Monday, 31 January 2022

Lobster Bisque

Classy, elegant, and insanely delicious, this lobster bisque needs to make its way to your dinner menu as soon as possible! This recipe is absolutely divine and not one you will want to miss out on!

If you are a lobster lover like myself, you MUST TRY these lobster rolls, this lobster mac and cheese, and of course, these popular lobster tails! They are all so good! You won’t be able to pick a favorite.

A bowl of lobster bisque with garnish and a lobster tail in it.

The Best Lobster Bisque Recipe

Lobster bisque is the perfect marriage between fancy and elegant and down-to-earth comfort food. You can have all of that fantastic lobster flavor in a creamy soup while sitting by your fire at home. This recipe is filled with delicious ingredients that make the soup incredibly flavorful. Plus, you can dip in a homemade crostini or some bread to really take this soup over the top.

Lobster is usually reserved for special occasions, but with this velvety lobster bisque, you can enjoy this delicious flavor all year long! Lobster bisque is rich and creamy and can be served as an appetizer or main dish! Pair it with some delicious garlic bread and seafood pasta and this meal will get a “WOW!” from all of your guests.

Lobster Bisque Ingredients

Grab the few specialty items, and you will be enjoying this in the comfort of your own home before you know it! Once you look over this list of ingredients, you will realize that you probably have most of these items already in your kitchen! See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for a list of exact measurements.

  • Raw Lobster Tails: This meat is what will bring in the flavor of the whole dish!
  • Water: This will be the base of your lobster stock.
  • Butter: I like to use unsalted butter in this recipe.
  • Shallot: Similar to an onion, you will mince up this shallot before putting it in your recipe.
  • Carrots: I slice large carrots that have already been peeled.
  • Celery: The stalks can be chopped up into whatever size you rprefer. Just make sure that they are all similar in size so that they cook evenly.
  • Garlic: Using minced garlic brings a delicious flavor to the lobster.
  • Fresh Thyme: You will mince up some to put into the bisque and you should also save a few stems for garnish on top.
  • Tomato paste: You don’t need much of this but it adds to the velvety texture of the bisque.
  • Flour: I used all-purpose flour in this recipe.
  • Dry White Wine: A dry white wine is a wine that isn’t sweet and has a high acidity.
  • Heavy Cream: When you mix this in with the stock, you start to get a creamier texture.
  • Salt and Pepper: Use these to enhance the flavors of the recipe.

How to Make Lobster Bisque

Before mixing the bisque, you will need to make your lobster stock! I have detailed all of the steps for you so that your lobster bisque turns out perfectly!

Lobster Stock

  1. Boil water: In a large pot, add 10 cups of water, and bring to a boil. Be sure you have enough water to cover the lobster tails when they are added.
  2. Add in lobster tails: Add the lobster tails to the pot of boiling water. Cover with a lid and boil for 5 minutes, or until the lobster tails turn bright red.
  3. Cut and remove lobster meat: Using tongs, remove the lobster tails from the water. Save the liquid in the pot. Allow the lobster to slightly cool. Use kitchen shears to cut down the length of the tail. Split the shell apart and remove the lobster meat from the shell. Set aside the meat, and be sure to save the shells.
  4. Add shells to water and simmer: Return the shells to the pot of water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.
  5. Chop: While the stock in simmering, chop the meat into bite-sized pieces and place in the refrigerator while you prepare the bisque. I like to leave some tails whole because it makes the presentation beautiful when serving!

Bisque

  1. Melt and stir: In a large pot, add the butter and melt over medium heat. Add the diced shallot, carrots, and celery. Continue to stir and cook until soft for about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic, fresh thyme, and tomato paste, and cook for 1 minute. Sprinkle in the flour and cook for an additional minute.
  2. Deglaze and thicken: Add the dry white wine to deglaze the pan. Allow the wine to simmer for several minutes while stirring. The mixture should start to thicken. 
  3. Strain stock: Remove the lobster shells from the pot. Measure 5 cups of lobster stock from the pot, and use a fine mesh strainer to strain the stock into the bisque. Reduce heat and let simmer until liquid is reduced and the flavors blend together. While stirring occasionally, this should take about 30 minutes. Once the liquid reduces, the mixture will thicken.
  4. Blend: Next, remove the bisque from heat. Use an emulsion blender to blend the ingredients together until smooth. You can also carefully transfer the bisque to a standing blender to mix if you prefer.
  5. Add cream and meat: Once the bisque is blended, add the cream and chopped lobster meat. Stir to combine, and heat for an additional 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. *See notes for seasoning.
  6. Garnish and serve: Garnish with fresh thyme leaves and serve with crusty artisan bread on the side.
6 pictures showing how to cut a lobster tail and make lobster stock and bisque.

