HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Greetings from Carmela's Cucina,

And happy 4Th of July. I just got back from teaching an excellent class at Cook's of Crocus Hill. My students loved it and it is just the perfect meal for the 4Th of July if you are sick of the usual burger and brats. It is easy to do and fun. When we make it at the lake we just dump it out on newspaper and call it a "Dump Dinner." When we are done we just roll up the newspaper and there are no dishes to wash! But it is actually a Shrimp Boil which I first started making when our oldest son, Brian lived in Mobile, Alabama. I will be making it this week-end when we visit our son, Patrick and his new bride Jeannie in their new home in South Bend. And I think ice cold beers are the perfect drink for this festive dish.

I hope your family will like it. It's not Italian, but we sure love it.

SHRIMP BOIL

1/2 pound Keilbasa per person
1/2 pound raw shrimp per person
3 small new red potatoes per person
1 ear of corn on the cob per person
Snow peas
2 small onions per person
2 lemons
1 bag of Old Bay or Zaterains seasoning for shrimp and crab boils

In a large pot add water, lemons and Old bay Seasoning bag and boil for 10 minutes. Add potatoes and cook for 10 minutes. Add sausage and onions and bring back to a boil. When potatoes are tender add the corn. Bring back to a boil. Add shrimp and cook just a few minutes until they are done and pink. Add snow peas. Drain and pour into a basket or platters or dump it all on the center of a table that is covered with newspaper or butcher paper. Have clarified butter and cocktail sauce ready. OK! DIG IN!

Buon appetito,

Carmela Tursi Hobbins