My Story in Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Blog Posts
  • My Story
  • Connect

Shrimp Stir Fry

9/18/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
I usually feel much more comfortable following a recipe that I know has been tested and deemed satisfactory by someone with much more culinary experience than myself than I do creating my own recipe.  And to be perfectly honest, at 5:00 when I'm hungry and tired, my creative juices aren't usually flowing and I don't want to even think about coming up with my own dinner creation. 

I have my favorite websites that I like to pull recipes from and I trust them to be reliable.  I tell you all of that to let you know that I broke out of my old recipe search habits and I actually came up with my very own shrimp stir fry recipe recently - and everyone liked it!

A trip to Trader Joe's was all it took to give me the inspiration for this dish.  Great looking produce and a bag of frozen shrimp screamed shrimp stir fry to me.  I had intended to bring my ingredients home and look up a recipe for stir fry but a quick search of the internet proved useless.  I like to load my stir fry up with vegetables and keep my sauce simple.  After several minutes of searching, I realized that I was not going to find what I needed to I decided to venture out on my own.  (Scary territory for me.) 

I pulled the hoisin sauce from my general tso's chicken out of the refrigerator, and my sauce idea was born.  A little hoisin, a little soy, some sherry for flavor and some cornstarch to thicken. 

Here is the key to putting together a great stir fry in a short amount of time --- prep everything ahead of time!  I'm not kidding.  Having all of the ingredients prepped and ready will save you tons of time and lots of headaches when you're ready to make your stir fry.
Picture
Shrimp Stir Fry
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, (21-25 per pound), peeled and deveined
  • 3 cups snow peas, trimmed
  • 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, stemmed, sliced
  • 1 cup fresh broccoli florets
  • 1 cup sliced carrots
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
  • 1/4 cup dry sherry
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 2 cups brown rice, cooked

I like to use brown rice in my stir fry so I cook that first because it takes about 45 minutes to cook.

Heat 1 Tablespoon of oil in skillet.  Add shrimp and cook until slightly pink.
Picture
Picture












​Remove shrimp from skillet and keep warm in a separate bowl.
Picture
Picture




​Heat remaining oil in skillet and add vegetables and ginger. Cook until crisp tender.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, cornstarch and sherry.  (Not pictured in order.)
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Add partially cooked shrimp and sauce to skillet.
Picture
Cook until sauce thickens and shrimp is cooked through.  (Check out that steam!)
Picture
I served my stir fry with brown rice and pineapple slices.  Yum.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture








​I'm feeling quite confident in my recipe creation skills right now.  Maybe that Amy Davis cookbook isn't so far away after all.
Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Buttermilk Waffles

9/18/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
My grandmother and I had a tradition of going out for waffles at our favorite little coffee shop when I was really small.  My grandfather would take the two of us out for waffles before I could even tie my own shoes.   I have the best memories of our conversations over a steaming plate of buttery waffles.  

​



Even after I moved away to college, I would come home for a visit, stop by my grandmothers house and the two of us would head to the coffee shop. (No matter what time of day it was.)  We would each order a Belgium waffle and sit in a booth sipping piping hot coffee, eating our waffles and talking about the adventures of life.  My grandmother had the best stories and she never stopped herself from saying exactly what she was thinking.  The waffles were light, crispy and delicious but spending time with my grandmother was even sweeter. I cherish those memories of her and the time that we were able to spend together.  
​
Picture
I have tried to recreate those waffles for my family at home.  Although the atmosphere is different and the company has changed, the waffles are just as crispy I remember.  

Buttermilk Waffles
1 Tablespoon sugar                               1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups flour                                           2 eggs
1/2 cup dried buttermilk                       1/4 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 teaspoon salt                                  1/4 cup oil
1/2 teaspoon baking powder                 1 1/4 cups seltzer water

Whisk flour, sugar, buttermilk, salt and baking powder.  Stir together sour cream, eggs, vanilla and oil.  Stir seltzer into wet ingredients.

​Pour into dry ingredients and stir gently. 


Picture
Picture
Pour batter into the waffle iron and wait for the beep.  

I like my waffles simple - with just a sprinkling of powdered sugar.  My family likes to eat them with maple syrup and fresh strawberries.  Either way - they're delicious.  

Ciao!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Weekly Meal Planning

9/18/2016

3 Comments

 
Picture
Meal planning seems to be a universal struggle.  We all have to face the dreaded "what's for dinner?" question on a regular basis.  That one little question - those three simple words - can be the source of a whole lot of stress for a lot of people.  (And I am certainly no exception.)  

What should I make for dinner?  What ingredients to I need?  Am I going to have to run to the grocery store?  How am I going to find the time to fix this meal?  If I make this, is my family going to eat it?  Any of that sound familiar? We all struggle with those same questions.  

