Shrimp and Jalapeno Hush Puppies

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 1/4 pound raw shrimp, shelled, deveined
• 1 whole jalapeno, seeded, minced
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 2 cups white cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon melted bacon drippings
• Oil, for deep frying
  

Instructions

1. Sauté onion, shrimp, jalapeno and parsley in 2 teaspoons of oil for 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside.
2. Mix together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt.
3. Bring 1 1/2 cups water to rolling boil. Remove pan from heat. Pour in cornmeal mixture; beat well. Cool for 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Add sautéed ingredients, egg and bacon grease, beating well after each addition. Completed dough should be fairly dry but not cohesive. Cool.
5. Fill pan with 3 to 4 inches of oil. Bring to 375 degrees F. Drop full teaspoonsful of dough into hot oil and fry about 1 minute, until golden brown and cooked through.
6. Drain and serve hot.

Yield: about 30