Archive for the 'Gourmet' Category

Smoked Seafood: A Delicious Meal

by Shannon Linnen

One of the greatest dishes to serve during summer is smoked seafood. For a light yet delicious meal, consider an appetizer of smoked oysters to start. These tasty treats can be bought in most markets as well as chosen farms that specially breed them to sell. If you are lucky enough to live by a port or in a town near the ocean, you will probably find oysters easily. Some may need to venture further away, but the trip will be worth your while!

Summertime is probably the best time of the year to enjoy a smoked seafood treat, but there is no reason why you can’t spoil yourself year round. Even in the fall or winter, smoked seafood will still add an exotic and mysterious flare to any social event or gathering.

Clams are a very popular addition to pasta dishes. Hard clams, also called quahogs, live in sandy coves and can be caught when the tide is low.Smoked seafood also includes clams, smoked scallops and mussels. Farm-raised cultured mussels are fresh and readily available. And, of course, there is always clam chowder! Wild varieties are equally delicious.A great dish to enjoy with butter and garlic is stuffed quahogs.

Sea scallops are delightfully large, though must be shucked (removed from their shells) almost immediately after capture to ensure they don’t lose moisture and die. Scallops are meatier than clams and require very little preparation. It is important not to overcook smoked scallops, or you will end up with a chewy, inedible morsel.

Their meat is usually an orange color and they are full of protein. As with clams, mussels taste great smoked and should remain encased in their shell until cooked. Mussels have blue-black shells and brown hairs called byssal threads attached to their shell.

Other smoked seafood includes smoked crab and smoked shrimp. Crab is maybe the most popular shellfish and is widely bought and eaten. The crabbing industry is a multi-million dollar one. While eating crab can be messy and often difficult, special tools have been created to make cracking crab easier. Once you get down to the meaty goodness of crab legs, you will want to make this smoked seafood part of your everyday diet!

Shrimp can be mixed with any meal like burritos , tacos, pasta dishes and many more. Smoked shrimps are also used to spices up stews and soups. Shrimp adds an unique Cajun flavor to Creole dishes. In whatever way you choose to serve it , shrimp makes any meal to remember for its taste.

Smoked seafood is a treat that everyone should get the chance to enjoy. If someone you know has not had the opportunity to enjoy this tasty and delicious way to enjoy seafood, then take it upon yourself to share this experience with them.

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Fresh Shrimp Gives You Options

by Shannon Linnen

Fresh shrimp is both healthy and delicious. It is also a perfect meal solution for all your outdoor summer parties and events. Fresh shrimp can be used in just about any dish. Add it to a pasta salad, slaw or appetizer plate. Topped with lemon juice and cocktail sauce, this refreshing food makes a great pre-dinner snack.

Smoked Maine shrimp is from the state of Maine, and everyone knows Maine is where the best seafood is found. It can be prepared with sauces, barbequed or just served cooked and cold. You can do a search for an exceptional shrimp recipe, or make one up yourself!

There are as many ways to cook fresh shrimp, as there are shrimps in the world. It can combine very well with fish, shellfish or other seafood. Fresh shrimp also makes a great addition to stews, soups and Cioppino. Mouth watering Jambalaya and other excellent Creole meals can be made of shrimp rubbed with Cajun spices.

Shrimp is used in Mexican dishes, as well. It puts a healthy spin on fajitas, tacos and burritos. It adds a fresh, light flavor not found in traditional, heavier meats. Italian restaurants use shrimp in dishes such as scampi, linguine and tortas. Thai dishes add coconut juice, peanut oil and lime to shrimp to create exotic-tasting meals.

As you can see, fresh shrimp and smoked Maine shrimp can take you from brunch to lunch to dinner! With very few calories and packed with protein, shrimp is an excellent food that fits into any diet. Whether you are eating light or splurging on a rich, decadent meal, shrimp is one ingredient you can count on to satisfy you.