Tips for Making Lobster Bisque

There are a few extra things that you can do to make sure that your lobster bisque turns out just right! I’ve answered some FAQs for you so that yours is perfect!

  • Add the lobster meat last: This is an important rule to follow! If you add it in too soon then the lobster continues to cook in the bisque and becomes rubbery. Adding it in just before serving will make the texture perfect!
  • Thicker consistency: To make your bisque thicker then continue simmering it unil it reaches the desired consistency. If you want a thinner bisque then add some more lobster stock.
  • Seasonings: Feel free to flavor your bisque to your liking!  You can add more fresh thyme, or even a ½ teaspoon of Herb de Provence or dried Italian seasoning. They would both work and would be a lovely addition.
A pot of lobster bisque with a ladle.

Do I Serve Lobster Bisque Hot or Cold?

I prefer to serve lobster bisque hot. You can serve it cold as leftovers but I don’t think the flavors are as vibrant. It should be served immediately after you add in the lobster meat.

A close up of a bowl of lobster bisque.

How to Store and Reheat Lobster Bisque Leftovers

If you have leftover lobster bisque then you are in luck because it makes fantastic leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day! Here is how you can safely store it and reheat it later.

  • In the Refrigerator: Once your lobster bisque has cooled then you can place it in an airtight container. Put it in your fridge and it will last 2-3 days.
  • To Reheat: Reheat your bisque on the stove on medium heat until warmed through. Enjoy!
Bread being dipped into a bowl of lobster bisque.
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Lobster Bisque

Classy, elegant, and insanely delicious, this lobster bisque needs to make its way to your dinner menu as soon as possible! This recipe is absolutely divine and not one you will want to miss out on!
Course Appetizer, Dinner
Cuisine Seafood
Keyword lobster bisque
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4 people
Calories 449kcal
Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

Lobster Stock

  • 4 lobster tails, raw
  • 10 cups water

Bisque

  • 4 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 2 large carrots, peeled, diced
  • 3 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 teaspoon garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced (save a few stems for garnish)
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups dry white wine
  • 5 cups lobster stock
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (more to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Lobster Stock

  • In a large pot, add 10 cups of water, and bring to a boil. Be sure you have enough water to cover the lobster tails when they are added.
  • Add the lobster tails to the pot of boiling water. Cover with a lid and boil for 5 minutes, or until the lobster tails turn bright red.
  • Using tongs, remove the lobster tails from the water. Save the liquid in the pot. Allow the lobster to slightly cool. Use kitchen shears to cut down the length of the tail. Split the shell apart and remove the lobster meat from the shell. Set aside the meat, and be sure to save the shells.
  • Return the shells to the pot of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.
  • While the stock is simmering, chop it into bite-sized pieces and place it in the refrigerator while you prepare the bisque. I like to leave some tails whole because it makes the presentation beautiful when serving!

Bisque

  • In a large pot, add the butter and melt over medium heat. Add the diced shallot, carrots, and celery. Continue to stir and cook until soft for about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic, fresh thyme, and tomato paste, and cook for 1 minute. Sprinkle in the flour and cook for an additional minute.
  • Add the dry white wine to deglaze the pan. Allow the wine to simmer for several minutes while stirring. The mixture should start to thicken.
  • Remove the lobster shells from the pot. Measure 5 cups of lobster stock from the pot, and use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the stock into the bisque. Reduce heat and let simmer until liquid is reduced and the flavors blend together. While stirring occasionally, this should take about 30 minutes. Once the liquid reduces, the mixture will thicken.
  • Next, remove the bisque from heat. Use an emulsion blender to blend the ingredients together until smooth. You can also carefully transfer the bisque to a standing blender to mix if you prefer.
  • Once the bisque is blended, add the cream and chopped lobster meat. Stir to combine, and heat for an additional 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. *See notes for seasoning.
  • Garnish with fresh thyme leaves and serve with crusty artisan bread on the side.

