Vincent Price Halloween Cookalong, Part 1
The Battenburg extended family headed off to Center Parcs in Wiltshire for the school holidays – half way between the London and Cardiff branches of the clan. We were pleased to find that we had two very well equipped kitchens between us: vital for me to participate in the Silver Screen Suppers Vincent Price Halloween Cookalong (http://www.silverscreensuppers.com). Those of you who like to study the photographs will spot that I actually did my first dish in advance in my own kitchen: deviled shrimp and rice, from Vincent Price’s Come Into The Kitchen cookbook from 1969. I have also noted that I can no longer deny that, on occasion, I cook in a slight situation of chaos. I decided to do this one early because a) I had company to feed and b) we thought the children would want burgers and such like for their Halloween dinner. Actually I think some of them would have liked the dish. It is a baked risotto with lots of prawns, which would have gone down well with two of the three children. I have managed to misplace the copy of the recipe that I carefully annotated as I went along, but I think I can remember most of what I did. Here, with 21st century instructions:
Ingredients
2 x 250g packs of prawns (I used one of big prawns and one of small)
15 g butter
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
200g basmati rice
400g tin of tomatoes
300g chicken stock
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
1 teaspoon chilli powder
salt and pepper
dash of cayenne pepper
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 180°C.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan, then add the onion and garlic, till soft and beginning to brown.
Mix the onion and garlic and all the other ingredients in a 1 litre casserole dish.
Cover with a lid or foil and baked for an hour, or until the rice is dry and fluffy and the liquid absorbed.
Serves 6, with a big green salad. Very good indeed – reminded me, in a good way, of the 1970s tuna risotto Grandma Battenburg used to serve on Wednesdays. Not with a salad back in those days of course.
Very impressed that you participated in the challenge whilst on holiday.
Ha ha – part of my holiday fun is always about finding opportunities to cook (this time managed to fit around trips to the spa – perfect!!)
MMMMM – BB you did a great job. This looks really good. And I love your chaotic kitchen shots – you should have seen the state of my kitchen when I was making Oxtail Creole and Mr R was making Liver and Bacon Pate – it was INSANE and there is still residual washing up! Thanks for participating in the cookalong – maybe we can do another one next year?! JX
I’m in for next year!!
That looks really good! I’m def gonna try it!
Wow, you made that look really good! I am keen to try!
Sounds delicious! I have to admit that I almost always cook in a state of chaos. There never seems to be enough counter space!
Wiltshire is so beautiful! My husband and I spent a few days in a cottage in Avebury this time last year. The only problem we had was grocery shopping. I think I’ll just order everything online next time!
This looks really good! I’m normally not a big fan of shrimp, but I think I might have to give this one a try!