Puget Sound Ferry Boats Recipes

Steps:

• Cut off both ends of the plantains with large knife. Slice end to end in the grooves and peel.
• Cut the plantains into approximately 5 (2-inch) pieces. You should have approximately 15 pieces. Put them into a bowl with the cold water and salt. Set aside.
• In a large skillet heat about 2 to 3 inches of canola oil over medium heat.
• Dry the tostones with paper towels. Carefully drop them into the hot oil, in batches if necessary, and fry until they turn from peachy white to yellow, but not brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to paper towels to drain. Turn off your flame. Pat the tostones dry and cool briefly. Use a clear bowl or your hand to flatten them into round saucers. Watch through the bowl as you flatten them.
• Cook's Note: These are going to be your fiesta boats so they must be thick and large enough to hold the shrimp and for a toothpick to fit through them. So keep that in mind. Don't get upset if they aren't a perfect round shape or if they fall apart. That is why I recommend using 3 plantains so you have extra surface to work with. As they cool you can reshape them with your hands.
• Reheat the oil and add the tostones back to the skillet and fry for about 30 seconds on each side. Remove again to paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Set aside.
• In a large skillet heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over a low flame.
• Add the shrimp to the skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste, a pinch of dried oregano and a squeeze of a small slice of lime. Cook until the shrimp turn pink.
• Party Boat Topping:
• Combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, and minced garlic in olive oil in a small bowl. The color should be light pink. Squeeze a slice of lime juice into the mixture.
• Making your Party Boats:
• Smear about 1/2 teaspoon of the topping on each of the tostones and season with salt. Top with 1 shrimp and secure it with a toothpick. Arrange on a colorful platter and serve.
• Buen Provecho!

Steps:

• Boats: Bring a medium saucepan with salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini and cook for 3 minutes until slightly tender. Remove the zucchini and set them aside to cool. Carefully scoop out the insides of the zucchini halves with a small spoon. Reserve the cored halves and the insides for the boat's filling.
• Filling: Preheat a medium, heavy saute pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook for 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to paper towel lined plate. Remove all but 2 1/2 tablespoons of bacon drippings from the pan.
• Add the onion and cook it until translucent. Add the reserved zucchini filling and cubed zucchini and cook for 1 minute. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the corn, cilantro, tomato and stir occasionally until zucchini is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in bacon. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato, corn, diced zucchini and reserved zucchini flesh and stir occasionally until the zucchini is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and bacon. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Masts: Thread 2 cherry tomatoes onto each skewer and top with a half slice of zucchini. and a little piece of green onion.
• Fill the zucchini boats with the filling and insert a mast in the end of each boat. Arrange the boats on a serving platter and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut off the tips of the plantains, then make a slit along the back of each, cutting through the skin from tip to tip. Remove the plantain skins using your thumb. Lay each plantain on its side and slice off a thin layer on the back (the outer curved area), about 3 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. This will flatten the curved area and help the plantains sit on the cutting board without tipping over. Using a paring knife, make a 1-inch-deep slit along the middle of the front side of each plantain, starting from an inch away from one tip and stopping at an inch away from the other tip. Use your index or pinky finger to carefully widen each slit until you see the little black seeds in the middle of the plantain. Brush the plantains all over with about 1 tablespoon of the oil and sprinkle them with salt. Oil a baking sheet with another tablespoon of oil and add the plantains.
• Bake the plantains for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue to bake until the plantains are yellowish and soft to the touch and the tips, sides and bottoms are caramelized, about 15 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheet. Once the plantains cool, they can be easily lifted without breaking.
• To make the stuffing, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the bell pepper and tomato and cook until softened slightly, about 2 minutes. Add the corned beef and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is heated through, about 3 minutes. Mix in the curry, thyme, granulated garlic, bouillon powder and cayenne pepper, if using. Let simmer for 2 minutes. Allow to cool until warm.
• Use a teaspoon to scoop the stuffing into the opening of each plantain. Eat the plantain boat like you would a hot dog.

Steps:

• Cut the celery into 4-inch-long pieces, then slice off a thin edge at the rounded part of the stalk to help them lie flat while stuffing. Place them in a bowl of ice water and refrigerate until ready to stuff.
• In a bowl, toss the pecans with the honey, butter, cayenne and salt, making sure the nuts are well coated. Spread on a baking sheet, bake until nuts are toasted, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool completely.
• Chop pecans coarsely in a food processor. Add the cream cheese and process until smooth. Remove celery from the refrigerator, drain and dry well. Scrape cream cheese/nut mixture out of the food processor into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Fill each celery boat with a generous amount of the mixture.
• Cut the jalapenos into thick strips, and then cut each strip in half at an angle. This should look like a sail. Garnish each of your celery boats with its red jalapeno sail.