Cioppino

Cioppino (with homemade tomato sauce and fresh Italian seafood) Cioppino can be made with the shell fish served in the shell, or with the shells removed. Though some diners prefer not to have to muss their hands in eating soup, the shells do add to the overall flavor of any fish soup recipe and allow for a more appealing and realistic Cioppino presentation. Cioppino Ingredients: 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil 8-10 canned or bottled oil cured anchovies, diced 4-6 cloves garlic, sliced thinly 2 bay leafs 1/2 cup diced celery 1 medium to large onion, diced 1 roasted red bell pepper, diced 1 cup good rose or red wine 3 T red wine vinegar 1 quart homemade fish or shrimp soup stock Shrimp Stock (chicken stock and/or clam or Clamato juice can be substituted ) 2 cups or more, (depending on how thick and how tomatoy you like it) homemade tomato sauce or a 28 oz can diced tomatoes 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped or 2-3 T dried (add to seasoning mix if dried) Dash or two of Tabasco Sauce 2 T Worcestershire sauce 1/4 cup fresh Italian Parsley 2-3 T fresh lemon juice Seasoning Mix: (use your herb-designated coffee grinder) 1 T salt 1 T black or mixed whole pepper 2 T dried oregano 1 T fennel seeds 1 T fresh or dried rosemary leave Seafood: Just about everything works in Cioppino and Italian fish Stew or Soup recipes, but here are our recommendations: 1/2 lb. medium shrimp (save shells for making seafood stock) 1/2 lb. scallops 24 fresh mussels 1 lb. firm white fish, chopped in 1 inch pieces (cod, catfish, halibut, orange roughy, etc.) 16 fresh clams (optional) (Fresh or canned oysters can be added if you like them) This cioppino also contains crab, shrimp, squid, swordfish Fresh bread of your choice, garlic baked if desired, and lots of it. (The juice is incredible) Prepare the Cioppino: Heat olive oil to medium and add anchovies. Add garlic after about 3 minutes (this mixture should smell fabulous by now, might even bring a whole slew of hungry family members a-runnin9). Add bay leafs, onions, celery and bell pepper plus 1/2 of the seasoning mix. Sauté for 6-8 minutes. Add wine, vinegar, Tabasco and Worcestershire and reduce by 1/2, then add tomato sauce, basil and the rest of the seasoning mix. Simmer about 5 minutes then add the lemon juice. Add the fish and shellfish, cover and cook about 7 more minutes. Remove any of the mussels and clams that don't open. Sprinkle the completed Italian fish stew with parsley. Serve with fresh, Italian bread. (Butter it up and garlic it if you really want a taste treat!) This recipe serves four easily