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Naked Epicurean

eat. drink. bemerry. repeat.

  • eat
  • drink
  • be merry
    • exploring
    • entertaining
    • joie de vivre
    • the raven’s nest
  • about
  • eat
  • drink
  • be merry
    • exploring
    • entertaining
    • joie de vivre
    • the raven’s nest
  • about
  • Asian fare,  main course,  pescetarian

    Easy Spicy Ahi (+ Ebi) Stacks for 2 

    2019-06-27 /

    When I go out to eat, I often have When Harry Met Sally moments.  Let me clarify. I scrutinize what the waiters serve to other patrons as they saunter past my table. And sometimes, without even having an idea of what is on the plate, I will simply say, “I’ll have what she’s having.” The last time I tried that technique was when I saw this glorious tower of crab + rice + tuna + avocado in a saucy puddle, sprinkled with sesame seeds. When it came time to take my order, the Tower of Seafood my heart yearned for was no more. Much to my chagrin, they sold the…

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    Ann Beth Strelec 0 Comments

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    House Blend Curry Powder

    2019-04-27

    Creamy Coconut + Curry Chickpeas

    2019-04-27

    Curried Chicken Wings + Mango Chutney-Yogurt Dipping Sauce

    2019-04-01
  • sugar + spice

    Raspberry Sugar

    2019-06-26 /

    Whether you scatter, sprinkle, or mix it in, this Raspberry Sugar  will add its flavor + crunch magic to whatever needs a little abracadabra!  Imagine  licking the rim of your margarita not greeted by salt but instead Raspberry Sugar. Lip-smacking good! It’s so easy to make this Raspberry Sugar. All it takes is a cup of sugar + frozen raspberries + a little patience. (I used white sugar because a wanted to create this beautiful fuchsia hue, but you may use any granulated sugar.) Mash + strain frozen raspberries to extract their juice. Mix the sugar into the juice and dry in a low temp oven.  Taa-daa! This sugar will…

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    Ann Beth Strelec 1 Comment

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    Quick + Easy Blackened Shrimp 

    2019-06-22

    Za’atar Spice Blend

    2018-11-06

    House Blend Blackening Seasoning

    2019-06-22
  • salads,  soups + stews

    Crunchy + Garlicky Croutons

    2019-06-23 /

    This is an open letter to Mrs. Kitchens, my former neighbor and babysitting employer. Dear Mrs. Kitchens, There was this one occasion when I babysat your kids that I found a container of crunchy bread chunks in the pantry. Those chunks were so savory + buttery that I started eating them–just one or two each time I walked through the kitchen. What harm was there in eating a few toasted pieces of bread? Well, I am not sure what happened next…things are a little foggy…but the next thing I remember was seeing the bottom of the container, unobstructed.  I had eaten ALL the bread. So I write this open letter…

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    Ann Beth Strelec 2 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Mediterranean Chicken Salad

    2019-05-05

    9½ Layer Salad

    2018-12-27

    Blackened Shrimp Caesar Salad

    2019-07-18
  • gluten free,  main course,  pescetarian,  seafood,  sugar + spice

    Quick + Easy Blackened Shrimp 

    2019-06-22 /

    A gold star on my forehead. There was nothing I treasured more than that sticky foil star, smack dab between my eyes. I intended to wear it the entire day, as a trophy, a distinction. Unfortunately, within the hour my forehead was glistening with perspiration and the star lost its grip. Such is life in New Orleans where the weather is either balmy, hot, or ooh-wee chile’ scorching. What had I done to receive such a high honor? I cleaned my plate. Almost to the point of licking. I was at K-Paul’s, Paul Prudhomme’s restaurant, experiencing blackening seasoning for the first time. On redfish, I recall. Redfish seasoned and seared…

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    Ann Beth Strelec 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Crispy Rosemary Parmesan Potato Stacks

    2019-01-02

    Hand-Crafted Gournay

    2019-06-04

    Cioppino

    2018-12-26
  • sugar + spice

    House Blend Blackening Seasoning

    2019-06-22 /

    Years after the buzzwords blackened redfish burst onto the foodie scene, I dined at Chef Paul Prudhomme’s restaurant in New Orleans. It took one mouthful of that flavor explosion to make me a life-long devotee. If you ask me about that dining experience, I will unashamedly confess that I licked my plate clean. Period. I am including what I believe to be a replication of the authentic spice blend that was born in the kitchen at K-Paul’s. This blackening seasoning is so easy to throw together you may never buy it from the market again. A bonus of making your own is that you can personalize this recipe to control…

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    Ann Beth Strelec 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    House Blend Curry Powder

