Boiled Shrimp for my Birthday Bash!

Sorry, no blog report last night.  I had my birthday party – I’m 21 and 324 months!  J

For my birthday dinner – and yes, of course I cooked it – I had “Man-food”. 

 You know, that simple, eat till your full and ready for a nap food.

One of my favorite Man-food's is – boiled shrimp! 

My favorite seasoning is Zatarain’s Crab Boil.  It seasons these little devils perfectly.  Add the seasoning packet to a large pot of water and bring to a boil.  Once boiling, add the shrimp and wait three minutes or so until the shrimp are pink.  Drain in a colander and rinse with cool water to stop the cooking process.  (Hard huh?)

The secret is in the sauce!  Cocktail sauce alone will please the basic caveman in us, but the really primitive of us wants more!  I mix two large teaspoons of HOT horseradish into my cocktail sauce.  It will bring sweat to the forehead.  Woo hoo!!

My bride, who thinks candy Hot Tamales will incinerate the box, LOVES this concoction.  The horseradish burn is unlike a hot pepper burn.  The difference is that the horseradish heat lends to sweetness and will be gone before you can get your hand around a beverage you think you need to quench the heat.  GONE.  No more burn! Try that with a hot pepper.

So, what side dish goes with four pounds of boiled shrimp?  Well here in South Carolina it can only be stewed tomatoes and rice.  We also added a side salad for roughage.  

Stewed tomatoes are easy.  A can of diced tomatoes, a Tbsp of distilled white vinegar, a tsp of Spenda, and S & P to taste, then let simmer for 30 minutes or so while you cook the rice.

My birthday cake was Angel food cake topped with fresh picked strawberries from a local farm.  The strawberries are blended with Splenda and allowed to set for a few hours. (Overnight is best)  Then served up and topped with Light Whipped topping!

It was a happy day!