Cracker Jack Recipe Alton Brown Recipe For Shrimp

SOURDOUGH CHEESE CRACKERS

Steps:

• To begin: Mix together 125 grams flour and 125 grams water with a clean hand in a medium glass bowl. Cover the bowl with a tea towel and let sit undisturbed at room temperature until the mixture is full of bubbles and has nearly doubled in size, usually 2 to 3 days. During this time, yeasts and bacteria from the air and from the flour and probably from you will set up housekeeping in the bowl.
• For daily feeding: Peel back any crust that may have formed and transfer 20 percent of the culture (50 grams) to a clean, wide-mouthed jar. Stir in 100 grams flour and 100 grams water, loosely screw on the lid and stash at room temperature for 24 hours. (The culture will have a stinky-sour smell at this point.) Discard the rest of the original mixture.
• Repeat step 2 every 24 hours for 5 days. By then the culture should smell yeasty-sweet-sour, which means you're ready to put the starter to work. The cheese crackers are to be made with the discarded percentage of starter.
• Whisk the flour, cheese powder, and salt together in a small bowl.
• Place 3 tablespoons of the butter and the starter in the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, and work on low speed until creamy and homogeneous, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and sift the flour mixture over the creamed starter, return the mixer to low, and work until a soft dough forms, about 1 minute more.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 4 equal pieces. Press each piece into a 1/4-inch-thick rectangle and wrap in individual pieces of plastic wrap. Refrigerate between 8 and 24 hours (see Cook's Note).
• Place two racks nearest the center of the oven and heat to 350ºF. Line two half-sheet pans with parchment paper.
• Retrieve one piece of dough from the refrigerator and dust both the dough and your pasta maker with flour. (Continue to dust the pasta roller and the dough as needed to prevent sticking.) Starting on the widest setting, typically labeled "1," feed the dough through the roller. Then fold the dough into thirds, as you would a letter, turn 90 degrees and run it through again. Fold the dough into thirds again, turn, and pass it through the roller.
• Adjust your pasta maker to the next setting and roll the dough through 3 times without folding. Repeat this step 3 times more on both the 3rd and 4th settings. Transfer the dough to one of the prepared half-sheet pans and repeat the process with the remaining dough, arranging two sheets of dough per pan.
• Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and brush onto the dough. Sprinkle with a generous pinch of kosher salt. Dock the dough thoroughly with a fork and cut into 1-inch squares with a pizza wheel.
• Bake for 10 minutes, then turn the pans 180 degrees, and rotate from top to bottom. Continue baking until the crackers just begin to brown around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes more.
• Remove from the oven and immediately transfer the crackers on the parchment to a wire rack to cool completely before serving, about 20 minutes.
• Lid tightly and store at room temperature.

GARLIC SHRIMP CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Place the cleaned shrimp, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper into a 1-gallon zip-top bag, seal, and toss to combine. Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the shrimp along with the marinade to the pan. Sauté, tossing continuously, just until the shrimp begin to turn opaque in the center, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve immediately and save leftovers for garlic shrimp casserole.
• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Place the cornstarch and water into a small jar, seal, and shake to combine. Whisk together the chicken stock and cornstarch slurry in a 3-quart saucier and set over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Add the cream and red pepper flakes and stir to combine. Remove from the heat.
• Place the rice, leftover garlic shrimp, and vegetables into a 9-by-11-inch baking dish. Pour the cream mixture over the leftovers and press down to evenly distribute the liquid. Sprinkle the panko evenly over the top and bake until the mixture is hot and bubbly, about 25 minutes. Turn the broiler to high and brown the panko until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

SLACKER JACKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Spray a sheet pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with nonstick spray as well and set aside.
• Combine the popcorn and peanuts in a large mixing bowl. Set aside until ready to use.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and vanilla and stir until combined. Heat the mixture until it reaches 250 degrees F, approximately 10 minutes.
• Pour the syrup over the popcorn and stir to combine. You will need to work quickly because the syrup hardens rapidly. Spread the mixture onto the prepared sheet pan and bake in the oven for 1 hour. Cool completely.
• Break into pieces and serve immediately or store in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days.

