I received a new cookbook for Christmas. To me, that is the best gift under the tree. I look forward to it every year. Every year I research the new crop of books available and find the one that appeals to me most. This year I chose a cookbook that is both visually inspiring and full of recipes that are new to me.
The book is What Katie Ate by Katie Quinn Davies. Katie is a food and lifestyle photographer and blogger whose blog of the same name has become an internet phenomenon. She is Irish and lives in Australia. I have been following her blog for a couple of months and am amazed by her photography. She has a huge collection of vintage cooking utensils and her photo shoots are all about rustic presentations; not the prettily posed perfect shots. There are crumbs and sauces dripping everywhere. The photos in her cookbook are just as stunning and almost life size. It is worth owning for its artistic merit alone. But add to that the delicious recipes and you can’t go wrong.
The first recipe I tried was Fettuccine with Shrimp, Cream and Sun-Dried Tomatoes. The ingredients were simple and in combination made a great weeknight meal. Because January 2013 marks the 5th Anniversary of my blog, I want to share this lovely cookbook with you. Please leave a comment and I will select one lucky winner by random generator to receive a copy of What Katie Ate. Comments are open until Tuesday January 8th. Thank you for all of your support over the years.
FETTUCCINE WITH SHRIMP, CREAM AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 1/2 pounds uncooked jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
2-3 scallions, trimmed and finely sliced
2 tablespoons shredded basil, plus extra to garnish
1/2 cup drained sun-dried tomatoes, cut into strips
pinch of ground white pepper
1 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup dry vermouth
1 cup heavy cream or half and half
1/2 cup grated parmesan, plus extra to serve
11 ounces fettuccine
Freshly ground black pepper
Crusty bread, to serve
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over low heat and saute the garlic until softened but not colored. Add the shrimp and cook for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until the shrimp are opaque. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and leave to cool, then chop into thirds.
Add the scallion, basil, sun-dried tomato, pepper, chicken broth, vermouth and cream to the skillet, and cook over medium-high heat for 20 minutes or until the sauce has reduced by about half. Stir in the parmesan and cook for a further 1-2 minutes until melted and combined.
Return the shrimp to the sauce to heat through, and keep warm.
Meanwhile, cook the fettuccine in a large saucepan of salted boiling water for 10-12 minutes or until al dente. Drain well.
To serve, add the pasta to the sauce and toss together with two forks. Garnish with extra parmesan, basil and a grinding of black pepper, and serve with crusty bread.
Oh My Gosh! Those pictures are amazing! I am sure to make that shrimp dish, my family would love it. The cookbook looks amazing. Happy New Year!
Those pictures really are enticing; in fact, I think I’ll definitely try this recipe out either tonight for dinner, or sometime this weekend. Thank you! I’ve already borrowed a few of your recipes and they’ve been a big hit in this home!
The photos are gorgeiousl Congratulations on such longevity. I love reading your blog and hearing about your adventures.
That looks like a beautiful cookbook to read and then make some fabulous food. Going to explore her site now. Thanks for the giveaway and Happy New Year to you and yours.
That looks delicious Penny! We are having company tomorrow night and I think I might make that ! I would love to win the cook book. You have me intrigued enough that if someone else is the lucky winner, I will have to go buy it! Happy 5th blog anniversary.
Hugs,
Penny
STUNNING PHOTOS!!! and I am sitting here with my new pasta maker attachment for my Kitchenaid (sure is easy to buy Christmas gifts for our kind). Personally, I love the crumbs and dripping sauces rustic style of food photos best… gonna head over and take a look.
Well done on the dish, sound perfect! Pin worthy!
Dave
Looks delicious! The cookbook is really cute.
Looks delicious Penny – we made fresh linguini the other night for two different meals and it would have worked very well here.
Happy New Year and Congratulations on 5 years of blogging! I always look forward to reading your posts, and have tried many of your recipes! This looks like another winner and well as the cookbook! I haven’t heard of Katie but can’t wait to look at her blog! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Shrimp and pasta – one of my most favorite meals! Looks just delicious!
Hi Penny, I’m not sure whether I ever commented before (nothing like a give away to elicit comments lol). I do read your blog on a regular basis and have tried several of your recipes – the winner in my household to date is the scalloped potatoes – beats any scalloped potato recipe I’ve used by a mile.
Wishing you and yours a happy healthy 2013 and looking forward to your future posts.
Perfect for a meal out here in AZ! And thanks for the cookbook suggestion. I ordered one for me and one for a friend. I think I’ll find some favorites there. I hope you’re getting a commission because you’ll sell a lot of them! Happy New Year with love.
Yummy!
Happy New Year and Congrats on 5 years of blogging!
