The Martha Stewart of Bucci Insurance (a.k.a. the Vice President), Mary Pellegrino, shared this great recipe with all of us at the office. It could not be better timing! Try this great recipe for marinated shrimp to add some flavor to your Fourth of July weekend!

Marinated Shrimp

• ¼ cup dry vermouth
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh marjoram
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• ½ teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1 ½ to 2 pounds of larger shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped
• Olive oil

Combine all ingredients (except oil) and marinate shrimp for 30 minutes. Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat. Add shrimp and cook 3-4 minutes. Great flavor and no cocktail sauce needed.

Enjoy!

Four days until the fourth! Have you started making your plans for the weekend? An event that won’t let you down is celebrating its 225^th anniversary this year. Starting in 1785, the Bristol Parade is the oldest Fourth of July celebration in America and they believe that this year is going to be its best yet. The parade begins Monday, July 5th at 10:30am at the corner of Chestnut Street and Hope Street in Bristol, Rhode Island and it will conclude on High Street.  The Fourth of July is not complete without the smell of the hamburgers grilling, the blast of fireworks, and a family tradition. If this will be your first year attending the Bristol Parade it most likely won’t be your last. Head down to Bristol this weekend and join the thousands of returning people for a memorable day. It’s your turn to become a part of the Rhode Island tradition!

Have a fun and safe Fourth of July from Bucci Insurance!

It’s safe to assume the typical favorites will be on the menu this coming Fourth of July: hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, chicken, potato salad, chips and watermelon. While delicious, some of these foods can pose as a serious health threat if not properly cooked. Take care of yourself and your guests this holiday by following these safety measures.

From the Store: Pick up cold food like meat and poultry last, just before checkout. Separate these types of food from others when bagging groceries. Cross- contamination can happen when raw meat juices drip on other foods. After the store, head straight home and straight to the refrigerator. Perishable foods need to be refrigerated within 2 hours (only 1 hour if it is over 90 degrees).

Keep Everything Clean: Be sure there are plenty of clean utensils and platters at hand. Do not reuse the same cutting board, utensils or platters to avoid food borne illness.

Cook Thoroughly: Cook food to a safe minimum internal temperature to destroy harmful bacteria. Use a food thermometer to make sure. Beef, veal, lamb steaks, roasts and chops can be cooked to 145 °F. Hamburgers made of ground beef should reach 160 °F. All cuts of pork should reach 160 °F. All poultry should reach a minimum of 165 °F.

Keep Hot Food Hot and Cold Food Cold: If using a cooler, keep it out of direct sunlight.  In order to avoid opening the lid too often, keep beverages and perishable foods separate. Keep food hot until served. Set food on to the side of the grill rack or in the oven at approximately 200 °F. Do not leave food sitting out for more than two hours and discard any leftover food that may have been out longer than that.

Be sure to follow these food safety measures for a tasty and successful cookout this weekend. (We suggest you make sure your fire insurance is paid to cover all bases!) From Bucci Insurance Group, have a great holiday!