September (Charles)

Dr. Ann’s Mediterranean Shrimp over Pasta

1 (12-oz) container grape or cherry tomatoes
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 ½ lbs fresh or frozen shrimp, peeled (fresh shrimp preferably)
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/3 red onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (3.8-oz) can sliced black olives
1 small jar artichoke hearts, drained
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tbs fresh basil, chopped
½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
¾ box Barilla Plus rotini pasta cooked (preferably whole wheat pasta)

Preheat over to 375 degrees. Put tomatoes in 13 by 9 baking dish and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Mix to coat thoroughly. Roast at 375 until soft and beginning to char – about 12-15 minutes. Remove dish from oven. Smash tomatoes in pan with back of a big spoon. Add shrimp, feta, onion, garlic, olives, artichoke hearts, and lemon juice. Stir thoroughly and put back in oven. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees until shrimp are cooked through (about 12 minutes). Top with fresh herbs, mix thoroughly, and serve immediately over pasta.

Gastrography
I included this recipe in the cookbook for a number of somewhat odd reasons. First of all it is delicious, secondly it is very good for you and perfect for people who are trying to lose some weight, thirdly I actually know Dr. Anne’s daughter, and fourthly shrimping is almost as much fun as crabbing. If you don’t know who Dr. Ann is, she is a physician and a nutrition expert who “is on a personal crusade to share with as many people as possible the joys of living well.” Needless to say, my family has been obsessed with her cooking for years especially since she has some really delicious recipes that are great for you. She is nationally known for her recipes and research on nutrition and lives in Charleston. Dr. Ann’s daughter, Liz, went to Ashley Hall, the sister school of my private school, Porter-Gaud. I never really hung out with Liz, but one night my junior year of college, I found myself at her house at one of those weird post high school parties in which everyone from high school gets together to catch up and relive the good old days. However, the problem is that high school was not the good ol’ days for me, and I rarely hung out with anyone from my school. So why did I go to this party you might ask. Partly out of curiosity, partly because I never got invited to parties like this one in high school, partly because I wanted to see if people had changed and matured in college. The part went like this. I went, it was awkward, I put on the Rolling Stones song, “Street Fighting Man,” someone said the song was stupid and put on Lil’ Wayne, and I left. Needless to say, some things never change.