Shrimp Bloody Mary Style

From the time I was an egg, I traveled often to Connecticut and Ohio. The two places where my Dad's Navy buddies reside who in turn became life-long friends of my parents. As a result the 10 children from the three families formed life-long bond as well.

This weekend I was lucky enough to get together with the girls from Connecticut along with my sister for some catching up...5 girls chatting away, no wonder the hosting husband ducked out immediately following dinner. One second he was there, then poof! He was goneLol However he did grill some amazing fresh water salmon he had caught along with some incredible grilled veggies!

I grew up in Philadelphia and I loved it, however, one of my favorite parts of my childhood were they many trips to both Connecticut (or Ohio) and experiencing a completely different way of life.

My siblings and I (there are five of us) would try to wake up the earliest to be the one would go and get the freshly laid eggs (such a cool thing to reach under a chicken and end up with a warm fresh egg. All kids need to experience that at least once), who would feed the cats, pigs, sheep etc. We would scour the woods for bones of who knows what to bring back home for show and tell, telling tall tales to our friends and best of all we thought we were in Heaven because not only did they have a penny candy store – but you could get MONEY TO BUY CANDY from old cans and bottles – MONEY FOR TRASH...AND IT GOT YOU CANDY!!!

Dinner was often running around before we ate it. I was always cautious about what I was eating. “Are you sure this is chicken” I would say when I would see knowing glances passing between the parents. When offered deer pepperoni I would get a bit woozy, when they raised a pig for us…I never went to see it…how after all could I eat “Wilbur” or whomever if we were buddies - I am a city girl after all.

I have vivid memories of eating chicken that was the color of a piece of white paper, not yellowish. I could just keep eating that chicken...forever, what a difference! Somehow our friends lived simple yet sophisticated.

Well, this weekend we had incredible food, fantastic cocktails and wine and a all out great time! One dish I brought was Shrimp prepared Bloody Mary Style, served on endive. The endive is wonderfully peppery and they kick from the shrimp – wow! This is an app you can’t stop eating and one of my all-time favorites!


Bloody Mary Shrimp
-Epicurious

2 pounds of large cooked shrimp, cut into chunks
3 celery ribs diced (about 1 1/4 cups)
1 cup of scallions, thinly sliced
5 good sized endives (also known as chicory)

Sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup ice cold vodka
1/4 cup lemon juice
2-3 TBS horseradish, to your taste (I only use Kelchner's - the best)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
5-6 dashes Tabasco

Combine shrimp chunks, celery and scallions in a medium bowl. Set aside.
In a small bowl combine all sauce ingredients stir until well incorporated.
Pour over shrimp mixture. Mix well.

Slowly separate endives, slice a bit off of the core as you break each stalk off. They will get smaller and smaller. Place them on a serving platter. When ready to serve fill each with a bit of the mixture.

Did you know...Endive is a great source of Folate, fiber and vitamins A and K...eat up!

Enjoy!

Colleen