Copy Cat Recipes

Sometimes you are too broke to go out for dinner, but still crave your favorite appetizer or entree from a local restaurant.  I love trying to re-create some of John's, my husband, and my favorites!  Most recipes from restaurants are pretty straight forward and simple!

So, when we stayed in this past New Year's Eve, too broke for a big party,  I recreated Longhorn Steakhouse's Wild West Shrimp and Hard Times Cafe's Frito Chili Pie... they turned out pretty good!

First up, Longhorn Steakhouse's Wild West Shrimp.  I cheated a bit and bought frozen breaded shrimp (after all I did want to enjoy my New Year's Eve, not slave away in the kitchen all night).  So, I baked the shrimp according to the directions, while they were baking I melted a stick of butter (so not healthy, but what better way to ring in the New Year then break the first resolution everyone makes!) and then added a few minced cloves of garlic, a couple of minced sweet peppers and some chili powder.  I cooked that over low for about 5 minutes to infuse the butter a bit and soften the garlic and peppers.  Then I stuck the butter mixture back in the refrigerator for about 5-10 minutes to harden it back up a little (this was a trick I actually did the second time I made this because the first time the butter went straight through the breading where as I wanted it to coat the shrimp).  Once the shrimp are done, toss them in a bowl with the butter mixture, then arrange on a plate with some ranch dressing! And done!

For the main course, Hard Time Cafe's Frito Chili Pie.... simple as simple could be!  I started my chili in the morning and let it cook in the slow cooker all day until we were ready to eat.  Brown a pound or so of Ground Turkey (healthier, counteracting the stick of butter above), put in a crock pot with a can of red kidney beans, water (use about half a kidney bean can of water), chopped red onion (about a quarter cup), garlic (a few minced cloves) and tons of chili powder (I like mine super hot).  I don't use any tomatoes or tomato paste in my chili, apparently my grandmother never did and so my mom/dad never did and now I don't! Let cook for about 5 hours (checking to make sure all the water hasn't evaporated every once in a while!). As you see it wasn't an exact science, which cooking never is, season, taste, repeat!  When ready to eat, dump a few spoon fulls on a plate of Fritos, top with shredded cheese and sour cream and add a little chili powder on top for presentation! Yummy!