Shrimp with pearls and pearls

Happy 4th of July! (More on shrimp...)

This definition is from Wikipedia...

"A pearl is a hard, roundish object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of mollusks, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls (baroque pearls) occur. The finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries, and because of this, the word pearl became a metaphor for something very rare, very fine, very admirable and very valuable."

The recipe I'm about to write is for shrimps with pearl onions and "pearl pasta" (acini di peppe-- little beads. like tiny pearls).

Ingredients:

1/2 to 3/4 lb of acini di peppe
1 cup of sugar snap peas with strings removed , then halved--may use just a cup of English peas (green pearls) or broad beans cut 3-4 times on an angle, or French string beans...your choice
2 Tbs. unsalted butter
1 Tbs of olive oil
1/2 to 3/4 lb. of shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails off (medium size)
1/2 cup of white wine (whatever you're drinking always works)
2 -3 small fresh tomatoes, skinned and minced or you may use grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 Tbs. tarragon, if desired
1/2 TBS of mined parsley
1 scallion sliced thin, including the green tops
1 minced garlic clove (optional)
salt
pepper
(may also use couscous instead of pasta, same schemer)

Directions:

Cook the pasta for 9 minutes in enough water so you don't drain it.

At the 5 minute mark, add peas or beans--you may do both if you like veggies!

In the meantime while the pasta and veggies cook, put the butter and oil, garlic, sliced scallion, heat for few minutes and then add wine, cook down, and then add tomato, parsley and tarragon.

Raise heat to medium high and then simmer uncovered for about 5 more minutes.

Add the shrimp, salt and pepper to taste...I love fresh coarse ground black pepper! and toss until shrimp are pink--about 3-4 minutes.

Transfer the pasta to a warmed bowl and add shrimp and serve!

Serves 2-3 Obviously, if you want to serve more people, you add more good ingredients!