re: Quantities and ingredients for a stovetop shrimp boil for 4?

You only the need to get it up to a boil and leave it on high for a minute. They cook almost instantly. It really isn't that hard. I'm always surprised at the number of Louisiana citizens that have no idea how to boil crawfish, shrimp, or make a jamabalaya and gumbo. I'm talking the basics concepts of these dishes. It's not hard. Sure someone can probably make better than yours every time, but there is always someone better at something than you. It's not hard to follow basics though and apparently you don't know the first one about boiling shrimp...you don't need to actually boil them.