Chef Xenu

Chef Xenu's Kitchen

Recipe #1 (December 2008) Chef Xenu's Sea Aarrrgh! Firecrackers (hors d'oeuvres)

Every year at Christmas my family puts together a platter of shrimp, cheap caviar, smoked fishes, canned fishes, squid, octopus, and other things (the children have repeatedly compared it to "Fear Factor" and seem to enjoy it almost as much as the rest of us).  This hors d'oeuvre was inspired by those Christmas mornings, and is an intense flavor experience you'll never forget.  It is dedicated to Sea Aarrrgh!, the best bunch of masked scalawags this side of Marcab.

Ingredients:
1 Can of anchovies (the kind that are rolled around capers)
3-5 garlic cloves
1 package of Water Crackers
fresh oregano
fresh ground pepper
red caviar (optional)

Carefully remove the rolled anchovies from the can and place them lightly on a cloth napkin or paper towel to wick away the excess oil.  While that is happening, choose the largest few garlic cloves from the outside of a fresh bulb, then peel and carefully cut them into very thin slices.  Place a cracker for each of the anchovies on the serving plate.  In the center of each cracker place 2 slices of garlic, slightly overlapping at one end to make a fan/heart shape.  Place the rolled anchovies on the garlic where the slices overlap.  Place a couple oregano leaves on top, give each firecracker a little grind of pepper and (if desired) put a few red caviar on top for color and an extra little kick of flavor.