maleficent

Tapas are probably one of my favorite types of cuisine,just tons of little plates and a nice bottle of red wine and some good friends and I'm happy...

My most favorites -- (served with a really good portugese bread)

Garlic Shrimp
Splash + olive oil ( think it's about 1/3 - 1/2 cup but I'm not sure)
6 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (less if you don't like the kick)
1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 tbs fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons dry sherry
1/4 Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 1 minute. Raise the heat to high and add the shrimp, lemon juice, sherry and paprika. Stir well, then sauté, stirring briskly, until the shrimp turn pink and curl slightly, about 3 minutes (DO NOT OVERCOOK THE SHRIMP). Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and sprinkle with parsley. Serve hot. (I have a few pottery bowls that I'll just this into, oil and all - and use the bread for the oil)

I have more somewher e- this one is the one i can do from memory

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iccky

Awesome, thanks a lot.

Out of curiosity, what is Portugeese bread like?

Anyone got any others?

maleficent

Portuguese Bread is a crusty, chewey type of bread, more of a sourdough texture, and definitely like a country type bread... real easy to make too
Portuguese bread
2 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons salt
6 tablespoons vegetable shortening
1 cup boiling water
1 package dry yeast
1 cup warm water
6 cups flour
Olive oil
Place sugar, salt and shortening in a bowl. Add boiling water. Cool to lukewarm.
Dissolve yeast in 1 cup lukewarm water. Add to sugar and shortening mixture.
Add 3 cups of the flour and beat until smooth. Gradually add remaining flour. Knead the dough.
Grease a bowl with olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl and put in a warm spot until dough is doubled in size.
Punch down the dough and divide in half. Shape each into a round loaf and put on an oiled cookie sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled. Bake at 400 degrees F until golden.

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maleficent

Spanish Mushrooms (why they're spanish I don't know -- got this recipe from a local Portuguese restuarant...)

2 tbs olive oil
1/3 cup shallots, finely chopped
1 tbs garlic, minced
1 pkg mixed mushrooms, thinly sliced (I think a package is 12 -16 ounces)
(preferred mix-button, cremini, shiitake, oyster)
2 tbs dry sherry
1 tbs thyme, finely chopped fresh
5 English Muffins, split and lightly toasted
1-1/2 cups mascarpone cheese, room temperature (cream cheese doesn't really work here)

Add oil to skillet, heating to medium. Saute shallots and garlic until soft, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, sherry and salt; saute until mushrooms are tender, about 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in thyme and continue to cook until most of liquid evaporates. Spread muffins with cheese. Top cheese evenly with mushroom mixture; place "tapas" on baking sheet. Bake at 350° F until hot, about 5 minutes. Spoon Almond-Garlic Streusel over mushroom. Garnish with thyme. if desired.

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