rich, i'm going to bestow a secret here. i made this for a first at-home date. she was so impressed she married me. powerful stuff...
tomato feta shrimp with baguette:
1 tbsp olive oil
6 cloves garlic (more if you like)(chopped)
red pepper flakes (to taste)
fresh basil (chopped - save a few nice leaves for garnish)
6-10 fresh tomatoes (chopped)
a few shrimp
a block of feta (cut into large cubes - 1" or more)
baguette (thickly sliced)
1. fry stuff
first, cut everything up so it's ready to go. in a frying pan, heat the oil on medium. add the shrimp, then the garlic and pepper flakes (go easy - you can always add more later). saute for a couple of minutes without letting the garlic brown. when the shrimp is pink on both sides, remove and set aside (leave the garlic).
2. tomatoes and feta
in the same pan, add the tomatoes. cook undisturbed on med-high until the pieces break down and start getting saucy. let some of the water steam off. when the tomatoes look nice, turn down to low-med. stir, and return the shrimp to the pan. few minutes before serving, add the chopped basil and the feta. you want the feta to keep it's shape but get a bit melty, giving the tomatoes just a slightly creamy look.
3. eat
serve, as you go, from a large bowl or deep plate (garnished with basil leaves) in the middle of the table (because sharing is nice). have another bowl for bread. spoon the mixture onto your baguette pieces and enjoy.
very nice with a modestly priced italian or spanish wine. you could add an arugula salad too (arugula, pecans, cherry tomatoes, shaved parmesan pieces, and dressing if you like).