Everyone handles their meal planning differently.  I wish that there was one easy solution for perfect menu planning but unfortunately, what works for one person is probably not going to work for another. Even though I don't have a secret formula for menu planning I can share with you the way that I go about planning the meals that I feed my family each week.  

I don't want to deceive you into thinking that menu planning is easy or that it happens automatically.  There is an initial time commitment to menu planning but trust me when I tell you - if you take the time to plan well, it will save you LOTS of time in the long run.  I normally spend about 30 minutes each week looking over our calendar for the week and trying and figure out what meals are going to work best.  I have a weekly schedule of meals that I like to start with and then I go from there.  
​
          Monday:       Meatless Monday (Usually Fish)
          Tuesday:      Chicken
          Wednesday:  Salad, Soup or Sandwiches
          Thursday:     Beef or Pork
          Friday:         Pasta or Pizza
          Saturday:     Something Grilled
          Sunday:        Breakfast for dinner night

It rarely ever works out quite that perfectly because there are all kinds of things that get in the way of my dinner plans.  Soccer games, practices, weekend trips, dinner time meetings, unexpected catering orders, etc.  Let's face it -we're all busy and sometimes we just don't have the time to prepare a fancy meal - or any meal for that matter.  
I do my best to cook for more than one meal at a time so that when those dinner interruptions occur, I have something quick that I can serve my family in spite of those obstacles.  But inevitably there are those nights when I find myself running out to pick up dinner at 8:00 at night because we're just getting home from a soccer game and everyone is starving and I don't have anything on hand that I could feed my family.  (It happens to the best of us my friends.  You're not alone.)  

So with all of that being said - I can't help but think that there are people out there who need some practical menu planning tips.  And by practical I mean, actual menus from real people, living real (busy) lives.  So with that in mind, I've decided to publishing my own personal dinner menu AND coordinating grocery list on my blog for the next few weeks.  

​I have to admit that I feel surprisingly vulnerable by exposing my menus to the world. (Yes, I AM just that awkwardly introverted that even publishing my menu makes me feel exposed and uncomfortable.)  I just cant ignore this nagging feeling that I've had lately that there are followers out there who could really benefit from having some really practical menu planning advice.  

So without further ado, this is my menu and coordinating grocery list for our week.     
Monday:  Broiled Salmon with Lemon (A new recipe from Cooking Light that I was supposed to make last week but never got to.  It happens.)  
         
Tuesday:  Fundraiser Night for Leukemia/Lymphoma Society at Moes  (If you happen to live in the Monroe, GA area, stop by Moes between 4:30 and 7:30 to help us raise money for Team Callie.)  
         
Wednesday:  Chicken Poblano Tortilla Soup  (Hoping the weather cooperates so we're not eating soup in 95 degree weather.)   I am using up some leftover roasted chicken that I have for this recipe too.  

Thursday:  Steak Quesadillas  (Dinner will probably be eaten in the car this night so it's something super easy to pack and eat on the run.)  

Friday through Sunday:  We are doing something special for our 23d wedding anniversary so I'm taking a break from cooking for a few days.  (Even I need a break every once in a while.)  

Groceries
     Flank Steak                             Salsa
     Chicken (Leftovers)                 Soy Sauce
     Salmon                                    Olive Oil
                                                    Worcestershire Sauce
     Poblano Pepper                        Chicken Broth
     Lemon                                     14.5 ounce can Diced Tomatoes
     Onion                                      Whole Wheat Tortillas
     Carrots                                    Tortilla Chips
     Cilantro                                   Onion Powder
     Avocado                                  Refried Beans
     Ginger
     Garlic                                      Colby Jack Cheese

I'd like to say that this is going to be an unusually busy week but to be honest - every week on our calendar looks a lot like this.  (I wouldn't trade it for anything though.)  

Now I am turning this decision over to you, my faithful blog followers (and those of you who stumbled upon my blog by accident), of whether or not to continue this menu publishing adventure.  I need your input.  Did you find my menus useful, helpful or even the least bit interesting to read?  Leave me a comment and let me know.  

By the way, if you want to get my weekly menus and grocery lists emailed to you - sign up in the subscribe box in the upper right corner of the blog.  It might just be the most useful email that you get all week.  :)

​Ciao!
3 Comments

Ultimate BBQ Chicken

9/17/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Sometimes even the best dinner intentions don't turn out the way that I planned.  At 4:30 in the afternoon, I started preparing this meal - making the spice rub, mixing up the homemade barbecue sauce and prepping the chicken.  I thought for sure that I was ahead of the game and that we would be happily gathered around the table, enjoying our chicken dinner by 6:00. 

