Cooking is truly an experiment; which foods work with which spices, how much, the variables go on and on. For many, cooking without a recipe or even altering a recipe is a scary thing. They follow the recipes to the letter, worried that the kitchen police might come looking for them if they don’t.

So, I offer you my recipe for Spicy Shrimp Soup. You’ll notice that the ingredients fall into two categories: what you can alter and what you can’t. (Note which list is longer and that even the necessary ingredients have options.) What I have offered you is an option, a kind of “experiment with a guide.” I have it listed the way I do (although I often think my husband sneaks more red pepper when I’m not looking), but feel free to add or subtract, increase or decrease amounts, or whatever else you want to please your taste buds. For some alteration suggestions, I added a list below the recipe instructions. Enjoy!

Ingredients needed

2- 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes, undrained

2 cups of juice from eight vegetables or tomato

1 cup of white wine or water

½ cup of rice

Other ingredients

2 cups of chopped celery

1 green or red bell pepper, chopped

1 chopped onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon ground red pepper

1 pound precooked, shrimp tail removed

Spray a 5-6 quart crock pot with cooking spray. Combine all ingredients except shrimp and rice in slow cooker, cover and simmer 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. Add the fish and rice. Cover and cook over high heat for an additional 45 minutes.

Suggestions for alteration

– For soup plus soup, add an additional 1 cup of juice and / or ½ cup of wine.

– Make with any firm fish such as tuna steak, halibut or haddock cut into 1-inch cubes.

– Increase or decrease the celery, bell peppers and onion according to your taste.

– For a spicier soup, increase the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and / or ground red pepper. You can also add a little hot sauce if you like.

The point is to be confident and be creative. Create recipes for yourself that you will enjoy. Find this and other recipes at http://www.natalies-recipes.com.