Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Spicy Shrimp and Corn Bisque...and a Red Gold Tomato Prize Pack Giveaway!!

Texas isn't known for its blustery winters…we're more accustomed to blazing-hot summers that seem to stretch on endlessly from May until October! So when cooler weather finally arrives, I tend to make a lot of soup. Two weeks ago, it was blustery and icy here. This week? It's been close to 80 degrees in the afternoons. Spring is on the way for sure, but I'm going to keep using my beloved blue Le Creuset Dutch oven to make a few more batches of soup while the evenings are still a bit chilly. 

I came across a five-star recipe for a shrimp and corn soup at Cooking Light's website that had rave reviews from readers, so I decided to give it a try…with my own personal spin to give it a spicy Cajun twist. In case you haven't noticed, we like lots of spice and flavor at Casa Garcia!! As soon as I saw that this recipe included canned diced tomatoes among its ingredients, I knew I had the perfect tie-in to my latest giveaway. 

Earlier this month, the nice people at Red Gold Tomatoes sent me a great gift pack featuring some of their products to try, along with a few other fun goodies. I used the tomatoes in this bisque, and I was very happy with their flavor. Even better? Red Gold is giving away a prize pack to one of my readers too. I'll give you all the details on the giveaway after I share the recipe for this delicious and hearty bisque!

Spicy Shrimp and Corn Bisque
adapted from Cooking Light

Step 1:  Melt 1 tbs. butter in a Dutch oven or stock pot. Add 1/2 diced yellow onion and two cloves garlic. Saute for about five minutes, until the onions are translucent. Add 2 tbs. of your favorite Cajun seasoning; I used Chef Paul Prudhomme's Seafood Magic seasoning. Stir to combine and add 6 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese.


Step 2:  Stir the cream cheese into the onion-garlic mixture until melted. Add 1 can creamed corn, 2 cups milk, 1 can reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup, 2 cubes chicken bouillon, a few shakes of Tabasco, 1 cup frozen corn kernels, and 1 can Red Gold diced tomatoes (undrained). Whisk well to combine. 


Step 3:  Bring the soup just to a boil; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat, add 1 lb. medium shrimp, and stir well to combine. Cover and let the shrimp cook for about five minutes. Ladle the bisque into bowls and garnish with sliced green onion.


This bisque is chunky, hearty, and full of flavor. It's basically a meal-in-a-bowl, so I simply served it with crusty French bread and butter on the side.

Now...how about the details of the giveaway? The Red Gold Tomato prize pack I'm giving away contains three cans of their tomatoes: Petite Diced with Green Chiles, Diced, and Diced with Oregano & Garlic. The prize pack also includes a cookbook with ideas for cooking with the tomatoes, a red tote bag, tomato soup recipe cards, a coupon for Red Gold products, a keychain, a fridge magnet, a chip clip, and a cute model replica of a tomato truck.


That's a lot of great stuff! To enter, leave a comment below telling me what you would make with the tomatoes if you're the winner -- don't forget to include your e-mail address! For more chances to win, do the following: follow me on Twitter, Like The Weekend Gourmet on Facebook, and be/become a follower of my blog. That's up to FOUR entries…be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry, because I use a random number generator to pick my winner. The more entries you have, the better chance you have to win. The contest is open until this 11:59 p.m. this Friday (2/25). I'll announce the winner on Saturday.

39 comments:

  1. Man, Wendy, that looks mouthwatering delicious!

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  2. Like you on Facebook!

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  3. I'd probably make Chicken Tikka Masala or tomato gravy with the tomatoes.

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  4. I thought I was following you on FB but I don't see it on my list. NOW I am though. :) Also, I would definitely make chili. It's such a warm comfort food in this frigid weather!

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  5. And now I follow you on Twitter! Have a good Tuesday.

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  6. gfc follower


    p.s. i put a shout out to my fb friends! hopefully you get lot of entries! love you! talk to you tonight!

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  7. Slightly envious of 80 degree days, we're just skimming the low 50s, can't wait for spring! On the up side, it's still cool enough to really appreciate a delicious soup like this one!

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  8. Looks so smooth...with a great kick. Looks far better than my lunch.

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  9. Fabulous sounding soup! That's exactly what I'd make with Red Gold Tomatoes~

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  10. Wendy-Thanks for sharing such a wonderful giveaway! Love these diced tomatoes, and I certainly love your shrimp bisque!
    Looks so vibrant with color, and flavor!

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  11. I would certainly make a "Rabbiata Sauce" with the Red Gold diced tomatoes with the oregano, and garlic. A Rabbiata -literally means, "raging"...it is a super spicy, garlicky Italian red sauce!

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  12. Love your Shrimp Bisque, with the spicy flavor, and the corn!
    I do follow you on twitter, and have you listed on my foodies!

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  13. This looks delicious! Love the addition of the spice too, thanks for sharing =)

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  14. Oh I am so drooling! I've made a lot of soup and stew this winter- it's been so cold!I love the corn/cream cheese mixture with the tabasco and shrimp- that would certainly have me waxing poetical about warm days! Thanks for sharing!

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  15. Hi Wendy!

    Your bisque looks so good, and even though I have Spring fever here in Chicago, Mother nature is not co-operating. We're supposed to get more snow tonight:( Bummer. As long as it the weather is winter, I'm eating soup, like yours. I'm making this one soon.

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  16. I love a great bisque. This sounds so yummy. Sweet and warm, savory and thick. Mmm. I can't wait to try it.

    I have a mean case of spring fever. I just want warm weather.

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  17. what would I make...so many choices. I could use some in my pasta sauce, or chili or taco soup or I could find a new recipe to try!

    Leslie
    hugbandit7 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  18. It was SO warm this afternoon. Yay for Spring! And I love your bisque recipe. It sounds so tasty. As for the tomatoes? I would make a hearty lasagna. I've been craving Italian this week. Thank you for sharing this deliciousness tonight. I hope you have a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend.

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  19. WOW, this recipe sounds AMAZING and I am thinking that if I won the giveaway, I would have to try THIS VERY recipe!! Even if I do not win the giveaway, I am adding the needed ingredients to my grocery list now!! Hope I am a winner! My email is emmaslori@yahoo.com - thanks for sharing your recipes and I REALLY enjoy your blog!

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  20. That soup looks amazing. I am going to make some tonight because I just happened to have all the ingredients.

    If I were the winner I would make Butter Chicken, with the tomatoes.

    dizzybloom(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. I follow you via Twitter @HeartnSoulmom

    dizzybloom(at)gmail(dot)com

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  22. I like you on Facebook (Cheryl HeartnSoulmom)

    dizzybloom(at)gmail(dot)com

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  23. I follow your blog via Google Friends Connect.

    dizzybloom(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. I would make a pot of yummy Spinach Tortellini Soup~my whole family loves this soup and its full of veggies=)
    I'll have to try the Bisque!
    Lethea
    Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

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  25. I'm following you on twitter~Luvdaylilies
    Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

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  26. I'm a blog follower via GFC~Luvdaylilies
    Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

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  27. pasta sauce

    Nancy Burnett

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  28. hey, wendy--

    if i win the red gold package i'll make this yummy bisque even if it's 100 outside!

    nancy burnett

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  29. or maybe salsa

    nancy burnett

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  30. or maybe pasta sauce.

    Pick me! Pick me!

    nancy burnett

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  31. Bookmarking this for dinner this week! Thanks for sharing. My mouth is watering!

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