Its Lent.... Have Shrimp

Hello,

I know not everyone does Lent, but I thought it was a snappier title.  Much better than "Shrimp"!!  Well like usual I got creative last night.  I had just finished peeling 5 lbs of shrimp with the thoughts of steaming them for shrimp cocktail.  That idea soon passed with a little inspiration.  A bag of already chopped onions and a large container of whole garlic cloves.  I decided to make some garlic shrimp.  You will be surprised where inspiration comes from.

"Garlic Shrimp"

I was told they were very very good!! I had to take the words of three others who wanted "seconds and thirds", word for it.

So first peel and de-vein (remove the gross part on the back of the shrimp).  I won't say exactly what it is, its not very appetizing.  Okay moving on.  I left the tails on, but you can remove them if you would like.  With 5lbs of shrimp I used about 1 large chopped onion, 5 garlic cloves rough chopped and 1 1/2 lemons.  So you can guesstimate for the amount of shrimp you have on hand.

In a large frying pan add olive oil about 3 tablespoons or enough to saute everything without sticking.  Get the pan hot without smoking add your chopped onion and garlic.  Saute these items for about 3-5 minutes.  Meanwhile salt and pepper your dry shrimp.  Once your onions are done add the shrimp and keep stirring.  I didn't want the shrimp to over cook some and not the others so I kept stirring.  "No One Likes Rubbery Shrimp".  Once the shrimp are done remove it from the stove top and squeeze in fresh lemon juice.  Keeping an eye out for those pesky seeds.

I was surprised the great smell that this recipe gave off !! I hope you will enjoy them as much as the ladies at my job did sampling them for me.

Enjoy,

Mo

I Was Challenged

Hello,

Recently a friend, whom we will just call "J.R." he knows whom I am referring to, challenged me to come up with recipes from left overs.  I am always up for a challenge!! The problem is of course when I come up with ideas I forget to document them either with a picture or by writing down what was in it.  So the other night I had to come up with a quick dinner and had no idea what to make.  When I went into the refrigerator for the millionth time I saw that I had some steamed shrimp left over and decided I would do something with that.

"Shrimp Pasta"

Sorry it isn't on a beautiful plate, we had already began eating when I realized "OMG I should take a picture of this because "J.R." has challenged me!!  So I ran to the kitchen and snapped a picture in the pot.  I know tacky, but I got it!!

So the left overs are the steamed shrimp that I removed all of the tails from.  In a frying pan I added a little olive oil, large strips of peppers (color of your choice) and red onion.  I added garlic and crushed red pepper flakes to the veggies.  While I am sauteing the veggies I start cooking the spaghetti pasta in salted water.

"Shrimp Pasta"

Don't over cook the peppers, but once they become limp I added some frozen peas, fresh lemon and the cooked shrimp.  Since the shrimp are already cooked you only have to warm them.  If you over heat the shrimp they will become rubbery.  No one likes a rubbery shrimp!!   Once the pasta is finished drain and toss with olive oil Parmesan cheese and squeeze in some fresh lemon juice.  "Watch out for seeds" Now combine both items and blend well.  Taste for salt and flavor and add more red pepper flakes, salt, or cheese if you would like.  Once I put the meal on the plates I topped them with extra Parmesan and crushed red peppers to those that like it SPICY!!

Enjoy,

Mo
PS:  "J.R." Be on the look out for more ideas from left overs I have not forgotten our challenge!!

Missing...

Hello,

This has been a busy couple of weeks.  Sorry for not writing for so long.  With kids being sick, myself being sick, and working to support my kids,  I have not had a great opportunity to participate in what I really enjoy doing.  I am back so be on the look out for new ideas that are floating in my head.....

Mo

Quick Cacciatore

Hi,

Do you like "Chicken Cacciatore"?  I like it, but I like most chicken dishes.  I think I could eat chicken everyday.  Usually when you have Chicken Cacciatore its usually with chicken that is still on the bone.  This recipe I made is quick and in a hurry, but just as tasty.  I like to use boneless skinless chicken breast. 

"Chicken Cacciatore"

First I like to trim any extra fat off of the chicken breast and season it with dried basil, fresh garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil.  Get a frying pan nice and hot and brown your chicken to a nice color.  Once it is browned place it in the oven 400F degrees and finish cooking for 10-15 minutes until it reaches 165F degrees or higher.  Not to high or you will have dry chicken.  While your chicken is cooking in the oven I like to add to the same frying pan the following items to make the sauce: sliced mushrooms, onions, green peppers and chopped garlic.  Saute all the vegetables and add a splash of white or red wine to deglaze the pan.  When you deglaze you remove any of the brown that was stuck to the bottom of the pan from browning the chicken, it has plenty of flavor.  If you don't like to use wine you can also deglaze with chicken broth or a splash of water.  If you do choose to use wine be careful because the alcohol could catch fire and burn off in the pan.  Once this is finished deglazing add canned tomatoes and fresh or dried basil.  Simmer the sauce until it reaches a nice consistency and all the vegetables are tender. 

