Sea Monster Pasta

I took the cute idea from Pinterest about making hot dogs look like Octopi and made them for my kids. 

They liked it so much I decide to expand the idea.  

I thought it would be great to make little sausages into Octopi and then have shrimp and it would be sea creatures. Then it hit me: Gumbo.  It has shrimp and sausage.  So off I went.  I didn't want traditional Gumbo since it wouldn't carry well in my kids lunch box, so I opted for pasta. 

Cooked the pasta first and chilled it. (Toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking)

Started with carrots, celery, onions, orange sweet peppers, and sweet peas. 

A hot skillet and butter.  

Sauté all the chopped veggies in butter. 

Add garlic, gumbo file, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper and the shrimp. (I used precooked shrimp since it was on sale)

When it was all mixed I added some beer to it. 

Bring to a boil and let it cook for a while. 

I started cutting my sausages into my little Octopi.  Since they are tougher an smaller then hot dogs it was a little harder but not bad. 

I tossed them in as I went so they could cook. 

When the sausages were fully soaked in and the sauce had reduced I added some flour (or you can add cornstarch) and brought it back to a boil and let it thicken. I got out my pasta I cooked first and chilled. 

Notice the sauce is thicker. You do not want it too thick since we are mixing it with noodles and you want enough sauce I soak into the noodles to make it all blend well. 

Done.  ;).   

It was a little spicy, so next time I will have to go a little lighter on the spices. ;)

Happy eating!  

A client of a different kind....

I was recently approached and asked about doing food prep for a month.  Frozen individual meals to replace the frozen dinners that they had been eating. 

A challenge.  And a learning experience it was. ;). 

Edit:  I forgot to add that they wanted lunch and dinner for work days. Along with a dessert.  My client works 12 hr shifts so doesn't cook when they get home.  They requested a large lunch and dessert to take to work and a smaller simple dinner for when they get home at night.   This is what I made. ;). 

First day was meat prep

And I made lasagna. 

I also did a slow roasted pork carnitas for lunches and enchiladas. 

Seared the pork first

Then added the chipotle peppers on adobe sauce and veggies. 

Made enchiladas with some and lunches with the rest. 

Made brownies.  Had to taste test them of course. ;)

And the Reese's pieces cookies too. 

After 3 days of prep and portioning I was  ready to deliver the food. 

BBQ chicken quarters, sweet potatoes, broccoli. 

Mustard pork chops, broccoli and sweet potatoes. 

Skirt steak, mashed potatoes, and peas. 

Turkey, green beans, and mashed potatoes. 

Beef lasagna. 

Pork carnitas with rice and beans. Green bean with corn salsa. 

Pork enchiladas with rice and beans. 

Beef spaghetti. 

Chicken Tetrazzini. 

Turkey crepes.  (My moms recipe). ;)

And desserts. 

  This was my first time making meals to reheat later from frozen.  I chose to use the food saver and bags to help it maintain the highest level of freshness I could.  

So far, my client seems to me enjoying the food.  I hope I get a full report by the end of their month and to see if they want to so it again. ;)

Happy cooking to you all!