Shrimp Scampi

Proverbio Italiano of the day: 

"Chi è avvisato è mezzo salvato" 

Meaning: Who is warned, is half saved. 

Growing up as an American-Italian, we eat a lot of pasta. If it were for my father, well we would be eating pasta everyday... pasta e salsa, pasta with tomato sauce.

My father owns an Italian Pizzeria and Restaurant so he doesn't often want other fancy things, because he cooks it all day long. 

But thank goodness for my Mamma, she is always looking for different recipes to try. This dish is my version of Shrimp Scampi, and it is buonissimo. 

I love to add a little bit of red pepper flakes to give it a spicy taste... but careful I got a little shake happy once and added one too many. A little goes a long way ;)

It's perfect for those days you're not sure what to cook... and super fast and easy! Buon Appetito!

Ingredients

2  tbsp. unsalted butter

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled & deveined 

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/4 cup chicken stock

juice of 1 lemon

salt

2 tbsp. freshly grated parmigiano romano cheese

2 tbsp. basil

cherry tomatoes

corn starch

linguine

black pepper

white wine (optional)

let's make it

1. Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the shrimp, garlic, pepper, and olive oil. 

2. Cook, stirring occasionally. 

3. In another side pot, bring to boil some water, and mix in chicken stock. (I use the powder packets)

4. Add the chicken stock, lemon juice, and 1/2 cup white wine. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Add the cherry tomatoes. parmigiano cheese, and basil. Mix all together in skillet. 

6. In another side pot, bring some water to boil and add the cornstarch. Then add it to the skillet to thicken the mixture.

7. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

8. Cook linguine in separate pot. Once finished cooking, drain the pasta and add it to the skillet with the other ingredients. Serve hot, with some garlic bread on the side.