Lemon, Thyme, and Garlic Shrimp

In my family, you can never go wrong with shrimp pasta of some kind.  When I came across this recipe I new it'd be a hit! However, next time I make this I will find a way to make more of a lemony sauce for the noodles- they seemed a bit dry. 

What you'll need:  

1/3 cup olive oil

1 lemon, zested then half cut into thin slices and other half into wedges

3-4 fresh thyme sprigs, leaves removed

sea or kosher salt and fresh black pepper

spaghetti/pasta, couscous or rice for serving

2 tablespoons butter

1 pound fresh shrimp, medium-sized, deveined with tails off

5 cloves garlic, minced 

What to do: 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In an 8x8 glass baking pan combine olive oil, lemon zest and thyme. Olive oil should liberally cover the bottom of the pan, if it doesn't drizzle in a little more. Season with salt and pepper. Bake in oven for 10-12 minutes, checking every few minutes, if it looks like it is getting too brown remove and proceed to next step. Meanwhile cook pasta, drain and toss with a pat of butter or olive oil.

2. Remove pan from oven, add butter and move it around a little to melt, add shrimp, garlic and the thin sliced lemons (don't squeeze them), toss to coat with oil mixture. Bake for 8-10 more minutes or until shrimp turn pink and just start to curl, check often. Serve over pasta, couscous or rice tossed with additional extra-virgin olive oil and fresh-squeezed lemon with additional lemon wedges for serving.

Cilantro Lime Rice (Chipotle Dupe)

  

This Chipotle dupe went perfectly with our barbaqoa burrito bowls! I found this "skinny" recipe here.

What you'll need: 

cup extra long grain rice or basmati rice

1/2 lime, juice of

2 cups water

1 tsp salt

3 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro

3 tsp vegetable oil

What to do:
1. In a small heavy pot, add rice, water, 1 tsp oil and salt. Boil on high until most of the water evaporates. When the water just skims the top of the rice, reduce to low and cover about 15 minutes. Shut off flame and keep covered an additional 5 minute.

2. In a medium bowl, combine chopped cilantro, lime juice, rice and remaining oil and toss until completely mixed.

Barbaqoa (Chipotle Dupe)

I have never had barbaqoa before but whenever we go to Chipotle my mother always gets this.  I found this recipe and new I had to try it out! We made homemade burrito bowls using this and it's something I'll definitely make again!

What you'll need:
For the Marinade:
2.5 lbs pork loin roast, all fat trimmed
salt and pepper
garlic powder
6 oz Coke zero
1/4 cup brown sugar (unpacked)
1/4 cup water

Step 2
8 oz Coke zero
6 oz can sliced green chilies
8 oz tomato sauce
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp chipotle chili powder (to taste)
salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup brown sugar (unpacked)

What to do:
1. Season pork with salt, pepper and garlic powder and place in the crock pot. Add 6 oz of coke and 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Marinate refrigerated for a few hours or overnight turning meat at least once while marinating.

2. Remove crock from refrigerator, add water, and cook on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily). Remove pork from crock pot and discard any liquid left in the pot. Shred pork with two forks.

Step two:
3. In the crock pot, combine 8 oz coke, green chilies, tomato sauce, chipotle chile, garlic powder, cumin, chipotle chili powder and remaining brown sugar.

4. Put shredded pork back in the crock pot and combine with sauce. Adjust salt and pepper to taste, cover and cook on high 1-1/2 hours more.

Brown Sugar Scrub

 

Here's a simply yet effective recipe for a moisturizing and exfoliating scrub.  

What you'll need:

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup honey

1 tsp. vanilla

Chicken Penne Bake

I found this recipe on Pinterest (my new obsession) and loved the fact that it was easy to make and sounded a dish right up my alley.  It makes enough for leftovers too :)

What you'll need:
1 (16 oz) box regular or whole wheat penne pasta
2 chicken breasts
6 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp rosemary
1 (24 oz) jar tomato sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

What to do:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a small baking dish, and bake the chicken 25-30 minutes or until it is no longer pink in the center (if I'm lazy I just boil the chicken breasts) . Cut into bite-sized pieces, and then shred using a fork.
2. Cook pasta according to directions.
3. When finished cooking the pasta, add the spinach into the hot water with the pasta and stir just until the spinach wilts. Pour the pasta and spinach into a colander to strain.
4. Pour the sauce into a large pot, and add the spices. Simmer over low-medium heat. Add in the shredded chicken and stir until well-combined.
5. In a large bowl (or the large pot you have the sauce in), combine the chicken and pasta mixtures with half the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
6. Pour into a greased 9×13″ baking dish, and sprinkle with the other halves of the cheeses. Bake for about 20 minutes or until heated through. 

BBQ Chicken Pizza

In case it wasn't already obvious, I love chicken.  I could eat it every day for dinner and be happy.  Unfortunately, my family does not share this same obsession.  However, we are a pizza-crazed family and when I discovered this recipe, I thought I had a safe excuse to sneak in chicken for dinner.  This recipe looked easy to make, which is always a plus on my list.  Also, my dad has been big on making homemade pizza recently and I took full advantage of his pizza dough making abilities.  So, when I got home from student teaching my kindergarteners, all I had to do was prepare the toppings and pop the pizzas in the oven! My family and I loved this recipe and we will definitely be recreating it soon.

What you'll need:
1 store bought pizza crust or refrigerated crust (or 1 lb. homemade crust)
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1 cup cooked and shredded chicken
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/2 orange bell pepper; diced
1-3/4 cups (7 oz.) Monterey Jack Shredded Cheese
Chopped cilantro; to taste (optional)

What to do:
1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F. Place pizza crust on foil-lined baking sheet.
2. Spread barbecue sauce on pizza crust. Add shredded chicken, onion, and bell peppers on top of the barbecue sauce. Top with cheese.
3. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until crust is deep golden brown. Cut into squares; garnish with cilantro.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Spaghetti.  So easy to make, yet so delicious (who doesn't love carbs??).  In my house, spaghetti is one of those go-to dinners when you are too lazy to think of anything creative to make.  And sure, store-bought spaghetti sauce is convenient and easy but it is definitely not always the best.  This is the recipe for the spaghetti sauce that my mom's side of the family has been making forever! The good thing is that you can't really screw it up and can always adjust spices and other flavors to mix it up a little bit :) 

What you'll need:
1 lb. ground beef
1 tb. minced garlic
1/2-1 medium onion, diced
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes (My mom cans tomatoes herself, so I just use that.. how convenient!)
1 small can tomato paste
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
dried basil, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper (to taste)

What to do:
1. Brown hamburger, add onion and garlic near end. 
2. Add salt, pepper, dried basil, and Italian seasoning to taste.
3. Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce; simmer, stirring occasionally.