i'm obsessed with these shrimp

Recently a couple of girlfriends and I spent a weekend in a small town tucked in the mountains of north Georgia. It's not a place to which one goes to be seen; it's a place to enjoy the view, stay in my pajamas all day, and nap for no reason other than because I feel like it.

Now I do love a fine restaurant experience, but in these times (and tiny towns), I love to cook and stay cozy at the cabin.

This dish is one I'd made several times before, but it was especially perfect for this trip. The ingredients are easily packable (no grocery store run needed), it only takes 30 minutes from start to finish, and there are zero leftovers. Ever.

Since then, I've cooked this dish a gazillion times and can't get enough. It's wicked-easy, but has just enough sophistication to jazz up a routine weeknight.

Garlicky Baked Shrimp
Serves 2-4

1 lb. large or extra large shrimp, peels and tails removed
3 Tbsp. white cooking wine
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper
4 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 c. Panko bread crumbs
2 Tbsp. chopped parsley

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees, and grease a small casserole (I use an 8" square).


2. In a bowl, combine shrimp, wine and garlic, and toss to coat. Spread shrimp evenly in the baking dish, and season with salt and pepper.


3. In a small bowl, use a fork to mix melted butter, Panko bread crumbs, and parsley. Top the shrimp with the Panko mixture.


4. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the shrimp are pink and opaque.

I love to serve this with steamed broccoli and a green salad, to keep things super simple. Prepare those sides while the shrimp bake, and everything comes out ready to go at the same time.

And some other tips, because I can't help but over-share:

"Serves 2-4" is a joke. I could eat the entire pound of shrimp myself, so you'll need to adjust for your crowd. Seriously, these shrimp are like candy.

As for the shrimp, I've used frozen and fresh, depending on whatever is on sale, and both are fine. Just get large or extra large. 

So I can have the ingredients always handy (except for the shrimp), I use a parsley herb blend that comes in a refrigerated tube, like this:

You can find it in your grocery store's herb section, and it's an even substitute. Easy peasy.

That is all. Now go treat yourself to an easy and delicious meal.

catch-up monday

Listen up. Here's some of my summer in a quick photo purge.

And as a bonus, these first few from our company retreat have a very fine yellow filter.

I work with these gals all the time.

They're so fun.

And this one. She and I share a very deep love of Mississippi State, having both served there for many years.

She's so great that I spent two weeks in Italy with her. I can't say that of many.

These two I've known as coworkers and friends for 14 years. (What?!) Some of my very earliest memories of my career are with them. (That was back when we didn't know what we were getting into.)

We worked hard, but in the end there was this sunset that brought my heart rate back down.

Some girlfriends and I went to see a movie. These are work friends, too, and sometimes we dress alike.

Not on purpose.

This one got spectacles.
 

I wasn't convinced he could get much cuter, but he did. I can't take it.

And this one will not stop smiling.

All summer long. So happy.

Meanwhile, I've been darting all over the place for meetings. On one of those jaunts, I actually drove a Dodge Dart.

I couldn't help this snap. Those Darts. They're tiny.

On another one of those jaunts, on an airplane, I landed back home around 2:00 a.m. That was not worthy of a photo, I tell you.

I turned 37. I felt loved in so many ways.

My parents celebrated with me. My friends. I ate like a queen. I laughed til I cried. My mom's carrot cake. I loved that birthday.

There is more to share. It's been a summer full. Has yours been, too?

thankful thursday #225

Ooo wee, it's been a minute!

Gratitude. I need some. Shall we?

For all the traveling of late, thankful some of it was vacation.

Even though it wasn't for long, thankful some of that vacation included Little Man and the Littlest.

For some of the other work travel, thankful it was with and for people I really like to spend time with.

When a friend lost his dad last month, thankful I had a travel break that allowed me to mourn with his family.

In between all the travel, thankful to have had the chance to catch up with friends with long overdue visits.

Of those friends, thankful they are new and old, near and far.

Despite the heartbreak and pain running through the veins of people I love, thankful the Lord is not surprised by any of it.

When I wept silently in church a couple of weeks ago, thankful for the mystery of the Holy Spirit that convicts and comforts at the very same time.

What have you been appreciating (over the last month, gyah)? Go on, be grateful!