I have followed your blog for the past year and enjoyed all your posts on your trip to France!
This book looks great…I’ll be looking at her blog as well!
As soon as i saw the photo I knew I would love it; rosé sauce has a special appeal. Congratulations Penny on your 5 years. Happy that I discovered your blog; always a pleasure to read your adventures and I enjoy your recipes and photos.
5 years? Seems like it was just yesterday, but congratulations on finding & fulfilling your passion. Save the cookbook for someone else (you know me & cooking!) as I just wanted to comment you on your blog, which is beautiful by the way – just like you.
This dish sounds wonderful.Thank you for such a nice giveaway. I love your blog and love Lake Lure as we spent a week there several years ago.
Recently visited Asheville for Christmas and the Hilton – both the town and the Hilton are so lovely- my bucket list includes visiting Lake Lure and the lovely cottage there. The shrimp recipe sounds wonderful and so easy – will be trying this soon. Thank you for the opportunity to win a such a lovely cookbook – the photos are what always make me chose a cook book and then the recipes.
Nice blog, nice cookbook and nice give-away. I’ll be making the shrimp recipe very soon.
I love this recipe! It is similar to one I used in the 80’s that fell by the way…I was so happy to open my email this morning and see this! The recipes you share are always keepers! The crockpot chicken teriyaki recipe is to die for…and I can’t wait to make this new one!! Thank you!
What a wonderful recipe! I have some shrimp in the freezer waiting for this dish 🙂 The cookbook sounds wonderful and the cover photo looks amazing. Happy anniversary to your blog!
I worked at nearby Ridge Crest as a teenager many years ago, and we visited beautiful Lake Lure. Usually I do not comment here, I just read and salivate and listen to my tummy growl, but I can’t pass up a chance to win that lovely cookbook. Love your blog, and congratulations on its anniversary!
Your pasta looks delicious!
I love reading your blog because I used to live in Tryon ,NC.My family often went to Lake Lure.Now we live in Florida and really miss North Carolina.
Thanks for Sharing all your recipes and a chance to win this cookbook.
That looks very tasty! I was looking at your last post again, at the meal that so resembled the one I made on the same night. I made Ina’s Gremolata Green Beans – a winner!
If you’re taking entries from north of the border, please enter me in the contest!
What a fantastic looking cookbook, I’m a “cooking Katie” as well, will have to check it out!
Swinging by to wish you a Happy New Year! The recipe looks absolutely delicious, and Happy blog anniversary too!
Happy Blog Anniversary! Love your blog…and this cookbook looks great. My favourite gifts are cookbooks too!
Congratulations on five years Penny. I believe you’re one of my first blogging buddies. Your new blog look is so sophisticated, congratulations there as well. I too love cookbook gifts and receive at least one or two for Christmas. The shrimp with the sun-dried tomatoes sounds creamy and delicious. I’m off to see more about her blog and this cookbook.
Sam
New look, new year… and with your wonderful giveaway plus your 5th year anniversary…wowI love the way you are starting off 2013! Woot! woot! Way to go. Congratulations!
Love finding great blogs, like I found yours years ago. Gonna go check hers out now. I would love to have this cookbook. I got a great one from my daughter in law this year.
Love the cover – I’ll go check it out. I’m sadly in need of inspiration at the moment. Although that shrimp dish is rather inspiring….
Happy New Year!
The cookbook looks great!
Thanks for the giveaway!
The photo of that fettucini made me instantly hungry. Nice photo Penny and it sounds delicious. I’d love to win a copy of that cookbook. Nice giveaway.
shrimp! what could be better!
Happy Blogiversary to you, happy bogiversary to you, happy blogiversary dear Penny….Happy blogiversary, tooooooo yoooouuuu! The cream poured on the pie reminds me of my sweet Grandfather.
I’ve always loved Katie’s blog. So unusual, love the way she presents everything. Right on, Penny. Great giveaway!
Thanks, Penny, for introducing me to Katie’s blog. I have the feeling I’m going to find some wonderful recipes there and lots of beautiful pictures to drool over. The vintage cooking tools add so much interest to her photos. Happy Blogiversary, here’s to many more.
Would love to win the cookbook! I love your blog and look forward to checking in with you each week.
I enjoy your blog. The book sounds wonderful, would love to have a copy! Thanks for opportunity!
Thanks Penny for the offer. I strolled to Katie’s, and I’m envious of her vintage Collection. I love vintage recipes, vintage clothes, vintage ceramic and china, vintage books, vintage cookbooks, etc….okay, I just love vintage, lol
I discovered What Katie Ate last year and envy her gorgeous photography. I have the camera but lack the know how. As for the shrimp dish I think this is a good first choice.
This book looks great!