Simple Shrimp Cocktail

Shrimp Cocktail served in a pretty stemmed dish is a classic first course for a festive dinner party. This one is easy to make and proves popular with my guests. I'm posting this recipe at the request of several of the "Mennonite Girls" to whom I served it back in September.

• Shredded lettuce
• fresh or frozen cooked Shrimp and/or prawns*
• Lemon slices (optional - for garnish)
• fresh chopped parsley

* It's nice to have the large prawns as a garnish but you can use whatever size shrimp or prawns you have access to for the body of the cocktail. I only had the larger ones in my freezer when I made this but I often use the smaller ones. How many shrimp you need depends on their size.

For the cocktail sauce:

• 1/2 cup bottled Chili Sauce (I use Heinz)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon rind (if desired)
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• A dash or two Tabasco or other hot sauce

1. In a small bowl, mix all cocktail sauce ingredients.
2. Set aside.

Assemble shrimp cocktails:

1. Fill the bottom 1/3 of each dish with shredded lettuce.
2. Add smaller prawns or shrimp so that the dish is 3/4 full
3. Spoon a generous tablespoon of cocktail sauce in to the centre of the shrimp.
4. Drape 3 large prawns with the tail on over the edge of each dish
5. Garnish with a lemon wedge or slice and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
6. This amount of sauce would be enough for 6 shrimp cocktails.