Quick & Easy Shrimp Scampi

 

Delicious too!

 

 

Glorious shrimp in a buttery wine sauce, what's not to LOVE.

 

After a busy day of  being gone and then spending a couple of hours with grandkids and my daughter, I had nothing prepared for dinner.

Searching for a quick dinner, I found a super easy shrimp scampi recipe.

Luckily I had almost all the ingredients at the house.

With a little improvising, I made this delicious dish.  I will definitely make it again and it's sooooo easy.

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

8 oz. pasta, linguine, spaghetti, or angel hair ( I used whole wheat spaghetti)

2 Tbsp. butter

1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, more or less to taste ( 1/4 tsp gives it a little kick)

1/4 C white wine ( I used white cooking wine and it was great)

1/4 C freshly squeezed lemon juice

Kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste

Zest of 1 lemon

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Parmesan cheese

 

DIRECTIOINS:

 

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to directions and drain well.

2. Melt butter in large skillet.  Add shrimp, garlic, and red pepper flakes.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until pink, about 3-5 minutes.

3.Stir in wine and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper.  Bring to a simmer.

Remove from heat and stir in pasta, lemon zest, and parsley.

4.  Serve immediately and garnish with Parmesan cheese.

 

*Quick changes I made because I didn't exactly have all the ingredients:

I used bottled lemon juice concentrate because I didn't have fresh lemons, a little lime zest because I had quite a few limes on hand, and dried parsley.  It still tasted fantastic and I can't wait to try it with fresh lemons and parsley.

*One other note:  Freshly grated parmesan cheese is so much better than the canned stuff.  Give it a try.

 

This is delicious served with a fresh salad and garlic bread.  Yummy!!



Adventures with Garlic

We love fresh garlic at our house.  

There is nothing better than mashed potatoes with fresh roasted garlic.

What's not not love?

 But what do you do when you buy a big bag of garlic from Costco or Sam's Club?  You do what you can with it before it all goes bad.

That was my goal for today, to take care of the big bag of garlic sitting in my pantry.

Every time I opened the pantry door, the garlic smell got stronger and stronger.

Today was the day!!!!!

After doing a little research, I realized that storing minced garlic in olive oil could be dangerous especially if left out at room temperature.  

I was clueless.  I had no idea that it could cause botulism and cause you to be extremely sick or even deadly.  No fun for sure.

Minced garlic in olive oil is okay if refrigerated and used with 5-6 days.  Toss it out after that.  Don't take any chances.

The store bought stuff has something in it to make it safe and lasts longer in your refrigerator.

The beginning of today's project

I decided to mince a few cloves of garlic and cover in olive oil.

Refrigerated immediately.

Next, I decided to roast quite a few whole bulbs of garlic.

Cut off the tops of the bulbs so the cloves are exposed, leaving the skin on.

Place on a square of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil and coarse salt.

Wrap the garlic in the foil,  cut side up, not too snugly.  Roast in a 400 degree oven for about 35-45 minutes until it's nicely toasted brown.  Then squeeze all the cloves out.

Look at all that deliciously roasted yumminess!!!!

This is when you mix it in immediately with your mashed potatoes.

It's soooooo gooooood!!!!!

If you aren't using the garlic at this point, you have different options.  You can mix it with softened butter and herbs, roll it into a log, and freeze it.  Then you have a wonderful garlic herb butter to use later.  (This would be a good butter to use at Thanksgiving on your turkey)

I decided to mash the roasted garlic, put it in teaspoon sized portions, freeze it, and then bag it for the freezer to be used later in recipes.

Last of all, I chose to just freeze the unpeeled garlic cloves. Whenever I need to finely mince or use my garlic press, I'll be able to grab a clove from the freezer. 

It seems like freezing garlic is the best option for storing it a little longer.

Don't let it go to waste when you buy a big bag like I did.

For more information on storing garlic, there is a plethora of information on the internet.

Check out Instructables.com

I found it very helpful.

Good luck and happy cooking!

Reflecting on our African Adventure

This past weekend, members of the LDS church had the opportunity to listen to their church leaders give counsel and uplift.   It is what we call General Conference.  This special conference happens twice a year and we look forward to it so much.

I was reminded of the love our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ has for each one of us.  I reflected on the humanitarian services the church provides for people all around the world and our responsibility to help those in need, to reach out and love those around us.

We need to reach out in our own communities and sometimes we have the opportunity to reach out to those around the world who are miles and miles away.

We are so blessed and sometimes I feel guilty when I reflect on how I complain about a broken kitchen faucet or a bed that's too lumpy.  There are some who don't have a bed or running water and  those who don't have shoes or a warm coat, those who still cook over a fire.  

