This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Direct Energy. The opinions and text are all mine.
Summer entertaining is one of my favorite things. It just feels carefree: simple but delicious dishes, refreshing summer drinks, and longer evenings to enjoy with friends. But summer entertaining can be expensive too, especially when you think about the electricity being consumed. The good news? I’ve got a solution for what to serve {this easy, savory sheet pan shrimp boil} AND a way to save money at the same time!
Let’s face it, regardless of what you serve at a summer gathering, there are additional expenses. I run the washer and dryer to wash tablecloths and cloth napkins before and after the party …
… the oven is on while it preheats and cooks {at high temperatures for this recipe} …
… the ceiling fans are turned on to circulate air in the house …
… and I often turn the air conditioning down to accommodate the extra people in the house and the door that opens and closes when guests arrive and kids run in and out to play. Those things all add up and no one wants to see a spike on their energy bill after a fun night with friends!
With Direct Energy, you don’t have to! Direct Energy’s Free Power Weekends Plan gives you another reason to love the weekend! Free Power Weekends, available to all Texas customers, gives you the most free weekend hours in Texas* {two more hours than its competitors}. You won’t be charged for the electricity supply you use from Friday at 6 pm until 11:59 pm on Sunday. It’s truly a Free Power Weekend! Customers who have high usage on the weekends have the greatest potential to see real savings.
Customers with Direct Energy also have access to a custom insight tool called Direct Your Energy. This tool gives you insight into the energy you’re using in your home. You can see how much energy you use every day, how that affects your energy bill, and which appliances in your home use the most energy. The insights summary is sent to your inbox each week, allowing you to assess your energy usage and make necessary adjustments to manage your costs. The summary shows energy usage by the week, energy usage to date for the month, usage indicator on a scale of low/medium/high, and energy usage related to the outdoor temperature.
Direct Energy works harder and smarter to help you use less of what they sell! Direct Energy’s Free Power Weekends means all you have to worry about is getting this easy dish in the oven before your guests arrive!
To make this sheet pan shrimp boil, you’ll need
1 pound raw medium shrimp, peeled {you can leave the tails on or take them off, as desired}
1 package andouille sausage, cut into large slices
4-6 fresh cobs of corn, broken in half
10-20 small red potatoes, cut in half
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
This recipe feeds 6-8. For a larger gathering, add more ingredients and spread among two pans.
Stir melted butter and seasoning in a dish and set aside. Microwave the potatoes for 5-7 minutes or until slightly tender.
Spread the shrimp, corn, potatoes, sausage, and garlic onto a sheet pan.
Drizzle with the seasoned butter mixture …
… and toss gently to coat then spread the ingredients in a single layer.
Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Serve alongside a fresh salad or big chunks of crusty bread.
I like to place the entire pan in the center of the table …
… and allow guests to serve themselves.
This is the perfect dish for easy summer entertaining … and even more enjoyable when you don’t have to worry about your increased energy usage!
Be sure to visit the Direct Energy website to find out all about Free Power Weekends!
* Most free hours weekend electricity claim as of June 19, 2017 when compared to other retail electric providers offers listed on the powertochoose.org website. Subject to change.
