Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Don't Sleep on the Chardonnay!

So, I cooked. You know, I seem to amaze my damn self sometimes. Do you ever have those moments? I knew I had shrimp, garlic, butter, and wine - but what was a man to do? I bought a bunch of parsley and whipped together something I call a creamy scampi. Well, it's not really scampi because scampi calls for lemon - but oh well, it's my world and I break the rules, right? So, I called it Creamy Shrimp Scampi - DTW style!

I started with butter, olive oil, garlic (smashed and chopped), and shallots. You get a nice carmelization on those and I added in the wine. Typically folks use pinot, right? Well, all I had was chardonnay and I'm sticking with it from now on. The key is to let the wine reduce. If you don't, then don't bother w/fixing this meal. I seasoned this mixture with nothing more than salt (kosher of course) and fresh pepper. I added in the shrimp and some frozen peas. I don't know what it is with me and peas - but I love them...to death. Those little poppers are so tasty! I always have a bag in my freezer. Get the frozen kind - canned veggies are from the Devil. Anyway, add cream, fresh parm, chopped parsley, and linguine and you've got a meal. I topped mine w/more cheese and fresh cracked pepper.

This took all of 15 minutes from start to finish. Give it a try - and remember, let the Chardonnay reduce...don't sleep on that part!

Click
here for pictures...or see them below.

-DTW















Chopping Parsley
















The white wine reducing!

















Linguini - smoking hot!

















A frozen lemonade drink - I know you see that bottle of Jose Cuervo!
















The finished product

















Happy Face Plate!

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

LOL... OK you coulda spared us the last picture with the shrimp tails! Looks really good tho!

One Man’s Opinion said...

I really want you to go onto Bravo's "Top Chef". Seriously.

Dreamy said...

"smacking"

you know i gotta get rid of my roomate right,lol

i am so hungry right now!!!

and the food looks so Delish

hey i totally agree with One Man, Top Chef is for you honey

Sexxy Luv said...

That looks really good!

i have come up with a great idea....since there is only 6.5 hours distance between you and i, you should drive to Mineesota and cook me a dish for my birthday in October! lol

oh did you get the siverware at Target?

La Bella Cooks said...

Creamy, cheesy shrimp. It doesn't get any better than that. I agree, chardonnay always is better to cook with than pinot.

Anonymous said...

That looked great. I'm a sucka for shrimp and garlic. Don't you want to move to London and be my personal chef?

OhioMom said...

Yummy! Garlic and shrimp just belong together. I love English peas (that's what mama called them), unfortunately my food critics won't touch them. I always tell them "pick them out" :)

Promiscuous X said...

I'm not a fan of shrimp...now if you woulda said sum chicken lol now we talkn...BTW I stumble on this blog by accident. Me being so fast and not reading, I click the first link which is usually the main one but I see you switched it around. lol Clever move sir lol

Cluizel said...

DAMN! Delicious...yeah...I think you should move back to NY and let me buy the groceries. lol

Tafari said...

Kendal Jackson is my favorite Chardonnay, hands down!!!

Bygbaby

Proud Italian Cook said...

I'd be real happy with a plate of food like that, and I'll take all the peas too!

Charles said...

I love the presentation...but I don't do seafood though...

Jameil said...

i don't like shrimp but mmmm. i think i'd eat that anyway! :)

Jan said...

Mmmm - Looks delish!

Erin said...

I love when you can just whip up a pasta dish based on what's in the fridge. I love shrimp, too, so this is my kind of pasta!

test it comm said...

That looks good! I really like quick shrimp dishes like this.

Lori Lynn said...

You are a funny man! And I wouldn't sweat the scampi minus lemon, as there you have it on the side in your tequila lemon cooler, perfect pairing.

Miss Snarky Pants said...

Got one question: Will you marry me??? Oh never mind!!!! LOL

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

What a delicious looking dish! A wonderful meal! Yummy!

