Spicy Shrimp with Cilantro-Lime Pesto Pasta & a FarberWare 6QT Covered Jumbo Cooker

As part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias®, I made Spicy Shrimp with Cilantro-Lime Pesto Pasta using a FarberWare 6QT Covered Jumbo Cooker. All opinions are 100% my own. #cbias

A few months ago I tossed out my set of nonstick pans - the bottoms were warped and they were on the verge of losing their nonstick coating. They weren't a pretty sight and to be honest, it was nice to see them go. However, they didn't get replaced and I have since been using my cast iron skillet and stock pot. I do love my cast iron cookware, but I terribly missed my nonstick skillet. So I picked one out and kept waiting for the right time to buy it... Well, the wait is over and I now have my dream nonstick skillet!! I am so excited to tell you all about it, plus share the first recipe that I cooked in it!!

I chose FarberWare because they are a trusted name in kitchen tools and have been around for over 100 years.100 years!! What that tells me is that they will have trusted, quality cookware for generations of cooks to come.

Without any further ado, let me introduce you to my very own FarberWare 6QT Covered Jumbo Cooker - a 14" Nonstick Skillet. I am in love and my husband has politely asked that it not sleep with us tonight. ;) 

A few features sold me on this particular skillet. First, the size - 6 Quarts! We have a family of 6 - so bigger is better when it comes to cookware. Second, a glass lid that allows me to see inside without lifting the lid. I have twins, so sometimes my hands are full when I go to check on dinner and the glass lid is a big help. Third, it's dishwasher safe. I don't mind doing dishes - but sometimes it is easier and time-saving to throw a load in the dishwasher and go hang out with the family.

And I can't fail to mention what was a must for me when it came to a new skillet - having oven safe handles. These bad boys are safe up to 350 degrees. I can't wait to use just one pan and not have to transfer foods to an oven-safe dish!

The first thing I did after removing the packaging was check out the bottom of the pan...

Love the branding!!

While shopping for my new skillet I poked around to see what else I could find that I couldn't live without. I knew there had to be something!

A new cutting board has been on my wish list for awhile - so I checked out the selection... Did you know FarberWare makes cutting boards? All of my boards have been gifts and I have never shopped for one before, so I was clueless on the selection out there.

The choices were poly or bamboo cutting boards. I wanted a wood one - so bamboo it was, of which I just adore the color and look of the wood grain. These cutting boards resist scratching and moisture, plus no forests were disturbed to make them. I am not necessarily a tree-hugger, but I enjoy breathing oxygen - so forests are important to me. :)

Although it wasn't on my wish list, this colander caught my eye. How do you pass up a $5.97 colander that has soft comfortable-grip handles, a 5QT capacity, a cute design, is red and has a limited lifetime warranty? You don't. You just don't! My colander that is pale blue, and most likely from the late 80's, is getting retired - and this hot momma is moving in!!

And the last thing I brought to show-n-tell today was something I never knew existed. It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...

Ceramic knives!!

They are sharper, harder and stronger than steel. I just had to see what this knife was all about. I picked out the 5" Santoku Knife, with blade cover, since it was the perfect size for the recipe at hand.

First, the handle is extremely soft. Not sure if this picture does it justice, but it feels so nice to hold.

Second, it made cutting a lime feel like I was cutting through butter. Oh my. This knife is serious business and I am so happy to have one!

Let's get to that recipe that I mentioned earlier! You didn't think I forgot, did you?

 I whipped up Spicy Shrimp with Cilantro-Lime Pesto Pasta for my FarberWare skillet's first meal. The recipe has quite a kick - so if you like less heat, just add less cayenne & garlic. It will still taste great!

The first step is to make some Cilantro-Lime Pesto - hence the cut & juiced limes alongside bunches of cilantro in the picture above. ;) Process the ingredients (recipe below) in a food processor and watch your pesto come to life! Set aside.

Next, heat olive oil in your skillet over medium-high heat, add garlic and seasonings (recipe below) and cook for a few minutes until fragrant and garlic is starting to turn golden.

Add 1lb of extra large, shelled and deveined shrimp. Make sure to turn them occasionally to avoid burning.

I picked up these stainless steel, silicone-tipped tongs to help avoid scratching the new pan. Since the tongs are heat-resistant I felt confident using them in hot oil. Just like the colander, the tongs have a limited lifetime warranty. Awesome!

Cook shrimp for about 7 minutes, until no longer pink.

Add the Cilantro-Lime Pesto and thin spaghetti and stir until well combined. Serve immediately.

Spicy Shrimp with Cilantro-Lime Pesto Pasta

(PRINTABLE RECIPE)

Cilantro-Lime Pesto

Ingredients

2 cups cilantro, fresh

2 tablespoons lime juice, fresh

¼ cup walnuts, chopped

2 tsp lime zest

1 tablespoon garlic, chopped

¼ cup parmesan cheese, shredded

⅛ teaspoon black pepper

⅛ teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in food processor and process until smooth - a few minutes.

2. Use immediately or store in refrigerator.

Spicy Shrimp

Ingredients

¼ cup olive oil

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

1 teaspoon ginger, ground

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon cayenne powder

½ teaspoon curry

½ teaspoon coriander

1lb shrimp, raw - deveined and shelled

Directions

1. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat.

2. Add garlic, ginger, cumin, cayenne, curry and coriander. Cook, while stirring, for about 3 minutes. Until mixture is fragrant and garlic is starting to turn golden.

3. Add shrimp, occasionally flipping to avoid burning. Cook for about 7 minutes or until no longer pink.

*After shrimp is done cooking, add ½ cup of the Cilantro-Lime Pesto and 1/2lb thin spaghetti noodles (cooked) to skillet. Stir until combined and serve immediately. Enjoy!

For more information on FarberWare, check out their website where you can find a wide range of products and recipes (like Mascarpone-Apple Stuffed Brioche French Toast). 

On Facebook, FarberWare shares even MORE delicious recipes (like these Grilled Cilantro Burger Sliders with Teriyaki and Pineapple) that are made using their cookware. Right now, on Facebook, you can enter to win a FarberWare Classic Series 2.75 Qt. Covered Sauté Pan or a FarberWare Millennium Stainless Steel 12-Inch Nonstick Skillet!! Very cool. :)

If you are on Twitter, follow @FarberwareCook for recipes and tips.

I bought my skillet at Walmart, where there is large selection of FarberWare items. You can check them all out on Walmart's FarberWare page. I posted pictures from my shopping trip on Google+, if you want to see what other goodies I found!