Dr. Dave Weldon joins Lori in the kitchen to cook up a southern favorite of Shrimp and Grits with a side of Political Food for Thought.
Shrimp and Grits
1 lb raw, peeled and deveined shrimp
½ pint yellow cherry tomatoes
½ pint red cherry tomatoes
1 onion, minced
3 bell pepper of varying colors
1 jalapeno pepper
6 oz goat cheese
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup stone ground yellow grits
½ cup white wine
3 tbls olive oil
3 tbls butter
In large pan boil broth and 2 tbls butter. Add grits and stir, turning down heat to low. Continue cooking for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Put 1 tbls oil in skillet, heat and place onion in oil, and cook until caramelized. Cut peppers into large pieces, place on rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with 1 tbls oil. Place in oven and broil, watching carefully, until skin is blistered. Remove from oven and let cool. Cut in small pieces and put in pan with onions. Cut tomatoes in half and add to skillet with peppers and onion. Cook just until tomatoes release juices. Add shrimp and cook until just seared. Add wine to pan and continue cooking until shrimp is done. Add 3 oz of cheese to grits, stir until melted and incorporated.
Serve shrimp and veggies over grits and top with small piece of cheese.
Dave Weldon, past member of the US House of Representatives
Dave Weldon is a physician and was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 15th congressional district. He won seven terms in office before deciding in 2008 that he would not seek re-election and would return to his medical practice. In 2012, Dave Weldon was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination in Florida’s 2012 U.S. Senate race.
Family
Weldon resides in Indialantic, Florida, with his wife, Nancy, and his son David. He also has an adult daughter, Katie.
Early life, education, and medical career
Weldon was born on Long Island, New York. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from SUNY Stony Brook in 1978, he earned his M.D. degree in biochemistry at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine in 1981. He was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha. Weldon served in the United States Army from 1981 to 1987 and the United States Army Reserve from 1987 until 1992. He practiced as a physician in Florida after becoming an MD.
U.S. House of Representatives
In 1994, Weldon decided to run in Florida’s 15th congressional district, vacated by Democrat U.S. Congressman Jim Bacchus. He was one of seven Republicans to file for the primary. On September 8, he ranked first with 24% of the vote, but failed to reach the 50% threshold to win outright. In the October 4 run-off election, he defeated Carole Jean Jordan 54%-46%. In the November general election, he defeated Democrat Sue Munsey 54%-46%.
Weldon won re-election in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.
On January 25, 2008, Dave Weldon claiming “He never wanted to be a career politician” announced he would not seek an eighth term and would be returning to his medical practice. He endorsed state Senator Bill Posey to succeed him.
Committee assignments
U.S. House Committee on Appropriations
– Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
– Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
U.S. House Committee on Science
U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce
U.S. House Committee on Banking
U.S. House Committee on Government Reform
Republican Study Committee
Caucus memberships
Chair and Co Founder, Congressional Aerospace Caucus
Chair and Co Founder, Congressional Israel Allies Caucus
