Pages

Friday, May 08, 2009

no meat today



m
oney shot.


E
ver on the look out for inspiration I was noticing that Healthy . Delicious was doing a 'meat free Fridays' post and it looked like a lot of fun so after missing out the last few Fridays I finally got my butt in gear and came up with something. Whats nice about this is the somewhat lenient aspect of letting me use shrimp.



I found some artichokes for fifty cents each and how do you say no to that? Jacques Pepin would teach you how to turn that little windfall into a twenty dollar profit - each. Well maybe twenty is a little much but the point is still there. I steamed them up in the only way I have ever steamed them up while I pondered on their outcome.



Decidedly an aioli was in order, but not your run of the mill aioli this aioli is a roasted red pepper little emulsion because I wanted some oompf to go with the shrimp and artichoke.



Artichokes alone dipped in butter or aiolis or even plain old mayonaise with capers is a treat I look forward to every spring but to kick it up with shrimp -dang it makes me feel like I live in nothern california and I can do what ever I want with an artichoke. If you want to be hard-core meat free then leave out the shrimp! Plus this isnt even 'cooking' I steamed everything for petes sake! Plus you try and make an artichoke look good.

45 comments:

Jenn said...

Love the money shot photo. NICE!!!

Makes me want to have some shrimp and artichoke for tomorrow.

monica said...

you are truly an artist! wow! now I regret having plans to make burgers and fries for dinner.. would have loved me some shrimp dish with artichokes..

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Fifty cents for artichokes?! Gorgeous photos. I could seriously make a meal off of this. Yes, I would like the plate!

Christo Gonzales said...

jenn: the first one right? it looks like a little king shrimp to me...

monica: that is such a nice thing to hear - thanks - I am sure your burgers are going to be super tasty!

Katherine: what a price right?

mermayd said...

Yum!! I just read a recipe for artichokes benedict and thought of you. I can't believe these are on your post today. Beautiful shots. I made artichokes the other night, not as good as yours, of course, steamed and dipped in mint chutney mayo. Might not sound good but it was.

Stacey Snacks said...

I like the meat free Fridays idea.
Sort of like lent!
I love the money shot of the choke heart & shrimp!
aioli always a good bet for steamed artichokes.

tavolini said...

Oh I am down with the roasted red pepper aioli!!

Great combination of flavors, and I'm very impressed with the plating, too. Nice!

snugs said...

oh the Maverick avatar, love love love it! You are going to have all women and gay men hot on your trail now..

Christo Gonzales said...

merm: I am psychic like that! the mint chutney may sounds good.

stacey: thats how it started she said it was a lent thing but it is a perfect opportunity to try things...

tavolini: thanks a bunch - and the aioli was so good - I also made a green onion version but the sweetness of the red pepper was the real winner.

snugs: I switched back - this little black and white number is my 'brand'

Marjie said...

Bargain artichokes. What more could you want? Looks like a good dinner to me.

Pam said...

Nice photos. This looks really tasty, I just happen to have some artichokes in the fridge. :)

snugs said...

such a tease...

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

mmm, I am so tempted to pick the shrimp off your pic ;) I have just made artichoke a coupla time now after those mouth tickling pic I am all geared up to get some for this weekend...

Sweta (My Indian Dietitian) said...

OMG-couldn't help noticing,whatever happened to TOM CRUISE!!!Never thought I'd see HIM this way ;)
Love the new mug shot-cheeky!
Haven't yet developed a taste for artichoke(just like I haven't developed a taste for caviar),so I envy all those who like it!Gimme the shrimp though,anytime :)

Christo Gonzales said...

marjie: a bargain makes everything taste better in my book..

pam: get steaming....

snugs: it looks like a goofy photo to me...

ramya: I bet you could incorporate them into one of your dishes...

sweta: should I use it - it is funny right? my head on top guns body...

Janet_Gourmet Traveller88 said...

Nice shots! I have not cooked antichokes before, have to learn how to do it. I see a lot of them in Switzerland do not know how to cook them. Your combo is great and I like the idea of having a day each week with no meat!

Jill said...

The photography is fantastic. I can't wait for recipes. This looks fantastic.

buffalodick said...

I've had artichoke hearts, but have never tackled the whole critter... They remind me of a cross between a veggie and an Armadillo..

