Last week was a long one. I am still trying to wrap my head around the grieving of my Grammy, and though I understand that 92 years is a long and beautiful life, there is still sadness in our family.

I spent 5 grueling days helping my family to clear out her place. It was no small deal. It took my mom, myself and all of my siblings. Everyone took time off work. Turns out Grammy was quite the secret internet shopper. It is actually making me giggle just thinking about it.

But God bless her, because there are a lot of ladies that received the results of her “clothes collecting” at a local shelter here. I smile every time I think about all those Coldwater Creek outfits with gobs of matching accessories and purses and white sandals. I hope they made some people happy.

This is a tiny scratch of what the last week or so has held for me, and my most overwhelming emotion is exhaustion. Is that an emotion? Well, whatever- you know what I mean. I’m tired. Dog tired.

When I am tired I want pasta. And bread. And pasta.

And sometimes, I want Mexican food. Guacamole specifically.

So to make myself feel better, I essentially put guacamole on my pasta.

But that didn’t really feel like enough so I threw some enormous garlicky prawns on top. By the way- I may have set some prawns on fire in this process. Like a pretty big fire.

And I have to say- it was exceptionally, finger licking good. You should try this right away.

To make the Avocado Orzo with Gralicky Grilled Shrimp

After you have split the prawns up the belly, combine the garlic, red pepper, chipotle, cilantro and vegetable oil and sprinkle with Kosher salt in a dish.

Let the prawns marinate (on both sides) in this combination.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook it to al dente according to the manufacturers directions.

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the avocado.

In a large bowl, combine the flesh of the avocados, the garlic, lime juice and zest and vegetable oil.

Mix it really well until the mixture is fairly smooth, season with kosher salt.

Drain the pasta and rinse. When the pasta is drained add it to the avocado mixture.

Mix together well and season one more time with Kosher salt if needed.

Prepare the grill to medium-high. Grill the prawns, shell side down for about 1 minute. Flip and repeat until the flesh is barely opaque in the center.

Gently peel the shell off of the prawns and discard.

Dish up the avocado orzo and serve with one or two prawns draped over the top.

Squeeze a lime wedge over the prawn before eating.

Avocado Orzo with Garlicky Grilled Prawns, serves 6

Garlicky Grilled Prawns
6 large prawns in shell
2 cloves garlic
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
¼ tsp chipotle pepper
1 Tbs fresh cilantro, minced
2 Tbs vegetable oil
Kosher salt

Avocado Orzo
1lb orzo
2 avocados, spilt, pitted and peeled
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Lime, zest and juice
2 tsp vegetable oil
Kosher salt to taste

Extra lime wedge for serving

1. Slice the prawns up the front and pull the prawn apart, leaving the shell on the back and the belly open and exposed. If you are going to skewer them, shove the skewer in the back to keep the prawns flat- this makes grilling evenly easy.

2. In a dish, combine the garlic, red pepper, chipotle, cilantro and vegetable oil and sprinkle with Kosher salt.

3. Let the prawns marinate (on both sides) in this combination.

4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook it to al dente according to the manufacturers directions.

5. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the avocado.

6. In a large bowl, combine the flesh of the avocados, the garlic, lime juice and zest and vegetable oil.

7. Mix it really well until the mixture is fairly smooth, season with kosher salt.

8. Drain the pasta and rinse. When the pasta is drained add it to the avocado mixture.

9. Mix together well and season one more time with Kosher salt if needed.

10. Prepare the grill to medium-high.

11. Grill the prawns, shell side down for about 1 minute.

12. Flip and repeat until the flesh is barely opaque in the center.

13. Gently peel the shell off of the prawns and discard.

14. Dish up the avocado orzo and serve with one or two prawns draped over the top.

15. Serve with a lime wedge to squeeze over the top before eating.