Healthy Shrimp Dinner

Easy peasy weeknight meal that you can through together!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup rice

1 container of low sodium, fat free chicken broth

1 pound shelled and deveined raw shrimp

2 heads of broccoli 

1/2 tsp ground cumin

S&P

1/8 tsp chili powder

1 lemon

olive oil

Directions

1.  Add chicken broth and rice to pot, bring to boil, reduce to simmer and cover for 40 minutes. (I always use chicken broth instead of water, butter, salt for a healthier alternative, plus I think it tastes more delicious)

2.  Meanwhile, cut broccoli into small pieces, add to ziplock bag with 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, and 1/8 tsp chili powder and shake well to get everything mixed (I think I probably used 1/4 tsp salt…you know I don't like salt).  

3.  In a bowl, combine shrimp, 2 Tbsp olive oil, zest from lemon, and 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper (again, I probably used 1/4 tsp).  Place in refrigerator until ready to use.  

 4.  Once rice has about 20 minutes left, preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Spread broccoli on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.  

5.  Add shrimp to baking sheet for an additional 10 minutes.

 6.  Serve shrimp and broccoli mixture over a bed of rice…Viola!  

ENJOY!!!

A Weekend of Restaurants

This past weekend was crazy busy, but super fun!  It was the first weekend in a very long time that was home, in town, and NOT on call.  Ahhhhh!   Friday I headed to the spa for some much needed hair care and then for mani's with my friend Katie (and it was a darn good thing, as she got ENGAGED on Saturday in St Michaels!!!  So excited for she and Mike, truly an amazing couple!).

After mani's, I headed home to unwind with Bax a little and then we headed over to Kooper's North.  This is our go-to bar these days, as we find ourselves there at least once a week, I swear.  If you are familiar with Kooper's downtown, you know this is a hot spot up in the county now.  The food is great and we usually stick to burgers and beers but Friday night we weren't as hungry.  We opted to split the steamed shrimp and calamari.  Both excellent!  

Saturday, after moving my dining room furniture and a couple other pieces to my sister's house in Annapolis and spending time there, Bax and I headed home for some R&R.  While Bax slept the night away, I went with my aunt to check out the new Mt. Washington Tavern.  It had burned down and they completely redid it. 

It looked fantastic!  We had gotten there, and we had reservations for 7pm, but apparently, no one wrote it in the book.  Even so, the staff found us a seat in the back dining area.  

We didn't care where we sat, we were just out to have a good time.  I have to say the service was the WORST I've had…possibly EVER.  The wait staff took a good 20 minute to come over to even ask if we wanted something to drink, did not offer water, did not return for another drink for quite some time, and it took us THREE hours to get our crab wontons, turkey and fried green tomato club, and salad with filet (all AMAZING!).  This, I do not think, was the wait staff's fault.  I am not sure if they were not adequately staffed, as the restaurant had just opened and it was packed, or if something happened in the kitchen, or what not.  People were upset, even cheering when their food finally came out.  It was sad.  I was shocked to see that not even our appetizer or a drink was taken off our bill.  Needless to say, my mom recommended I call over there the next day and just let them know, in a nice way of course, that the service was not what we had expected.  The owner got right on the phone and said he completely understood and apparently the computers were down that night or something along those lines.  He is sending us a gift certificate in the mail, in hopes we will come back and give a second chance.  Which, I have no doubt I will be back.  Like, I said, the food was excellent and the place is very nicely done.  Everyone has bad nights, and I will go back…after a month or so maybe, once they get the "bugs" worked out.   

  Anyways, it was a great night, with great company, and like I said, I will be giving it a second chance. 

 Sunday was my friend's birthday and we headed downtown for a nice dinner at Ouzo Bay.  

I had heard all the talk of this place, but you have to go to really understand.  First, I must say, the service was outstanding (really, pretty much anything would be compared to the previous evening).  We ordered two cocktails, a Black Tea Santorini and an Aegean Daisy, and sipped on those.  Both pretty good.  For an appetizer we tried the grilled calamari with feta.  O.M.G.  So tender and juicy, it was delicious.  He ordered a bottle of wine for us, I'm not sure which one though, but it was the perfect pairing to go with my salmon and his seabass, both amazing.  Since it was his birthday, we ended the dinner with chocolate cake and then headed over to Wit and Wisdom for an after dinner drink.  

Phew…after all that, it's time for me to get back on the elliptical.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Running  season is over for this girl.  The chilly weather has set in, and I broke down and joined the (dreaded) gym.

Any recommendations for any new restaurants in the Baltimore area??

Healthy Enchiladas

Inspired from, yes, Pintrest, I tried out this warm recipe on a chilly night after work last week.  Goal:  healthy and warm up the house.  Bonus:  Tasty.  Check, check, and check!

