground	¼ teaspoon
Nutmeg, freshly ground	Pinch
Pumpkin, pureed	2 cups
Lasagna noodles	15
Oil, olive	2 tablespoons
Sausage, sweet Italian, chopped	1 ½ pounds
Kale, stems removed, chopped	8 cups
Garlic, minced	8 cloves
Red pepper, crushed	¼ teaspoon
Ricotta	1 pound
Eggs	2 large
Sage, fresh, finely chopped	2 tablespoons
Mozzarella, shredded or sliced	2 cups
Parmesan, finely shredded	¼ cup

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. 
2. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, then stir in the flour with a wooden spoon to make a smooth, somewhat loose paste.
3. Continue stirring until the butter and flour foam together for 2 minutes without coloring more than a buttery yellow; remove from heat. 
4. When the bubbling stops, pour in the hot milk all at once, whisking vigorously to blend thoroughly. 
5. Continue whisking slowly over moderately high heat, scraping along the bottom and sides of the pan, until the sauce comes to a simmer; simmer 2 to 3 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon. 
6. Stir in the salt, white pepper, nutmeg, and pumpkin. 
7. Simmer until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. 
8. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook for 6 minutes; drain, and set aside. 
9. In a cast-iron skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. 
10. Add the sausage and cook through, until all the pink is gone, stirring occasionally; drain all but 2 tablespoons of the fat. 
11. Add the kale and garlic, stirring to coat; cook until wilted, add the red pepper, then set aside. 
12. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, eggs, and sage; set aside. 
13. To assemble, spoon 1 cup of béchamel to the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch pan; cover by layering 4 to 5 noodles lengthwise. 
14. Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, followed by half of the kale-sausage mixture, cover with 1-cup mozzarella, and then pour 1-cup béchamel over the cheese. 
15. Add another layer of noodles, remaining ricotta mixture, kale-sausage mixture, and mozzarella. 
16. Top with the last layer of noodles, pour the remaining béchamel over the top, and then sprinkle with parmesan evenly. 
17. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
18. Let rest 15 minutes before serving. 

Recipe from Food52.com.