Earl Cooks Shrimp, Sausage & New Potatoes

To start this adventure, I bought RAW shrimp. You may be saying, "so? I always buy raw shrimp!", but I don't. I bought frozen, COLOSSAL, raw shrimp, shelled and deveined, with the tail ON. I wasn't quite ready to try deveining (clean out the intestinal tract, i.e. POOP) and removing the shell. Baby steps. I thawed according to package instructions and dried them thoroughly. I left the tail in tact because I know how my wife likes to eat her shrimp!


I then took 3 McCormick Smoky Applewood & Cheddar Smoked sausages and sliced them to match the shrimp in length. So that's a pound of shrimp and half a pound of smoked sausage, for those keeping score.

Now, for something you may have never tried. Because my wife has a sensitivity to the deep red color of new potato's skins, but loves new potatoes, they have to be peeled. I, however, am allergic to peeling small potatoes, so to accommodate both, I used a 15 oz. can of sliced new potatoes, water packed. I rinsed them thoroughly in cold water and dried them with a paper towel. 

Next, I took my Calphalon Grill Pan, a gift a few years ago from my daughter for my birthday, and heated it to smokin' hot, put in some Extra Virgin Olive Oil and tossed in the smoked sausage. It is fully cooked, but needs grill marks and heating up. Next the potatoes, seasoned with seasoning salt and seasoned pepper. (note: don't use too much season salt)

Now the shrimp. Season the shrimp with the same seasonings after coating with EVOO (extra virgin olive oil. Thanks Rachel Ray), and add to hot pan. According to Rachel Ray, raw shrimp is done when it is pink throughout, a couple of minutes on each side, just long enough to get grill marks. I adjusted the temp down to medium high, and moved the sausage and potatoes to the cooler side so they wouldn't burn. All done in in our bellies!

I almost forgot to mention that I grilled lemon halves, first with the cut side down then flipped them over. The juice really runs well when heated, if you like your shrimp with lemon!