If you’ve ever watched the popular TV series – The Goldbergs, written by Adam F. Goldberg – you probably heard mom Beverly “Bevy” announce she was cooking “shrimp parm.” I could never tell if the family really wanted or liked shrimp parm, but they all seemed to know that shrimp parm was her “fix it” for stressful situations as well as for celebrations.

My True Love List included this entry: My True Love enjoys a variety of food, is willing to try new foods, and appreciates my cooking. The first time CJ came to my house for dinner, I made fried chicken. He still talks about how good it was and how surprised he was that I cooked fried chicken as good as his mom and Aunt Penny. And, since food is one of my love languages, I was impressed when he made perfect over-easy eggs and buttered bread toasted in the oven for me at his place – be still my heart!

Shrimp Parm doesn’t sound like a dish I would make, but guess what? A thoughtful family member gifted me the Goldbergs Cookbook! Written by the real life Beverly Goldberg with Jenn Fujikawa, Bevy’s “World-Class Shrimp Parm” is featured at the front of the book on page 14. Here’s a quote from Bevy herself as written in the cookbook:

“If there’s one meal I’m known for, it’s my shrimp parm. It’s a staple of the Goldberg House. My schmoos can’t get enough of its fried, cheesy goodness. And over the years it’s been at the center of some of my family’s biggest moments. That’s because it fills up their hearts as much as it fills up their tummies.”

Since shrimp parm is one of Bevy’s love languages, I’ve included the recipe for you to try:

1 pound (16 to 20 count) large shrimp, cleaned and deveined

1 cup whole milk

1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Vegetable oil for frying

1 (24-ounce) jar pasta sauce

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9X13-inch pan with nonstick spray.
2. Place cleaned shrimp into a bowl with the milk and set aside.
3. In a shallow dish, whisk together breadcrumbs, flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
4. Remove shrimp from milk and dredge them in breading.
5. In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2-inches of oil and fry shrimp until golden brown. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
6. Pour half of the sauce into the prepared pan, then layer shrimp and half the mozzarella cheese.
7. Pour over the rest of the sauce and add remaining mozzarella cheese.
8. Bake for 15 minutes.
9. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top to serve.

Hey! Let me know if you made the shrimp parm. Is cooking or food one of your love languages?  What’s your favorite recipe to show love?