Notes

Tips for seasoning-  feel free to flavor your bisque to your liking!  You can add more fresh thyme, or even a ½ tsp of herb de Provence or dried Italian seasoning would be a lovely addition.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 449kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 336mg | Potassium: 513mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 7649IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 107mg | Iron: 1mg


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Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Nuggets

Crispy, spicy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Nuggets are perfect for the big game or enjoy them for lunch, or dinner.

Crispy, spicy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Nuggets are perfect for the big game or enjoy them for lunch, or dinner.
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Nuggets

These are spicy!! Seasoned with chili powder, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika and dipped in hot sauce, not for wimpy taste-buds! I love buffalo-flavor anything, which is probably obvious by the many buffalo recipes I have on my blog. I decided to try my Baked Buffalo Chicken Nuggets recipe in the air fryer, and I must say they were delicious. The air fryer got the nuggets so crispy with minimal oil. If you love buffalo sauce as much as I do, make sure you try some of my other healthy buffalo appetizers, like Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Skins, Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls, and Buffalo Chicken Dip.

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Foil French Bread Pizza

These foil french bread pizzas made with Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick are perfect for any family dinner! Crispy, cheesy, and delicious, your family won’t be able to resist coming back for seconds!

If you love homemade pizza, then you must try these sliders, these pepperoni rolls, or even this fantastic dessert pizza. Try them all out, and you will realize that the most challenging part is picking your favorite!

French bread pizzas wrapped in foil on a baking sheet.

Reynolds Wrap® Foil French Bread Pizzas

I am excited to partner with

Reynolds Wrap® for this past. You all know how much I love an easy and delicious dinner recipe! These Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil French bread pizzas are the absolute best! When you place the foil around the bread, it makes the outside so crispy! Plus, the cheese and toppings are so flavorful that you will savor every bite. This pizza is convenient because you make it and freeze it ahead of time, so no more store-bought frozen pizzas for you! You can just pop them in the oven when you are ready to eat. In less than 15 minutes, you have a kid-friendly meal on your table! The Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil won’t stick to your food, so it is my go-to for all of my foil meals. It also makes clean up a breeze!

Not only are these so delicious, but they are super easy to make! My kids love helping me make these, and the best part about them is that they can add whatever toppings they want and make their pizza perfect for them! This pizza is a family favorite and if you want another meal that your kids can help make, then you must try these chicken skewers. They will love helping you mix and match all of the food!

Ingredients to Make Foil French Bread Pizzas

It makes my mouth water just thinking about them. To make these foil french bread pizzas, I use Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil, which helps the pizzas turn out perfectly crispy. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • French bread: French bread is my favorite because it is just thr right texture and makes the perfect simple and easy pizza crust.
  • Pizza sauce: You can use homemade pizza sauce or take this recipe to the next level using my homemade pizza sauce.
  • Mozzarella cheese: Mozzarella is the classic cheese used on pizzas because it brings such a great taste!
  • Toppings: Pepperoni, mushrooms, tomato, sliced olives, fresh basil.
  • Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil: The foil is my favorite to use because it helps my food cook perfectly without sticking and makes clean-up so easy!
Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick foil, pepperonis, mushrooms, tomatoes, basil, olives, and cheese in bowls on the counter.

Let’s Make Some Homemade Pizza!

This pizza recipe is quick and easy. It’s a go-to meal at our house, and I absolutely love that the clean-up is so much easier than pizza made from scratch. Keep this recipe on hand for those busy, activity-filled weeknights!

  1. Slice, add sauce and toppings: Slice the French bread length wise and then into three sections. Spread on pizza sauce. Top with shredded cheese and desired toppings.
  2. Wrap in foil and freeze: Tear 4 pieces of Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil. Place the bread in the center of the foil and wrap in the foil. Freeze for 1-2 hours.
  3. Preheat oven and bake: When ready to bake, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Open up the top of the foil packs and bake for 12-14 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.
4 pictures showing how to add toppings to french bread and wrap them in foil.