Ingredients

1 can chopped chili peppers

1 red pepper, chopped

1/2 head cauliflower, chopped

1 small sweet potato, chopped (I kept skin)

1 small onion, chopped

1 can corn, no added salt

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

olive oil

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin 

2 tsp minced garlic

S&P

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 cups pico de gallo, or fresh salsa

2 big handfuls of baby spinach

~8 tortillas, halved

2 cups shredded cheese (I tend to use mozzarella on these types of dishes)

Sour cream, if desired

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Lightly grease a cooking 9 X 13 cooking dish.

2.  Place chili peppers, red pepper, cauliflower, sweet potato, onion and corn in dish.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Sprinkle with cumin, garlic, S&P.  Mix well with spoon until distributed evenly. 

3.  bake veggies for 30-40 minutes, until lightly browned, while stirring every 10 minutes.  

4.  Meanwhile, combine salsa and cilantro in bowl.  

 5.  Lightly grease a 8 X 8 pan.  Spread 1/4 cup of salsa mix on bottom of pan.  Add layer of tortilla pieces.  

6.  Once veggies done baking...

…top with 1/3 of veggies….

 ….half of black beans...

 …handful of spinach...

 …and top with cheese.  

 7.  Make second layer of tortilla, salsa, veggies, black beans, spinach, cheese.  Top with layer of tortillas, salsa, veggies and cheese.  

8.  Cover with aluminum foil until ready to eat (if ready, decrease oven temp to 350).

9.  When ready to eat, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  

10.  Bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake another 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and everything is heated through.  

11.  Cool for about 5 minutes before serving.  

ENJOY!!!

Wednesday Wellness: Turkey Spinach Ziti

Let's start here.  The wine.  Truth, Lindsey's Cuvee.  What a wonderful blend!  Especially on a cold evening.  What would you make to go with a delicious bottle of red?  

I decided on baked ziti.  But I wanted to make it a little more hearty, yet healthy.  Why not add ground turkey and spinach?!  Mmmmmmm….

Ingredients

12 ounces uncooked whole wheat ziti

2 tsp olive oil

2 tsp minced garlic

1 pound, lean ground turkey

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried rosemary

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

28 ounce can crushed tomatoes

mozzarella cheese, full fat…I hate healthy low fat cheese…gag!

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  

2.  Cook and drain pasta.  Set aside. 

3.  Meanwhile, heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat.  Add garlic and saute for about 2 minutes. Add ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking up meat, for about 3-5 minutes.  

4.  Add oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper.  Add spinach and combine over medium heat.  Cook for about 2 minutes.  

 5.  Add tomatoes and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and cook for about 5 minutes.  

6.  Spoon small amount of tomato mixture on bottom of 9 X 13 greased pan ( just enough to cover bottom)

7.  Top with half of cooked ziti.

8.  Layer with half of remaining tomato mixture and then half of mozzarella cheese.  

9.  Layer with remaining ziti, top with remaining tomato mixture.  

 10.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese. 

11.  Bake for about 30 minutes, until cheese is golden and bubbly.

ENJOY!  

(sorry, no picture of final product, as we gobbled it up pretty quickly and took the rest for lunch!)

Tuesday Treats: Thankful Pumpkin Bread

Remember this picture?  See all those leaves?  That was BEFORE the hurricane.  Can you imagine all the leaves after the rain and wind?  My front yard was COVERED!  I attempted to rake Saturday morning.  Attempted…key word.  It was still pretty windy out and after about an hour, I gave up.  I got some leaves up, but most importantly, I was able to get the leaves off the freshly planted grass seed my mom had put down for me when I was away.  

After I came inside to get ready for lunch with my girlfriends, I heard a very familiar noise outside.  I looked out the window and almost began to cry!  Two men, that live on either side of me, had gotten out their rakes and leaf blowers, and were getting up every.single.leaf on our lawns.  They put all the leaves into bags and took them to the dump.  

When I came home, I went to take Bax out back to run around.  Oh.my.goodness.  They outdid themselves.  The two men had even gotten up every leaf in the backyard.  I can't even begin to tell you how many leaves there were with our big trees.  This was amazing!  

Did I also mention earlier that this one neighbor came over in the hurricane in the pouring rain and wind to deliver a little note from his wife.  It was the sweetest note, just letting me know if I needed anything or if Bax and I got bored, we were always welcome in their home.  How sweet is that?!

I was beyond thankful for their kindness.  I quickly got together my baking supplies and baked them Mom's Pumpkin Bread and delivered it to them in the morning, still warm.  

I had a few other people on my list to bake for, also.  My mom and dad had kept Bax and I warm while we were out of power last week, so of course I made them some, too.  And my other neighbor, poor thing, broke her heel…worst fracture, as it takes forever to heal.  I baked her a loaf and sat with her for a little while this weekend.  

I truly feel blessed how lucky Baxter and I are to have such wonderful neighbors and family close by.    

If you have anyone to thank, try sending over a loaf of this bread.  I assure you, you will get a big smile that makes you feel good inside!