While I usually serve this as a starter, it really is a meal in itself. Who doesn't love melty cheese and succulent shrimp?

Ingredients

• 1 pound peeled, deveined, raw shrimp, 26-30 count or larger, seasoned with salt and pepper.
• 2-3 tablespoons butter, divided
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, from about 1/2 small lemon
• 2 tablespoons brandy
• 1- 13 ounces wheel of brie, rind trimmed around edges only
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds
• 1 tablespoon parsley, minced
• 1 french bagette, sliced

Directions

1. Preheat a 10" skillet over med-high heat. Melt half of the butter.
2. Add shrimp and saute until just pink about 1 minute each side, adding garlic half way through cooking.
3. Add lemon juice and brandy. Shake pan to mix. Transfer shrimp and juices to a bowl.
4. Add remaining butter to pan, then add brie wheel. Let brie brown on one side, 1-2 mins. Covering pan will encourage melting.
5. Flip brie over, add almonds around brie and let brie brown on other side, covering until melted, 1-2 minutes more.
6. Add shrimp back to pan, Sprinkle with parsley. Allow shrimp to warm up 30 seconds, then plate up.
7. Serve with bagette slices.