Comfort Food for a Blah Day!

Recently I came across an old recipe I used to fix as a new bride (more years ago than I care to remember).  It was easy enough for an inexperienced cook just starting out, anxious to please and impress a new hubby.  I decided it was time to fix this again, but as it was one of my lazy cook days I went scrounging in the pantry for something to create an easy version.  I am sharing the original recipe and my “happy accident” recipe.

Curried Shrimp - original version

2 cups of medium white sauce

1 pkg of frozen small or med shrimp – 16 oz bag (small or med is a matter of personal preference)

Curry powder

Cooked rice

Medium white sauce:

This is not hard to fix but it does take a little time and attention.  Start your rice cooking while you cook the white sauce. (I prefer the original rice instead of the quick version.  It has a much better texture and flavor)

1.    In a heavy 1 quart sauce pan, melt 4 Tablespoons of butter or margarine.

2.    Add 4 Tablespoons of all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp of pepper

1/4 tsp of paprika

       Stir together over low heat until smooth

3.    Gradually stir in 2 cup of milk or half-and-half stirring constantly until thickened and smooth.

4.    Add curry powder.  I start with ½ tsp. and add ¼ tsp at a time until I get the flavor I want

5.    Rinse 1 pkg. of frozen shrimp under cold water for about 5 min.  Add to the sauce and cook until the shrimp is hot through.

Serve over rice.  Delicious!   

Happy Accident Curried Shrimp!

As I mentioned, I was having one of my lazy cook days so I thought I would substitute a couple of cans of cream of celery soup for the white sauce.  I was sure I had some in the pantry….wrong!  Somehow I had bought broccoli cheese soup instead.  Well nothing ventured!

2 cans of condensed broccoli cheese soup

1 cup of milk

Pepper to taste (leave out the salt, there is enough in the soup)

Curry powder

1 pkg. of frozen shrimp – 16 oz bag

Start your rice first (I like Uncle Ben’s.  It takes 20 min to cook and 5 min to let stand)

Heat soup, milk and pepper in medium sauce pan.

Add curry powder to taste.  I used ¾ teaspoon.

Rinse the frozen shrimp under cold water for about 5 min.  Add to sauce and serve over rice.

This was soooo good!  Everyone went back for seconds.

I usually try to keep a variety of cream soups in the pantry.  They are so versatile so you can experiment to your hearts content.

NOTE: Checking the area in your favorite store where they keep the frozen shrimp can cut way down on the costs. I manage to find the bags of frozen shrimp on sale for about half price (or buy one/get one free) about every other month. You can bet when I find them on sale, I stock up!