Issue 001: Sea You Tonight

Hey Q-Crew!

It’s the season of love! And the very first issue of Q-Zine Digest. Thank you so much for being here! I’m excited to start sharing my recipes with you every week. I wanted to start with one of my absolute favorite quick and easy dinners: Shrimp scampi and ciabatta toast. Few things say, “You’re special to me” like some good seafood!

This month’s theme is For The (Food) Lovers. Whether you’re making it for yourself, family, bae, gal or palentine’s, these recipes are an easy way to show someone (or a few people, I don’t judge) that y’all go together REAL BAD.

Shrimp Scampi

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4-5

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 lbs peeled & deveined shrimp
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp chili oil (optional)
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 shallots diced
  • 1 lemon juice & zest
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated pecorino or parmesan cheese

Step 1: Heat your oven to 420° and melt your butter in a microwave safe bowl (Alt: You can also use an oven safe bowl and let the butter melt while the oven preheats)

Step 2: Mix the butter, olive oil, minced garlic, diced shallots, lemon juice and zest, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, parsley, and white wine until fully combined.

Step 3: Pour half of the liquid mixture into an oven safe dish large enough to fit all of the shrimp in no more than 2 layers.

Step 4: Layer the shrimp over the mixture.

Step 5: Pour the rest of the liquid mixture over the shrimp and spread so that it’s nearly covered.

Step 6: Top with the black pepper, parmesan cheese (reserve a little to sprinkle), and panko.

Step 7: Bake for 17-20 minutes then remove from the oven. Shrimp should be cooked through and pink, but not tough, and the topping should be golden brown.

Step 8: Serve with pasta of choice or maybe mashed potatoes and sprinkled with a little more cheese and fresh cracked black pepper. Whatever floats your boat.

Toasted Ciabatta Points

Prep time: 3 minutes

Cook time: 6-8 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

  • 2 ciabatta rolls
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt

Step 1: Preheat your airfryer or oven to 415° and split your ciabatta rolls in half.

Step 2: drizzle the olive oil over all of the bread pieces

Step 3: Sprinkle on the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and salt and cut diagonally into triangles.

Step 4: Bake or airfry for 5-7 minutes until the tops are lightly golden and crispy. Serve warm.

Coming to Ko-fi This Week

Seafood Fonduta! This hot bubbly crabby cheese dip is the perfect Valentine’s dinner appetizer (if you not lactose intolerant lol).

For this week’s discussion I want to know what your most unconventionally romantic food is! I bet you’ll never guess mine.

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Contemporary and fusion West Indian cooking... or whatever else I think up #LetHerCook