Lobster Stuffed Cucumber Cups Food

STUFFED CUCUMBER SNACKS

Steps:

• Using vegetable peeler, cut lengthwise strips of peel down 4 sides of the cucumber, making a square shape (some peel will remain). Cut cucumber into 1-inch slices. Make indentation in center of each slice by scooping with small melon baller or spoon.
• Fill each indentation with about 1 teaspoon deli salad. Top each with orange or lemon wedge.

STUFFED LOBSTER FOR TWO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Add the lobster and cook for 8 minutes. Remove from the water and set aside to cool slightly.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 degrees C). When the lobster is cool enough, split it in half lengthwise using a large chef's knife. Remove the dark strip if present. Remove the tomalley to a bowl and mix with the bread crumbs, butter, salt, pepper and tarragon. Stuff this mixture on top of the lobster meat still in the shell and place lobster halves in a baking dish. Drizzle oil over the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the stuffing is browned, about 20 minutes.

STUFFED CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Cut cucumber in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and pulp, leaving a 1/4-in. shell. Place seeds and pulp in a colander. Sprinkle with salt; drain for 30 minutes. , Meanwhile, combine the cream cheese, green pepper, onion, Worcestershire sauce and pepper; mix well. Stir in 2-3 tablespoons drained pulp. Spoon into cucumber shells; sprinkle with paprika. Refrigerate until serving. Serve with French dressing if desired.

LOBSTER SALAD ON CUCUMBER SLICES

Steps:

• Peel and slice the cucumber into 1/8-inch-thick slices. (They need to be a little thick to support the weight of the lobster salad.) Reserve in a bowl of cold water until you're ready to assemble the appetizers.
• Chop the lobster meat into small pieces. Toss in a bowl with the mayo, yellow pepper, salt and pepper.
• Place a spoonful on each cucumber slice.

SHRIMP STUFFED CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• Peel the length of each cucumber to form alternating stripes of unpeeled and peeled. Cut the cucumbers into 12 (3/4-inch) pieces. Scoop out the center using a teaspoon or a melon baller, leaving the bottom and sides intact to form a cup. (Reserve the centers for the Round 2 Recipe Chicken Tacos with Cucumber Salsa.) Turn them upside down onto a towel and let them drain while you make the filling.
• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook until bright pink, about 3 to 4 minutes. Strain and rinse in cold water. Remove the shells and discard. (Reserve 12 shrimp for the Round 2 Recipe Shrimp and Potato Salad with Sour Cream and Bacon Dressing.)
• Chop the shrimp into small pieces and put them into a bowl. Add the horseradish, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste, half the can of tomatoes (reserve the remaining half for the Round 2 Recipe Chicken Tacos with Cucumber Salsa) and 1 tablespoon of parsley. Evenly divide the shrimp mixture between the cucumber cups. Arrange them on a serving platter and garnish with remaining parsley.

STUFFED CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• In food processor, combine cashews, red pepper, water, lemon juice, paprika, salt and garlic. Process until smooth. Transfer to bowl and set aside.
• Cut ends off cucumber and cut into 10-12 pieces. Using a melon baler, scoop out the seeds to make a ring.
• Place cucumber on serving plate. Fill each with 1 tablespoon cashew mixture. Can be made up to 2 days in advance.

STUFFED CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• Using a zester, vegetable peeler or fork, score the length of each cucumber to create a striped effect.
• Remove the ends and cut each cucumber into 3/4 inch rounds.
• Using a melon baller, scoop out the seeds from the center of each round to form a cup.
• Reserve 1 tbsp of the walnuts as a garnish.
• Combine remaining ingredients and stir until well blended.
• Spoon the mixture into the cucumber cups, garnish with the remaining nuts and chill until serving time.

SQUID STUFFED WITH LOBSTER

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the lobster, and cook for 5 minutes. Pull the lobster out of the pot, discard the water, and chill the lobster.
• Shell the lobster, keeping as much meat as possible. Dice the meat into 1/4-inch (6-mm) cubes, and keep the shells. Set both aside.
• Bring a small pot of water to a boil, add the pasta, and boil for about 4 minutes, or until shy of al dente. Drain and transfer to a decent-size bowl.
• Add the lobster meat, tomato sauce, mayo, Tabasco, Pernod, and parsley to the pasta and stir to mix. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Crush the lobster shells into 1-inch pieces. In a sauté pan, sauté the shells in a film of olive oil over medium-high heat until the lobster water is gone from the shells. Add the water and unsalted butter and simmer over medium heat for about 20 minutes. Don't let it become dry, but almost dry. You should have about 1/2 cup (125 ml) liquid. Strain the liquid and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Stuff the pasta mixture into the squid tubes, and seal the open end of each tube with a couple of nonmentholated toothpicks. Just stick them right across the opening, pinching the tentacles into the opening. Lay the stuffed beauties side by side in a baking dish or baking pan. It should be a snug fit so the pan is less likely to dry out. Pour the strained lobster juice over them, then top with a few pats of escargot butter and the bread crumbs.
• Bake for about 15 minutes, or until bubbly. Remove the toothpicks and serve with a handful of olive oil-dressed cress (greens) on each plate.
• Wear gloves; many people have contact allergies to squid. Clean the squid in the sink under cold running water.
• Rip off the head. It's the part from which the legs hang down.
• Pinch away the beak. It's on the center, nestled among the legs.
• Slide out the blades. There are two of them, plasticlike, along the inside of the tube.
• Peel off the dark skin.
• Rinse the squid well, inside and out, to eliminate all traces of mucus and sand.