petermarcus: (Default)
petermarcus ([personal profile] petermarcus) wrote2001-10-15 08:35 pm

(no subject)

Absolutely beautiful day. Mid-70s, no clouds, nice breeze. Inspired by the nubile [livejournal.com profile] nbbmom's batting practice tonight, I headed out to the driving range and blasted a hundred golf balls into the sky.

Came home and figured I'd cook those humongous prawns. I decided on a spicy pan-fry with a red pepper aioli. I decided to give the cam a try, getting that inspiration from the lovely [livejournal.com profile] hisbeauty and her visual cooking journal entries. Pics are largish.



(Okay, in French I can ask if you want to sleep with me, but that's about the extent of my lingua franca.)

To start out, I clean and devein the prawns (this recipe, BTW, also works with strips of chicken breast if shrimp just don't do it for you). Fill a small tupperware with my secret mixture of salt, black pepper, cayenne, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, and oregano. The mixture is even secret from me, cuz I just toss stuff in until it tastes right. What are the proportions? *shrug*.



Toss the shrimp into the tupperware and shake to coat. Let sit for 20 minutes or so. This is similar to a Southern BBQ dry rub. The spices will penetrate the meat and marinade. While the shrimp are getting tasty, I make the aioli. One egg, two cloves garlic, a tablespoon or so of mustard, a few strips of roasted red bell pepper, and olive oil.



Throw everything but the olive oil into a food processor. You can use a blender, but finely chop the garlic first. As it's blending, slowly (very slowly) drizzle olive oil into the mixture. If the oil goes to fast, the aioli will "break" and never thicken. If in doubt, stop drizzling until the oil is fully mixed. The consistency should be somewhere between mayonnaise and cold syrup. Add salt, pepper, and some lemon juice. Chill aioli in fridge.

Toss some oil into a pan and start frying the prawns. The temp should be medium-high -- the shrimp will overcook very easily. I want the to take the shrimp off just before the insides are fully cooked -- they'll cook some more on the way to the plate. Overcooked shrimp (and chicken) gets hard, rubbery, and tasteless.



I'm going gourmet here and doing a nice presentation -- place the prawns, drizzle aioli, and toss around some green scallions to offset the red in the aioli and the pink of the shrimp. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.

[identity profile] wyld-west.livejournal.com 2001-10-15 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
A man who cooks.... *swoon*

[identity profile] petermarcus.livejournal.com 2001-10-15 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
I try to do that Renaissance man thing. Kinda like that wide interest list of yours -- I think your interest list is my favorite out of all my "friends" :)

[identity profile] wyld-west.livejournal.com 2001-10-15 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
It's a relief to know there are some men actively pursuing the Renaissance-thing. The list is kinda too big isn't it? The geeky thing is, I could've added more but had to stop myself. :)

Re:

[identity profile] petermarcus.livejournal.com 2001-10-15 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Nah, not at all! I liked the balance and almost paradox of some of the entries :)

[identity profile] nbbmom.livejournal.com 2001-10-15 06:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Dear Santa Claus,

I have been a VERY good girl all year. All I want for Christmas is Peter and his cooking wiles (sp?). Please put him in my stocking this year! I promise I'll hug him and love him and walk him and clean up after him every day! I've left you cookies and milk but if I get this man as a present this year, then next year we'll leave you pan-fried shrimp with red pepper aioli. Thank you Santa!

Love and Kisses,

Kymmie

:)

[identity profile] petermarcus.livejournal.com 2001-10-15 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Ho ho ho!

Hey! Who ya calling a 'ho? *smack*

Re:

[identity profile] nbbmom.livejournal.com 2001-10-15 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh :) My favorite line to a chick at Christmas...."If anyone comes up to you and says Ho! Ho! Ho!, just be sure to say Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!"

[identity profile] ex-playboy-m449.livejournal.com 2001-10-15 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Mmm....

So you're coming to KC to cook dinner for me when?

[identity profile] petermarcus.livejournal.com 2001-10-15 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh :)

wow

[identity profile] sammystudio.livejournal.com 2001-10-15 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)

[identity profile] hisbeauty.livejournal.com 2001-10-15 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Standing Ovation!
That was Wonderful ...
I Can't wait to try making it ...

Just like having a Cooking Show

*Hugs*

[identity profile] petermarcus.livejournal.com 2001-10-16 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you:) I like watching your recipes, too :)

[identity profile] sherahi.livejournal.com 2001-10-15 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
First the self portrait, now documentation of gourmet cooking skills....

You are SO on the prowl for a sexy babe...!

(Good technique though. Works better than most lines, imo.)

[Good recipe! Yum!]

[identity profile] petermarcus.livejournal.com 2001-10-16 07:03 am (UTC)(link)
Heh, I have used cooking to lure a few dates before.

Not necessarily on the prowl here, though. I met my ex-wife over the Internet, so the meeting women online thing has strange connotations for me. Though, given the right person at the right time...*shrug* ya never know.

I'm probably just showing off. That Leo ego thing ;)

Re:

[identity profile] sherahi.livejournal.com 2001-10-16 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Uh hm.... :)

[identity profile] beckmermaid.livejournal.com 2001-10-16 08:39 am (UTC)(link)
Leo..... that explains it. =) Hmmm, I think I want dinner with you tonight... Ryan's a good cook himself (also a Leo) - I should grab his lemon/parmesan/breadcrumb grilled scallops recipe for you...

Too bad he's fallen into the fishstick/mac and cheese rut lately... maybe he'd make this for me =) Yummers!

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[identity profile] petermarcus.livejournal.com 2001-10-16 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh, it's something to do with Leos alright. One day, grilled shrimp & aioli, the next day chili dogs :)

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[identity profile] beckmermaid.livejournal.com 2001-10-16 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
You darn Leos... (Ryan had chili-mac tonight- haha!)

[identity profile] ex-ly656.livejournal.com 2001-10-16 10:14 am (UTC)(link)
*wow*
can i come over for dinner next time???

Re:

[identity profile] petermarcus.livejournal.com 2001-10-16 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Any time ;)