Baked Shrimp with Feta Cheese

I have been wanting to try Baked Shrimp with Feta Cheese for a long time but somehow never got around to it.  Several years ago my friend Barbara, an elegant hostess, served the dish at a dinner party. Seemingly effortlessly she went into the kitchen shortly before dinner and came out with a bubbly concoction of shrimp and tomatoes  The aroma was enticing and the taste delicious.  Here is my version, based on one in Epicurious.com.  It can be made mostly in advance, ready to pop into the oven when dinnertime is approaching.  I served the shrimp with steamed rice and sauteed zucchini with oregano and lemon.

1 medium onion, chopped                   1 28 0z. can tomatoes, chopped, 

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped            juice reserved

3 tbl. extra virgin olive oil                   pinch of sugar

1/2 tsp. hot red pepper flakes             1 1/4 pounds shrimp, shelled 

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon                   and deveined

1/4 tsp. ground allspice                       1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled 

salt to taste                                            2 tbl. chopped dill

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a saucepan, heat olive oil and saute onion and garlic for about 5 minutes or until softened. Add red pepper flakes, cinnamon and allspice and cook for 30 seconds. Add salt, tomatoes, reserved juice and sugar and simmer, uncovered, until slightly thickened (about 20 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in shrimp.

Transfer mixture to a  shallow baking dish, top with feta cheese and dill. Bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes or until shrimp are cooked through.

Serves 4