Cooking with Purpose: Baby Shrimp Wonton Tacos & Autism Awareness

Cooking with Purpose: Baby Shrimp Wonton Tacos & Autism Awareness
   

Today’s video is more than just a recipe — it’s a celebration of awareness, love, and resilience. We're making baby shrimp wonton tacos, and as always, I dedicate this episode to autism awareness, a cause deeply close to my heart. My sister is the proud mom of two amazing children with autism, and I’m honored to have a very special guest with me today: Mr. Kyle and his incredible mom, Ms. Debbie Lee.

Let’s dive into the dish first. We’re starting with one pound of cleaned, deveined shrimp. To bring these babies to life, we’re seasoning them with ground ginger, garlic powder, a touch of sesame oil, soy sauce, and a dash of black pepper. For the taco topping, we’re using an Asian-style salad kit, adding a splash of sweet chili sauce to give it that perfect balance of tang and heat.

(If you enjoyed this post and want to try out the same ingredients and tools I use, feel free to check them out below!
These are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work 💛

- Blove's Smackalicious Sauce Seasoning Mix: https://amzn.to/42RPyj8
- Blove's Smackalicious Sauce Seasoning Mix (Garlic): https://amzn.to/49zuh0o
- Blove's Smackalicious Hot Sauce: https://amzn.to/3OZlwnT
- Cuisinart Knife Set: https://amzn.to/47CKCkK
- 7.5 Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven: https://amzn.to/4dcUqms
- Lodge Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Skillet: https://amzn.to/3TyyMSA
- Bamboo Seasonings Box with Mini Spoon: https://amzn.to/4dfHzA6)

Now let’s talk about Kyle.

Kyle is nonverbal and has apraxia of speech. He uses an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device — a powerful assistive technology that helps him communicate both at school and at home. His mom shared that one of their biggest challenges is managing behavioral aggression, which often stems from his frustration with not being able to express his needs fully.

But today? Kyle is in the kitchen folding wontons like a true chef. Look at him go!

Back in 2021, Kyle had an incident that shook their family. While riding his bike in the neighborhood, he briefly stepped into someone’s yard. That neighbor called the police. When the officers arrived, they misunderstood Kyle’s behaviors — misinterpreting his attempts to communicate as defiance. He was handcuffed.

Imagine being a mother in that moment.

Debbie described feeling angry, confused, and heartbroken. She didn’t know exactly what had happened until she faced the officer herself.

That moment inspired Dr. Taisha Allen to write a book based on Kyle’s experience — a powerful story about autism, misunderstandings, and the need for better community policing. You can find the book linked in my bio.

But Debbie didn’t stop there. She became a fierce advocate, pushing for her city — South Fulton — to adopt Project Lifesaver: a lifesaving bracelet that helps locate children with autism or special needs who might wander away.

As we take our first bites of these shrimp wonton tacos (they're so flavorful — packed with ginger and that sesame kick!), I want to remind you: food brings us together, but stories like Kyle’s remind us why we come together.

If you're in the Atlanta, Georgia area and need catering that comes with heart and soul, check out Ms. Awesome Creations. Her link is in my bio too.

Try these tacos. Read Kyle’s story. Support autism awareness. Because every bite, every book, and every bracelet matters.