Shrimp Boil with Potatoes, Corn, Beer, and Onion

In searching for a way to make something with shrimp and potatoes, I found a nice recipe for a shrimp boil at myrecipes.com - :http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/shrimp-boil. The recipe combines shrimp, potatoes, onion, corn, and beer. I adapted the recipe to our tastes and reduced the amount of ingredients to serve four rather than eight. I used canned sweet corn rather than corn on the cob. In the original recipe, the corn on the cob is kept on the cob, but cooked with the boil. I also interpreted and clarified the original directions.

Below are the ingredients I used to serve four. I did not change the amount of beer, water, or salt in the original recipe.

Ingredients

- one 12 oz. bottle of beer
- one (1.5 oz) bag of seafood boil seasoning. (I used the McCormick version which I found at Publix and which comes in a box with two 1.5 oz. bags.)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional. I left it out.)
- 2 bay leaves
- one onion, quartered
- 1 garlic bulb halved (I used four cloves, peeled and halved)
- 1/2 lb small red potatoes
- one 11 oz. can extra sweet corn niblets
- 1/2 lb. smoked sausage cut into 1-in. diagonal slices
- 1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined (I used uncooked.)
- French baguette, sliced diagonally. I made the mistake of using a Publix baguette. I should have gone to Fresh Market for something approaching a real baguette
- 2 tbsp butter melted
- fresh lemon wedges
- Old Bay seasoning to sprinkle on finished dish

Directions

1. Bring 4 quarts water and first seven ingredients (first six if you omit cayenne) to a boil in a 12 qt. stockpot. 

2. Add potatoes, and simmer for 15 minutes. 

3. Add corn and sausage, and simmer for 8 minutes.

4. Add shrimp and cover. Turn off heat. Let shrimp sit 10 to 15 minutes to absorb flavor. (I did 15 minutes, and that worked perfectly.)

5. This direction is different from the original. Drain the liquid and put the shrimp dish into a serving bowl.

6. This direction is amplified from the original recipe. Put the sliced baguette, dish with melted butter, dish with lemon wedges, and can of Old Bay on table. Diners can squeeze lemon, sprinkle Old Bay, and add melted butter to the shrimp dish as their tastes desire.