Shrimp with Orzo!

  
     As we bid goodbye to 2011 and welcome the new year. I hope everyone had wonderful memories, something that when you reminisce it brings a smile to your face. Personally, 2011 will be a year I will always cherish. So many wonderful things have happened to me and both of the familys (here, and back in the Philippines). 2011 was the year, my Papc Bert and little brother Makoy were able to ride in a plane for the first time going to Manila, the capital of the Philippines. The day after we went to Subic Bay, Pampanga for a swim encounter with dolphins together with our good friends Pretty Icang and Kokong (the Masons)! And we just had a blast on that trip.

     But the best part of 2011, was by far that my Mamcy is now healthy as she should be. Thank God to all the great doctors who help get the best medical attention she needs. It has been a long years of health battle issue. I surely will miss 2011 but I am so ready to start again in 2012.

     For our first meal of the year I made shrimp in white wine sauce on top of Orzo. Aside from fish we also love shrimp. This dish is very easy to follow and yet so delish! Enjoy cooking and always cook with your heart!

How to prepare Orzo:

1 cup Orzo

1 ½ cup Chicken broth

1 tbsp butter

Pinch of kosher salt and pepper

      In a pan heat butter on medium high heat. Mix in Orzo for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 9 minutes or until Al Dente. Salt and pepper to taste. Set aside!

How to prepare the Shrimp:

1 lb shrimp (shelled and deveined)

1 medium size shallots (thinly sliced)

4 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)

1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)

¼ tsp red pepper flakes

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp butter

1/3 cup white wine

2 tbsp Basil leaves (chopped)

a pinch of Kosher salt and pepper

1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium high heat and saute shrimp for about 2 minutes or until color changed. Pinch of kosher salt and pepper.
2. Scoop shrimp with wooden spoon and set aside.
3. Using the same pan melt in butter and mix in shallots until translucent.
4. Add garlic and tomatoes for 2 minutes.
5. Pour white wine over and reduced by half.
6. Add the set aside shrimp, red pepper flakes and basil leaves stirring in with the reduced white wine sauce. Turn off heat.
7. In a serving dish, scoop some of the Orzo and top it with the shrimp mixture.
8. Enjoy!

-Love-