"Chicken Cacciatore"

I like to add a little sugar to this dish when ever I use canned tomatoes to cut the bitterness, but just a little. Check for salt and pepper and adjust it as needed.  Now that the sauce is ready and the chicken is out of the oven it is time to put the two together.  I like to add the juice that comes off of the cooked chicken to the sauce as well.  More flavor the better.  Place the chicken on your plate and spoon your sauce over it.  YUMMY!!!! Wishing I had some right now.  This dish would taste good being served with some steamed green beans and either some spaghetti noodles sprinkled with Parmesan cheese or some creamy mashed potatoes.  Okay I'm getting very hungry now..............................................
I hope you enjoyed

INGREDIENTS:
BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST
SLICED ONION
SLICED MUSHROOMS
SLICED GREEN PEPPERS
GARLIC (FRESH OR DRIED)
BASIL (FRESH OR DRIED)
CANNED TOMATOES
OLIVE OIL
SUGAR
SALT AND PEPPER

Mo

Thank You!!!

Thank You To Everyone !!! 

Thank you to anyone who has visited my blog in the last few months it has been up and running.  As of today I have had my 2000th visitor.  Who would of thought the things I had to say would have been so popular.  Thank You again and I will keep my ideas coming!!

Mo

Green Bean Salad

Hello,

I hope everyone has been enjoying my blog.  I don't know about anyone else, but sometimes I have to do a little stretching of my ingredients to make enough for everyone.  Just recently I had to do that.  I made a Green Bean Salad.   First thing you need to do is prepare your green beans for this salad.  You must first begin by snipping your green beans and cooking them in a big pot of boiling salty water to your desired tenderness.

"Green Bean Salad"

While prepping my green beans I drained and rinsed a can of beans. In this recipe I used red kidney beans.  I had some roasted wild mushrooms that I added to this recipe.  It isn't necessary to add what I add to my salad, but you can add what ever you would like.  I also added some chopped sun-dried tomatoes, diced red onion, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.  You can add olives, diced peppers or any other type of ingredients to make this dish your own.  I hope your dish is enjoyed by everyone.

Mo

One Pot Meal....

Hello,

I like to eat rice.  I prefer to make brown rice at home, but I do eat regular white rice when I am at work.  The other day I wanted to make a meal our of rice.  Sort of a one pot wonder.  So I made what could be considered Jambalaya.  It was soooo good!! I know I am always patting myself  on the back, but this was good.  I took the picture to early but didn't want to forget.  Once I let the dish rest it looked even nicer and taste even better.  

"Seafood Jambalaya"

Okay time to recall just how I made this dish.  Basically you can add whatever meat or non meat items you would like but this particular dish I used the following ingredients:

INGREDIENTS:
DICED YELLOW ONION
DICED CELERY
DICED GREEN PEPPER
DICED HAM
PEELED AND DE-VEINED SHRIMP
JUMBO LUMP CRAB
CANNED TOMATOES
CHICKEN BROTH
LONG GRAIN RICE
THYME AND PARSLEY
GARLIC
SALT AND PEPPER AND CAYENNE PEPPER

First dice your vegetables and ham and brown it in a large pan.  Once the vegetables are done add dry thyme, canned tomatoes, and garlic.  Saute this for a couple of minutes.  You should have enough tomatoes that its saucy.  Add your rice and enough broth.  To cook rice you use 2 times the amount of broth than the rice.  So if you are adding 2 cups of rice add 4 cups of broth.  If you don't have broth water would be fine.  Once the mixture comes to a boil turn  down the flame on your pot and cover it with a lid.  Set your timer for 5 minutes.  After 5 minutes add cayenne to your liking and shrimp and crab.   Recover the pot and continue to cook for 15 minutes more.  Regular rice only takes about 20minutes to cook.  Now that your time is up you should have a saucy pot of food.  Remove the lid add the parsley and let the dish rest for about 10 minutes before serving.  The remaining liquid will absorb some and your meal will be delicious.  Before serving don't forget to taste for quality control.  Add salt and pepper and adjust the cayenne if its not spicy enough for you and your guest.

Enjoy,

Mo