Summer Meal

On nice summer nights, we love to eat outside on our deck. This was a great outside meal because it wasn't hot. We had spicy grilled shrimp, chilled pasta salad (previous post) and avocado salad.

Spicy Grilled Shrimp

1 clove garlic

1/2 Tbsp coarse salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp paprika

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp lemon juice

1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined, leaving tails

Preheat grill for medium heat. In a small bowl, crush the garlic with the salt. Mix in cayenne pepper and paprika, and then stir in olive oil and lemon juice to form a paste. In a large bowl, toss shrimp with garlic paste until evenly coated. Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until opaque. Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with lemon wedges, and serve.

Guacamole Salad

1 avocado, pitted and chopped

1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped

1/4 cucumber, chopped

1/4 red onion, chopped

1 small jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped

1.5 Tbsp lemon juice

1 small clove garlic, chopped

A few drops hot sauce

1/2 teaspoon salt

a little bit of olive oil (less than 1/4 cup)

Combine vegetables. Mix in lemon and garlic, hot sauce and salt. Stream in extra-virgin olive oil while whisking dressing. Pour dressing over vegetables and serve.