Herb Shrimp w/ Mango Salsa and a Sunset Margarita

Thanks to the Barefoot Contessa Parties! cookbook for supplying the recipe for Friday's happy hour. Herb Shrimp with Mango Salsa is quite delightful. The recipe calls for grilling the skewers. I didn't feel like firing up the grill so I just roasted them instead. I have had this recipe when the shrimp are grilled and it is much better. Love that char-taste. I also made a roasted onion and garlic hummus dip with tortilla chips. The dip is pretty good but, there is something missing from it. It isn't great so the recipe already has been thrown in the trash. There are too many other recipes out there to hang on to a so-so one. I paired the appetizers with a Sunset Margarita so I got my supply of vitamin C for the day. I'll give all three recipes so you can have a happy hour of your own.

Herb Shrimp Skewers

adapted from this recipe in the Barefoot Contessa Parties!cookbook

serves 4
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup red onion, small dice
small hand full chopped parsley and basil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
few grinds of pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
juice of 1/2 lemon
about 30 shrimp, (21 - 25 per pound), peeled

serve with Mango Salsa, recipe follows

Mix all the ingredients except the shrimp in a bowl. Add the shrimp and marinate for about 1 hour at room temperature. Skewer about 3 shrimps on each 6 inch wooden skewers. Roast in a 425 degree oven for about 6 - 8 minutes. Better yet, grill for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side.

Mango Salsa

1 TB olive oil
3/4 cup red onion, diced
2 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
about 3 cups diced mango (I used frozen from Trader Joe')
1/4 cup orange juice
2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
a few shakes of hot sauce

Saute onions in olive oil. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add mangoes and cook about 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and cook about 6 - 8 minutes until thick. Chill.



Sunset Margarita

serves 3
1/2 cup tequila
1/2 cup triple sec
4 cups orange juice
cranberry juice

Mix tequila, triple sec, and oj in a pitcher. Have a beer while you wait for it to chill in the frig. rim your galss with salt, pour a little cranberry juice and fill the rest with the oj mixture. Add some crushed ice and drink up.