Cloudy with a Chance of Shrimp & Grits

Recently I had a bout with some gastrointestinal distress. I know, TMI, but it was bumming me out (pun intended). I have been eating relatively well so I couldn't figure out what was causing the issues, until I found the common ingredient. Nightshades. A group of plants that include tomatoes, potatoes, chili peppers, bell peppers, and eggplant. Of course I've been eating a TON of nightshades. So, without going to a doctor and getting tested for food allergies, I figured it wouldn't hurt to eliminate them from my diet for a while. 

Which is fine. I've done food eliminations before. Except I had already planned to cook Shrimp & Grits, which traditionally features at least a couple nightshades. Using this recipe from The Castaway Kitchen for the seasoning, I think I was moderately successful. 

Moderately successful because I haven't actually had Shrimp & Grits before so I didn't have a control to compare against. It came out very tasty though! I would have liked thicker grits too, but I was much too impatient to cook them down further. 

Oh, and my tummy? After a couple weeks of no nightshades, I brought them back into my diet, and I haven't had too much trouble since. Some day I will get a full write up from a gastro-doc, but until then, I'll just eliminate as needed. 

Wakako al Ajillo

I've been watching a lot of "Wakakozake." You can find it as a manga, an anime and a live action show. It follows the food adventures of a 20-something professional living in Tokyo. Wakako love food and alcohol, and she eats the most delicious foods whilst waxing philosophical about matching shochu with seafoods. 

In one episode of the live action (also known as a "Drama") she orders Gambas al Ajillo. The garlicy oil causes her to go through her crusty bread before finishing the shrimp, much to her embarrassment. Fortunately she gets more bread, and more wine and finishes the dish with relish. 

If there's one weakness Tom and I have, it's an Asian Drama showcasing tasty food. So needless to say I made this purely because of Wakako. 

Serious Eats has a very easy recipe if you want to make it yourself. It's quick enough for a weeknight too.

Superb Owl Shrimp Tacos

Sometimes I buy proteins to keep on hand in the fridge, only to promptly forget about them. I HAVE SHRIMPS?! I also have a habit of not knowing what I plan on cooking for the blog until the night before, or morning of. I'm really good at that. By which I mean I'm terrible. 

After the realization last night that we had SHRIMPS, I decided to make tacos. Even though I'm having pork tacos with my sister in two days. Can't have too many, right?

I would put this on a list of stuff to make prior to a game of sports television program. You can easily prep everything before the first pitch, and cook and assemble during half-time. 

Superb Owl Shrimp Tacos

YOU NEED:

• Enough raw shrimp. I did 4 per taco. I also got the deveined/peeled kind BC I AINT GOT TIME.
• An avocado, or a 8-10oz thing of plain Guac because all the avocados were unripe and you didn't plan ahead to ripen them yourself. SOME OF US DON'T LIVE IN CALIFORNIA, GRANDMA.
• 1 Cup of Sour Cream. REAL FAT NOT THAT LOW/NONFAT BS.
• A Lime
• Cilantro
• Large Lettuce leaves or Corn Tortillas
• Cabbage
• Onion
• Green Chile Peppers, or Jarred Jalapenos or whatever suits your fancy
• Olive Oil
• 1 ts Garlic Powder
• 1 Tb Cumin
• 1/2 ts Cayenne
• Salt and Pepper
• Cholula Hot Sauce (I prefer the Chipotle kind)
• Cotija or Queso Fresco (neither of which I could find because I plan poorly)

Instructions!

1. Make a marinade of olive oil, cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and the juice from half a lime or so. Give a few good turns of salt and pepper, and a couple dashes of the Cholula. Mix in your shrimpies that are cleaned and peeled, and refrigerate whilst you prep the rest of the meal, or for as long as the first half of the game takes.
2. Using a Blender type tool, blend the sour cream, guac/avocado, juice of half a lime and a good handful of cilantro. Season with salt as needed. 
3. Shred the cabbage, chop some onions for garnish, ready your chiles.
4. When you're ready to eat, start warming your tortillas as instructed, or prep your lettuce alternatives. Throw the shrimp onto a pan on Medium High heat, cooking for 2-3 minutes on each side until it's opaque and pink.
5. Serve with the Avocado sauce, cabbage, chiles, cheese, more hot sauce ETC. 
6. Make a huge mess.
7. GO TEAM THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE SEASON!