BTW, that skewer on the left, kept twisting on me and would not stay still. So I told it, I was taking his picture anyway.
Years ago I made one of these for a T-Day family gathering.
Back in olden times when it was almost mandatory for the entire extended family to gather at one house, sit around a table groaning from the weight of the food placed on it, and eat til you were stuffed.
I was kinda new to the whole thing, my family gathered on Thanksgiving, the Canadian Thanksgiving that is, but it was an adopted holiday for us as immigrants.
Then I married an American and found out that Thanksgiving is a BIG DEAL!!!! So one T-Day I made a 'turkey' using a yellow squash, an acorn squash, and shrimp. I want to say everyone loved it, well, they loved the presentation, but there were only three people there who even liked shrimp. I'd thought it would be a great appetizer as well as being a fun one.
One nephew managed to eat almost every single shrimp, cause he loved shrimp.
Even though T-Day will be low key here, I decided to try and recreate it, but just for me. Cause, again, I'm the only shrimp lover in-house.
I'm doing this totally from memory. I'm posting this for our Fish Friday Foodies theme, and Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm is our hostess this month and suggested the following; Do you ever serve fish or seafood for Thanksgiving? Many people enjoy Oyster Stuffing in their turkey or shrimp cocktail as an appetizer. Share a seafood or fish dish that complements your turkey or perhaps even replaces the traditional turkey.
If you've read any part of this blog, you may have figured out I like appetizers. Heck, I even published a cookbook full of appetizers called Nibbles and Bites.
This is a totally fun appetizer and or centerpiece, it also serves nicely as a center point on a buffet.
Without out further ado, and there is no real recipe to follow, exactly. Just use your imagination.
I did.
You do need a few basic food items though.
An acorn squash, a yellow squash, a carrot, and shrimp. The rest is up to your imagination.
And some long skewers.
I used shrimp, black olives, some garlic stuffed green olives, carrot curls, and some cherry tomatoes.
Here is how I did it.
Poach the shrimp in some seasoned water. I used some candied ginger which I simmered for 30 minutes before adding the shrimp. Cook the shrimp until done. Take out, drain and place in fridge or on ice to cool.
Cut a thin slice off the bottom of the acorn squash, this will keep it from rolling.
Trust me on this, it's important.
Get the toothpicks out, cause you'll be needing them.
Cut a nice crooked piece off the neck of a yellow squash.
Next cut a thin slice off the narrow end of the acorn squash.
You'll be fastening the piece of yellow squash to the acorn squash to make the head.
Make a carrot curl, and use a piece of toothpick to fasten it to the bottom of the piece of yellow squash, this is for the turkey beard.
Determine how many skewers you're going to need, and poke the corresponding number of holes into the larger end of the acorn squash.
Build each skewer alternating shrimp with olives and tomatoes until you have enough to make a 'tail' on the turkey.
You can put eyes on the turkey using a cut up black olive, and toothpicks to secure it.
Stick the sharp point of the skewer into the holes in the acorn squash until all the skewer have been used.
Serve.
Shrimp Turkey Centerpiece
Ingredients
- Acorn Squash
- Yellow Squash
- 15-18 shrimp, cooked and cooled
- 12-15 large black olives
- 4 garlic stuffed green olives
- 1 carrot curl
- 13-15 cherry tomatoes
- Skewers
- Toothpicks
Instructions
- Poach the shrimp in some seasoned water. I used some candied ginger which I simmered for 30 minutes before adding the shrimp. Cook the shrimp until done. Take out, drain and place in fridge or on ice to cool.
- Cut a thin slice off the bottom of the acorn squash, this will keep it from rolling.
- Trust me on this, it's important.
- Get your toothpicks out, cause you'll be needing them.
- Cut a nice crooked piece off the neck of a yellow squash.
- Next cut a thin slice off the narrow end of the acorn squash.
- You'll be fastening the piece of yellow squash to the acorn squash to make the head.
- Make a carrot curl, and use a piece of toothpick to fasten it to the bottom of the piece of yellow squash, this is for the turkey beard.
- Determine how many skewers you're going to need, and poke the corresponding number of holes into the larger end of the acorn squash.
- Build each skewer alternating shrimp with olives and tomatoes until you have enough to make a 'tail' on the turkey.
- You can put eyes on the turkey using a cut up black olive, and toothpicks to secure it.
- Stick the sharp point of the skewer into the holes in the acorn squash until all the skewer have been used.
- Cheesy Shrimp Stuffed Poblano Peppers from Food Lust People Love
- Crab Stuffed Deviled Eggs from Palatable Pastime
- Cracked Crab with Lemongrass, Black Pepper, and Basil from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Shrimp Mini Quiche Appetizers from Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Shrimp Turkey Centerpiece from Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
- Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad with Seared Scallops from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Pumpkin and Shrimp Bisque from Making Miracles
- Thai Noodles With Shrimps from Sneha's Recipe
So stinkin' cute and creative. Love this idea. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Sid.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving right back at ya. This was fun to do, and eat. ;)
DeletePretty funny! I'd eat all the shrimp too!
ReplyDeleteMy nephew just went to town on the first one I made, he was a very happy boy that night.
DeleteThat is AMAZING!! What a fun twist for a centerpiece - I love this!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I had fun. And it's all edible, and a great starter if you like to the meal. Although, my nephew did wait until after we ate, before consuming the rest of it.
DeleteThis is FANTASTIC! What a fun centerpiece. I never think to have a centerpiece that doubles as a course in the meal. Genius.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I think it is fun as well. You can make as many skewers as you like or as the squash will hold.
DeleteWhat a fun idea! The only problem is the competition I'd have at my house where we all LOVE shrimp! This has got to be the perfect appetizer since it's decorative too.
ReplyDeleteLOL, no competition in my house, I get to eat it all. I think this is a fun take on an appetizer, and it's delicious as well. And it works as a centerpiece, if you can keep people from eating it all.
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