Shrimp Really Does Have a Best Friend

Shrimp really does have a best friend and her name is Papaya Chipotle Pineapple.

Shrimp can be pretty boring and smelly. We've all been there...hanging out with someone you really don't want to be around. And somehow you forget who you are, where you're from, how old you are, and when your last shower was. But then there are the people that make you feel fresh and wonderful...and it's worth keeping them around.

Enough about best friends, let's cook.

Shrimp can taste nasty. I honestly don't hold anything against people with an aversion to shell fish...but there are ways to avoid this. Take note: frozen, uncooked shrimp is so much better than not-frozen or cooked-then-frozen shrimp. It's actually rather logical...shrimp that's frozen right out of the water is kinda only a few hours dead. Does that sound nasty? It shouldn't because this will be the best meal yll eou'at...ever (as will every other post on here).

Shrimp-tastic Yum Yum.....
serves 4
1 lb. (about 20 pieces) frozen, uncooked shrimp
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. granulated sugar
1 tbs. olive oil
1-2 tbs. Papaya Chipotle Pineapple sauce & dressing*

Thaw, peel and devein the shrimp. Place a papers towel on the kitchen counter (or plate if you're paranoid) and lay the shrimp flat on it so that it begins to dry. Place another towel on top and dry. Let the shrimp dry for an additional few minutes.

Place shrimp in a bowl and add the salt and sugar. Stir the shrimp until coated.

In a medium to large skillet, heat olive oil over high heat. Once hot!, place shrimp (on it's side, not spine) on the skillet. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, then flip with a fork (if this is taking you a long time to do, take the pan off the heat). Cook the other side about 3 minutes. At this point, the shrimp should be nice and golden on both sides, while cooked in the middle (you'll know because it won't be pink anymore).

Place hot shrimp in bowl and pour sauce on top. Stir so shrimp is coated, then serve hot.

prep time: 10 minutes
cooking time: 10 minutes

*This dressing can be found lots of different stores minus most grocery stores. If you're in Los Angeles, the Fish King in Glendale has it for sale in the fish market area. If you're roaming the Hillcrest farmer's market in San Diego, chances are you'll run into the Earth & Vine display. If you're living somewhere else, go to the Earth and Vine website to order it.

My Kitchen is in a Fort

I have become a citizen of the twenty-first century: I have a blog. And not just a blog about my feelings...but one that will hopefully be useful.

Rewind, two months ago:

Rachel: "I mean, I just don't even know where to start. Sometimes I have the time to make something really good, but even then I don't know what to cook."

Me: "Yeah..."

R: "And even then, I'll need to try to make something when I don't have time. I mean, you cook, like, EVERY DAY. Seriously, you should help people like me."

Well, Rachel, this blog is for you. Bless your heart.

As I was researching other food blogs to throw on the side of this thing to make it seem like I know what I'm talking about, it became clear that there aren't many places that have recipes that only take 20 minutes and 3 ingredients. I mean, I guess these people just sit at home and make fancy food all day long and then use their blogs as shrines to their good taste buds...but as for me and (maybe) you, I (1) don't have lots of money, (2) work all day and sometimes night, and (3) would rather spend the time eating the food with others than stressing over it alone in the kitchen.

Look, let's just cook and then move on with the day, right? Well, hopefully you'll enjoy it and start learning as you go. Email me with your favorites and I'd be happy to pass it along.

I didn't go to culinary school, but I have a subscription to Cook's Illustrated and a pile of about 10 cookbooks. Most of the recipes that I'll have on here are from somewhere other than my brain - whether it's a friend's, a blog's, a book's, or from some tv show.

Well, happy cooking.