Baked Tomatoes Stuffed with Sausage
Sautéed Shrimp in Garlic Butter
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Cooking time: 35 minutes for menu Cooking schedule: see below for menu instructions |
Who can resist those last big, garden tomatoes, warm from the oven and stuffed with spicy sausage? A perfect start to a dinner redolent with garlic and lemon. The Lemon Basmati pairs well with the Garlic Shrimp, softening and enhancing the flavors. We've been remiss in eating our spinach; it happens when we are eating totally from our garden but it's time to start buying some vegetables again.
Baked Tomatoes Stuffed with Sausage Time: 35 minutes
If you can't find bulk sausage, get regular sausages and squeeze the meat out of the casing of 1 or 2. I put a bit of cheese in the bottom of these, it melts into the tomato, absorbing some of the juice.
2 large garden fresh tomatoes, 7 - 8 oz each (225gr each)
3 oz Italian sausage or ground beef
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 cup (1oz, 30gr) shredded cheese
fresh basil leave for garnish (and nibbling) if you have them
Slice the tops off of the tomatoes and scoop out the center, 1 1/4" - 1 1/2" (4cm) deep. Heat oil in medium nonstick skillet. Add paprika and sauté 30 seconds. Add oregano and sausage and sauté until it's brown, breaking it up as finely as you can. Put a bit of cheese in the bottom of each tomato. Spoon meat mixture on top of the cheese, dividing evenly. Put into a small, shallow baking dish and bake at 400F (200C) for 15 minutes, until tomatoes are hot and sausage is browning. Remove, sprinkle remaining cheese on top of each tomato. Return to oven until cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Remove and serve.
Sautéed Shrimp (Prawns) in Lemon and Garlic Butter Time: 25 minutes
The smell of garlic slowly cooking in butter is only improved by the addition of shrimp, lemon and parsley. You could substitute 1 tbs of olive oil for 1 tbs of the butter if you wish - or use all olive oil. But we don't (usually) eat a lot of butter, so we indulge in this recipe.
shrimp, 12 oz cleaned (350 gr prawns, cleaned)
4 - 5 cloves garlic
1/4 tsp paprika
2 tbs butter
2 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs fresh snipped parsley
Clean shrimp if needed, if not just rinse and let drain. Mince garlic. Melt butter in nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add paprika and sauté briefly. Add garlic and sauté until golden and tender, 5 - 7 minutes. Turn heat up to medium and add shrimp. Sauté until shrimp start to curl and turn opaque. Add lemon juice, parsley and heat through. Serve, on or with Lemon Garlic Basmati.
Lemon Garlic Basmati Rice Time: 20 minutes or whatever your package says
A bit of garlic, lemon and thyme adds a subtle hint of flavor to the Basmati that works perfectly with the lemony Garlic Shrimp.
1/2 cup Basmati rice
1 clove garlic
2 tsp butter
1 cup chicken stock
1 tbs fresh snipped thyme
1 tbs lemon juice
Mince garlic. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté briefly, 1 - 2 minutes. Add rice and sauté, stirring for 2 - 3 minutes. Add stock, thyme and lemon juice. Cover and cook for length of time on package. When done fluff with a fork and serve.
Sautéed Spinach, Courgette (Zucchini) and Onions Time: 25 minute
I used a yellow courgette and, coupled with the bright green spinach, it made a very pretty side dish.
1 small zucchini (courgette) - about 1 1/2 cups shredded but no need to be precise
1 onion
1 clove garlic
4 - 6 oz fresh spinach
1 tbs olive oil
1 tbs fresh snipped oregano
1 tbs fresh snipped thyme
2 tbs chicken stock
Slice onion and mince garlic. Shred zucchini. Remove thick stems from spinach and cut into strips: put the spinach leaves together in one hand and snip with a scissors. Heat oil in medium, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until golden. Turn heat to medium, add courgette and garlic, continue to sauté for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Add spinach and chicken stock. Sauté just until spinach wilts. Remove and serve.
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Cooking schedule: 35 minutes for menu
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Add stock, thyme and lemon, cover and cook |
Cooking for Two? Or more?
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