Down by the Sea

Growing up we didn't eat much seafood. Mom and I liked several kinds, but Dad and Tracey couldn't even stand the smell of it. The older I grew the more often I ordered fried shrimp or catfish at restaurants. 

Matt enjoys seafood and likes to add lighter meals in with all that beef we both enjoy. I'm a Southern girl so I always lean toward fried seafood. There's nothing light about that!

Since we've been married, I've baked a lot of seafood. This week was not one of those weeks. 

I found a recipe for Bang Bang Shrimp that looked appetizing. Admittedly, I had to improvise a little on the crust (I didn't quite have enough Panko for the breading). Believe it or not, I added crushed corn flakes to make up the difference and it worked!

Fearful of the spicy sauce, I served it on the side. (The recipe called for mixing the shrimp in the sauce.) 

 Our leftovers served as an appetizer later :)

For Matt, the Cheddar Biscuits I baked to go with them stole the show. 

In case you're interested, here are the recipes: 

Bang Bang Shrimp

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• For the sauce:
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 4-5 teaspoons chili garlic sauce, such as Sriracha sauce
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
• For the egg mixture:
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• For the breading mixture:
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• For frying:
• 8 to 12 cups vegetable oil

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl; cover and set aside.

Combine beaten egg with milk in shallow bowl; set aside.

Combine flour, panko, salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and basil in another shallow bowl; set aside.

Bread the shrimp by first coating each with the breading mixture. Dip breaded shrimp into the egg and milk mixture, and then back into the breading. Arrange the coated shrimp on a plate and pop them into the fridge for at least 20 minutes. This step will help the breading to stick on the shrimp when they are frying.

Heat oil in deep fryer to 350 degrees F. Use amount of oil required by your fryer.

When oil is hot, fry shrimp 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on rack or paper towels.

When all shrimp has been fried, drop the shrimp into a large bowl. Spoon about 1/4 cup of sauce over shrimp and stir gently to coat. Yield: 4 servings. 

Next time, I'll try about 3 teaspoons of the chili sauce rather than 5. Matt and I like flavorful meals and even like a little heat at times. This recipe calls for more heat than we would usually enjoy. 

Cheddar Biscuits

TIME: Prep: 15 min. Cook: 20 min.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups biscuit baking mix
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons margarine, melted
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet, or line with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine baking mix, Cheddar cheese, and garlic powder. Stir in milk. Drop batter by heaping tablespoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheet.

Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Brush biscuits with melted margarine, and sprinkle with parsley and garlic salt. Bake for 5 more minutes, or until lightly browned on the bottom. Yield: 8 biscuits.

My recipe selection in these early days of marriage has been influenced by living down by the sea.