Sarasotas Shrimp Spinach Strata Food

SPINACH AND CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Squeeze handfuls of spinach to remove as much liquid as possible, then finely chop.
• Cook onion in butter in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in spinach, then remove from heat.
• Spread one third of bread cubes in a buttered 3-quart gratin dish or other shallow ceramic baking dish and top evenly with one third of spinach mixture. Sprinkle with one third of each cheese. Repeat layering twice (ending with cheeses).
• Whisk together milk, eggs, mustard, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl and pour evenly over strata. Chill strata, covered with plastic wrap, at least 8 hours (for bread to absorb custard).
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Let strata stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Bake strata, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed, golden brown, and cooked through, 45 to 55 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

ROASTED SHRIMP WITH FETA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a 10-or 12-inch heavy ovenproof skillet over medium-low heat. Add the fennel and saute for 8 to 10 minutes, until the fennel is tender. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the wine and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the liquid is reduced by half. Add the tomatoes with the liquid, tomato paste, oregano, Pernod, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Arrange the shrimp, tails up, in one layer over the tomato-mixture in the skillet. Scatter the feta evenly over the shrimp. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, parsley, and lemon zest with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle over the shrimp.
• Bake for 15 minutes, until the shrimp are cooked and the bread crumbs are golden brown. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon over the shrimp. Serve hot with the remaining lemon cut into wedges.

SARASOTA'S SHRIMP SPINACH STRATA

Steps:

• NOTE: Back when we first made this there were not bags of frozen vegetables but just boxes. I usually use fresh, but the bags that are available today, listed below, is the equivalent of what we originally used.
• Casserole -- Spray a 13x9 casserole dish with Pam or a non stick spray. Line the bottom of the casserole dish with the bread slices. Tear up or cut any remaining slices in small bits and pieces to fill in any holes. Be sure to cover the entire bottom of the casserole pan.
• Layers -- Spread the pesto sauce (I used Classico, but there are many good brands available or better yet, make your own) over the bread slices and sprinkle with 1 cup of the cheese. Top with the shrimp, then the spinach, and then the entire package of the pepper and onion stir fry mix. Finish off by topping with the remaining cheese.
• Egg Mixture -- I a medium size bowl, add the eggs and beat well, mix in the thyme, oregano, milk, hot sauce, salt and pepper and pour the mixture over the casserole. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate all day at least 8 hours or overnight which is even better.
• Bake -- Heat oven to 350, uncover and bake 45 minutes and when you stick a knife in the center the eggs are set and the knife will come out clean the dish is done. Remove from the oven and let set 15 minutes before cutting.
• Serve -- Just cut into squares and enjoy. A nice side salad is perfect with this dish.

SARASOTA'S SPINACH AND SHRIMP STRATA

Steps:

• Base -- Spray a 13x9" pan with Pam or a non stick spray. Arrange the slices of bread on the bottom, and make sure to cover the entire bottom. Cut smaller pieces to fill in the empty spaces.
• Strata -- Spread the pesto over the bread making sure to coat everything, and then cover with 1/2 the cheese, 1 cup. Layer with the shrimp, spinach, red peppers, onion and finish with the remaining 1 cup of the cheese.
• Egg -- Mix the eggs, milk, salt and pepper well and pour over the casserole. Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate over night. Eight (8) hours is required, but don't let it cover over 12 hours.
• Bake -- Remove from the refrigerator and let it warm up a bit so It isn't ice cold. Cover with foil if not already and bake in a 350 degree oven, middle rack for 30 minutes. Remove and arrange the tomatoes slices on the casserole and continue to bake covered for another 15-20 minutes (45 min) is the right time for my oven, but just check by inserting a knife in the center. When it comes out clean it is done.
• If you want - you can put the dish under the broiler for just 3-4 minutes to broil the tomatoes, but I don't mind if they aren't browned. It is a nice texture to me to have the fresh tomatoes on the top.
• Serve -- Make sure to let the strata set 15 minutes before serving. ENJOY!
• Prep time includes the overnight rest.

GRANDMA'S ANYTHING GOES STRATA

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Grease a 1 1/2 quart baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
• Whisk the eggs, milk, half-and-half, nutmeg, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in a large bowl. Fold the greens, meat, bread and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese into the mixture. Pour into the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake until the strata is puffed, golden brown at the edges and set in the center, about 15 minutes more. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

SPINACH & CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and drained spinach and cook 2 minutes more. Set aside.
• Butter a 3-quart or 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread one third of the bread cubes in the dish and top evenly with one third of spinach mixture. (Try to break it up as much as possible so there are no huge clumps of spinach.) Sprinkle with one third of each cheese. Repeat layering twice, ending with cheeses.
• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the half-and-half, mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and whisk until well combined. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the strata. Cover the strata with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Bake the strata, uncovered, until puffed, set and golden brown all over top, 70-80 minutes. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes before serving. It will settle a bit as it cools.
• Note: The cook time is based on the strata going immediately from the fridge to the oven. If it sits out at room temperature before baking, the cook time will be about 10 minutes less.

