The Recipe Thread [tm--CajunCook]

So today my oldest boy Gabriel (12) announced that he wanted to make his special shrimp sauce for spaghetti this evening. Ah, joy...I love to encourage his "inner cook", so I went and got about a pound of medium shrimp (raw, 41-60 ct) and peeled them so we'd have them ready.

When it was time to cook, he broke out his recipe that he had written down, and I stood back and let him create. It's a very simple recipe, and very good. I'm so proud. So I'll copy his recipe (my notes in parentheses) as he wrote it and share...

Creole Shrimp Sauce a-la Gabriel (for spaghetti)

3 (8-oz) cans of tomato sauce
1 1/2 cans of water (I had made stock with the shells, but I was too late to stop him)
wooster [sic] sauce (he put a capful)
stake [sic] sauce (he put a capful of A-1 in it)
onion powder (shake some in)
garlic powder(shake some in, being careful not to shake too much like what happened with the onion powder)
Chinese five spice (a pinch)
instant roux (Tony's...shake some in)
black pepper (shake some in)
salt (shake some in)
hoarse [sic] radish (a half-a-half-a-spoonful)
(Jic) [sic] brown gravy (Tony's instant gravy mix, I think the Jic means "just in case" it's not thick enough yet)
olive oil (a few drops, he put maybe 1/4 tsp?)
creole (here he refers to Zatarains creole seasoning...shake some in)
2 bay leaves
Maggi seasoning (a few drops)
paprika
fresh chopped green onions (I had just chopped some, so he added them)

(Mix those ingredients in a saucepan or deep skillet over medium heat, in that order, and bring to a good simmer. Let some of the moisture cook out, and add the shrimp. If you add the shrimp before it is thick enough, use the "cornstarch and water" trick to thicken it some more, or add more instant roux/gravy mix. Cook until the shrimp are done, but don't overcook the shrimp. Serve over thin spaghetti. Top with chopped green onions.)

I thought it was really good. As we cook more-and-more together, I'm bringing him to appreciate the addition of such things as diced vegetables, herbs, etc. But tonight was his night. I let him do his thing, and merely assisted. He's got the right idea...