Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
                        ***ingredients for shrimp viala***
   3      dozen         ten to twelve count head-on shrimp
   1      teaspoon      dried basil
   1      tablespoon    Creole mustard
   1      pound         jumbo lump crabmeat
   1      tablespoon    dry sherry
     1/2  cup           melted butter
     1/2  cup           béchamel sauce
     1/2  cup           finely diced onions
     3/4  cup           seasoned Italian bread crumbs
     1/4  cup           finely diced celery
     1/4  cup           finely diced red bell pepper
                        salt and cracked black pepper
     1/2  cup           melted butter
   2      tablespoons   finely diced garlic
     1/2  cup           dry sherry
   1      teaspoon      dried thyme
   1      cup           water
                        ***ingredients for crawfish tasso***
                        -- butter**
     1/4  cup           melted butter
     1/4  cup           sliced green onions
     1/2  cup           fresh crawfish tails
   1      sprig         fresh thyme
     1/4  cup           diced tasso
   1      ounce         dry white wine
   1      tablespoon    minced garlic
   1 1/2  cups          heavy whipping cream
     1/4  cup           diced tomato
     1/4  pound         unsalted butter
     1/4  cup           sliced mushrooms
                        salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Preparation:

METHOD for SHRIMP VIALA: Preheat oven to 350F. Place shrimp right side up on cutting board. Using a sharp paring knife, cut through the tail shell from the top of the tail to the bottom of the flipper, making sure not to separate head from tail. Using your thumbs, open the tail flat, remove the vein and gently pry the meat away from the shell, leaving it intact at the head. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the above ingredients except crabmeat, salt and pepper and the last three ingredients. Using a large spoon, blend until all ingredients are well incorporated. Gently fold in crabmeat being careful not to break lumps. Season to taste using salt and pepper. Stuff tail with generous portion of crabmeat stuffing. Once stuffed, the tail should lay flat on a baking pan. Place stuffed shrimp on a large baking sheet and drizzle with butter and sherry. Put water into the bottom of the baking pan and place on center oven rack. Bake until stuffing is golden brown, approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. Place two ounces of crawfish butter in center of plate and top with six shrimp. Method for CRAWFISH TASSO BUTTER: In a heavy bottom Sauté pan, heat butter over medium high heat. Add all ingredients up to and including the thyme. Sauté until crawfish and Tasso are cooked thoroughly and vegetables are wilted, approximately ten minutes. Deglaze with white wine, reduce slightly and add heavy whipping cream. Continue to cook until volume of cream is reduced to one half and thickened. Slowly mount butter, a few pieced at a time, stirring constantly until all is incorporated. Remove from heat and season to taste using salt and pepper. All ingredients may be strained from the sauce or allowed to remain depending on preference. Hold warm until serving. YIELDS: 1 1/2 cups COMMENT: This unique shrimp presentation was designed here at Lafitte's Landing Restaurant for use during the height of the white shrimp season. At this time of year, shrimp are plentiful and we only select ten to twelve count shrimp for this recipe. Source: Chef John Fols