See Dick Cook: A Culinary Voyage for the Average Man (17 page)

Servings: 4

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Easy

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Dicks Tips

It's important with any dish that involves heating milk, to stir the sauce continually so that it doesn't burn to the bottom of the pan. Make sure you've got everything to go as far as table settings and drinks, as this dish needs to be served right away before it cools.

Keeping it Wrapped Grilled Jumbo Shrimp

Wrapping it up is better for everyone Dick...and the parents will thank you for it.

Procedure

Okay Dick, here we go. In a small bowl, combine your raspberry jam and sweet chili sauce. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Take your jumbo shrimp and peel the hard shell off, leaving the tail attached. Gently slice along the center belly of the shrimp to butterfly them, ensuring you don't cut them all the way through. Rinse and pat dry with a paper towel.

In a small mixing bowl, combine goat cheese, cream cheese, garlic and Worcestershire sauce until well blended.

Carefully spoon the cheese mixture into the pockets of the shrimp, filling each cavity.

Now take your prosciutto slices - and gently wrap each shrimp with one slice, ensuring to cover the pocket of cheese.

When you're ready to grill, fire up the barbecue to medium high.

If you have a barbecue cage, this is the easiest way to grill these. If not, try threading them onto skewers - three apiece.

Grill over medium high heat for about three minutes a side or until the shrimp meat is white.

Serve with the raspberry jam/sweet chili pepper sauce as a dip.

Servings: 4

Yield: 12

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Easy

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 6 minutes

Total Time: 36 minutes

Dicks Tips

Look for some good sized shrimp here Dick so that your guests have enough to eat. Hit the seafood counter for something fresh. You could even substitute the shrimp for some nice prawns. If you're using the barbecue cage here (which I recommend) then spray it with some non-stick cooking spray before you put the shrimp in. If you grill directly on the barbecue, spray or oil that before you heat it up.

Meet the Chief Beef Stroganoff with Bacon

Including bacon in this recipe gives it a unique and flavorful taste. You're sure to impress the folks.

Procedure

Cook your Egg Noodles according to package directions. Strain in a colander and set aside. Leave the noodles in the colander for now.

In a small fry pan, cook bacon pieces until cooked but not crispy. Set aside in a medium sized bowl lined with a paper towel to soak up excess grease.

In a separate skillet, heat up olive oil and butter on medium-high heat. Add beef strips and fry for approximately four minutes, or just long enough to brown on both sides. Sprinkle with Montreal Steak Spice while frying. Remove strips from pan and set aside. (Throw the beef into the same bowl with the bacon, just remove the paper towel first.)

Using the same pan, add another 2 tbsp of butter and decrease your heat to medium. Toss in your onions and mushrooms, and sauté for five minutes.

Reduce the heat to low and cook for an additional two minutes. Next stir in the nutmeg and sour cream, ensuring to stir constantly. Don't allow the sour cream to boil Dick or it will curdle and screw up your sauce.

Once thoroughly mixed, add the bacon and beef strips to the pan and stir over low heat adding salt and pepper to your taste.

Rinse your noodles again with hot water to reheat them. Serve your stroganoff over the noodles.

Servings: 4

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Easy

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Dicks Tips

If you can't find sirloin, ask the butcher for another tender cut of meat. Some Dicks Garlic Bread would be good on the side here too.

Their Little Lamb Chops

Mary had a little lamb, but Dick has got her now. And every time Dick makes this dish, his guests are surely wowed.

Procedure

Allow your lamb chops to sit out for an hour to bring them up to room temperature.

Meanwhile, back at the farm, mix the rosemary, salt, pepper, garlic, and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil together in a small dish until you get a well-blended paste.

Preheat the oven to 400° F. (This is only necessary if you want your lamb cooked more than rare.)

When you're ready to cook, squeeze some lemon juice onto your chops, then rub all over with the paste. (Don't apply the paste earlier Dick as the salt will draw out the moisture in your meat.)

In a large skillet, sear the lamb chops over medium high heat for about three minutes a side. If you're guests like it rare (which is the best way to serve lamb) then you're done. If they want the meat cooked a little more then remove your chops from the skillet, place on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for another five minutes.

Servings: 4

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Easy

Oven Temperature: 400°F

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 6 minutes

Inactive Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour and 16 minutes

Dicks Tips

Try to find some nice thick chops for this one Dick. This is especially important if your guests like their meat cooked a little longer, so it doesn't dry out. Find yourself some nice mint jelly to go with this as well Dick.

Who's Your Daddy Chicken Diablo

Show her daddy whose boss in the kitchen with this fantastic chicken dish. Show her who her real daddy is when he leaves.

Procedure

Using your meat tenderizer, beat chicken breasts to one third their original thickness.

In a shallow glass baking dish, mix together sour cream, hot sauce, ketchup, honey, paprika and cumin. Set aside half of the marinade in another dish. In the baking dish place the chicken breasts in the remaining sauce, coating completely, and refrigerate for three hours or more.

Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat and sauté garlic for two minutes. Take your marinated breasts and pan fry in the olive oil on medium high on both sides until lightly browned, or about 10 minutes per side.

In a small sauce pot, bring marinade to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for five minutes.

Serve chicken with drizzled marinade over top.

Servings: 4

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Easy

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Inactive Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours and 20 minutes

Dicks Tips

All you need to finish this off Dick is a batch of white instant rice to serve under the chicken and a side salad. Oh, and maybe a pitcher of ice water.

Three Sheets to the Wind Chicken

Whatever you do, don't engage in nervous drinking before the parents arrive or you too will be three sheets to the wind. Focus instead on pulling off this challenging but fantastic dish.

Procedure

Okay Dick, this recipe will challenge you just a little but I have faith in you. Let's start by combining your shredded brie and cranberry sauce in a small bowl to prepare the filling.

Now preheat your oven to 350° F.

Your next step is to carefully cut a lengthwise pocket into the thickest part of the chicken breast so you have enough space for the filling. Don't cut the chicken all the way through - make sure it stays intact.

Spoon a quarter of the mixture into each pocket being careful not to over stuff it. You should be good with about 2 - 3 tablespoons depending on the size of the breasts.

Place the first sheet of phyllo on your working surface, keeping the rest covered with a damp paper towel to keep it from drying out. Gentle Dick - this tears easily.

Using your pastry brush, gently brush the first phyllo sheet with the melted butter. Put the second sheet on top and brush with butter. Finish with the third sheet and again brush with butter.

Now place your stuffed chicken breast near the bottom center of the short edge of the pastry. Leave a couple of inches from the bottom.

Carefully roll the chicken up, tucking in the sides as you go.

Now place the rolled up chicken seam side down on a large baking sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

Brush the with a little more butter and bake in the oven for 45 minutes.

Remove from the oven, puff your chest out victoriously and serve.

Servings: 4

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Moderately difficult

Oven Temperature: 350°F

Dicks Tips

You will find phyllo pastry in the frozen food section Dick. Make sure you read the package directions and allow ample time for the pastry to thaw before using it. It’s very thin so handle with care.

What a Ham

Time for Dick to be the center of attention. This is an easy baked ham recipe that will have all eyes on you tonight.