Broiled Lobster Tails

I finally discovered the world of fresh lobster tails on the island during my last semester in Grenada. There are local fishermen everywhere in town, and lobster is cheap and fresh when it's in season. At just US $3 a pound, it is easy to have a delicious lobster dinner on any night of the week! There are a few ways to prepare lobster: steaming, poaching in butter, grilling, or broiling. My favorite is broiled lobster, as it seems to concentrate all the wonderful flavor.

Ingredients:

2 lobster tails (defrost if frozen)

1/2 cup of butter

1/2 teaspoon of paprika

1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder (or 1 teaspoon fresh minced garlic)

2 teaspoons of lemon or lime juice

salt and white pepper to taste

1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning (optional)

Preheat the broiler. Wash the lobster tails with some lemon juice, and place them on a cutting board. Using strong kitchen shears, cut a line along the top shell from the front towards the end of the tail stopping just before the end.

Fresh lobster tail

Cut and open lobster tails

Pull the shell apart to open it up. Rinse the tails again to remove any pieces of shell and any dirt from inside. Pat the tails dry with a paper towel. If you like, you may pull the meat up and out of the shell (with the end still attached inside), and rest it on top of the shell. This is called piggybacking. My broiler was too small so I had to leave the meat inside of the shell. Place the prepared lobsters on a baking pan. Melt the butter and add the paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper (and Old Bay, if desired). Pour the seasoning butter over the tails and place them in the broiler. Broil the lobster tails (about 15 minutes per pound of tail) about 4-6 inches away from the flame. 

My lobsters sitting in the broiler

Broil them until the meat turns opaque and the shells turn red. Remove from the shell and serve with clarified butter. Enjoy!

I piggybacked mine after cooking them, here is one with some wild rice pilaf I made to go with it.

Simple Peanut Butter Cookies

 Peanut butter cookies are one of my favorite types of cookies, and this recipe makes it so easy to have in a short amount of time! There are only 3 ingredients (which are usually already in my kitchen), and they bake up in almost no time at all. Soft, chewy, and delicious, these cookies are a must try!

Ingredients:
1 cup of peanut butter
5 oz (a little over a 1/2 cup) of lightly packed light brown sugar
1 egg

Preheat the oven to 350F. In a mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter and sugar and mix. Add the egg and mix until everything is well combined.

Three ingredients

Mixing the cookie dough

Cover baking pans with cookie sheets or wax paper (do not grease them, the peanut butter has enough oil!) Form round balls with the cookie dough (about 1 inch in diameter), and place them on the prepared cookie sheets. Take a fork and make crosshatch marks while flattening each of the cookies.

Cookies ready for the oven

Place the cookies in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the sides start to brown a little. Take them out and allow them to cool on the baking sheets for 15-20 minutes before removing them. Enjoy with a cup of milk or tea!

Note: Depending on the brand of peanut butter you use, the cookie dough may come out too greasy. Just add a bit of flour until it reaches cookie dough consistency and holds together. Mine did not need flour but the dough wasn't as firm as I would have liked, so I refrigerated the dough for about 10 minutes before forming the cookies.