Heather’s Glamorous Seafood Casserole

ingredients:
1 8oz pckg of cream cheese, 1/2 cup butter, 1 and 1/2 lbs of raw shrimp peeled, 6 green onions, 1 small red bell pepper chopped, 3 ribs celery thinly chopped, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 tsp of hot sauce, 1 good beer or 1 cup dry white wine, 1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper,1/2 tsp of basil and parsley, 1 tsp old bay seasoning, garlic to taste, 1 lb lump crab meat, 3 fresh lemons for juicing, 3 cups cooked white rice, 2 1/2 cups of grated cheddar cheese, Ritz crackers, paprika for top

optional:
may substitute colby and monterey jack for cheddar cheese
may substitute cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom

cooking instructions:
Melt cream cheese and 6 tbsp of butter in microwave, set aside Saute’ shrimp, green onion, bell pepper,celery in remaining 2 tbsp of butter.  Add either white wine/beer,and old bay and simmer to deglaze the pan.
In a large bowl, combine soup, hot sauce, garlic, Worcestershire, cayenne pepper and basil.  Add cream cheese mixture and shrimp mixture.
Sprinkle crab meat with lemon juice and fold into shrimp mixture.  Lastly, stir in cooked rice.
Spread into greased casserole dish, top with crushed Ritz crackers then shredded cheese. Top with paprika for garnish.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until bubbly.
Garnish each serving with fresh parsley
ENJOY! ENJOY! ENJOY!