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We wanted to visit Parkes Castle in County Leitrim in the Province of Connaught. This impressive manor house sits on the shores of one of Ireland's most beautiful lakes, Lough Gill. The splendor of Parkes Castle is immediately evident as you drive around the lake. Once an important stronghold of the local O'Rourke family, Parkes Castle has been recently restored to its true 17th century style. We stopped at a restaurant in nearby Dromahair, and I had the most delectable baked shrimp dish. It reminds me of the Millionaire Stuffed Shrimp in The Bubba Bump Shrimp Co. Cookbook--one of my favorite seafood cookbooks. My son Eli went to see the movie with me and bought me the cookbook that Christmas. It was such a lovely and thoughtful gift. I make that recipe for holiday appetizers. My family loves it. But that recipe is a baked shrimp stuffed with crab. This is a little more elegant in taste and presentation, especially if you bake each entrée in a large sea shell or in individual sea shells if used as an appetizer.
Parkes Castle, County Leitrim
Leitrim is known as "Lovely Leitrim," and it is not surprising that this county was so aptly named. It is a beautiful county and boasts a wealth of mountains, lakes, rivers, green pastures and extensive bog lands. In Leitrim, you will find the shortest coastline of any Irish county as it touches the sea between Sligo and Donegal. However, it does boast a beach of another kind--the sandy shore on the northern edge of Lough Allen.
There are also numerous sites of archaeological interest, from ring forts to restored manor houses.
River cruising is one of the most popular activities in the area with Carrick-on-Shannon one of the best developed centers on the River Shannon for hiring cruise boats. The county boasts numerous activities. You can ride horses, explore the River Shannon by boat, sail dinghies, golf at one of the well-kept, uncrowded courses, or go fishing. Wherever you are in Leitrim, you are sure to be kept busy!
Eli and Erin at Trinity College, Dublin
This is the closest recipe I have found to that wonderful dish served in County Leitrim. I hope you enjoy it.
Baked Scallop Stuffed Shrimp [4 Servings]
Ingredients:
16 jumbo shrimp, washed and deveined
1 lb. of scallops, chopped into small pieces
½ cup of butter
¼ tsp. of paprika
Pepper to taste
½ cup finely crushed saltines (14 crackers)
4 T. grated Romano cheese
4 T. of crushed potato chips
Butter for greasing pan
2 T. of sherry and melted butter for final drizzle
Lemon wedges for garnish
Preparation:
Butterfly each shrimp being careful when opening not to tear through, but make sure the shrimp is flat. You could put a wooden pick on each side to keep it flat during baking, but the weight of the stuffing usually keeps it flat. Some might suggest also leaving on the shell to avoid drying out the shrimp during baking, but I have never made it that way. Spoon the chopped, uncooked scallops onto the shrimp. Melt the butter; stir in paprika, pepper, crackers, cheese, and chips. Pat mixture onto scallops.
Liberally butter the bottom of a 13x9x2 baking dish and place just a little water mixed with sherry into the dish to prevent the shrimp from drying. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove immediately and drizzle with sherry and melted butter. Serve with lemon wedges.
Leitrim is known as "Lovely Leitrim," and it is not surprising that this county was so aptly named. It is a beautiful county and boasts a wealth of mountains, lakes, rivers, green pastures and extensive bog lands. In Leitrim, you will find the shortest coastline of any Irish county as it touches the sea between Sligo and Donegal. However, it does boast a beach of another kind--the sandy shore on the northern edge of Lough Allen.
There are also numerous sites of archaeological interest, from ring forts to restored manor houses.
River cruising is one of the most popular activities in the area with Carrick-on-Shannon one of the best developed centers on the River Shannon for hiring cruise boats. The county boasts numerous activities. You can ride horses, explore the River Shannon by boat, sail dinghies, golf at one of the well-kept, uncrowded courses, or go fishing. Wherever you are in Leitrim, you are sure to be kept busy!
Eli and Erin at Trinity College, Dublin
This is the closest recipe I have found to that wonderful dish served in County Leitrim. I hope you enjoy it.
Baked Scallop Stuffed Shrimp [4 Servings]
Ingredients:
16 jumbo shrimp, washed and deveined
1 lb. of scallops, chopped into small pieces
½ cup of butter
¼ tsp. of paprika
Pepper to taste
½ cup finely crushed saltines (14 crackers)
4 T. grated Romano cheese
4 T. of crushed potato chips
Butter for greasing pan
2 T. of sherry and melted butter for final drizzle
Lemon wedges for garnish
Preparation:
Butterfly each shrimp being careful when opening not to tear through, but make sure the shrimp is flat. You could put a wooden pick on each side to keep it flat during baking, but the weight of the stuffing usually keeps it flat. Some might suggest also leaving on the shell to avoid drying out the shrimp during baking, but I have never made it that way. Spoon the chopped, uncooked scallops onto the shrimp. Melt the butter; stir in paprika, pepper, crackers, cheese, and chips. Pat mixture onto scallops.
Liberally butter the bottom of a 13x9x2 baking dish and place just a little water mixed with sherry into the dish to prevent the shrimp from drying. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove immediately and drizzle with sherry and melted butter. Serve with lemon wedges.
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