Learning to Cook

I have always been surrounded by wonderful cooks and bakers. While this has been delightful for my taste buds, I always wondered if I would ever be able to cook like them. When I lived in Brazil, I was forced to learn how to cook because the ingredients at my disposal were so different. The experience was, at first, frustrating. But, once I began to experiment, the world of cooking opened up to me. My recipe box is now brimming, and I thought others might be interested in trying some of the recipes I have found. I haven’t tried them all yet, but I plan to in the future! I hope you enjoy, and please feel free to add your own suggestions/comments.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Margarita Shrimp Salad

The flavors of a margarita - tequila, orange and lime - are blended in a tossed salad of fresh shrimp, diced avocado and sliced red onion, spiked with a creamy, spicy sour cream dressing. Don't shy away from avocados because they're high in calories - avocados are rich in good, heart-healthy fat, as well as vitamin E, folate, potassium and other important nutrients.

Makes 4 servings, about 2 cups each
ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Moderate

1 pound medium shrimp (30-40 per pound), peeled and deveined
1/4 cup tequila
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
1 teaspoon freshly grated lime zest
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup thinly slivered red onion
Creamy Lime-Chile Dressing (recipe follows)
4 cups torn romaine lettuce
2 medium endives, cored and torn into pieces (2 cups)
1 orange, peeled and cut into segments
2 ripe Hass avocados, peeled, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 tablespoon lime juice (see Tip)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Lime wedges

1. Toss shrimp, tequila, orange zest, lime zest and salt in a medium bowl. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place onion in a small bowl, cover with cold water and some ice; let stand for 10 minutes, or until ready to use.
2. Meanwhile, make Creamy Lime-Chile Dressing.
3. Toss romaine, endive, orange segments and the drained onion in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss to coat. Divide among 4 plates. Toss avocados with lime juice and divide among the salads.
4. Drain the shrimp, reserving the marinade. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and sauté until pink and firm, 2 to 3 minutes. Divide among the salads. Add the reserved marinade to the pan and bring to a boil, stirring; spoon over shrimp. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: 1/2 fruit, 1 1/2 vegetable, 3 1/2 very lean protein, 4 1/2 fat

TIP: Tips: To juice a lime:
A lime at room temperature gives the most juice (11/2-2 tablespoons). Before juicing, roll the lime on the counter, pressing down with your hand. If the recipe calls for both zest and juice, grate the zest before squeezing the juice.

To segment an orange:
After zesting, use a small sharp knife to remove any remaining peel and all the bitter white pith. To make attractive segments, work over a bowl to catch the juice and slice between each segment and its surrounding membrane.

From: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/margarita_shrimp_salad.html

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