Thursday, September 2, 2010

Show Stopper Appetizer

I recently saw an advertisement for fried chicken. “So good it’ll make you slap yo’ mama” it said. Hmph…they didn’t know my mama. The only thing that could have made me slap her was temporary insanity. But this appetizer or first course comes close….very close :)

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Many years ago there was a restaurant on the Mississippi Gulf Coast called White Pillars. The Biloxi restaurant was known far and wide for its signature appetizer Eggplant Josephine. The restaurant closed even before Katrina devastated the area. However, with a little bit of research I managed to find what I believe to be the original recipe. It has since become our favorite appetizer or side dish for very special meals or dinner parties. The holidays are right around the corner and this is a real show stopper to serve guests!!

Eggplant Josephine

1 large eggplant

2 tablespoons flour

Olive oil

Shredded mozzarella cheese

1 pound crabmeat

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup dry white wine

Hollandaise

Meat sauce

Peel the eggplant and slice 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. I salt it lightly and let it sit about 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. This process called degorging draws out the moisture and any bitter taste sometimes present in eggplant. Flour and saute in olive oil until lightly browned. Drain and set aside. To make the crabmeat topping: Clean and pick crabmeat. Melt butter and add wine. Simmer a few minutes and set aside.

Hollandaise Sauce

Beat two eggs until frothy. Blend in 2 cups mayonnaise and add 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce. Blend in 2 tablespoons dry mustard, salt, and white pepper to taste.

To assemble: Layer eggplant slices in a shallow baking pan. Top with crabmeat mixture, meat sauce, and shredded cheese. Bake at 450 degrees until bubbly. Top with warm hollandaise and garnish with paprika.

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As always, we tweak recipes around here and adapt to suit our own tastes. Personally, I prefer mine without the meat sauce. We also make our own hollandaise or cheat and use a packaged mix with a little lemon juice added. Either way….it’s good….a real show stopper. Just don’t “slap yo’ mama” :)

I hope you enjoyed this “beachy” week with me. I am joining Michael Lee West, our favorite foodie for Foodie Friday. Click on the FF button on the sidebar for immediate transportation! Don’t forget to say hello!

39 comments:

  1. Wow! I bet it tastes as good as it looks!! Love Hollandaise sauce!

    xoxo
    Jane

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  2. Susan, there was a restaurant on Long Island that used to serve a very similar dish, but with a different name (which eludes me right now- I'm exhausted!) It was wonderful! Beautiful post!
    xoxo Pattie

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  3. It is often hard to find an original recipe. Sometimes it seems like a little something is missing.
    Slap my Mama? She would have kicked my butt.

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  4. It looks fabulous, so pretty on your starfish dish!

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  5. Wowwee-wow-wow-wow. I'm sooooo going to make this. I love eggplant and crab and mozzarella and hollandaise, and.... Oh I can't stand it!!! I can already tell I'm going to LOVE this dish... thank you so very much for sharing the love.

    Happy FF.

    :)
    ButterYum

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  6. Oh My! That looks and sounds wonderful! It is now 10:42PM and I am now hungry all of a sudden!!:D
    I never did understand the "slap yo Mama good" saying.
    Good Night! :-D

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  7. Hi Susan,

    This looks tasty and I have an aubergine so will try making this.
    Thanks for sharing the recipe and hope that you have a happy long weekend

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  8. I am saving this one! It sounds wonderful. Thank you for sharing.

    Have a wonderful weekend.

    Carol

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  9. This sounds delicious and looks delicious. I love the starfish plates. Perfect!

    I feel as if I've made a late summer beach trip with you these past few days. Thanks for inviting me.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  10. I am so wanting a trip to the beach! This made me hungry and thinking, did I ever go to that restaurant when I lived down there? Can't remember, I am so OLD! lol

    hugs,
    Linda

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  11. This looks delicious...even if I am not inclined to slap my momma, lol!! I LOVE your beachy theme :)

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  12. OMGness this look amazing! Your photos look straight from a magazine and it feels like I'm at an amazing restaurant. I really love your truffle bowl beach display too.

