Stuffed Shrimp

This year, Ben and I are going out for Valentine's Dinner but there were plenty of years (especially when the kids were little) that it was just easier (and cheaper) to stay in and make a Valentine's Dinner at home. 

If your Valentines plans call for a home cooked meal this year - I have two words for you --- Stuffed. Shrimp.

Keep the meal simple by serving your shrimp with some crusty whole grain bread and a simple salad or vegetable.  You'll have extra white wine left over after you add a dash to the stuffing so pour a couple glasses, pick up some flowers and surprise your Valentine with a delicious home cooked meal this Valentine's Day. 

Stuffed Shrimp
4 slices white sandwich bread
36 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deviened
1 Tablespoon butter
2 celery ribs, chopped fine
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup reduced fat mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons fresh parsley
1 Tablespoon white wine
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Pulse bread in food processor until coarse crumbs form.

Place 6 shrimp in food process and pulse until coarsely chopped.

Transfer to a baking sheet and bake 8 minutes at 375 until lightly toasted. Cool

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Melt butter in skillet and add celery.  Cook 5 minutes until softened.

Add garlic and saute an additional 30 seconds.  Transfer to bowl along with chopped shrimp and bread crumbs.

Stir in mayonnaise, parsley, wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper. 

Pat remaining shrimp dry with paper towels.

Here is where I had to deviate from the original Cook's Country recipe.  The recipe said to butterfly each shrimp by cutting a slit along the back and then standing each shrimp up so that the tail curled over the top.

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This seemed like a good idea UNTIL I tried to stuff them.  I couldn't get them to stand up for anything.  I tried cutting a deeper slit, I tried using less filling, more filling - nothing worked.  They fell over every time.  I finally gave up and just laid them on their sides and put a scoop of stuffing in the center.

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Bake 6 minutes.  Turn.  Bake another 6 minutes.

These stuffed shrimp are SUPER tasty and your Valentine will never know that they're low in fat.  As I see it, more room for chocolate. 

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See - you don't have to go out to a fancy restaurant to have an elegant dinner on Valentine's Day.  These stuffed shrimp will impress any Valentine. 

Ciao!