Shrimp and Snap Pea Stir Fry

"Mom! You forgot to cut off their heads!"

My horrified son, age 7

I don't know what came over me. All I can say is that I was rushed and tired, and for five minutes, when the task of cleaning the shrimp fell on me, I lost my head and didn't remove theirs. My family was not amused; they were nauseated. Too bad, because the sauce was great. So even if the sight of their beady little eyes and whiskers is a big turn-off, give it a try. Shells and heads are optional. 

I can't remember where I found the original recipe, and I never wrote down all the proportions because sometimes it's nice not to measure. It's been great every time. I'm going to write this out exactly as I have it on my recipe card from seven years ago. 

Shrimp Marinade:
ginger
cornstarch or arrowroot powder
salt
sake
sesame oil

Sauce:
a drop of chicken broth
water
oyster sauce
cornstarch or arrowroot powder

Other Ingredients:
oil for frying
salt
a little minced garlic
1/2 pound snap peas or snow peas, rinsed and de-stringed if they are tough
2/3 pound shrimp, preferably peeled and cleaned 

Directions:

Stir together the sauce ingredients and set them aside. Stir together the marinade ingredients and marinate the shrimp for thirty minutes. (In my staggering hurry the other

night, they marinated for no more than ten minutes and the world did not end.) Heat up some oil in a wok or fry pan over high heat, and when it's hot add the minced garlic. Give it a stir and then add the shrimp. Keep stirring. When they are cooked, transfer them to another container and set them aside. 

Heat up a little more oil in the wok and add the snap peas and some salt. When they are mostly cooked through, add the sauce and stir. When the sauce comes to a boil it will thicken into a velvety sauce.

 Stir the shrimp back in. The shrimp will feel velvety too, but not from yuck and goo like my family assumed, but from the cornstarch in the marinade. We ate this with hot rice and cabbage pickles. 

Fry garlic, add shrimp. Remove. Add salt and snow peas. Add sauce. Add shrimp. Serve.