Real Vermont Cooking

INGREDIENTS 1 small onion, diced 3 stalks celery, finely sliced 3 tablespoons butter 2 1/2 cups peeled sweet potatoes, diced 2 quarts chicken broth Pinch of cinnamon 1/2 pound andouille sausage, casings removed and coarsely chopped 1/4 teaspoon cayenne or to taste Pinch of nutmeg 3 drops hot sauce or to taste 1/4 teaspoon white pepper or to taste Salt to taste Directions: Melt butter and saute onion and celery until translucent and celery is tender. Add potatoes and cover with chicken broth, then cook over medium heat for 15 minutes. Add 3 cups chicken broth and simmer until potatoes are tender. In the meantime, saute 1/2 pound andouille sausage until it begins to brown. Remove from heat. When sweet potatoes are tender, puree the mixture in batches in a food processor. Return to pan, add the sauteed sausage and more broth or water if necessary to make a velvety smooth consistency. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne, hot sauce, white pepper and salt. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Verify seasoning and serve piping hot with chopped parsley. Serves 6.

WITH TOMATO, BASIL AND SAFFRON INGREDIENTS 2 pounds shrimp (21 to 25 count) peeled and deveined. Use 6 to 8 shrimp per person 1 pound lump crabmeat or crawfish tails 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon olive oil Salt and cayenne pepper 1 ounce brandy 2 dry shallots, finely chopped 2 ounces vermouth 2 ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced 1/2 bunch fresh basil 1 cup cream, scalded with a pinch of saffron threads Directions: Lightly season the shrimp with salt and cayenne, and saute in butter and olive oil until pink. Remove from heat and pour in brandy. Return to burner and tilt the pan to flame the brandy. Transfer the shrimp to a warm bowl. Add shallots and tomatoes to the pan and pour on the vermouth. Cook for a few minutes over medium-low heat until liquid is reduced by half. Add saffron-cream and chopped fresh basil. Bring to a boil. Simmer several minutes until creamy, then toss in shrimp and crabmeat or crawfish and heat through. Check seasoning and serve with pasta, rice or zucchini noodles. Serves 6 to 8.

INGREDIENTS 1/2 pound fresh shrimp, peeled, deveined and washed 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1 bay leaf 1 small piece of bell pepper, cut fine 1/4 lemon 1/8 teaspoon sweet basil 1 – 1/2 cups water pinch nutmeg 1 – 1/2 tablespoons cooking oil 1 small piece of bayleaf 1 small onion, chopped 1/8 teaspoon red pepper 1 clove garlic, mashed 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch 1 cup whole tomatoes, fresh or canned A small amount of green onion 1/2 cup tomato sauce Liquid from boiled shrimp Directions: In a stew pan, add water, salt, bay leaf, lemon and shrimp. Cook over medium heat. When water comes to a boil, cover and cook 5 minutes. Drain and reserve liquid. Saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add tomatoes, shrimp broth, sugar, and bell pepper, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Add sweet basil, nutmeg, red pepper and salt to taste. Cook a few minutes more. . Make a paste with corn starch and 2 tablespoons water. Stir it into the sauce; stir and cook until it thickens. When ready to serve, add the boiled shrimp, parsley and green onion.

INGREDIENTS 3 Whole eggplants (medium size) 1/2 Pound Lump Crab Meat 1/2 Pound medium shrimp peeled 1/4 Pound Butter 2 Medium Onions (chopped fine) 1/4 Cup Parsley (chopped) 1 Stalk of Celery (chopped fine) 3 Cloves Garlic (chopped fine) 2 Bell Peppers (chopped) Salt and Pepper to taste 1 tsp. Paprika 1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs 2 tps. Olive oil Directions: Place whole eggplants in large pot with enough water to cover the whole eggplants, and simmer until they are soft. When soft remove from heat and cool in cool water. When cool cut the eggplants in half and scrape the eggplant out. Be careful not to tear skin. Next saute onions, celery, bell pepper in butter until soft. Add the eggplant meat that you scraped out and cook until all the liquid had evaporated. Add shrimp and cook about five minutes. Turn fire off and fold in crab meat and parsley and enough bread crumbs to give the mixture consistency. Fill the empty shells with the mixture and lightly spread bread crumbs on top and sprinkle the olive oil on top of each half eggplant, and bake in 350 degree oven for about twenty-five minutes.

INGREDIENTS 1/4 cup onions, diced 3 pounds lump crabmeat 1/4 cup shallots, diced 2 teaspoons garlic, minced 2 cups mushrooms, sliced 1/4 cup heavy cream 1 pound cream cheese 1/4 cup parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon thyme 1 teaspoon oregano 6 sheets phyllo dough 1/4 cup melted butter Salt and pepper to taste Directions: Saute shallots, mushrooms and onions in clarified butter. Add crabmeat, spices and cheese. Cool down with heavy cream. Spoon into small individual 8 ounce casserole dishes and top with phyllo dough wrinkles. Brown in 350 degree oven for 7 1/2 minutes. Serves 5.

INGREDIENTS 4 Dozen Raw Oysters 4 Large Cloves of Garlic (minced) 3 Packages chopped frozen spinach 2 Ounces of Pernod or Absinthe 3 Bunches of Green Onions (chopped) 2 Heaping tsp. Anise seed 2 Bunches Flat Parsley (chopped) 3 Tbs. Dark Worchestershire Sauce 4 Ribs Celery (fine dice) 3 Tbs. White Worchestershire Sauce 2 Ounce can Anchovies (mashed to paste) 1 1-2 Cups of bread crumbs 1/2 Pound of butter 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese (grated) Salt, Red & Black Pepper to taste Directions: Thaw out spinach and squeeze out excess water with hands. Melt butter and saute celery for 5 minutes, add green onions and saute for an additional 2 minutes, and then add parsley and garlic and cook 2 more minutes. After these greens are wilted, stir in drained spinach. (no need to cook spinach any further) Remove pot from stove and add anchovies, Pernod, anise seeds, dark and white Worcestershire sauce, seasonings, parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. Blend thoroughly and place a heaping tablespoon on top of the oyster. Mixture should be stiff because oyster will shed some water. Bake 15 -20 minutes in a 350 oven.