the arugula files

Uncle Sonny's Baked Stuffed Shrimp

When I was growing up, my Uncle Sonny trapped lobsters and crabs from his boat just outside Boston Harbor. In those days the Atlantic was teeming with "water bugs" and he and my Aunt Franny always had a freezer full of lovely crustaceans. I was a kid, and, unfortunately, I thought lobsters and crabs were gross. Every time we stopped by their house for a visit, my uncle would offer some of his catch.   No thanks, I thought as I popped peanut M&Ms into my mouth. I didn't start eating seafood until I was twenty-one. Now I love, love, love all of the ocean's creatures…on my plate! I’m definitely making up for lost time.

This baked stuffed shrimp recipe was one of the dishes that helped convert me from a snack food only kid to a seafood loving adult. They are simply delicious.  While I was in Boston for Christmas I stopped by Uncle Sonny's and asked him for a quick tutorial on how to make these delightful snacks.

Uncle Sonny's Baked Eggplant Parmesan

Unfortunately, my attempts at making any eggplant dish always end with bitter eggplant. On a recent trip to my hometown, I decided to put an end to my failure and learn how to make eggplant parmesan from a terrific cook, my Uncle Sonny. Every year, at some point during the holiday season, Uncle Sonny, who resembles an older, better looking Emeril, makes baked eggplant parmesan. It's perfectly delicious. 

From Uncle Sonny, I learned three secrets: (1) always peel the eggplant; (2) place it in water to draw out the bitterness (previously I was using salt and that method was not working for me); (3.) while this recipe is called baked eggplant, it's important to use a lot of olive oil while "baking" so that the eggplant gets crispy.

Here it is, INTERNETS, Uncle Sonny's online cooking debut.