A Tropical Adventure on a Freezing Day

I sent out my usual "Are we doing dinner Sunday / what are we making" email to Becca and Alyx, to which Alyx promptly responded, "crab legs and coconut shrimp".  I thought she was joking.  I mean, it's freezing out - and coconut shrimp reminds me of warm weather destinations and drinking frozen beverages on the beach.  But, I should have known better - when it comes to food -  Alyx does not joke around.  

{Precooked Crab Legs from Chinatown}

Alyx volunteered to prepare the coconut shrimp - a feat in breading and frying that she had not yet accomplished prior to this.

{Alyx battering up the shrimp}

{Shredded coconut for breading the shrimp}

Coconut shrimp is relatively easy to make - but the frying part can be scary.  Alyx had made a batter ahead of time.  Basically you dunk the shrimp in the batter, then in the coconut, and gently drop it into your makeshift frying pan.

The shrimp came out crispy with a hint of sweetness from the coconut.  We also learned that the oil should be at a lower-ish temperature, otherwise the outside will cook faster than the inside and you will end up with a slightly browned coconut exterior (but that never stopped me from eating them...)

As always, we split the meal up between sides, salad, and dessert.  I'm sure you can figure out who brought dessert.  Becca prepared a flavorful spinach salad with some fried feta.  I love cheese, and I love fried cheese even MORE!  

{The base started with spinach, strawberries, and 

leftover lingonberry sauce from the Swedish extravaganza}

{Becca frying the feta}

{Um. Yum. That's all I can say}

{The Strawberry Fried Feta Salad}

Becca also prepared a couscous with some pineapple.

For dessert, I made Becca's favorite passion fruit pie.  But this time, I made passion fruit ice cream instead of vanilla.  

I guess it helped that we discussed taking scuba diving lessons in St. Thomas, but it was almost like we were on a veranda over looking the crystal-blue Caribbean! Almost.