• 6 New York steaks, 8-10 ounces each
• ¼ cup No-stick Grilling Marinade for Beef (click for recipe)
• 2 tablespoons Steak Seasoning (recipe follows)
• 1 recipe Shrimp Stuffing (click for recipe)

Steak Seasoning

• ½ cup Lawry’s Seasoned Salt
• ¾ cup freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ cup lemon pepper seasoning
• 2 tablespoons garlic salt
• 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
• 1 tablespoon onion powder

Combine all the ingredients and mix well. Store in an airtight container

Carpetbagger Steak with Shrimp Stuffing

Click image to enlarge

• 6 large ripe tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon sugar (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste
• ¼ cup olive oil, in all
• 1 bunch green onions, white parts only, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, pressed
•  red pepper flakes to taste
• ½ pound baby spinach, washed, dried, and chopped
• 1½ cups cooked rice
• 3 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Stuffed Tomatoes

Click image to enlarge

• 3 tablespoons dark rum
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/2 cup malt vinegar
• 10 green onions, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled, chopped
• 2 tablespoons dried thyme
• 2 Scotch bonnet chiles or habanero chiles with seeds, chopped
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 teaspoons ground allspice
• 4 teaspoons ground ginger
• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
• 1 cup ketchup
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 6 pounds bone-in, skin-on, chicken thighs and legs, rinsed, patted dry
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice

Jerk Chicken

Click image to enlarge

As pictured here, we used finished carnitas to build a platter of nachos, with black beans, queso, sour cream, and plenty of fresh salsa. Use them to make tacos, fill burritos, tamales, and enchiladas. Other delicious garnishes are guacamole, fresh cilantro, lime wedges, chopped white onion, minced or sliced jalapeños, etc. In the unlikely event of leftovers, freeze them in freezer bags with as much of the air as possible squeezed out of the bags.

• 1 3-pound pork butt
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon cooking oil
• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, smashed and coarsely chopped
• coarsely chopped jalapeño or serrano pepper to taste
• 1½ cups lager-style beer, in all
• 1 tablespoon New Mexico chile powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ¾ cup fresh orange juice
• 1 long strip of orange peel, any pith removed
• ½ cup fresh lime juice
• 1 long strip of lime peel, any pith removed
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cinnamon stick, broken into 2 to 3 pieces
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican

Pork Carnitas

Click image to enlarge

Louisiana Shrimp Tacos

• 1 tablespoon salt plus more to taste
• 1 teaspoon lime zest
• 1 pound peeled and deveined Louisiana shrimp
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• ½ teaspoon cumin, lightly toasted
• red pepper flakes to taste
• 6 small flour or corn tortillas

For serving: shredded lettuce, chopped cilantro, lime wedges, minced jalapeño pepper, cubed ripe avocado, Mexican crema, Pico de Gallo (method follows)

Pico de Gallo

• 1½ cups finely diced ripe tomatoes, preferably Roma
• ½ cup finely diced white onion (see note)
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 or 2 minced jalapeño peppers, optional
• 1 tablespoon lime juice or to taste
• 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
• ½ teaspoon lightly toasted cumin

Combine all ingredients and set aside for flavors to meld; about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally and taste for salt and lime. It’s best eaten shortly after preparation, but will keep, refrigerated, for a day.

Note: If you want to soften the bite of the onion, soak it in ice water for 20 minutes then drain. It will mellow.

Louisiana Shrimp Tacos

Click image to enlarge

• Meatballs
• 3/4 pound ground chicken
• 2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano cheese
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1 large egg, shisked
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Pasta and Sauce

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 pound mezze rigatoni
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 large head escarole, cut into 1-inch-wide ribbons
• 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese, plus more for serving

 Pasta with Mini Meatballs & Escarole

Click image to enlarge

• 2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon salt, plus more to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
• 1/2 cup orzo pasta, cooked according to package directions and drained
• 2 cups mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup coarse grainy mustard
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh dill
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• lemon wedges, for garnish

Shrimp and Orzo Salad

Click image to enlarge

• 2 pounds raw shrimp, peeled, heads removed if desired (heads add flavor to sauce)
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• freshly ground pepper to taste
• tabasco to taste
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• chopped parsley, for garnish

Lemon-Garlic Broiled Shrimp

Click image to enlarge

• 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 3 teaspoons dried oregano, divided
• 2¼ pounds red-skinned potatoes each cut lengthwise into 6 wedges
• 1 4-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Lemon-Oregano Roast Chicken and Potatoes

Click image to enlarge

• 1     quart-sized jar seafood boil seasoning
• 1     cup cayenne pepper, in all
• 10     pounds yellow onions, unpeeled, halved
• 1     pound whole garlic pods, cut in half
• 1    5-pound sack lemons, lemons cut in half
• 2     sacks live Louisiana crawfish (about 30 to 40 pounds each)
• 5     pounds new potatoes, scrubbed
• 15     globe artichokes, trimmed
• 5     pounds frozen corn on the cob
• 2     pounds smoked sausage, cut in 6-inch pieces
• 2     bunches celery stalks
• 2     pounds whole white mushrooms
•     Loads of beer for serving

Crawfish Boil 

Click image to enlarge