Why I Love Using Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil

Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil is my favorite foil to use! It’s the perfect solution to easy clean-up so that I don’t have to spend any extra time in the kitchen and I can spend more time with my family. I always have Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil on hand to line all of my pans, cover all of my baked recipes and wrap up any leftovers.

  • Easy to open packaging: The new package now is easier to open and has a tab that keeps the box fully closed for storing after use. The new color-coded look also makes it easier to find the product in the aisle at your local grocery store!
  • Non-Stick: It is made with a non-stick coating on one side (the dull side), so there’s no need to add cooking spray or oil.
  • Easy Cleanup: Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil helps food lift right off with no messy cleanup, especially for sticky foods.
  • Safe to cook with: It is high quality and safe to use for cooking, making the foil my go-to in the kitchen.
  • Made in the USA: Reynolds Wrap® is proudly made in the U.S.A. (Louisville, KY!)
Pizza being wrapped in foil and stored in a freezer bag to store.

Why Should I Cook This Pizza in Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil?

There are many reasons to cook with foil! It acts as a protective barrier, and it allows your food to cook all the way through without getting burned! It not only makes prepping, cooking, and clean-up so easy, but it helps you get a crisp, outside crust on your pizza without overcooking it.

Foil french bread pizzas cooked and ready to eat.

Variations

These foil French bread pizzas are fantastic not only because of their taste but because they are so easy to switch up every time! That means that you can have them more often! Here are a few ideas on how you can switch things up.

  • Toppings: Use your very favorites! I have tried chicken, bacon, sausage, peppers, pineapple, ham, onions and fresh garlic.
  • Sauce: An easy way to totally switch up the taste is to change the sauce. Try using a BBQ sauce or alfredo sauce and top it with some chicken, bacon and onions. It will feel like an entirely different meal!
French bread pizzas on a baking sheet after cooking.

How to Store Leftover Foil French Bread Pizzas

If you are lucky enough to have extra, these French bread pizzas are so easy to store. They make a great lunch the next day!

  • Refrigerate: Once they have cooled then wrap them in Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil. Place them in an airtight container and put them in your fridge. They will last 3-4 days.
  • Reheat: When you are ready to eat your leftovers, take the pizza out of the airtight container and keep them in the foil. Just unwrap them so that the foil isn’t on top (like you did when you first baked them). Place them on a baking sheet and cook them for 15 minutes at 375 degrees or until heated through.
Foil french bread pizza on a plate ready to eat.
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Foil French Bread Pizzas

These foil french bread pizzas made with Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil are perfect for any family dinner! Crispy, cheesy, and delicious, your family won't be able to resist coming back for seconds!
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian, Italian American
Keyword french bread pizza
Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings 4 pizzas
Calories 464kcal
Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Slice the French bread lengthwise and then into three sections. Spread on pizza sauce. Top with shredded cheese and desired toppings.
  • Tear 4 pieces of Reynolds Wrap Non-Stick Foil. Place the bread in the center of the foil and wrap it in the foil. Freeze for 1-2 hours.
  • When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Open up the top of the foil packs and bake for 12-14 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Nutrition

Calories: 464kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 1025mg | Potassium: 272mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 511IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 331mg | Iron: 4mg


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Sunday, 30 January 2022

Pot De Crème

Pot de crème is silky smooth and loaded with chocolate flavor. Perfectly proportioned into individual servings, you can end any meal on a high note with this delectable dessert!

Chocolate desserts are classic for any party or get-together. And not only that, everyone loves them! Try out this pie, these fantastic cookies, or this delicious cake and your guests will leave full and satisfied!

Pot de creme in a ramekin with a scoop taken out.

What IS Pot De Crème?

All of you chocolate lovers, stop where you are. You MUST try out this dessert! It’s all about how you make it! Pot de crème is a custard similar to pudding. The biggest difference between the two is that you stir pudding instead of letting it set. Pudding also uses a thickening agent and this can mask the flavor a little bit. With pot de crème, you use egg yolks to help it set to the perfect consistency. It’s so elegant and classy and your guests will love the presentation!