SPINACH AND PANCETTA STRATA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and saute until crisp and golden, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to a bowl. Add the onion to the pan drippings in the same skillet and saute until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the spinach and garlic. Saute over medium-low heat until the garlic is tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, nutmeg, and the cooked pancetta.
• Place half of the bread cubes in a buttered 3-quart baking dish. Sprinkle half of the cheese over the bread, then top with half of the spinach mixture. Repeat layering.
• Whisk the milk, eggs, remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a large bowl and pour evenly over the strata. Chill the strata, covered with plastic wrap, at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake strata uncovered until puffed, golden brown, and cooked through, 40 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

SARASOTA'S BRUSSELS SPROUTS STRATA

Steps:

• Bread -- In a medium bowl, add the bread and drizzle with the melted butter and toss well to combine.
• Casserole -- Then in a 13x9" casserole dish, spray well with a non-stick spray and then add the bread pressing in a single layer as much as possible, pressing down firmly. Then in that same bowl, add the brussels sprouts, leeks and onion and mix well to combine. Once mixed, layer that on top of the bread in the casserole dish.
• Egg Mixture -- And once again -- that same bowl; add the eggs, milk, salt, pepper and mix well to combine. Pour over the bread and vegetables and cover with the two grated cheeses. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight. Make sure to cover with saran or plastic wrap.
• Bake -- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake the strata on the middle shelf, uncovered for approximately 1 hour until it is puffy and golden brown. Check the doneness just like you would a cake. Stick a knife in the middle until the knife comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes until the egg mixture sets.
• Serve -- You can either cut or just scoop out this great vegetable dish. ENJOY this great Fall side dish! It is very easy and simple tastes.
• You can always add some fresh sage to the dish, but the pumpernickel and brussels seem to offer enough flavor as is.

SARASOTA'S SPICY GRILLED SHRIMP SALAD SANDWICH

Steps:

• Shrimp Salad -- In a medium size bowl, add the mayonnaise, yogurt (you can use all mayonnaise if you want, but I love the light flavor the yogurt adds. Also, if you like your salad a bit creamier, just add a bit more mayonnaise or yogurt. Stir in the lime juice, chipotle, salt and pepper and add in the cilantro, celery, olives, onion and diced shrimp. Toss well to combine.
• Sandwiches -- Just pile high. Shrimp salad, then avocado, tomato and cheese. Now croissants have plenty of butter in them, so just spray your grill pan or saute pan with a little non stick spray. If using whole wheat bread, I like to butter each side of the bread slices and then grill. If you don't want to grill, this is also just as good served cold with lettuce.
• When grilling I weigh them down slightly but not too much and grill just until the bread or croissant is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Using a heaving pan is a simple way to weigh them down.
• One NOTE: These are great served open face as well.
• Just Enjoy!

SARASOTA'S SHRIMP AND SCALLOPS WITH CREAMY RISOTTO

Steps:

• Seafood -- Make sure all the seafood is cleaned and room temp or at least out of the refrigerator to take the chill off.
• Risotto --
• Step 1: In a large sauce pan, heat the oil to medium heat and add the onion, fennel and cook until tender. It should take 4-5 minutes. Add the rice and cook another couple of minutes until slightly brown and rice absorbs the oil and the flavors of the onion and the fennel. It will take just a couple of minutes. Add in the wine and cook another minute or so until the rice absorbs all the liquid.
• Step 2: Chicken broth - make sure to heat up your chicken broth in a small sauce pan on the stove so you can add a little at a time.
• Step 3: Slowly add a little chicken broth to the rice mixture, a little (1 cup) at a time until it is all absorbed. Don't forget to stir. When almost all the liquid is absorbed (about 15 minutes), add in the kale and cook another 5 minutes. Then add in the butter and cream and stir and remove from the heat and cover. I have read that risotto takes exactly so many minutes. Well every time I have made it. Never the same amount of time. So about 20-25 minutes is what I use. Just check it.
• Seafood -- First, season the scallops with salt and pepper. And then in a medium sauce pan (NO non-stick if possible), heat up the butter to medium high heat. Add the scallops and cook 1-2 minutes per side. Don't move the scallops after you add them to the pan - let them cook. After 1-2 minutes the scallops should easily move and golden brown on one side. Flip and cook the other side. The second side will only take a minute (less time). Remove to a plate while you cook the shrimp. The shrimp again, just 2 maybe 3 minutes if that. Just when they start to curl and they turn pink remove and add to the scallops.
• Finish -- If the risotto is too thick, just add a little chicken broth. Check for seasoning, salt and pepper; and add in the scallops, shrimp and parsley. Toss well and top with grated parmesan.