    Also, I have a giveaway on my blog right now that I would love for you to enter if you're interested and haven't already done so! =)

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  13. Susan, this is a gorgeous and I'm sure delicious appetizer. I've bookmarked it and will try as soon as I have some time. Have a greay holiday. Blessings...Mary

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  14. Hi Susan! Oh, yummy this looks so good! And I love the dish you have it in! I'll have to try this. It almost looks like lasagne!
    Thanks for popping in to see me.
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  15. Oh, you had my mouth watering and it is breakfast time, not that I limit eating wonderful foods to their supposed times. This Hollandaise sounds so easy I will have to try it. We love Knorr Hollandaise sauce too and their Bearnaise. Sometimes it isn't worth being a French chef!
    Yum, Yum.

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  16. How right you are about your appetizer being perfect for the grilled lobster. Want to get together and fix a meal? I notice you have a shih tzu, too. The best! Have a good weekend.

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  17. Hi Susan!
    Thanks for stopping by Artfully Graced. Yes, even though we root for different SEC teams, we CAN be friends. And with recipes like the one you posted here, I REALLY WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND! This sounds absolutely amazing!!! I'm gonna have to go back to the store for these ingredients tomorrow...MacDaddy will LOVE this. (He may even shout out "Hoddy Toddy"...
    Have a super weekend!!!
    Jane (artfully graced)

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  18. Hi Susan,

    Wow, this looks fabulous. I can't wait to try out your recipe. Hope you have a fantastic holiday weekend.

    Gigi

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  19. O, MAN....this looks soooo good..

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  20. ooo, and I didn't leave my pinkness breakfast..it was MR. Sweet that had the golf game..:)))

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  21. Oh my goodness, Susan! How yummy-looking! I love the sound of this recipe! It remeinds me of the stuffed eggplant at the Red Bar in Grayton Beach Florida! Didn't you tell me you had eaten there? I have been searching everywhere for a recipe similar to that one and this one looks like it might be it! Thanks! Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!...hugs...Debbie

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  22. My husband and I love eggplant. This looks like a great variation of how I always prepare it. Thanks! Oh, and thank you so much for your very sweet comments on my blog. Really made my day. :)
    Donna

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  23. Oh yum! How did I miss this? I love eggplant and I love Hollandaise sauce on anything!
    Thanks for your vote. I appreciate it so much.

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  24. This sounds yummy, but I think I'm missing something. Maybe I'm just dense. Do you make the meat sauce, buy it, or what? Did I just miss that whole thing?

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  25. Mmmmmm, looks and sounds yummy!! And much easier to make than eggplant parmigiana :-)

    Kelly

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  26. Your pictures of the Eggplant Josephine were just fabulous. It looked delicious! I'm not much of a cook but this may be something I'll try.
    That game yesterday was something wasn't it? Did you get to go?
    My son had an amazing day. He is a photographer and he got to get a press pass for the game and be on the field to shoot the game. He said it was awesome to be down on the field right where all the action is. He is working with the yearbook staff. Don't know if they'll use any of the pictures but a wonderful experience just the same.
    Have a great week.
    Jane

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  27. Susan, it looks impressive and sounds so delicious! I bet the presentation wasn't any better at the snazzy resturant than it was at your house! laurie

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  28. Susan, this just looks fantastic! Boy, I would love to have that in front of me RIGHT now! :-)

    Thanks SO much for your prayers for Mr. Magpie. We leave in a few for the hotel at Mayo. I feel so much better knowing we are covered in prayer.

    See you soon...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  29. Oh my goodness, Susan! This looks so good. I am definitely going to have to try it...Christine

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  30. So glad you dropped by... now I've found a new recipe to try this week. Like you, I'll nix the meat sauce (eat only seafood here). Sounds (& looks) wonderful!

    Peaceful day :-)

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  31. I'm always looking for new ways to prepare crab, and this looks fabulous! Hollandaise and crab are a perfect pairing.

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  32. susan this restaurant is suppose to return very soon it is under construction as we speak. I was looking for an old menu myself. where did you find the eggplant josephine? thanks for your help

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