From my RV kitchen

Annapolis is a hotbed of history. Once our nation's capitol this is where the Revolutionary War was officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. It's also the burial place of Frenchman turned Naval Captain and American War hero John Paul Jones. In fact, the story of the search for his remains and subsequent second burial in Annapolis is an interesting one.

Get your bearings at History Quest in the City Dock area - the public arm of the Historic Annapolis Foundation. There you can learn about historic homes, tours, fun Annapolis facts and more. Visit the William Paca House and Gardens and experience Annapolis' Golden Age, enjoy breakfast at Chick & Ruth's Delly on Main Street or simply stroll the downtown and enjoy the waterfront ambiance.

Annapolitians call their food style "tidewater" cuisine and it's no wonder with the surrounding water. From crab cakes to Maryland Steamed Shrimp, Maryland kitchen's are not complete without Old Bay Seasoning. You don't have to be an Annapolitian to enjoy it either. Try it on our Georgia Sweet Potato Fries, too! And my favorite place to pick up the freshest and tastiest seafood in Annapolis is the Annapolis Seafood Market. Friendly, knowledgeable folks are delighted to share tips and recipes along with a great selection of seafood.

Ingredients

Steamed Shrimp:

1 pound medium shrimp (31-40 count) - raw with shells and tails still on
1/2 c water
1/2 c distilled white vinegar
2 T Old Bay Seasoning for steaming water
2 T Old Bay Seasoning for shrimp

lemon to squeeze over shrimp if desired

cocktail sauce and/or melted butter for dipping

Cocktail Sauce:

No need to buy cocktail sauce when it's so easy to make from scratch

1/2 c ketchup

1 1/2 t jarred horseradish

lemon juice

How-to

Steamed Shrimp:

Combine water, vinegar, and 2 T Old Bay Seasoning in a medium saucepan and place a steamer in pan. Bring to a boil.

While waiting for the water to boil toss raw shrimp with remaining 2 T Old Bay Seasoning. Add shrimp to the pot, cover and steam 2 minutes. Remove cover and stir shrimp to assure even cooking. Cover and steam 2 more minutes - until shrimp is pink.

Remove shrimp to large bowl, squeeze lemon over shrimp if desired, and serve with dipping sauces and plenty of napkins. Don't forget to set out a bowl for the shells!

Cocktail Sauce:

Combine ketchup and horseradish sauce. Stir well and taste - adding more horseradish as desired. Squeeze lemon juice in to taste.

Additional Tips

Try this delicious Maryland Steamed Shrimp recipe and you'll amaze your friends and family. Only we have to know what a breeze it is to prepare! Feedback? Love it... This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your thoughts on this or other RV Cooking Show tidbits and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss a single delicious episode.