Steve and I were lucky enough to visit Namibia Africa last year and see first hand how people live with so little.  It is a cherished memory, one I will never forget.  These people touched our hearts and we hope for the day we can go back.

These young boys and young father live and work on the ranch where we stayed.  They loved having their picture taken.  The sweet baby (in the picture above) played in the dirt every day while her mother worked in the gardens.  

We were able to take a few items to give to them.  They love dolls and soccer balls.  We packed a few soccer balls and Barbies in our luggage.  Next time, we would take much more.  They are in need of socks, hats, jackets, shoes, and so much more.  Even though they don't have a lot, they were happy and kind.

Listening to conference and reflecting on our trip to Africa has stirred in me a desire to do more.  This is my goal for this year, to reach out more to those in need.

Look around and smile, love a little more, be a little more kind, and offer a helping hand.  

We are so blessed.  

Update on the Industrial table

I just love this finished table/bar.  

It's one of my favorite pieces.  If you love the industrial look, you've got to love this table.  

The table top is gorgeous.  

Good job Jackson and Taylor.  

Next project, stairs and railings in a condo community and a custom built swing set.

 Oh, and my bedframe and table.

The guys are busy but loving it.

Creating New Steel Projects

 This is the base for a new sofa table that bar stools can sit under.  A dual functioning sofa table.  How cool is that!!!!!!!

I think it's fantastic.  Industrial and modern!  

Seriously, if you can come up with a plan that has metal and wood in it, Taylor, Jackson, and Steve can usually create it.  I can't wait to see the table top and then to see the finished project.

 This is another one of my favorites.  Just a piece of  I-beam made into a clock.

I think every industrial space could use one.

Jackson's latest dining table and bench.

The metal bases are fantastic with an oak butcher-block table top and bench seat.  

These are solid wood and beautifully finished.

I can't help but brag about the guys and the awesome work they do.  

Everytime I see a new project, I'm amazed.  

Steve's new project:  A King sized bed frame with headboard and footboard.

Can't wait. Can't wait. Can't wait because it's for me (and him).   Always something happening with the Clan and Oxley and Son Welding.

Check out more projects on their web-site and Facebook.

They can make your dream come to life.

It's a horse life

Looking out our window today, we noticed our horses enjoying the warm, drier weather.

We see them every day but I guess we don't always really "watch them".  Today we really watched them and noticed how much they hang out with each other. They follow each other around.  They are always standing by each other but today we watched them lay by each other, actually resting on each other.  There was a day when they didn't get along that well. Now, I think they've become best friends.

 Chex was Sugar's pillow today and he didn't mind at all.

Sugar, our mare and Chex, our gelding!

 There is something relaxing and comforting about having horses in the back yard.  Just watching them is peaceful (usually). Haha!!

If you have animals, take a moment to really watch them.  Amazing creatures that bring joy into our lives. 

 

Biking!!!!

 

Beginning a new adventure in biking to save the knees.

 

Yes, I've been instructed by my doctor to start cycling, either in the gym or on a road bike, to save my knees.

Bad knees run in my family and lately my knees have been crippling me. 

After having x-rays and meeting with my doctor, he said I need to start cycling to build the muscles around my knees to prolong the life of them and put off having knee replacement surgery.

He said that the doctors at TOSH (the orthopedic hospital here is Salt Lake City) have noticed that some patients who are scheduled for knee replacement surgery and start therapy (cycling) prior to surgery, have their knees improve so much that some opt out of surgery for a while.

This is my goal, to put off knee surgery for as long as I can.

I realize that it won't work for everyone but I'm going to give it a try.

 

Today is the beginning of this new adventure.

I have been researching all the different bikes and after reading reviews I've made a decision to purchase a hybrid bike from Amazon.  I know there is a risk but I'm willing to take it.  If I went to a bike shop, I'd know exactly what I'd be purchasing, but I chose to buy a bike on-line instead.

 

This is the bike I bought today.  It is a Schwinn Odana 700C.

The reviews seem good and for a beginning bike,  I think it looks great.

There is a newer model but I'm just fine with the older model and it's cheaper.  I'm all about saving money.

 



The doctor said I should clip my feet in to give my knees the most benefit of pushing and pulling.  I'm not doing that for now.  Once I see how things are going, I might invest in those kind of pedals and down the road, purchase a more expensive bike when I'm a more experienced biker. 

I'm looking forward to getting my bike and hitting the road. 

I'll post later about the bike when it gets here and how my biking is going.

Next step, get Steve a bike so he can ride with me.