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Thats looking so beautiful.. I love artichoke so much.. loved ur presentation too

Ken said...

You really do need a restaurant, what a treat for the eyes.

Artichoke and shrimp!!!!!
Who woulda thunk it?

Admin said...

You really have the knack for creating something spectacular out of simple ingredients. I just have to get over my irrational fear of artichoke ...

Christo Gonzales said...

janet: cut the tips off the top - cut the bottom so its flat - save the stem to cook also - squeeze lemon or lime juice to help them stay a little green and steam till tender - about 15 -20 minutes.

jill: thanks a lot I really appreciate that...

buff: not a tough nut to crack really - a little steam and its a go.

pavithra: that is so nice to hear - and these were young and tender

micky-t: thanks dude - I do wish more people could taste these things I make - thats for sure

leela: thanks - I try and channel julia child and jacques pepin as much as possible

Anonymous said...

Does it seem gross that the aioli looks good enough to eat by itself? With a spoon? Yum.

Harmony said...

I swear, I would have a hard time eating any of your food..the beauty, I would hate to destroy it.

As always, beautiful Christo...absolutely beautiful.

vanillasugarblog said...

I love my artichoke bread, my hips and buttocks don't as it's so fattening.
That's awfully cheap for artichokes, lucky you.
Love that money shot!

Anonymous said...

Oh, the money shot is indeed gorgeous!

Christo Gonzales said...

duo: not gross at all - would it seem gross if I told you I did just that?

harmony: thanks harmony - you always say the nicest things...its ok to destroy it I can make it again

dawn: how can artichoke bread be fattening?

5 star: thank you so much...I really appreciate this!

Anette said...

Its so elegante and pretty, and I bet it tasted better than it looks! And thats even before we've started to talk about how healthy it is!

The Blonde Duck said...

This makes me want artichoke dip really bad...

Hornsfan said...

The money shot looks terrific! Wish I could find some $0.50 artichokes, that's killer!

lisaiscooking said...

Those artichokes do look good! Sounds great with aioli and shrimp too.

Ken said...

What you do is art, with the taste buds and the eyes. To make that happen in a restaurant is so much harder .....because....you then have to rely on so many other people to present your art to the table.
Restaurants are the number one most difficult business in America to put out capital and have success without failing.
I think, machine shops is third on the list.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Mate!
Greeetings from Shizuoka, Japan!
Thanks a lot for making your site easily accessible!
Fridays? In my case it is overeating and overdrinking day!LOL
Artichokes! That's what we miss in Japan!
Cheers,
Robert-Gilles

LK- Healthy Delicious said...

this looks absolutely beautiful!! I'm jealous of the price... I thought my $1 artichokes were a steal!

Pooja said...

I love the money shot! Great presentation..wow you are really creative!

Christo Gonzales said...

anette: shhh - I dont like to talk about how healthy things are - it might scare some away

TBD: artichoke dip sounds really good

Hornsfan: 19th street and first avenue - if they still have any left

lisa: thanks - the aioli went real well with this combo

micky-t: you are oh so right....

shizuokagourmet: welcome - I am glad we finally figured it out...

healthy: thanks - and 2 for a buck is a bang!

Christo Gonzales said...

pooja: you snuck in there while I was commenting - thanks - it is always nice to hear...

Reeni said...

The plating is like a train wreck - but in a good way - I can't look away! It looks like some strange kind of sea creature - the artichoke is the body and the shrimp are the legs. I wish it would walk my way! It looks really delicious!

Donna-FFW said...

the layout of the photos makes my mind wander where it shouldnt.

Looks delicious though.

Christo Gonzales said...

reeni: then you better get off the tracks cause this locomotive will not stop....LOL

donna: you hardly need any help in that department...but I am curious to know what you are thinking...

My Taste Heaven said...

Fantastic food presentation, are you talented? So jealous :)

Creative Classroom Core said...

Great photos! Another great recipe!

gastroanthropologist said...

who needs meat when you've got artichokes?

Tanya Kristine said...

no meat??? what's a shrimp? a flower???

Anonymous said...

Heavenly....I almost bit the computer screen the picture looks so good. Artichokes and shrimp, can you go wrong? me thinks not!

Blog Widget by LinkWithin