(Venezuelan Peppers with Shrimp)

Ingredients

• •3 pounds shrimp
• •3 cups Spanish olive oil
• •4 large red bell peppers, seeded and cut into thin julienne strips
• •8 garlic cloves, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch chunks
• •1 chili pepper, seeded and minced
• •1 loaf French bread, cut into 1 inch thick slices
• •1 package Feta cheese

Directions

1. 1Slit the shrimp up the back with a sharp knife. Remove the vein, but do not peel shrimp. Set them aside.
2. 2Combine 2 cups of olive oil and the red pepper strips in a deep heavy skillet or sauté pan. Heat slowly.
3. 3Cook very gently until the peppers are extremely tender but not at all browned. (The oil will turn a lovely rose color.) Set peppers aside.
4. 4Pour the remaining oil into another skillet with the garlic pieces. Stew the garlic slowly for 4 to 5 minutes, until tender and golden. Scoop out the garlic with a strainer or slotted spoon and add it to the peppers.
5. 5Heat the garlic oil until it ripples. Throw in the minced chili pepper and the shrimp. Sautee, tossing the shrimp in the oil, until they turn pink and are just done.
6. 6To serve, spoon the peppers and their oil into a serving dish. Surround with the shrimp. Serve with bread.
7. 7Each dinersoaks slices of bread in the oil and piles the bread with peppers and garlic. Feta cheese may be eaten with it and the shrimp goes on top.