Tag: shrimp

TGI EFFIN F!!!!

The Appalachian BarbieLeave a comment

The work week is drawing to a close and I am SO looking forward to a productive and enjoyable weekend……at home!  While everyone else I know will be goin hard at BRISTOL BABY , I’m booking my time with spring cleaning, open fires, delicious refreshments and fresh seafood.  Last weekend was so jam packed with engagements that it was over before it even started, and every weekend after this one is booked solid until JUNE with charity events and special occasions, so I just want to really soak in the downtime in my happy home.  

So what’s on the agenda so far?  

First things first, a much needed mani/pedi in the morning.  These nails are so grown out and my feet haven’t been done since my wedding.  In October. They’re so gross I can’t even con my husband into rubbing them when we’re on the couch watching TV.  

Following the salon, I’ll have to make my weekly grocery run and I am SO excited.  Today Earth Fare has $5/lb Key West Shrimp so I’m gonna have to get in on that deal and buy some stuff tomorrow to go along with it.  I’m thinking shrimp kabobs on the grill are sounding pretty darn good right about now.

Lemon garlic shrimp from http://damndelicious.net/2014/06/16/lemon-garlic-shrimp-kabobs/

Then I am flinging open my garage door and cleaning the devil out of that thing.  It is a NIGHTMARE in there. I’m making 3 piles in the driveway– “Keep” “Charity” “Garbage” and hopefully the “Keep” pile will be the smallest.  Everything else must go!  I also need to get my usual weekend cleaning done–floors, laundry, dusting, etc. I may be weird for this, it’s not like I’m looking forward to cleaning per se, but I feel so much more relaxed when my house is clean and all my clutter is gone.  

After all the tasks are done, THEN the fun can really start.  Last Sunday I built this super easy, cheap and fun fire pit, using an old crappy $20 fire pit I already had and 45 flagstones that were $2 each at lowes and we haven’t even got to fire it up yet!!  Well this weekend is looking like the perfect time for campfire cocktails and s’mores!  And I came across the perfect blackberry tequila punch to compliment my dinner today on Facebook.   

https://www.buzzfeed.com/robertbroadfoot/get-the-tequila#.ihXoazjXp
 
 
45 flagstones, arranged in a circular pattern to the size of a cheapo fire bowl. Ta-da!
 
Hopefully my Sunday will be filled with brunch and relaxing with my husband before next week starts up.  I hope you guys have a fabulous weekend whatever your plans may be!  

Garlicy Tomato Shrimp

The Appalachian Barbie2 Comments

Last night I made the most amazing dinner in less than 20 minutes!  Totally worthy of date night, this dish would have cost at LEAST $15- $20 each at a restaurant.  Between the cost of the wedding and the upcoming holidays the hubby and I are pretty strapped for cash, so enjoying each other’s company at home at a fraction of the cost is a great alternative to a night on the town!  I stole this recipe from the “Relish” insert in my local paper.   It sounded amazing and thank goodness the taste lived up to my expectations, actually even exceeded them!!  I paired mine with butternut squash rissoto and a crisp romaine salad topped with cucumbers, blue cheese crumbles and balsamic.  The risotto was the perfect partner to this dish, soaking up all that delicious white wine sauce.  And the best part about it was how quickly it was prepared.  Well, actually the BEST part was that we had an excuse to drink the wine that was left over in the bottle.  Below is the recipe, tweaked a little to my own personal preference.

3 tbsp olive oil

4 garlic cloves sliced thinly, crosswise

2 shallots sliced thinly, crosswise

1 pint grape tomatoes, sliced in half, lengthwise

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

1 tsp italian seasoning

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 Cup dry white wine

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 lb medium-large shrimp, shelled and deveined, tails on (I bought the kind that are already cooked and frozen so I had to de-thaw them before cooking)

Heat olive oil in deep sauce pan over medium heat.  Add garlic and shallots and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.  Add tomatoes and cook until softened, about 4-5 minutes.  Add spices, wine and lemon juice and bring to a boil.  Simmer and cook until reduced by almost half, about 3 minutes.  Add shrimp and cook until heated through, about 3 more minutes.  
And that’s it!  You could even do this with pasta or plain rice.  I hope you enjoy as much as I did!