Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in South Florida Family Events and Recipes

This weekend makes for an interesting recipe line-up with National Shrimp Scampi Day, National Oatmeal Cookie Day and National Lemonade Day. You can build a whole meal from the main dish, to dessert to the beverage!

• Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi (courtesy of cafedelites.com)

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil

• 4 tablespoons butter

• 4-5 large garlic cloves, minced (or 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic)

• 1 1/4 pounds (600 grams) large shrimp prawns, shelled with tails on or off

• Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

• 1/4 cup dry white wine or broth

• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or to taste (optional)

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 1/4 cup chopped parsley

Directions

1. Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pan or skillet. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 30 seconds - 1 minute). Then add the shrimp, season with salt and pepper to taste and sauté for 1-2 minutes on one side (until just beginning to turn pink), then flip.

2. Pour in wine (or broth), add red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a simmer for 1-2 minutes or until wine reduces by about half and the shrimp is cooked through (don't over cook your shrimp).

3. Stir in the remaining butter, lemon juice and parsley and take off heat immediately.

4. Serve over rice, pasta, garlic bread or steamed vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini noodles).

• Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cookies (courtesy of foodnetwork.com)

Ingredients

• 2 cups packed dark brown sugar

• 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened 

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

• 2 eggs 

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 

• 1 teaspoon salt 

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

• 3 cups old-fashioned oats 

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer (or using a hand mixer), beat together the brown sugar and butter until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl after each one.

3. Mix together the flour, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Add it into the creamed mixture in 2 to 3 batches, mixing until just combined. Mix in the oats until just combined.

4. Use your preferred size cookie scoop (or a regular spoon) to drop portions of dough onto baking sheets, spacing them a couple inches apart. Bake until dark and chewy, 12 to 13 minutes. If you'd like a crispier cookie, just cook a little longer!

5. Let the cookies cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer onto a plate for serving.

• Perfect Lemonade (courtesy of simplyrecipes.com)

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar (can reduce to 3/4 cup)

• 1 cup water (for the simple syrup)

• 1 cup lemon juice

• 2 to 3 cups cold water (to dilute)

Directions

1. Make "simple syrup": Place the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir so that the sugar dissolves completely and remove from heat.

2. Juice the lemons: While the water is heating for the simple syrup, juice your lemons. Depending on the size of the lemons, 4 to 6 of them should be enough for one cup of juice.

3. Combine lemon juice, simple syrup, water: Pour the juice and the simple syrup sugar water into a serving pitcher. Add 2 to 3 cups of cold water and taste. Add more water if you would like it to be more diluted (though note that when you add ice, it will melt and naturally dilute the lemonade). If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it.

4. Chill: Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. Serve with ice, sliced lemons.

Enjoy!