Poor Mans Shrimp Cocktail Food

POOR MAN'S "SHRIMP" COCKTAIL (VEGAN)

Steps:

• Combine crab boil seasoning, salt, onions, garlic and six quarts of water in a large pot. Squeeze juice from lemons into the pot and add lemon halves. Set pot over high heat and bring liquid to boil. Boil for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove onions and lemon halves. Discard.
• Add cauliflower, turn off heat, cover tightly and let stand until crisp tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Drain.
• Spread cauliflower on baking sheet and allow to cool.
• Serve room temperature or chilled with cocktail sauce for dipping.

SHRIMP COCKTAIL

Steps:

• For the shrimp: In a medium pot filled with water squeeze the lemon and drop in along with the onion, salt, bay leaf, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil over high heat, simmer for 5 minutes to develop the flavors.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the shrimp. Gently cook until the shrimp turn pink and opaque. Strain, cool, and peel the shrimp. Refrigerate to chill through, about 30 minutes.
• For the sauce: In a small pot combine the ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, and hot sauce. Warm over medium low heat to develop the flavors, about 5 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator, about 30 minutes. Stir in the parsley just before serving.

POOR MAN'S "SHRIMP" COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Combine crab boil, salt, onions, garlic, and 6 quarts water in a large pot. Squeeze juice from lemons into pot and add lemon halves. Set pot over high heat and bring liquid to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes to let flavors meld. Using a slotted spoon, remove onions, garlic, and lemons from broth; discard. Return liquid to a rolling boil.
• Add cauliflower; turn off heat, cover pot tightly, and let stand until cauliflower is crisp-tender, 5-10 minutes. Drain; spread out cauliflower on a rimmed baking sheet and let cool completely. DO AHEAD: Cauliflower can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Arrange room-temperature or chilled cauliflower on a platter with cocktail sauce for dipping.

POOR MAN'S "SHRIMP" COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Combine crab boil, salt, onions, garlic, and 6 quarts water in a large pot. Squeeze juice from lemons into pot and add lemon halves. Set pot over high heat and bring liquid to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes to let flavors meld. Using a slotted spoon, remove onions, garlic, and lemons from broth; discard. Return liquid to a rolling boil.
• Add cauliflower; turn off heat, cover pot tightly, and let stand until cauliflower is crisp-tender, 5-10 minutes. Drain; spread out cauliflower on a rimmed baking sheet and let cool completely. DO AHEAD: Cauliflower can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Arrange room-temperature or chilled cauliflower on a platter with cocktail sauce for dipping.

SHRIMP COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Put the water, carrot, celery, onion, garlic, lemon, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves in a pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat to a simmer, set a cover on top slightly ajar, and cook for 10 to 30 minutes.
• Drop the shrimp into the liquid and turn off the heat. Cook the shrimp, stirring occasionally, until they curl and turn pink, about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes for medium shrimp, 3 minutes for large ones. Drain and cool to room temperature. Peel the shrimp and remove the vein along the curve of the shrimp, if desired. Refrigerate if not serving right away. If refrigerated, bring the shrimp to room temperature 20 minutes before serving.
• To serve put the cocktail sauce in a medium bowl and surround with the shrimp, or loop the shrimp over the edge of an individual cocktail glass and top with the sauce. Garnish with the lemon and serve.
• Optional Tip: To de-vein the shrimp before cooking, hold a shrimp between the thumb and forefinger with the rounded side of the shrimp upward. Place the pointed end of a wooden skewer at the junction of the second and third segments of the shrimp shell, about 1/8-inch down from the top. Gently push the skewer through the shell and then lift up to remove the vein.
• Combine the ketchup, lemon zest and juice, horseradish, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl. Add hot sauce, if desired. Mix well, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Yield: 1 1/2 cups

POOR MAN'S SANDWICH

Steps:

• Spread peanut butter onto one slice of the bread. Place pickle slices and onion slices onto the peanut butter. Spread mayonnaise onto the other slice of bread, and place on top of the other piece of bread.

POOR MAN'S BEER BATTER FISH

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Pour beer into the pancake mix container in place of the water it calls for. Make the batter as thick or thin as you prefer. Close the lid, give it a few shakes, and boom it's done.
• Dip fish into the batter using a pair of tongs, or if you want to dirty a dish, pour the batter in a bowl first. If you cut your fish into smaller pieces, you can toss them into the container, close the lid and shake it a couple of times, then carefully remove the coated pieces.
• Remove the fish from the batter using tongs, and place into the hot oil. Fry the fish until golden brown on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side.