Angry Shrimp with Garlic, Chili, Basil Oil

Hungry for a different way to have shrimp?  Different than the standard Shrimp Cocktail?  

Here's the recipe that will become one of your favorites, like it is ours!

First make a spicy mixture of flour, red pepper flakes, and chipotle chili pepper, salt & pepper.  Dredge the cooked, deveined, thawed shrimp in the flour mixture.

 Leave the tails on so you will have a little "handle"

Finely mince some garlic and chili pepper.  About a tablespoon of each.  

You will also need a tablespoon of dried minced basil.

Warm some olive oil in a non-stick skillet. Add the shrimp.  

Don't move it around,it needs to get crispy.

Flip 'em over and crisp the other side.

Drain the shrimp on a paper towel.  Add the garlic, chili, and basil to the remaining oil in the skillet.

Swish it around until the garlic is kinda soft.

Pool the garlic, chili, basil oil on a serving plate,

arrange the shrimp on top.

Alternately, you can drizzle the oil over the shrimp.

Tonight I served the shrimp with toasted garlic sourdough bread.

Enjoy friends!

Snowstorm Chili

There are about as many recipes for chili as there are cooks who make chili!  In anticipation of the blizzard predicted for this week-end, hubby requested chili.  I asked "red or white?"  He voted for red!

Basics that I used:  beef, chili beans, red and/or pinto beans, anaheim chilies and poblano chilies from last summer's garden (roasted, peeled and frozen), onion, tomatoes, and seasonings of choice.

Toppings and fixings for the chili include sour cream, grated cojack cheese and ----drum roll

 ---- Fritoes!  Some folks also add sliced green onions and an array of other goodies!

Here is a starter recipe for Chili Con Carne from SimplyRecipes.com one of my favorite food blogs!  (That chipotle chile pepper powder is powerful, but really good stuff!)

And, btw, it didn't blizzard, it didn't even snow!

Chili Con Carne Recipe

INGREDIENTS

Chipotle chili powder

• 2 Tbsp red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
• 1 Tbsp ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons ground oregano
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seeds
• 3-4 Tbsp water

• 4 strips bacon
• One 2 1/2 pound chuck roast, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• Salt
• 1 medium white onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 jalapeño chili peppers, stems removed, seeded, ribs removed, minced

• 1 14-oz can whole tomatoes
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 1 14-oz can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch, dissolved in a couple tablespoons of water
• Salt

• Grated cheddar cheese and chopped red onion for garnish