...cooking a lot more. We're trying to eat at home every weeknight. So, I've been trying to find the balance of taste, ease, and somewhat better nutrition. We've had some virus slowly hit each one of the girls and as much as I tried to fight, it finally got me this weekend. We have also had a lot of much needed rain. The combination of the rain outside and the warmth inside, apparently makes me want to cook more (who'd of thought?)
I found a recipe for shrimp bowls with shrimp, brown rice, snow peas and avocado and I made it. Let me tell you how much of a hit it wasn't. As we were crunching on brown rice (apparently it takes much longer to cook) and moving aside the snow peas I figured I'd try it differently next time.
This is what I came up with for our tastes. Shrimp, pan-fried noodles, asparagus and avocado. The noodles were boiled Top Ramen that I fried in butter and low sodium soy sauce. Yeah, I know how to turn a healthy recipe into a fattening one but the ingredients on top were healthy. Shrimp bowls were definitely a keeper. I just want to buy the shrimp when it's on sale.
The next day for lunch I had a shrimp salad with homemade dressing. Notice I wasn't shy with the dressing - no one was looking.
I knew I was on some kind of phase when I started to want to bake. Normally I would almost pick laundry over this activity, but I had a craving for peanut butter cookies. It was the first time I used my Silpat I received two years ago. Rod's Mom gave us this nice cookie sheet, so the two went together well. I did notice a difference in the crispness of the cookie and how evenly they were cooked. The only thing is I smelled a slight hint of plastic. I wonder if it's because it was the first time the Silpat was used. Did I do something wrong?
Tonight we're going to have spinach pasta with goat cheese. It's one of our favorites. And yeah, do you think Oliver has outgrown his basket? He adopted this the very first day here. I think he likes it because Nutmeg can't jump on him. He's grown a bit since.
Have a great day. Stay well!
11 comments:
YUMMMMM!!!!! I'm working on our menu plan for this week...Don and I are both trying to drop about 25 pounds each, and he's asking me to keep that in mind when I make our menu plans, so I'm trying to find some low-fat, highly filling dinner ideas. We eat brown rice all the time, so I might try the shrimp bowls (I have quite a bit of shrimp in the freezer) one night....what did you do for the sauce? It sounds awesome!!!!
This morning I made a recipe from weightwatchers.com it is caramel apple muffins. Rachel (my 8 year old) said they are the best muffins she's ever had, Hannah said that they were really good, but she likes my blueberry muffins better. I'm about to try them now....if I like them, I'll post the recipe on my blog.
Hi Lori. I was just about to go to your blog to get some dinner inspiration for the week. The original recipe was in "Everyday Food" but I'm unable to find that particular recipe online. The sauce was 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 2 T rice vinegar and 2 t brown sugar. Recipe said to serve sauce on the side.
The best way to cook brown rice is in plenty of water like you would with spaghetti. Last week I cooked 2 cups in approx. 1 1/2 quarts salted water (bring to a boil, then simmer for an hour or more). It was perfect!
The shrimp boats sound like my speed; where did you find the recipe? Of course, your modification looks very yummy also.
As for the Silpat, I recall thinking the same thing when I first used mine; now, I don't notice any odor.
I've been into making (more) bread..last night was baguettes in my new pan from Sur La Table. They were perfect and great with my homemade fish soup.
Glad to hear you're all feeling better. Stay healthy!
Hi Trudy, I hope you don't mind that I dropped in. . . Your shrimp bowls look yummy. Could you send some my way please?:) I may have to try this one. I tried brown rice for the first time not too long ago and felt like it was cooking forever. I may have to try it again. Someone suggested using chicken broth instead of water. I find a lot of recipes on allrecipes.com (they have an option for "healthy recipes). I usually check here because most of the recipes are rated by users and they usually comment on what they changed, what worked, what didn't, etc. Have a good week. Delores
The shrimp bowls look yummie - looks like something from Hong Kong! So glad you're feeling up to do something and not so sick. Missed your blogging! Cookies look like Dad would like them.
Good for you! We rarely eat out (once every couple of months) so I´m the main meal maker. And it is difficult to find new things to add to the menu. Everything you made looked so yummy!
Jazzbee - that explains our crunchy rice. I knew it wasn't quite done and added more water but it was far behind the other items I had made so I decided that I'd use it as is. I think we might like it better cooked in chicken broth as Delores suggested. The recipe was from Everyday Food, Jan/Feb 2008 called "brown-rice bowl with shrimp, snow peas, and avocado." I can scan if you don't have it - I couldn't find it online. Mmmm the bread sounds heavenly. Your sourdough that night was delicious.
Delores - Love that you stopped by - are you kidding, comments are the best part. I've tried All Recipes too and really like that site. It seems like the easiest spot for recipes. The two wine glasses on the deck railing - send those my way.
Sequin - made the shrimp bowls last week when the girls were sick. Unfortunately the spinach pasta didn't happen last night because I felt so lousy. Rod brought home terriyaki bowls on Kaye's suggestion. I think my pb cookies would be much more up Dad's alley with real chunky pb. I used Skippy. Do you have suggestion for a smooth pb that is healthier?
LeeLee - That's how it should be, eating out once every couple of months. I shutter to think how much $$$ saved we would have if not for all our eating out in the past. Do you cook American or Norwegian? Wondering what a classic Norwegian dish would be? herring mac n cheese?
Sexy - sorry I deleted your comment but since it was in a different language I didn't want to take a chance. It could of been something very nice. If your blog name had been "Betty Crocker" or "White Picket Fences" I may have left it. If you can interpret in English, try again.
Hi Grasshopper Girl!
Sorry to hear of your being sick! The virus this year is truely horrible. I pray that you are all feeling better!
I need to tell you that "SEXY" paid my blog a visit too. He hopped over from another Catholic blog! I want to e mail you to tell you what happened as its not suitable blog stuff!
Well all your food looks yummy and I love a good peanut butter cookie!
Do you still have my e mail address? I will see if I can find yours. If so I'll write and tell you what happened!
By the way, with all the food talk I forgot to mention how neglected "little" Oliver looks in his "little" basket. My how he has grown - so cute. Try Winco fresh ground peanut butter - no preservatives. Don't know how chunky you can get it.
Hey~
How did the painting go?
I forgot to tell you I just bought 2 silpat things for the cookie sheets (they are a differnt brand)
They were pink and normaly $10.00 marked down to $4.99.
Mine did not smell funny when I used them...but I do wonder if the plastic its made from (silicon) is leaching into the food?
My cookie sheet is pure black and I was tired of using so much tin foil!
Well hopefully next time it won't smell.
Peace and Blessings,
Georgiann
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