Cooking for Zo

Taste Level: VGR
Cost: $20 and under
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 5-10 min.
Cook Time: 15-20 min.
Difficulty: 1

I had this idea while ridding home in the chilly rain on my scooter. I was freezing and chuckled to myself at how in movies they always drink some sort of wine or spirits to warm themselves up. I thought when I get home I am going to cook something with brandy. We had some pineapple, shrimp and crab that needed to be used. I had some shrimp tacos with pineapple salsa a few days earlier so I just let my imagination go with that taste in mind. When I was finished I joked with Zo, "This is the kind of meal a white guy cooks in Hawaii and sales it as Hawaiian dish." I decided to make a further joke I would name this meal Shrimp Haole! When ever I use sweet fruits in meals I always get nervous but I am glad I still get really adventures from time to time because this meal was something special.

Ingredients:
Shrimp Haole
12 large shrimp (tailed, shelled and veined)
1/2 cup imitation crab (diced)
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup crushed pineapple
1/4 cup pineapple juice
3 tbsp Napoleon Brandy
1/3 cup Sweet onion (diced)
1/2 tsp essence
fresh crack pepper (to taste)

Orzo
1/2 cup Orzo
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp fresh mint (diced)
garlic powder

Shrimp Haole sauce
In a medium skillet combine bay leaf, olive oil, crushed pineapple, pineapple juice and brandy. Turn heat to medium and heat (3-4 min.) Once heated add sweet onion and cook 5 minutes stirring frequently with a wooden spatula.

Turn heat down to simmer. Using Spatula fold in crab, parsley and crack pepper, cook 3 minutes.

Toss shrimp in essence till coated add to skillet and turn heat to medium cook for 5-7 minutes or until shrimp are cooked through.

Orzo
While cooking sauce add 1/2 cup Orzo to a small sauce pan and cover with water. Place on stove and bring to boil. Boil for 8-10 minutes, remove from heat and strain. Gently fold in lemon juice and mint till mixed well.

Serve 1/4 of sauce over 1/4 of Orzo and sprinkle each serving with 1-2 pinches of garlic powder sprinkled over the top.