Sarasotas Spinach And Shrimp Strata Food

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 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.

SAUTEED SHRIMP WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Place spinach in a large bowl; sprinkle with garlic powder and toss. Place shrimp in a bowl; sprinkle with black pepper and toss.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp; cook and stir until bright pink on the outside and the meat is opaque, about 5 minutes. Add spinach, cook and stir until just wilted, about 1 minute.

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.

SARASOTA'S CREAMY SPINACH STUFFED BAKED POTATO HALVES

Steps:

• Potatoes -- Use a nice large potato for this as you will be cutting them in half. Rub or brush well with olive oil, then salt and pepper. Bake in a 400 degree oven for approximately 35-45 minutes. It really will depend on the size of your potato. There is no magic time. After 20 minutes, I usually flip them so the other side get brown up. They are done when you can easily stick a knife in them. They will be tender and flaky. Remove and cover with foil.
• Spinach Filling -- Just before the potatoes are finished, start the spinach. In a large saute pan, I love non stick for this, add the bacon and begin to render it slowly for about 5 minutes over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon to a paper towel to cool and let drain. Save the bacon drippings.
• To that same pan with the bacon drippings, over medium heat, add the onion, garlic and saute 3-4 minutes until tender. Then add the spinach and chicken broth and cook 3-4 minutes until it is all wilted and the broth is basically gone. Add in 1/2 cup of the cream, pepper, and nutmeg and just let it simmer on medium low for 3-4 minutes. The cream will naturally thicken. If it looks like you want more cream -- add the remaining 1/4 cup. It depends on the spinach, some times I will use 1/2 cup, other times I will use 3/4 cup.
• Then add the parmesan to the spinach and mix well. Taste once again for any seasoning, we didn't add salt earlier because the parmesan is salty. If you want any salt, add it now. And again, if you want a bit more cream, you can add some. Add the bacon back in and mix well to combine.
• Potatoes -- The potatoes are still warm, but not scorching hot so you should be able to handle them. Cut each potato in half and you want to make a little well in the center of each potato half. Just use a spoon and scoop out a little from the center of each half. DON'T throw that potato out. See NOTE below.
• Stuff each potato with plenty of the spinach mix and then top with more parmesan.
• Broil -- I reheat the potatoes on the second shelf in my oven (so they don't burn) with the broiler on . About 5 minutes until the potato is reheated, the spinach is bubbly, and the parmesan on top is melted and golden brown.
• NOTE -- The leftover potatoes is great with scrambled eggs, omelettes, tossed in soups or stews. And sometimes, I will add a slice of ham diced, a green onion and a quick saute just with pamesan, no butter or oil and serve with a poached egg for breakfast. 5 minute breakfast, hearty and healthy.

GIADA'S SPINACH AND PANCETTA STRATA YUMMY!

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and sauté 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 sauté until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the spinach and garlic. Sauté 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 SWEET AND SPICY GRILLED SHRIMP

Steps:

• Marinade -- I just add all the ingredients to a large baggie, close and shake. Add your shrimp and marinade at least 1 hour, up to 2 but no more. The chili spice is very strong.
• Grill -- A couple of options. You can can use a grill pan inside, or an outside grill, broiler, you can also pan saute. But if you pan saute, cook on a fairly high heat and quickly so they get a nice brown color. Just cook until they start to curl and begin to turn pink. They take only a couple of minutes, and remember, once you remove the shrimp from the heat, they will continue to cook for another minute. You don't want tough over cooked shrimp.
• Serve -- Just serve on a big platter with your favorite sides. If you want the dipping sauce -- just heat up the butter, orange juice and garlic in the microwave and serve. That easy.

BREAKFAST STRATA WITH SPINACH AND MUSHROOM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Arrange bread slices in a single layer on 2 large baking sheets and bake until dry and crisp, about 40 minutes, turning slices over halfway through drying time. (Alternatively, leave slices out overnight to dry.) When cooled, butter slices on one side using 4 tablespoons of butter; set aside. (Note: I used Smart Balance® with just a thin coating on each slice).
• Heat 3 1/2 tablespoons butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Sauté shallots and mushrooms until shallots become fragrant and translucent, about 3 minutes.
• Add spinach to skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring occasionally, until spinach and shallots are combined, about 3 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl; set aside.
• Add wine to skillet, increase heat to medium-high, and simmer until reduced to 1/2 cup, 3 to 4 minutes; set aside.
• Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter.
• Arrange half the buttered bread slices, buttered-side up, in single layer in dish. Spread half of spinach mixture, then lay half of the cheese evenly over bread slices. Arrange remaining bread slices in single layer over cheese; spread remaining spinach mixture and the remaining cheese evenly over bread.
• Whisk eggs in medium bowl until combined; whisk in reduced wine, half-and-half, 2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Pour egg mixture evenly over bread layers; cover surface flush with plastic wrap, weigh down (see note, below), and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
• Remove dish from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature 20 minutes. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Uncover strata and bake until both edges and center are puffed and edges have pulled away slightly from sides of dish, 60 to 65 minutes (or about 50 to 55 minutes for halved recipe). Cool on wire rack 5 minutes; serve.
• NOTE: By weighing down the strata, all of the bread is able to soak in the custard. To weigh down the assembled strata, two 1-pound boxes of brown or powdered sugar, laid side by side over the plastic-covered surface, make ideal weights. A gallon-sized zipper-lock bag filled with about 2 pounds of sugar or rice also works. This recipe halves easily; use one 8x8-inch baking dish greased with only 1 tablespoon butter and reduce the baking time as directed in step 8.
• A word about substituting fat-free half-and-half: The second time I made this recipe, I used fat-free half-and-half. The strata was soggy, not like the original recipe, even though I baked it longer. I think the custard needed more fat from the half-and-half in order to set properly.
• If you try this with fresh spinach, cook it first, squeeze it dry, then use it in place of frozen.

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 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.