    2019-04-27

    Raspberry Sugar

    2019-06-26

    Za’atar Spice Blend

    2018-11-06
  • Asian fare,  crowd pleasers,  gluten free,  main course,  pork

    Sticky Honey + Hoisin Lacquered Ribs

    2019-06-18 /

    This recipe is simple yet packed with big flavors. But before you jump feet first into this recipe, I feel compelled to share that making these Sticky Honey + Hoisin Lacquered Ribs is a two-step process. This cooking process will result in fall-off-the-bone-tender ribs through braising and then coating them in a deep + dark amber lacquer.  Once they’re done, you’ll want to suck these babies all the way down to the bone. But these aren’t just any ordinary BBQ ribs. Oh, no. These are ribs with a Chinese flavor twist.  Yessiree, a fusion of flavors that is so.damn.good you’ll be licking that sticky coating off your lips and fingers…

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    Ann Beth Strelec 0 Comments

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    Vietnamese Shredded Chicken + Noodle Salad

    2019-06-17

    House Blend Curry Powder

    2019-04-27

    Panang Curry Noodle Bowl

    2019-04-20
  • Asian fare,  can be vegetarian,  main course,  pasta + noodles,  poultry,  salads

    Vietnamese Shredded Chicken + Noodle Salad

    2019-06-17 /

    I  wish everyone reading this post could jump through the screen and taste this Vietnamese Shredded Chicken + Noodle Salad! It is bursting with bright colors + savory flavors + sundry textures. I am scarfing down another heaping helping right now. It’s a good thing I am writing and not talking because my mouth is full and NO ONE wants to see that. I was craving this Vietnamese Shredded Chicken + Noodle Salad as I wanted to make something substantial yet light. This salad nails both of those qualifiers. The chicken adds a lot of substance, as do the noodles, while the vinegar-based dressing keeps it bright. (Excuse me while…

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    Ann Beth Strelec 0 Comments

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    Curried Chicken Wings + Mango Chutney-Yogurt Dipping Sauce

    2019-04-01

    Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad

    2019-08-06

    Easy Spicy Ahi (+ Ebi) Stacks for 2 

    2019-06-27
  • appetizers + hors d'oeuvres,  dips,  Mexican,  party food + snacks,  salad dressing,  vegetarian

    Creamy Chipotle + Lime Dressing + Dip

    2019-06-14 /

    Here’s a quick and easy recipe for you to make while you are gulping down sipping the drink I hooked you up with on Tuesday. (Remember?  The Spicy Pineapple + Jalapeno Margaritas?) If you don’t remember Tuesday, that means you didn’t read my post (and you really should) OR you have had soooo many of those cocktails that you can’t remember much at all (thank you for reading, and you’re welcome). So here is a perfect weekend dip–something you can throw together in a flash (really, just dump and stir). Put it on your burgers or grilled corn or fries or chips or vegetables or your fingers…(this is a NO…

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    Ann Beth Strelec 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Toast 6+ Ways

    2019-06-09

    Hand-Crafted Gournay

    2019-06-04

    Loaded Baked Potato Dip

    2019-01-30
  • 4th meal,  appetizers + hors d'oeuvres,  breakfast + brunch,  comfort food,  party food + snacks,  sandwiches + roll-ups

    Toast 6+ Ways

    2019-06-09 /

    Toast is one of my ultimate comfort foods. When I was very little, toast was front and center of my morning routine with my father. I was his official self-appointed toast maker. Every morning, as he was shaving, I would prepare his toast. How many times had I under toasted the bread or was overzealous with the butter or the dollop of my mom’s homemade peach preserves? Who knows, because my sweet dad said it was “absolutely perfect!” every.time. Dad and I took turns fixing each others’ toast for many years. Toast was our love language. Toast was our thing. Today’s toast transcends the white bread stereotype. It is no…

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    Ann Beth Strelec 0 Comments

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    Caribbean Poutine (aka Dirty Tots)

    2018-10-16

    Mexican Three-Way* BLT Dip

    2019-02-10

    Sticky Sweet + Spicy Asian (v) Meatballs 

    2019-02-16
  • appetizers + hors d'oeuvres,  cheese,  dips,  gluten free,  party food + snacks,  vegetarian

    Hand-Crafted Gournay

    2019-06-04 /

    If provincial northwestern France had a flavor, it would be buttery + herbaceous Gournay. You have probably bought creamy + salty + garlicky + herby artisan Gournay cheese dozens of times without giving thought to how easy it is to create yourself. No need to run to the store to make this oh-so satisfying + fragrant snacking cheese. I’d bet you already have the ingredients for this blend at your fingertips!     Herbs? Check! Garlic? Check! Butter?  Check! Cream cheese?  Check! You got this!   I’d also bet that once you create your own house blend of Gournay, you will have choice ingredients at your fingertips At.All.Times.Forever.Amen. Whether they are…

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    Ann Beth Strelec 0 Comments

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    Mexican Three-Way* BLT Dip

    2019-02-10

    Creamy Chipotle + Lime Dressing + Dip

    2019-06-14

    Oysters with Pink Peppercorn Mignonette

    2019-02-14
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2018 Ann Beth Strelec Out of professional courtesy, please contact me if you plan to republish one of my recipes. You can get in touch with me at nakedepicurean@gmail.com
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