Shrimp & Goat Cheese Quesadillas
I am back at it again with the goat cheese. I recently read that goat cheese has a large amount of tryptophan in it, the same stuff in turkey that makes everybody so sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner, so if you are having trouble sleeping you might just want to try one of these quesadillas before bed, or maybe the Smashed Potatoes with Goat Cheese & Parsley. Tryptophan is not only good for sleeping, but is an essential amino acid that has been shown to boost your mood and help you relax as well. If that isn’t enough to get you eating goat cheese, maybe this recipe will.
Baked Shrimp w/ Tomatoes
This week the weather has gotten nicer and it is starting to feel a bit more like summer, finally! The sunshine and warm weather has caused a shift in my food cravings; I’m sure many of you experience the same thing each season. For me, warm weather makes me crave light food and summery flavors, such as citrus.
These individual dishes are light, and not to mention kind of cute! They are great for a dinner party. It does not take long to make and the individual gratins make serving much easier. This recipe is very light and healthy, perfect for summer. The balsamic vinegar gives a great tangy kick to the dish as well. I also baked some extra tomato slices to drizzle with balsamic and serve with the dish. These go great served with roasted asparagus with lemon or a nice salad.
Throwback Thursday: Cajun Crab & Shrimp Casserole
Since I have returned to the U.S. I have been craving hearty, spicy meals. I immediately had to get Mexican food when I got to New York City and have been craving it constantly. Unfortunately the fact that I have gained over 5 pounds during my three weeks abroad means that I need to get going on a health kick for summer. Today I ran while watching the Food Network and drooling over comfort food. I feel like I am kind of doing the same thing here by posting a delicious hearty casserole recipe for you to drool over as well.
This seafood casserole has it all- spice, zest and creaminess- all packed into a one-dish meal. I love casseroles because they are so easy to make and include everything for your meal all in one. Enjoy!
Creamy Garlic Seafood Soup
The second I thought spring had arrived, we got a huge snow storm. I guess that’s Colorado for you… With the cold weather back, I decided to make another new soup. Once again, Cooking Light magazine has provided me with another delicious recipe. I love avocado, but I had never thought of putting it in my soup before! Using skim milk in this recipe makes it healthier, but you can always use heavy whipping cream if you prefer… see I can do comfort food and healthy at the same time! 😉
Chili Basil Shrimp w/ Edamame Rice
I recently read an article about edamame and all of its amazing health benefits. If you don’t know much about edamame, it is a green soybean that is a great source of protein, contains all 8 essential amino acids and has no cholesterol of trans-fats. It is high in fiber and iron as well. I’ve like edamame for a while now, but this just makes eating it even better! It is a great addition to many meals and is definitely one to try if you haven’t yet. This dish is simple- marinated shrimp and rice with edamame. When sautéing the shrimp, deglazing the pan adds a ton of flavor that regular sautéing wouldn’t.
Throwback Thursday: Sweet & Sour Shrimp Stir-Fry
Stir-fries are great for a quick week-night meal. You can combine so many different flavors, which means endless ideas. This particular stir-fry was my first attempt as making a sweet and sour sauce. I apologize for the photo quality, it was from my early days of blogging and taking food photos. It reminds me how far I have come and how much further I can go. So, for a healthier dinner, try this tasty sweet and sour dish.
Chorizo, Shrimp & Rice Stuffed Poblano Chiles
I recently entered this Ritz cracker recipe contest recently sponsored by Guy Fieri, which caused me to look through a bunch of his recipes for inspiration. I really love his recipes because they are always banger and packed with flavors. If you are not sure who Guy is, he is the punk-rock-looking, spiked hair guy from Diners, Dives, & Drive-Ins (as well as like ten other TV shows I feel like!).
This recipe is amazing because if combines the delicious flavors of chorizo and shrimp along with lots of cheese! I am a big fan of roasting peppers/chiles. It gives them an entirely different flavor. Roasted peppers and chiles also make the perfect dish for holding your delicious recipe ideas. I tweaked Guy’s original recipe a bit, but of all the stuffed pepper recipes I have made, I can safely say this one is my favorite. I highly recommend that you try it as well!
Throwback Thursday: Caribbean Shrimp w/ Peppers & Lime
It’s Thursday again, wow these weeks have been flying by. My recipe for this Throwback Thursday really brings me back. This was one of the first “unique” recipes I learned and one of the ones that really got me excited about cooking. I am excited to share it with you, since it kind of hit a soft spot in me (I know cheesy, but it is what it is).
This recipe is so simple, but so good. I make it a lot without the coconut milk, but it is extremely good with coconut milk as well if you have the extra money to buy it! I recommend using a lot of lime, it just makes it even better. I hope that this recipe can get you excited to cook like it did for me! Also, thanks to my mom for these photos. =)
Chipotle-Lime Shrimp Taco Salad w/ Cilantro Vinaigrette
You know those nights when you have an entire meal planned out in advanced, but when dinner time roles around you just don’t feel like eating that oh-so-exciting dish? Well, last night was one of those nights. As delicious as sun-dried tomato and feta stuffed chicken sounded, I just wasn’t in the mood for those flavors. I wanted spice and citrus. I decided to save that for another night. Instead, this is what I came up with.
The cilantro vinaigrette pulls this dish together. It adds a nice tangy flavor that is a great compliment to the spicy shrimp. Roasting the tomatoes gives them move flavor and juice, making this recipe even more delicious! I was planning on eating this with guacamole and salsa, but tasted it and realized it didn’t need any additions and was perfect as is.
Broiled Lemon & Garlic Shrimp
I love shrimp, but I feel like it is hard to find new recipes for shrimp so I am usually stuck making the same recipes over and over again. I liked this recipe because it was a bit different, even though it was just another lemon shrimp recipe. Broiling the shrimp gave it a different texture and kept the lemon and garlic flavor really strong. This recipe is quick and easy with great results, definitely one to try.