Because pot de crème doesn’t use any starch in it, then the flavor of the chocolate is BIG. I mean, we are talking that you taste the chocolate more than the sweet, and it is GOOD. Pot de crème is the ultimate chocolate dessert and has been a classic French favorite since the 17th century! It is elegant and classy and tastes divine. It’s everything that you could ask for in a chocolate dessert!

Simple Ingredients to Make Pot De Crème

There are only six ingredients that you need to make this mouthwatering dessert. This ingredients list is so short and straightforward. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • Chocolate: Use high quality bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
  • Whipping Cream: This will give it that creamy texture that you often see in custard.
  • Whole Milk: I use whole milk because it is just the right consistency. You don’t want your milk too thin.
  • Egg Yolks: When you are baking, it’s best to mix in your eggs when they are at room temperature.
  • Sugar: This will sweeten up the chocolate flavor a bit.
  • Vanilla: The vanilla will enhance all of the other sweet ingredients.

How to Make Pot De Crème

This is the dessert you want to choose when you want to make something simple and impress your guests. It’s delicious and packed with a chocolate flavor that anyone can appreciate.

  1. Preheat oven and chop chocolate: Preheat the oven to 325°. Chop the chocolate into small pieces and set aside.
  2. Simmer and whisk: In a medium saucepan heat the cream and milk to just barely simmering. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate. Then, whisk the chocolate until it’s fully melted and smooth.
  3. Mix and strain: In a large bowl whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. Very slowly add the chocolate mixture to the egg mixture. Strain into another large bowl and stir in the vanilla.
  4. Bake in water bath and chill overnight: Divide the custard into four 6-ounce ramekins. Place the ramekins in a large baking dish and fill the pan with hot water until halfway up the ramekins. Bake for 25-30 minutes. The pot de creme should be barely set. Chill overnight, or at least 4 hours. Serve with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
6 pictures showing how to melt chocolate, mix the ingredients together and cook them in ramekins.

Baking Tips and FAQs

There are a few things that you should watch for when you are baking up this delicious dessert. I’ve compiled a list of those and what you can do to fix them so that yours turn out perfect.

  • The texture is grainy: If your texture is turning out grainy then it could be becuase it was served too cold. Make sure to take your dessert out at least 20-30 minutes before you plan on serving it so that the texture turns out nice ans smooth.
  • How do I know when they are done? Since different ovens cook differently, it’s important that you watch while they cook very carefully. If you overcook the pot de creme then the texture will turn out grainy. Open the oven when you think that they are done and give the pan a jiggle. The middle should jiggle along with the pan but the outside edges should be set.
  • Can I store leftovers? Yes! Cover these up and these will last in your fridge for 4-5 days.
The top view of pot de creme.

Make These Ahead of Time

Since these have to stay in the refrigerator to set anyway, use that to your advantage! Make these a day or two before you need them! Take them out about 30 minutes before you plan on serving them and garnish the top with some chocolate shavings and some whipped cream!

Pot de creme with whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top with a scoop taken out of the ramekin.
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Pot De Crème

Pot de crème is silky smooth and loaded with chocolate flavor. Perfectly proportioned into individual servings, you can end any meal on a high note with this delectable dessert! 
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian, Italian American
Keyword pots de creme
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 576kcal
Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces High Quality Bittersweet or Semisweet Chocolate
  • 2 Cups Whipping Cream
  • ½ Cup Whole Milk
  • 6 large Egg Yolks
  • 1/3 Cup Sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon Vanilla

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325°. Chop the chocolate into small pieces and set aside.
  • In a medium saucepan, heat the cream and milk to just barely simmering. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate. Whisk until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth.
  • In a large bowl whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. Very slowly add the chocolate mixture to the egg mixture. Strain into another large bowl and stir in the vanilla.
  • Divide the custard into four 6-ounce ramekins. Place the ramekins in a large baking dish and fill the pan with hot water until halfway up the ramekins. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the custards are just barely set. Chill overnight, or at least 4 hours. Serve with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Nutrition

Calories: 576kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 443mg | Sodium: 71mg | Potassium: 158mg | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 2166IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 145mg | Iron: 1mg


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