So you have have some fresh shrimp and do not know what to make? Thank goodness shrimp is very versatile. You don’t have to make a large meal with multiple dishes, just make a shrimp cocktail. The best part is this is a very easy way to utilize the shrimp you have on had and it is also alot of fun. So don’t worry about the large meal just relax and make a shrimp cocktail, afterwards not only will you be totally satisfied but it will have been alot of fun at the same time.

Shrimp recipes can be found online or in cookbooks specializing in seafood cooking. But you don’t need a recipe to make a great shrimp dish. Even if you have never cooked with shrimp before, you can easily learn to add it to your diet. There are so many ways to eat shrimp and create delightful, color-rich foods without having to learn an entire new way of cooking. That’s the best thing about shrimp - even just sprinkling it atop a green salad makes an otherwise bland dish an exciting one!

If you don’t feel like a lot of extra work, make sure the shrimp that you purchase has already been de-shelled and de-veined. It is okay if this hasn’t been done, however a large amount of time will be spent in removing the shells and cleaning up the shrimp.

Most people are trying to make their lifestyles healthier. If eating healthy is important to you then adding shrimp to the mix is a great idea. Not only are shrimp low in fat, they literally have none on them! This is a very lean and clean meal indeed. Add shrimp to your diet to help fortify a healthy lifestyle.

No need to run around town looking for some hiqh quality fresh shrimp, just visit one of the many online seafood vendors. Quality Fresh Seafood is a good choice. They flash freeze the shrimp after it is cooked and then will have it delivered to you overnight. Having fresh shrimp is so much easier than you could have ever thought.

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sumptuous gourmet gift baskets

by John Bear

Giving gourmet gift baskets have gained tremendous popularity and are well appreciated. The mere word of beautiful gift baskets makes eyes pop out and evokes a craving that is hard to resist as delicacies pleasing to the palate have been one of mankind’s greatest pleasures.

Consisting of the finest and exotic food and beverages, gourmet gift baskets are hugely popular as ideal gifts. You can always find a suitable gourmet gift basket whatever the occasion is, be it Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, or Mother’s Day, etc. They are also great as sympathy gift baskets and housewarming gift baskets.

Commonly, gourmet gift baskets gourmet foods contain an assortment of cheese wedges, cheese spreads, gourmet crackers, bread sticks such as cookies, chocolate crackers, exquisite chocolates with enhanced fruit and nut flavors, flavored popcorn, raspberry-honey-mustard pretzels, cheese shortbread, maple sugar nut mix, candies and other sweets that will tantalize the taste buds and leave anybody craving for more. A variety of gourmet meats such as pepperoni, salami, and mouth-watering sausages are also regularly used in gourmet food gift baskets.

A gourmet basket filled with Italian pasta delights is perfect for those enthusiastic about Italian food. You can include a sprinkling of roasted garlic vinaigrette for that o-so-crunchy Italian salad; follow that with some pasta, top of the line tomato and sweet basil sauce with Italian vegetables, champagne and wine crackers.

If the recipient is not into those tasty savory snacks and is more inclined to eat fresh and healthy foodstuffs, you can opt for a basket full of luscious seasonal fruits such as apples, oranges, bananas, kiwi, nectarines, peaches and pears. You can also add a tropical flavor with mangos, papayas and other savory tropical fruits.

There are also gourmet tea gift baskets and gourmet coffee gift baskets that use coffee, tea and wine as focal points, too. You can opt for a gift basket with a selection of beverages: a bottle of wine or non-alcoholic sparkling cider as well as gourmet coffees and herbal teas.

Ordering gourmet gift baskets online or at your local gourmet store is always easy, but creating your own custom-made basket is special and lots of fun. Try to find out the person’s favorite brands and specific items to help you decide what gourmet gift basket will best suit the recipient.

Gourmet gift baskets are loaded with a variety of high quality food items. So, if you want to make something out of the ordinary, go for gourmet and celebrate life and all its special events with a memorable gourmet gift basket. Free shipping can be arranged on gift baskets ordered thru the Internet.

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