Only those who are allergic to shellfish would doubt that Shrimp Scampi is probably on the menu in heaven. St. Peter himself no doubt munches on the garlicky treats from time to time. I'm not sure if they're cooked on a stove or grilled over charcoal in those green pastures in the sky, but I'm sure the shrimp tastes divine.
My education involving shrimp began one evening in a little hole in the wall oyster bar named Jimmy D's American Shrimp Restaurant and Fish Market! Located in a little fishing town on Florida's northwestern Gulf Coast, it was a fish market on one side of the small cinder block building and a fish market on the other.
The café were packed with people wanting seafood, so we sat on a wooden bench and waited for someone to leave the tiny café so we could take their place; there were only six tables.
After consuming two large orders of Shrimp Scampi, I asked the chef, who was also the owner of this little fish shack to give me the recipe for the best Shrimp Scampi I had ever eaten. He surprised me with the same simple recipe I had been using at home, which included the main ingredients in any Scampi dish; shrimp, garlic and lemon. There was however, a secret ingredient; offshore shrimp!
He uses only Wild American Shrimp, harvested off the gulf coast or the southern Atlantic Ocean. Jimmy D told me that most of the shrimp eaten in the United States is raised in either Asia or Latin America. Foreign shrimp simply does not taste as good as home grown.
I discovered later that almost 90% of shrimp consumed in America is foreign raised on farms in Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia and South America. The American shrimper simply cannot compete with the flood of farmed raised shrimp that is shipped into the United States.
Wild American Shrimp is catching on with folks all over the U.S., who like me, have decided to ask for the best. We'll pay a little more per pound at the market at the market, than pond raised shrimp that have been shipped over the ocean in a container ship.
Foreign shrimp have large amounts of fungicides, antibiotics, pesticides and algaecides in them, while Wild American shrimp feed on plankton and other protein sources in its own natural environment. They are more nutritious and have a more flavorful taste than their Asian or Latin American cousins. Simply cook both American Wild Shrimp and foreign shrimp and eat them. Wild shrimp will win the taste test hands down!
Besides the chemicals introduced to foreign shrimp as they are grown in earthen ponds, much of the shrimp are raised on grained based food. This gives them a bland taste compared to the products harvested off the southern shores of the United States.
I like preparing Shrimp Scampi almost as much as eating them. Here's how I cook them on the charcoal grill: Ingredients • 2 lbs. raw large shrimp • ¼ cups olive oil • 3 cloves crushed garlic • ½ black pepper • juice of 1 large lemon • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • 3 cloves crushed garlic • ½ black pepper • ½ cup melted butter • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce • 1/3 cup finely chopped chives 2 cloves garlic, crushed • salt to taste Preparation: Mix the ingredients in large bowl. On the underside of the tail, split each shrimp. This allows the mixture to penetrate the shell. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for a couple of hours.
Allow the fire in the grill to become medium hot. I use a fish basket to cook my shrimp, held about 6 inches from the coals. Cook 2-3 minutes per side, or until they turn pink. Don't over cook.
More markets around the country are carrying certified American Live Shrimp. If yours doesn't, there are plenty of places on the internet that will ship them to you. Happy eating!
Pocket Knife vs Folding Knife – What’s The Difference?
So you want to buy a knife but you are not sure if you want to buy a pocketknife or a folding knife. What is the difference anyway – don’t they both fold?? Well, yes – that is true, but there are differences. So, who cares – well, there are a reasons for knowing the difference – not the least of which is to ensure you are buying the type knife you really want when purchasing online.
Pocket Knife - According to Wikipedia, “a pocketknife is a folding knife with a blade that fits inside the handle and that is small enough to fit in a pocket.” Most modern pocketknives are for light duty – and are a convenient tool for those many little tasks you might run into when other knives are not handy. Pocket knives have blades that are held in place - open or shut - by a spring mechanism, allowing the user to open and shut the blade easily. Pocketknives come with single or multiple blades and some have additional tools and even forks and spoons – many options depending on your purpose. One drawback to this type of pocketknife – since the blade does not lock open, it can be closed inadvertently – of course, if you use the knife properly, there is little danger of this happening. But I must say, it has happened to me once or twice.
A Folding Knife, on the other hand, is usually a little bigger, stronger, and has some sort of locking mechanism to hold the blade open. Because of this added strength, they can handle heavier duty tasks. But since they are bigger, they are normally carried in sheaths, not in the pocket. This locking mechanism makes the folding knives a little safer because the lock prevents the blade from accidentally being closed. These knives come in many styles and usually have only one blade. My Buck folding hunter is my favorite all round knife – I have used it for camp duties, as well as field dressing all kinds of game from squirrels and ducks to wild boars and Alaskan Brown Bear.
Before you buy a knife, you should check local knife carry laws, especially if you want to carry it routinely. Most pocketknives are legal to carry (except in places like courthouses, schools, etc). Whether a knife is “legal” to carry is usually determined by blade length – from my limited research, knives with blades of less than 3 ½ - 4 inches are usually legal – but do check your local laws.
