Shrimp Mashed Potatoes

8 to 10 medium red new potatoes, skin on, sliced 1/4-inch thick
1/2 cup hot milk
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup sour cream
Salt and pepper
1 cup cooked and chopped shrimp
1 teaspoon paprika

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cook potatoes in boiling water for 15 minutes or until fork-tender in a medium pot. Mash potatoes in a mixing bowl. Add hot milk, butter, sour cream, and salt and pepper, to taste. With electric mixer, beat until moderately smooth. Don't over beat them, a few lumps are nice. Add shrimp. Whip until mixed. Adjust thickness by adding more milk if desired. Stir in paprika for flavor and color. Reheat in oven, if needed.

Fried Shrimp

1 cup milk
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup hot sauce
2 cups self-rising flour
1/4 cup self-rising cornmeal
2 tablespoons coarse ground black pepper
3 tablespoons salt
2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails left on
Peanut oil, for frying

Preheat oil to 375 degrees F.

Line a baking tray with paper towels and set aside. In a shallow baking dish, whisk together milk, buttermilk and hot sauce. In a separate shallow baking dish, whisk together flour, cornmeal, pepper and salt. Make sure your shrimp are dry and dredge in the dry mixture first, then wet mixture and finally the dry mixture again. Shake off excess between each dredging.

Deep-fry in batches, but do not overload the fryer. Fry for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oil with a slotted spoon and drain on the paper towel lined baking tray. Serve warm.

Potato Soup with Shrimp

1/2 stick butter
1 small onion, diced
2 medium carrots, diced about the same size as the onion
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
8 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 cups milk, whole, reduced fat (2 percent) or low fat (1 percent)
2 chicken bouillon cubes, dissolved in 1/2 cup hot milk
1 cup half-and-half
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups salted water
1 pound medium shrimp
Crumbled bacon bits, for garnish
Grated sharp Cheddar, for garnish
Dill sprigs, optional garnish

In a 4-quart saucepan, melt the butter and saute the onion and carrots until both are slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the potatoes, milk, and dissolved bouillon cubes. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are very soft and some of them have begun to dissolve into mush. Add the half-and-half, salt, and pepper.

In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups lightly salted water to a boil. Add the shrimp all at once and stir well. Watch the shrimp closely; as soon as they all turn pink, about 2 to 3 minutes, turn off the heat and drain. The shrimp should be slightly undercooked. When they are cool, peel them, and chop roughly into big chunks. Add the shrimp to the soup and stir well. Serve soup sprinkled with bacon bits and grated cheese. Garnish with dill sprigs, if desired.

Cook's Note: If you don't have access to shrimp, use corn.