Hildas Stuffies Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, and bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
• Add the clams to the boiling water, cover, and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes or until the shells open. Discard any shells that do not open. Remove the clams from the pot and place on a parchment-lined sheet pan. When the clams are cool enough to handle, gently pry the shells apart enough to remove the clam, leaving the hinge attached. Loosen the muscle in the lower shell and remove the clam from the shell. Save the 6 nicest shells and place the shells on a parchment-lined baking sheet and set aside. Finely chop the clam meat and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, stir the butter and 1 tablespoon of the garlic together. Season the butter with salt and pepper. Spoon the butter onto a piece of plastic wrap. Form the butter into a 1-inch log, cover tightly, and place in the refrigerator. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Heat a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the chorizo and cook until rendered, about 2 minutes. Add the onions, celery and peppers. Season lightly with Essence. Cook for 2 more minutes. Stir in the remaining garlic, the breadcrumbs, and reserved clam meat and remove from the heat. Stir in the reserved cooking liquid and 2 tablespoons of the parsley. Season with Essence and cool slightly.
• Pack the stuffing mixture into one side of each shell. Slice the compound butter into 6 equal slices. Place a slice of the butter on top of each stuffing mixture. Using your hands, pat the stuffing firmly into each clam shell. Top each evenly with the cheese and the remaining parsley. Close the shells as tightly as possible and wrap with aluminum foil or tie the shell tightly with butchers twine.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Unwrap the clams and place on a serving platter. Garnish with additional parsley and Essence and serve hot.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from New New Orleans Cooking by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a saute pan, heat the olive oil. Add the chorizo and render for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the onions, shallots, garlic and peppers. Saute the mixture until the vegetables are light in color, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and turn into a mixing bowl. Season with salt, cayenne and parsley. Stir in the clams and creole mustard. Fold in enough bread crumbs to bind the mixture. Pack the mixture into each shell and tie with the butcher's twine. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the stuffing is cooked through. Remove from the oven and place the untied clams on a platter. Drizzle the butter sauce over the clams. Place a small bundle of the leeks in the center of each clam. Garnish with red peppers, parsley and Essence.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a medium pot, bring 4 cups water to a boil over high heat. Place the quahogs in the pot and let them steam until they open, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the quahogs and strain the water from the pot (which is now quahog broth) and reserve it for later use. Then remove the meats from the shells and, when cool, chop into chunky 1/4-inch pieces or use a food processor. (Don't over process, the meats should be chunky.) The shells can be set aside for later use. Make sure to remove any muscles left on the shells and discard any broken shells.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the butter, chourico, onions and pepper relish and cook until the onions become translucent. Add the chopped quahog meat and cook for 3 to 4 minutes longer.
• In a large mixing bowl, add the quahog broth to the croutons and fold together. When the croutons have absorbed the broth, add the hot ingredients to the bowl. Incorporate all of the ingredients, and adding enough plain breadcrumbs until the mixture is stiff. Divide the mixture into 10 even balls, about 5 ounces each or 3 inches in diameter, and place firmly into the shells. Place the shells on a sheet pan into the oven until the outside of the stuffie is toasted brown, 5 to 10 minutes. The stuffies are now ready to be served.