Everything You Never Knew About Shrimp

Posted by KC Kudra on September 27, 2010

Shrimp are a wonderful thing. They can be found in many different sizes and all of them are delicious. Yet there are so many things most people do not know about shrimp, even though they are the most popular seafood in the world. Their secrets abound. Here is the first little known fact: raw shrimp are often called “green” shrimp.

Your average shrimp has ten legs. Since most of us eat them after they have been shelled, we do not often see the legs. The head of the shrimp takes up about half their body size. Even though we call it the head, it also includes the thorax as well. They are related to other crustaceans like lobsters and crabs. They are also related to insects, which is why some cooks refer to them by the endearing name, “Bug.”

In the United States, we eat a billion pounds of shrimp per year. In fact, in Las Vegas, Nevada, 60,000 pounds of shrimp are consumed every day… that is more than everywhere else in the U. S. combined! Wow, that is a lot of shrimp! Almost 90% of that is imported from Central America and Asia, and 40% of that is farmed shrimp. Almost 80% of the shrimp we eat here is consumed in restaurants. We like to eat them, but apparently, we do not like to cook them ourselves. Once you have tried cooking them a few times, you will see how easy it really is.

In the immortal words of Forrest Gump, “Shrimp is the fruit of the sea.” He then proceeds to describe 21 different ways to prepare shrimp, including three different frying methods. The versatile shrimp can be added to stews and soups. It can be used as appetizers, snacks, and main dishes. You can add shrimp to just about anything. Broil them, saute them, fry them… they all taste fabulous.

If the terms “prawn” and “shrimp” are confusing to you, you are not alone. Even shrimp experts can mix them up. For example, the California spot prawn is really a shrimp while the ridgeback shrimp is truly a prawn. In most fish markets, any large shrimp may be called a prawn, but in actuality, there is a physical difference between the two. Shrimp have side flaps that overlap on their first three abdominal segments, while prawns first two segments are the same size.

Shrimp make great easy party appetizers that everyone will love at any party because people love shrimp appetizers more than any other appetizer. You can purchase them in a variety of sizes like small, medium, large, jumbo, and colossal. They are sold by count. For example, jumbo shrimp would be labeled 21/25 on the package. This means there are 21 to 25 shrimp per pound. You can serve them lightly cooked in all of their glory or you can add them to recipes.

You will notice that different types of shrimp exhibit different textures and flavors. These factors are influenced by what they eat as well as the water they live in. Wild shrimp have a more complex flavor due to their varied diet. They also have firmer meat since they need to search for their food. Farmed shrimp have a softer texture since they know where to get their food.

Making trouble-free Superbowl party recipes means that you can prepare all your snacks well in advance and relax with your guests when the game starts. There are lots of Superbowl recipes to choose from and meat snacks, like chicken wings, ribs and hot dogs, are always incredibly popular. You will find hundreds of quick trouble-free appetizers at our site to give you some more ideas.

Pizza Crust 101

Posted by KC Kudra on September 20, 2010

Are you intimidated by making homemade pizza? If so, you are not alone. Many people think that pizza is a dish that must be bought from a restaurant to be really good. Fortunately, they are mistaken. Pizza is not only easy to make, but you can make it the way you want it. You are not restricted to what is on the menu.

For many people, the most daunting portion of making pizza is the crust. The idea of making a dough can relegate many people to either frozen pizza or takeout. In reality, many would find making their own pizza crust to be fairly simple if they would just give it a try. If you have a bread machine, it is even easier.

A quick search online will show you recipes for any type of pizza crust you may desire. If you have wheat issues, try a gluten free crust. If you are on a diet, there are low fat pizza crusts. If you prefer whole grain, try a whole wheat pizza crust.

If you have never made pizza crust before, you may want to start with an easy pizza dough recipe. You can even make crust without yeast if you want. The important thing to remember is that crust really is not that hard.

Making a basic crust is simple. You will need flour (all purpose or bread flour is fine), some oil, a bit of salt and sugar and some yeast. Mix it in a bowl and knead it on the bread board, or dump it all in your bread machine and enjoy a movie while the dough is made. If you are kneading the dough yourself, allow time for the dough to rise. Plan for about 45 minutes to an hour.

When the dough is done, roll it out. You can add herbs, seasonings, even a little cheese if you want to add extra flavors. Spread a nice sauce on top, and sprinkle with the toppings of your choice to make your own perfect pizza.

You can bake your pizza in the oven or on your grill. Use a pizza pan or a pizza stone. The stone will give you a nice, crisp crust. If you’re serious about making pizza, you may want to invest in a pizza peel… this is one of those flat wooden paddles you see the chefs use at the pizzeria to remove the pie from the oven. Nothing works as well to remove a pizza from a baking stone. Some people even have a special oven built just for making pizzas.

Even if this is the first pizza you have ever made, it can turn out delicious. Just follow the directions in your crust recipe, and make the pizza as flat as you can. It does not matter if it is round, square, rectangular or somewhere in between. Cover it with sauce and your favorite toppings. Add a couple kinds of cheese to add extra flavor. Do not forget the garlic and herbs. Cook it for about 20 minutes, and dig in. You will never go back to frozen pizza ever again.

There are many different types of pizza crust including thin and crispy, whole wheat, stuffed crust and more. There are also flavored pizza crusts like cheese and onion dough or Greek pizza crust, so you can match the pizza crust to the toppings perfectly. The pizza crust recipes at our site will definitely inspire you.