FLAMING SHRIMP AND GRITS

Steps:

• For the grits:
• Bring the milk, water, and salt to a boil in a 4-quart saucepan, set over medium-high heat.
• While continually whisking, gradually add the grits. Turn the heat to low and cover. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until thick and creamy, removing the lid and whisking every 3 to 4 minutes to prevent the grits from sticking or forming lumps.
• Remove from the heat, add the pepper and butter, and whisk to combine. Once the butter is melted, gradually stir in the cheese. Cover and set aside until the shrimp is ready.
• For the shrimp:
• Place a 10-inch non-stick saute pan over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add the shrimp to the pan and toss once or twice. Remove the pan from the heat. Gently pour the whiskey into the pan, carefully ignite with a long match or stick lighter, and return to the heat. Toss continually until the flame extinguishes, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Saute until the shrimp are cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes more. Season with hot sauce and salt and pepper if desired. Serve over warm grits.

ALTON BROWN'S SHRIMP COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Place cleaned shrimp into a bowl with brine and refrigerate mixture for 20 to 25 minutes. While shrimp are brining, place tomatoes, chili sauce, horseradish, sugar, pepper, and salt in food processor and blend until smooth. Refrigerate cocktail sauce until ready to serve.
• Place a baking sheet or broiler pan under oven broiler and preheat for 5 minutes. Rinse the shrimp under cold water and dry on paper towels. In a large bowl, toss shrimp with olive oil and sprinkle with Old Bay seasoning, if desired.
• Place shrimp onto a sizzling sheet pan and return to broiler immediately. After 2 minutes, turn the shrimp with a pair of tongs. Return the shrimp to broiler for 1 minute. Transfer to a cold cookie sheet. Refrigerate immediately.

CRACKER JACK - COPYCAT

Steps:

• Mix popcorn and peanuts in a large bowl or roasting pan. Keep warm in a 250°F oven.
• Melt butter in a 2 quart saucepan. Stir in sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a rolling boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla.
• Quickly pour over warm popcorn while tossing until well coated. Spread in a shallow baking pan or roasting pan.
• Bake at 250°F for 45 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes. Make sure every piece of popcorn has been moved around on the bottom.
• Remove from oven and turn out onto foil to let cool.
• Store in a tightly covered container.

GRAHAM CRACKERS - ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine cinnamon, baking soda, salt, baking powder, flour, brown sugar and graham flour. Pulse to combine. Add very cold butter and pulse until it resembles coarse cornmeal.
• Add molasses, milk and vanilla. Pulse until a smooth dough forms. Press dough into a 1/2" thick disc, wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Roll dough between sheets of parchment to 1/8" thickness. Cut into 2x2" squares with a pizza cutter (or an accordion cutter, if you have one). Prick each cracker 3 times with the tines of a fork (or a docking roller if you have one). Remove irregular edges and bake in preheated 350°F oven for 25 minutes until the color has gotten slightly paler. Allow to cool completely IN THE PAN. Store in zip top bag with as much air removed as possible for up to 14 days.

SEEDED CRACKERS - ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• Combine in a medium bowl: both flours, both seeds, salt, baking powder. Stir well. Stir in oil. Add water and stir until just combined.
• Turn dough out onto a floured board. Knead a few times, to ensure dough is evenly mixed and smooth. Cut into 8 pieces and cover with a towel 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Flatten one dough ball and pass through a pasta roller at the widest setting. Reduce the pasta roller and continue rolling through and tightening down until dough is about 1/8" thick. Place dough sheet on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using pizza cutter, cut sheets into 2x2" squares, removing any leftover irregular edges. Bake 8-12 minutes or until browned and crisp. Transfer to a rack and cool completely. Store in a zip top bag with as much air removed as possible. Use within 2 week.s.