Without a doubt I suspected loquats would marry well with Grill Man’s Snapper on the Half Shell. Great time to experiment since it will only be the two of us. Each day after work, Mennu and I do a walk about the yard on our way to pick loquats.

The natural setting is healthy for both of us. Thankfully Mother Nature allows the loquats to ripen at different times which is very helpful. Produce waits for no one. It’s ready when it’s ready.

Sweet and savory cooking ideas for loquats

This stready stream of loquats all at once creates a dilemma of sorts. How many loquats may you pick and eat in a week? In the beginning you are joyful for the fruit and whip up a daily smoothie. Then you move to an easy dessert like my Sun Kiss Loquat Cobbler. Next, I adapted my version of ice cream which I based on my Eggnog and Persimmon Icy Cream. Creating a dessert is easy when working with fresh fruit.

Yet, loquats keep coming so my creative activities moved to the savory. I must say that this fruit is versatile and becomes a lovely addition to any recipe. The longer that I am quarantined Livin’ La Vida Loca the more my kitchen lab is in full swing. What would I create next?

Sun Kiss Loquat Sauce on Red Snapper

Happily, last Summer Grill Man secured red snapper for our freezer. On more than one occasion with friends he ventured out for a short trip. I joined the crew of the Strike Back with Captain Cali and spent a lovely day on the water.

Clearly besides fun in the sun the mission included locating 2 red snapper per person. With Grill Man’s fishing “honey hole” red snapper is available when “in season”. His snapper were beautiful and delivered lovely meals. To date our best meal occurred when he cooked the snapper throats.

Since our snapper throats had previously disappeared, it was time to cook a 4-5 pound slab of red snapper on the half shell. What is snapper on the half shell? When the fish is cleaned the scales and skin is left on one side. This scale side is then placed and cooked directly on the grill. This is a great way to preserve the fish while grilling and ensures moist fish.

Thankfully, he agreed to become a part of the Dining With Mimi kitchen lab. Plan consisted of the following:

Red Snapper on the Half Shell bathed in Mimi’s Sun Kiss Loquat Sauce

Green Egg Grill (regular grill could be used)

4-5# Slab Red Snapper in Half Shell
1/2 Cup Sun Kiss Loquat Sauce
Garlic Salt
Coarse Black Pepper
Olive oil
Aluminum Foil

Preheat Green Egg grill to about 300-350 degrees.

Place red snapper slab skin and scale side down on the tray. Drizzle 4 tablespoons olive oil on top of fish. Using a spoon spread olive oil around evenly on fish side only. Sprinkle well with garlic salt and cracked black pepper . Add 1/2 cup Sun Kiss Loquat Sauce to fish. Use spoon to lightly spread around evenly. Place fish directly on to the grill with skin and scale side down. Place a single sheet of foil on top of the fish without sealing in any manner. Foil is laying on top of fish as a sheet of paper would.

With the snapper slab this size it’s important not to over cook. Alternate cooking fish with lid closed for 5 minutes first. Then cook with lid up for 5 minutes. Repeat until the fish is ready. This will allow the grill to function so that its cooking but not overcooking. Also, you will be able to see what is happening. Fish will overcook quickly if you’re not watching closely enough. Our 4-5# slab of red snapper cooked in this manner for about 30 minutes.

Grill a slab of red snapper and baste it with my new Sun Kiss Loquat Sauce. I am pretty sure that this sauce would pair well with other types of fish or protein such as chicken or pork. At this point, I have not tried it but I am sure that the flavor profiles will blend well.

Let me know if you try this and the results, I would love to hear from you.

Shout out to Alexa for John Prine. April 7th he moved on to other pastures but he certainly left his mark on the world and music. Take a listen to his song titled, Fish and Whistle. It is available on you-tube if you don’t have that bossy Alexa.

The post Sun Kiss Loquat Sauce appeared first on Dining With Mimi.

Of course, my Momma’n’em used a pressure cooker and I have a very healthy respect for this device. To the point of being in awe of anyone brave enough to use one. On more than one occasion during my childhood, I saw the effects of a pressure cooker that had “gone rogue”.

Rogue Pressure Cooker

Momma like to cook Creole Red Beans in her pressure cooker which had a giggly top otherwise known as pressure regulator. On more than one occasion Momma’s pressure cooker spewed Creole Red Beans on our ceiling. Clearly Momma had a hot-pot which failed to work correctly whether it was the pot or operator error.

Thankfully no one was ever injured from the rogue pressure cooker but it was probably only a matter of time. As a teenager viewing the red beans being cleaned off the ceiling and everywhere else was a sight. Momma’s rogue pressure cooker managed to leave a lasting impression on me. To the point that I have always been hesitant about using one.

Just the thought that I might wind up having to clean the ceiling pretty much does it for me. In  my house, it’s hard enough to keep the walls and floors clean, let alone washing the ceiling down. I have to admit the speed of a new electric pressure cooker minus the giggly top sounded positive. Yet, still not brave enough to buy.

Southern Girls Instant Pot Intro- Venison Cutlets

Until one day our friend Focus delivered a big, shiny new Instant Pot to us.  Great gift for a busy foodie even if she is a big ‘ole scaredy-cat.  Instant Pot whips up all sorts of yummy goodness. From venison cutlets to roasts, main dishes, stew, soup, rice, yogurt, dessert all cooked very fast. Quickly a roast is delivered to the point of submission and mouth-watering tender.

Speed alone is a reason to use. Warning: Read the manual before you start using your pressure cooker. Then read it again. Do not skip reading the manual because improper use may lead to worse things than red beans on the ceiling. Scaredy-cat reads the manual every time I use my magic machine.

Even then, I am a bit nervous as I follow all the steps.  Each new cooking phase adds a little more adventure to your evening meal. Instant Pot does not have a giggly top but it does click away while cooking. FYI probably not a good idea to have a glass of wine while using this device.

In my research I discovered class action lawsuits on certain brands of  pressure cookers and a new field called Pressure Cooker Injury Lawyers.  I imagine someone saying “Y’all watch this!” just before they did something really stupid.

Read the manual. Pay attention and save wine to drink with dinner for Southern Girls Instant Pot Intro- Venison Cutlets. A friend gave us venison and it turned out delicious in my brand new shiny but intimidating Instant Pot. If there is a deficit of venison in your freezer beef cutlets could be swapped out.  Alexa Shout out to Hank Williams Jr, A Country Boy Can Survive.

The post Southern Girls Instant Pot Intro- Venison Cutlets appeared first on Dining With Mimi.