"Refresh" frozen shrimp by soaking in salted water, 1 to 2 tbsp of salt to 1 quart of water. The best way to keep shrimp fresh while preparing them is to keep them in ice water. Return the cleaned shrimp to the ice water until you are ready to cook them. Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel before cooking. Leave the shell on while boiling or steaming shrimp. The shell preserves the juices and natural flavors.

Recipe

Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients:
24 lg. uncooked shrimp (peeled, deveined, leaving tails on)
4 lg. garlic cloves, finely minced
1/2 stick butter
1/2 c. olive oil
1 c. white wine
1 tbsp. chopped parsley
Lemon wedges
bread crumbs

Directions:
In a skillet, saute a few spoons of bread crumbs, parsley and garlic until lightly browned. (Add garlic after a few moments so that it doesn't get brown.) Add shrimp, marinade and juice from a couple of lemon wedges and cook until shrimp are pink (a few minutes) and juices in pan are bubbling hot. Serve shrimp with scampi sauce for dipping, and garnish with lemon wedges.

Makes 32 servings.