What I forgot to factor into my dinner plan was a check of the grill.  Much to my surprise, we were completely out of charcoal.  Soooo - one trip to the store and 2 hours later we were finally eating our barbecue chicken dinner.
Picture
Ultimate BBQ Chicken
1/3 cup ketchup
2 Tablespoons water
1 Tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 bone in, skin on chicken breast halves

Combine chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper in a small bowl. 
Sprinkle over chicken and under skin.  Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
Picture
Picture
Combine ketchup, water, honey vinegar and mustard in a small sauce pan.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until thickened. 
Picture
Place chicken on a hot grill and baste with barbecue sauce.  Cook until chicken reaches and internal temperature of 165 degrees.  Let rest 10 minutes.  Serve with remaining sauce.
Picture
Despite the extended amount of time that it took ME to make this dinner, it really was a simple meal.  The homemade rub and barbecue sauce really made this chicken extra special. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
After appetizers of salad, broccoli and rolls, we ate this chicken for dessert.  It was worth the wait though.  Juicy, flavorful and smoky.  A perfect barbecued chicken dinner. 

Ciao!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Smoked Pork Loin

9/15/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
There are certain things that I tell my kids so often that it just becomes part of our everyday dinner conversation. Things like: don't talk with your mouth full, only put the amount of food on your plate that you can eat, try something new - you might like it.  (I'm sure you parents out there can relate to those typical dinner conversations.) 

One of the perks (or drawbacks) to growing up in my house is that you have to at least TRY a LOT of new foods.  I've introduced my kids to all sorts of crazy foods and pretty much insisted that they at least take a taste of each of them.  "Try something new - you might like it"."  My kids have heard it so often - they think it's my life mantra.
Picture
Picture
So, I took a bit of my own advice - went out on a limb and made a meal that I wouldn't normally choose: Smoked Pork Loin with Fruit Chutney.  I've never been a big fan of chutney with savory dishes but I have to admit that this one sounded pretty yummy.  And I could hear my own words ringing in my head as I read through this recipe - "Try something new". (Said in my very best "mom" voice.)

Setting a good example for my kids and trying something new today.  Hope this goes well.  
Picture
Smoked Pork Loin
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup kosher salt
3-4 pound boneless pork loin roast, trimmed
2 cups apple wood chips

Chutney
3/4 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup dried apricots, diced
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
3 Tablespoons water
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 Tablespoons fresh grated ginger
1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
Kosher salt
​






​
Combine sugar and salt in a small bowl.  






Picture
Rub over roast.
Picture
Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 6-24 hours.  
15 minutes before grilling, soak wood chips in water.  
Picture
Picture
Unwrap roast and pat dry.  Place pork on a hot grill along with a pan of water (for steam).  Cook until internal temperature reaches 140 degrees. (1 1/2 - 2 hours)
Picture
For chutney, combine wine, apricots, cherries, vinegar, water, sugar and ginger.  
Bring to a simmer.  Cover and cook 10 minutes.  
Picture
Picture
Add butter, Dijon and dry mustard and continue to cook until thickened.  (4-6 minutes)
Remove from heat.  Season with salt.  Transfer to a bowl to cool to room temperature.  
Picture
Picture
Transfer roast to cutting board and tent with foil.  Let stand 30 minutes.  Slice roast.  
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Serve with chutney on the side... 
Picture
Picture
or on top.
Picture
Picture
Picture
In my opinion, this pork loin with fruit chutney was delicious.  Unfortunately, not everyone in my family agreed. Ben and I really enjoyed the combination of the salty, smoky pork with the sweet and tart fruit but Courtney did not agree.  As usual, after hearing the usual "try something new" prompting, she took a bite and then politely pushed her compote off to the side of her plate - never to be touched again.  

Courtney is probably the most POLITE picky eater that I've ever met - she's always very complimentary of the foods that she doesn't like.  After she tasted this chutney she told me that it "LOOKED like it would taste good."  :)  I love that girl.  Here's to a lifetime of "Trying something new."  

Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>
    Like my page on facebook.

    Follow me on Instagram


    Follow Me on Pinterest

    Categories

    All
    30 Minute Meals
    30-minute-meals
    Big Green Egg Recipes
    Chocolate
    Christmas Classics
    Comfort Foods
    Crock Pot Meals
    Fall Favorites
    Healthy-choices
    My Favorites
    Springtime Treats
    St Patrick's Day Goodies
    Summertime Specialties
    Thanksgiving Classics
    Valentine Treats
    Vegetarian
    Winter Warm Ups

    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011

  • Recipe Index
  • Blog Posts
  • My Story
  • Connect