Summer Scrimps

All I want to do this week is go Barefoot. With an eleven week old puppy at home I haven't had the time nor energy to cook recently. Take out, and unfortunately fast food, have been too much of a convenience. Despite the pile of unexplored Barefoot Contessa recipes on my counter I'm craving my old favorite more than anything else, Ina's linguine with shrimp scampi. The fresh parsley and lemon zest in this recipe taste like summer itself. I LOVE that something so simple can make me feel like a culinary genius.

Without Ina Garten's sense of adventure - she had no former food experience prior to buying the Barefoot Contessa store - I hate to think of where my cooking might be. May she inspire us all in the kitchen, and beyond...

Linguine with Shrimp Scampi

Vegetable oil

Kosher salt

3/4 pound linguine

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil

1 1/2 tablespoons minces garlic (4 cloves)

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves

1/2 lemon, zest grated

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)

1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds

1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes (always loving a "kick", I almost double this)

Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 teaspoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package.

Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Be careful, the garlic burns easily! Add the shrimp, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat, add parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine.

When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and then put it back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce, toss well, and serve.

prep time: 20 minutes
serves 3 people