Shrimp Ya Ya Food

GRITS-A-YA-YA

Steps:

• For the grits: Run the chicken stock into a thick-bottomed saucepan and turn on high till it boils. Mix in the grits and stir like crazy. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add a little cream if you need more liquid.
• Then, tumble in the butter, add the creamed corn, drizzle in the rest of the cream and stir until it's all in the family.
• Shake in the shredded cheese and stir very well until it's nice and smooth.
• For the shrimp: While your grits cook, bring a large saucepan to medium heat. Add the bacon and cook for about 3 minutes, then add the garlic and shallots and saute. Add the butter and a splash of white wine and cook until the butter is half melted, then add the shrimp. Cook until the downsides of the shrimp become white, then flip them and add the spinach, scallions and mushrooms and saute for 2 minutes.
• Remove the shrimp. Pour in the heavy cream and let simmer, stirring, until reduced by one-third. Add salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste. Return the shrimp and stir to combine.
• To serve, spoon the sauce and shrimp onto heaping mounds of the cheese grits.

SHRIMP JAMBALAYA

Steps:

• Make the shrimp broth: Remove the shells and tails from the shrimp and put the shells and tails in a medium saucepan. Clean and devein the shrimp and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Add the peppercorns, the intact onion piece, large celery chunks, 3 crushed garlic cloves and 2 bay leaves to the saucepan and cover with 5 cups of water. Bring to a high simmer and then lower the heat to maintain a low simmer. Cook until the water has reduced by about a third, 20 to 30 minutes. Let the broth cool completely and then strain (you should have about 3 cups. If you have less than 3 cups, add enough water to make up the difference).
• Make the jambalaya: Heat the oil in a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the flour and use a whisk to constantly stir until the mixture is toasted, about 2 minutes. Add the bell pepper, scallion whites, andouille, tomato paste, the chopped onion, celery and garlic, the remaining 2 bay leaves and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes (add splashes of shrimp broth or water if the mixture sticks at all). Add the rice and stir to coat.
• Pour in the remaining broth, crushed tomatoes, thyme, cayenne, half the scallion greens and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Adjust the heat to low, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Add the shrimp, cover and continue to cook until the rice is tender and the shrimp are cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes more. Remove the bay leaves.
• Sprinkle the top of the jambalaya with the parsley and remaining scallion greens. Serve with hot sauce.

SHRIMP YA-YA

Steps:

• Make the sauce: In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add cream and simmer for 5 minutes. Add Parmesan and garlic, stirring until cheese melts. Remove from heat; let thicken. Add parsley and red pepper, if desired.
• For the shrimp: In the work bowl of a food processor, add basil, pine nuts and garlic; pulse to combine. With motor running, add 2 tablespoons oil in a steady stream and process until a smooth paste forms. Add 2 tablespoons Parmesan and salt and process 30 seconds more.
• In a large nonstick skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add shrimp; cook until pink and firm; stir in red pepper, basil mixture and Quick Alfredo Sauce. Cook until sauce is slightly thickened. Top with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.