Celebrations Divine by Ginger

Many of you followed along this past Thanksgiving as we spent time visiting our family’s various homes, schools, and favorite spots in Louisiana from the past. That included a road trip down to Buras, LA, the spot that Mom references below in this recipe.

The photo above is in front of our home in Buras, from left to right, my Dad’s mom (Mama Griffin), Dad, Mom holding me, and my Mom’s Dad (Papa John). The photo below shows Buras’ location, at the very end of Louisiana.

This is a fairly simple recipe and so delicious but as Mom says, IF you can get good gulf shrimp! Here’s the excerpt from Mom’s cookbook. Enjoy!

Shrimp Tetrazzini (Serves 12-14)

(This recipe was given to me by my friend Margaret Kleinpeter when we lived in Buras, Louisiana where shrimp and seafood were plentiful. This is great for church suppers because it serves a lot of people, if you can afford the shrimp!)

5 lb. shrimp, boiled & peeled
½ stick butter
6 green onions, chopped
¼ c. green pepper, chopped
1 c. celery, chopped
¼ c. parsley, chopped
2 cans tomato soup
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
4 T. Worcestershire sauce
*2 T. Tabasco (*I do not use this much Tabasco when cooking for my family or for children.)
red and black pepper to taste
1 1b. thin spaghetti, cooked according to directions
1 pkg. Ritz crackers
½ lb. grated cheese
paprika

Melt butter and saute onion, celery, pepper, and parsley. Add soups and seasonings. Stir in spaghetti (already cooked) and shrimp. Line large 3 qt. casserole dish with crushed Ritz crackers. Pour in shrimp mixture. Top with grated cheese and Ritz cracker crumbs. Sprinkle with paprika. Cook in 350 degree oven until heated throughout and bubbly.

(As a reminder, Mom wrote/compiled a recipe book when I was young and gave me my very own copy of it for my 19th birthday when I moved out of the house and into my own apartment. She had gone page by page and written notes to me like “Very good”, “Easy”, “Your Dad’s favorite”, etc. Now that she’s been gone 26 years, those notes are priceless to me. It’s so nice to open a book and hear her voice through her writing. I’m thankful. I’ve added some of my own notes over time so those are in pink.)

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