Cheers,

Rosa

Prudy said...

Hubba Hubba-this looks fab!

Maria Verivaki said...

you cook so well - those photos look finger licking delicious

Nikki @ NikSnacks said...

I like that you use a Santuko. No, no...LOVE that! It's my favorite knife and I hardly use anything else in the kitchen. I have two.
Hey might make a tartare one day and need both at the same time!

You can use whatever wine you've got on hand, bro. I don't know what people usually use in scampi.

I really don't like shrimp or cream but I'd try this with diced chicken and maybe spinach, collards or chard instead of the peas.

Alicia Foodycat said...

Nice work! I don't really like drinking chardonnay (unless it is a French style one) but this - with whatever I am drinking - would be delicious!

Teresa said...

Looks delicious! I love shrimp but rarely fix it because my family won't touch it. I'll have to try this one.

fuzzy said...

I always enjoy a good reduction! I haven't used much chardonnay though...

Ticia said...

Can i come over? You know I live in Chicago :)

Turn me up a lil said...

I think if i didn't let the wine reduce you would come take my life

Anonymous said...

where has this blog been all my life...I love it!! That shrimp looks so so tasty....FoodNetwork star contender perhaps?

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Heck, yeah, you can break the rules! And I like this shrimp scampi, DTW style.

Joey Bahamas said...

DTW....that looks sooooo good! When you comin back to DC??? LOL

SPICEHOUND said...

Fresh peas! You should be able to get fresh peas in Chicago this time of year. Looks great. Support your local farmer.

Sarah said...

Ooo, a yummy riff on shrimp scampi AND it only takes a few minutes to put together! That's right up my alley! Thanks for sharing this recipe--I share your love of peas.

Emily said...

Did you say butter? Then yes, yes, I would like this. Very much. :)

RealHustla said...

So, I read on the other blog about the get fit plan. I don't know how this meal fits into that, but if it does, I want in? Can you give me some more details please?

Anonymous said...

this looks great! :)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you've found your calling?

What do you do for a day job? Cuz you have found your passion and it's cooking.

So when I buy that fab house in the Windy City, I'm having a housewarming and hiring you as my chef.

All top attorneys have personal chefs, don't they???

Nicole said...

Butter, garlic, wine.... All makes for some very happy and tasty shrimp in my book... no matter what you call it. I am with you on the canned vegetables. YUCK! No one in my family eats them.

The Dreamy One said...

i know my blog is supposed to be private but its acting retarded and it wont let me read some of my favorite post.

so its open now....

update me on the blogroll, the name is thedreamyones.blogspot

Dee said...

That sounds like one amazing dish! Nice dinenrware too :)

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

You are a rock star!
I'll just have a glass of wine while that is reducing. Looks yummy!

Christine said...

I love shrimp scampi! I used to ask for it to be made as my birthday dinner, but I guess I forgot about it. I used to use sherry, but now I use chardonnay, too.

Susan @ SGCC said...

Wow! That scampi looks divine! Gorgeous shrimp! What a great idea to make it creamy. That way the sauce holds on to the pasta better! ;)

Dragon said...

It's your world and it sounds delicious. :) I love the addition of peas. Wish I had a bowl of that right now!

PatriCa BB said...

Hi Darius,

Chardonay from which country you used? Does it matter? I love good food!

dessex said...

damn lookin at yo dishes makes me want to step my game up. I need the recepie for that joint asap.

I also notice that you use fresh shrimp. Thats the best way to go when everything is fresh. None of that frozen crap when it comes to seafood.

Anonymous said...

'Pass the peas.. Pass the peas..' Wasn't there a song by Maceo Parker that goes like that? :-)

Oh man, that pasta looks awesome but this ain't fair though. I'm starving now and it's 11:30pm. Damn! your fault. hehe.

glamah16 said...

LOOKS AMAZING!

Unknown said...

great for you for not being "scurred" of the wine!! nice plate, too!