New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp

I know.  Americans don't like to eat shrimp with the heads and tails on.  But it makes for a more flavorful dish.  Just have plenty of paper towels, bowls and lemon water to wash the digits...
Serves 4

photo by Linda Pulgiese, food styling by Chelsea Zimmer

ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
• 1 pound jumbo Louisiana shrimp, peeled, leaving heads and tails on
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Crystal hot sauce
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1 cup Abita or other amber beer
• 1 teaspoon minced rosemary leaves
• 1 loaf French bread, thickly sliced on the diagonal and warmed

preparation

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and sauté the garlic until lightly browned and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook for 1 minute on each side. Increase the heat to high and add the Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, lemon juice, Creole seasoning, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes, then remove the shrimp from skillet.

Queso Fundido

Coming from Texas, I love this type of appetizer.  Use chips or slather onto a warm flour tortilla...yum. 6-8 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 1 small tomato, chopped
• 1 serrano chile, seeded, chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
• Kosher salt
• 8 ounces coarsely grated mild yellow cheddar
• 8 ounces coarsely grated Monterey Jack
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 4-ounce link fresh chorizo or hot Italian sausage, casing removed
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 1/2 cup lager
• Tortilla chips

• Mix tomato, chile, and oregano in a small bowl. Season with salt; let salsa stand for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss both cheeses with flour in a medium bowl. Cook chorizo in a medium saucepan over medium heat, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until it begins to render, about 1 minute. Add onion and continue cooking until chorizo is cooked and onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer chorizo mixture to a small bowl; return saucepan to heat. Add beer; simmer, stirring occasionally and scraping up any browned bits. Whisking constantly, add cheese mixture a 1/4-cupful at a time, allowing it to become blended and smooth between additions. Stir in chorizo mixture. DO AHEAD Queso can be made 30 minutes ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• To reheat, warm skillet with queso fundido over medium heat; stir until melted and bubbly.
• Using a slotted spoon, spoon salsa over queso. Serve in skillet with a basket of tortilla chips on the side.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

1 serving contains:

• Calories (kcal) 280
• Fat (g) 18
• Saturated Fat (g) 9
• Cholesterol (mg) 55
• Carbohydrates (g) 5
• Dietary Fiber (g) 2
• Total Sugars (g) 1
• Protein (g) 22
• Sodium (mg) 680