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Recipe From Our Sponsor Ritz®

Shrimp on a RITZ

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2 tablespoons plus ¼ teaspoon sea salt
1 lemon, juiced, plus lemon halves
1 tablespoon plus 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups ice cubes
1 bay leaf
20 small (36/40 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined, about ½ pound
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon minced fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 teaspoon minced green onion, white part only, plus 1 tablespoon thinly sliced on a bias scallion, green part only
40 Ritz® Crackers
2 tablespoons finely diced celery, for garnish
2 tablespoons finely diced red bell pepper, for garnish

In a large bowl, combine 2 cups cool water, 1 tablespoon sea salt, lemon juice and halves, and ½ tablespoon cayenne pepper. Stir to dissolve the salt. Add ice cubes. Set ice bath aside.
Fill a medium saucepan with water and add 1 tablespoon sea salt, ½ tablespoon cayenne pepper, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Add shrimp and return to a boil. Immediately remove saucepan from heat and allow the shrimp to remain in the hot water until just cooked through, about 1 minute longer. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shrimp to ice bath until completely cool.
Meanwhile, stir to combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon zest, parsley, minced green onion, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper in a medium bowl. Transfer the cream-cheese mixture to a piping bag fitted with ½-inch plain tip; refrigerate 15 minutes.
Remove shrimp from ice-water bath and pat dry with paper towels. Halve shrimp lengthwise; set aside.
Place crackers on a large platter. Top each cracker with a shrimp half and pipe each with about 1 teaspoon cream-cheese mixture. Garnish with celery, red bell pepper and sliced green onion.