IN SUMMARY – A small personal knife is a valuable tool that has many uses – I actually carry two most of the time – no matter what purpose you have for a knife I know there is a knife just for that purpose – whether it is a small pocket knife or larger folding knife, the choice is virtually endless – enjoy the shopping – find the right knife for you –
Florida is almost as well known for its golf courses as it is theme parks and enthusiasts will not be disappointed along the Gulf Coast – Florida boasts over 1,000 courses and there are over 80 in the Naples area alone! Many hotels have their own courses and there are numerous golfing communities where you’ll find private villas to rent. The courses are open year-round but quietest during the summer months from May through to October.
Fishing
The beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel are known as the "Tarpon capital of the world" and fisherman flock here every spring to fish the Boca Grande Pass. The name of the game however is "Catch and Release" as there is a 50$ state permit fee to kill a Tarpon. For those interested in sea-fishing, there are many charters and fishing trips for all levels of angler – these are available from all along the coast, including Marco Island, Sarasota, Fort Myers Beach, Clearwater and Tarpon Springs. Try your hand at hooking shark, barracuda, black fin tuna and Spanish and king mackerel. There are also miles of shoreline, countless oyster bars and acres of sea grass beds that attract an abundance of salt water fish. For the fresh water angler, Rotonda has miles of canals and numerous golf course lakes offering some excellent bass and catfish. Other popular areas include the freshwater canals in Cape Coral and the Caloosahatchee River. Local freshwater fish include bass, crappie, blue gill and catfish. If you don't fancy bobbing about on the water, there are ample fishing opportunities from the piers and bridges. Popular spots in the St Petersburg/Clearwater area include Long Pier at Redington Beach, Pier60, St Petersburg Pier, Fort De Soto Park and The Friendship Trail Park at Gandy Bridge for Spanish mackerel, red drum, speckled trout and snook.
Canoeing & Kayaking
Many enthusiasts head for Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, which encompasses 110,000 acres of uplands, islands, and estuaries from Gordon Pass at Naples to Everglades National Park. There is a visitor centre between Marco and Naples, south of US 41 on Tower Road. Fort Myers Beach & Sanibel are also known for good kayaking – paddle through Pine Island's aquatic preserves for a good look at the local birdlife
Cycling
Boca Ciega Millennium Park in Seminole, Pinellas County has nature trails as well as pedestrian and cycle paths. Sanibel island offers 17 miles of protected cycle paths, ideal for families. Local companies hire a range of bikes including tandems and accessories for children. Fort de Soto Park on the Pinellas Peninsula has a 7 mile recreation trail where visitors may run, bike, rollerblade or walk The Pinellas Trail is a unique linear park covering 50 miles from St Petersburg to Tarpon Spring with cycle and hiking paths Caloosahatchee Regional Park, Alva offers a 10 mile looped mountain bike trail over rolling terrain with the opportunity of spotting wild boar, deer and gopher tortoises. Bike hire is available in the park. Myakka River is one of Florida’s largest State Parks with ample facilities for walking and cycling. There are seven miles of flat, paved roads for cyclists as well as back-country dirt roads (depending on the weather). Cycles can be hired in the park. Many of the parks which offer cycle tracks have daylight hours of opening and regulations including wearing a helmet so it is always worth checking any local restrictions at the park information centres or cycle hire shops before you set off.
Bird watching
Florida attracts "twitchers" from all over the world, drawn by the vast array of migratory and resident birdlife.The South West Florida Birding Festival takes place on the 19-21 January 2007 providing an excellent opportunity to learn about the rich bird life of this region. There will be guided trips and expert presentations. Full details can be found on the Rookery Bay website (see below). The estuaries, inlets, back-waters and country parks provide many bird-watching opportunities along the Gulf Coast some of the most popular locations are listed here. Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary in Sarasota is one of the largest Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Centers in the U.S., and home to over 70 species of Florida's native and migratory birds. The Rookery Bay mangrove estuary, just south of Naples, is home to over 150species of birds including bald eagles, ospreys, roseate spoonbills, black skimmers, and least terns. The Sanibel Lighthouse at the eastern tip of the island is a prime viewing spot, particularly during the October migration. Birds spotted here include warblers and Peregrine falcons. The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve near Fort Myers has a boardwalk trail and observation decks for visitors, where you can spy wild turkeys, blue jay, herons and woodpeckers as well as a variety of other wildlife. Other visitors include bobcats, raccoons,deer and squirrel. The "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island is a hotspot for migratory bird populations and serves as a stopover for a number of species, including egrets and night herons. The riverfront at Caloosahatchee Regional Park, Alva is home to blue egrets and great blue herons as well as a vast array of other local wildlife and plant species. Honeymoon Island State Recreation Area, Dunedin has an Osprey trail for a rare glimpse of these magnificent birds in their natural habitat.
US $9.50
