Valentines Dinner!

I made Phil dinner for Valentines Day too! What a good wife I am :) I've had this recipe that a co-worker gave me for coconut shrimp for quite a while. I have been hesitant to make it for 2 reasons. 1. I don't own a deep fryer and have never deep fried anything on the stove and didn't really want to. 2. I only like coconut shrimp with Outback Steakhouse's orange marmalade dipping sauce. So I have held out for quite a while on this recipe. But I was searching the Internet for a recipe and stumbled across a recipe for Outback Steakhouse's dipping sauce! SCORE. I gave in and finally decided to try it and it was well worth it! The dipping sauce made it. I also made homemade twice baked potatoes and baked fudge. All three were excellent, I of course highly recommend you make all three.

Coconut Shrimp:

12 Large shrimp, peeled and de-veined ( I used about 20-24 med size shrimp)

1.5 cups flour

2 TBSP granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

2 TBSP Captain Morgans Parrot Bay Rum ( I subbed pineapple juice)

1 cup panko breadcrumbs

1/2 cup shredded coconut

measure 1 cup flour in one bowl, in another bowl combine 1/2 cup flour, sugar, salt, then stir in milk and rum (pineapple juice). Let batter stand for 5 minutes. In another bowl combine panko and shredded coconut. Next Butterfly each shrimp from tail to tip so that you can spread it open. Heat oil to 350. Dip shrimp first in flour, then batter, then coconut/breadcrumb mixture. Drop into hot oil and fry for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Serve with dipping sauce

Outback Orange Marmalade Sauce:

1/2 cup orange marmalade

2 tsp stone ground mustard with whole mustard grains

1 tsp prepared horseradish

dash of salt.

mix all in bowl, chill for 1 hour, serve with Coconut shrimp!

Baked Fudge: courtesy of Pioneer Woman

2 whole eggs

1 cup sugar

2 TBSP (heaping) cocoa powder

2 TBSP flour

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla extract

preheat oven to 325. beat eggs until light in color, beat in sugar until just combined. Add cocoa, flour, melted butter, and vanilla. Mix gently until well combined.

Pour batter into four large ramekins or 8inch square baking dish. Set ramekins or square pan in larger pan halfway full of water.

Bake 40-50 minutes until upper crust is crispy and the rest of the batter is firm, but not set. Toothpick should come out clean, it should not be too runny.

Serve with whipped cream or ice cream, or both!