I prefer a place where no one cares which fork or napkin you use - or even if you use one at all. A fun atmosphere, quirky and laid back. Just like me. So either a beach dive or even a Joe's Crab Shack or Crabs We Got 'Em will suffice.
When we eat at Joe's Crab Shack I will always order Great Balls of Fire. Years ago (before foodies everywhere started to do this) I took a bunch of photos of them before we ate them, and then slowly (ever so slowly) tried to eat them to mentally deduce what was in them so I could recreate them. I ended up with a supper yummy cheese and jalapeno ball that I've posted here on An American Housewife for my own kids to use, but a few years ago (2008) I came across this recipe online and saved it in my files too.
I've played with this recipe in that I sometimes have to leave the crab out because I don't have it or it's not in my food budget. I never have the tiny salad shrimp on hand, but always have medium sized shrimp so I clean those, pop them into the microwave to cook them and then chop them up.
Most recently I made it lower carb by using low carb options to bread the balls. I was fairly happy with the results, but I indulge in these so rarely and they have just a light breading, then typically I am just going to go ahead and use breadcrumbs. The only thing I hate hate hate hate about making these? I've already mentioned numerous times on this site since 2006.... I hate breading anything! I get just as much egg and breading mix on my fingers as I do the food, and apparently I'm one of those people who find it 'icky' and just don't like it.
Which is probably why I don't make these more often. But they are good - so good - so perhaps I better 'get over it' and start making them more often. Breaded fingers or not.
Jalapeno Cheese Balls
Similar to Great Balls of Fire from Joe's Crab Shack
2 T butter
2 oz cream cheese
1/4 c sour cream
1 T mayonnaise
1 t season salt
1/8 t paprika
1/8 t chili powder
1/4 c cheese, shredded pepperjack
4 t onions, minced
4 t green peppers, minced
3 jalapenos, minced and seeded
6 oz crab, canned
4 oz shrimp, minced salad shrimp
2 eggs
1T milk
1 c Panko or breadcrumbs
1 c oil for frying
Mix the butter, cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise until blended. Add seasoned salt, paprika, and chili powder. Add cheese, onion, green pepper, and jalapenos. Add crab and shrimp; mix. Roll into 1/4 inch balls; refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Beat eggs and milk. Dip the balls into egg mixture; dredge in fine bread crumbs. Deep fry until golden in 1 cup hot oil.
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| Adding the yummy spices! |
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| Before breading them |
