Shrimp Scampi Pasta a la Todd

Here is a Shrimp Scampi recipe I saw in Gourmet magazine and added my own twist. It turned out pretty good!

SCHRIMP SCAMPI PASTA a la TODD

INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup of oil
1 lb of peeled, deveined large shrimp (I like them as big as you can get)
4-5 large garlic cloves forced through a garlic press
1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4-5 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 lb spaghetti
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
juice from half of a small lemon and maybe some zest.
15-20 grape tomatoes cut in half


PREPARATION
Bring a 6-8 quart pot of salted water to a boil.

Heat oil in a large skillet over moderately high heat. Saute the shrimp, sprinkle with a little lemon juice, turning over once, until just cooked though, about 2 minutes and transfer with a slotted spoon to a large bowl. Add garlic to the remaining oil along with red pepper flakes, wine, salt and pepper and cook over high heat for around 1 minute. Add the tomatoes to the mixture and cook for 30 seconds. Add butter to the skillet, stirring until melted, and stir in shrimp. Remove from heat.

Hopefully half way through the last step you had your water bowling and added your pasta. If not get the pasta in now. Cook pasta in boiling water until just tender (the article says 5 minutes but up here in Denver it is more like 10-15). Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain pasta in a colander. Toss pasta well with the shrimp mixture and parsley in a large bowl, adding some of the reserved cooking water if necessary to keep moist.

Todd's notes - I added the tomatoes, lemon and Parmigiano-Reggiano to this recipe. It says to use 1/4 cup of olive oil but I used about half of that. Other comments, maybe use some greens (beans, asparagus, spinach????) I like mine topped with a little grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Don't over cook the shrimp. They are better a little under cooked then overcooked. If you have waited to take them out until they are hard and crispy. Then they are overcooked. They will continue to cook a little after they have been taken out of the pan. If you are a little nervous take them out early the first time you cook them and when you add them back in the end keep them in there a little longer (but not much).

T

Funniest video ever!

So, Morhéa loves to take pictures with our digital camera. She is also very good at taking those pictures. People often see her with the camera taking our picture and ask if we need help. We usually respond with "no she is just fine." Today Morhéa got her hands on the camera and also figured out the video recording button. The result is one of the funniest movies ever. The resolution decreased a lot when I downloaded the video but you will get the point. This was also her first time bowling! If you have a 3 year old then you can relate. If not here is what you are in for!! Enjoy!

T

Happy New Year 2009!

Kim seems to be out doing me with the pictures these days so I haven't had the need to write lately. I'll keep it short. I would like to start by congratulating Kim on starting a new job this week. She has taken a job with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and started last week. Ironically she now works in the same building as me!! It is a little interesting to have you wife work a couple of walls away. Her section has even higher security then my area so I can't just stop by. She can stop by my area but hasn't come by yet. We now both work less then a mile from where we live. Congrats to Kim!!

Thanksgiving was great with Dad and Carolyn coming out for the Holidays. It was a big family event. My cousin Ellie moved out here this past summer and she hosted Thanksgiving. We had a blast. Five Hoefen's were there, 7 Camann's and a few of Ellie's very nice friends. The weather held up for a couple of days and we got a good hike in. A great visit for sure.

Then the Buytaert's came out for a week during Christmas. Again the weather held up for a few days. They got to get a good hike in at Red Rock State Park. The Buytaert's got to see their condo and go swimming in the community pool. I think the went to the museum of nature and science as well. As usual I got cook a lot while everyone was here which I love to do. I cooked a family style meal for us on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Morhea had a blast opening all of her presents. This is the first year she REALLY understood what was going on and she loved every minute of it. She actually woke up around 9:30 or 10:00 AM which was nice. After presents at our house we went over to the Camann's in the afternoon. Morhea and her cousins get along so well. Her and Isabelle played for hours. I didn't even see her for most of the night. Janya and her mother made dueling roasts and we all pitched in on the fixings.





New Year's was good. Morhea was a little sick earlier in the week and so we didn't want to do too much. We ended up going to the Zoo Lights. The Denver Zoo always does a great job lighting up the zoo around Christmas. We spent the early part of the night walking around the zoo. We came home and I made some clams steamed in a white wine, onion and parsley sauce. Then I made some shrimp cocktails, crab stuffed mushrooms and finished it off with some fine deserts. Morhea easily made it to midnight and then some.



Tomorrow Kim and Morhea head off for their first skiing adventure of the year. They are very excited. Happy New Year!!

Todd