The Perfect Shrimp for Any Recipe

There are so many amazing shrimp recipes out there, but so many fall flat on getting the shrimp just right. Here's my tried and true, perfect every time shrimp recipe. Short sweet and to the point.

First, you need good shrimp. One of my favorites is the Argentine Wild Shrimp from Trader Joes.

Defrost your shrimp and pat dry.

Toss with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

Spread out on a baking sheet and bake at 400 for 9-10 minutes.

Voila! Perfect Shrimp every time.
Tonight we had shrimp tacos so I added a little sweet paprika & garlic salt.

RECIPE

1 pound of Shrimp

Olive Oil

Sea Salt

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees

Pat shrimp dry

Toss shrimp in olive oil

Spread on baking sheet

Sprinkle generously with salt and any other desired seasoning

Bake on 400 for 9-10 minutes.

Promptly remove from oven and add to any recipe.

The Perfect Italian Salad

Every now and then you need a good crisp, classic Italian salad. This is a great classic salad that's sure to be a crowd pleaser. You can mix up the dressing and keep it on hand for a weeks worth of salads or make a big salad for a crowd, either way you'll have happy salad fans.

The Dressing Deets
1/2 Cup Low Fat Plain Yogurt
1/4 Cup White Vinegar
1 TBS Lemon Juice
2 TBS Olive Oil
1 TBS Sugar
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp Basil Flakes
1/2 tsp Garlic Salt
1 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 Cup Finely Shredded Parmesan Cheese

The How To
Add all ingredients and mix until smooth
Let Dressing set for 30 - 45 minutes prior to use so flavors can meld.

The Salad Deets
1 Head Romaine Heart Lettuce - Roughly Chopped (about 4 Cups)
4 Cups Spinach - Roughly Chopped
2 Tomatoes - Diced or Sliced - your preference
1 Cucumber - Peeled and Sliced
1/3 Small Red Onion Thinly Sliced
1/2 Cup (about 6-8) Pepperoncini Peppers
1/2 Bag of Croutons (About 1 1/2 - 2 Cups)
1/3 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

Toss Salad ingredients into a large bowl and add dressing.

Plate, Pray & Enjoy!

Caprese Salad

One of my all time favorite foods is Caprese Salad. It's simple, fresh and to the point. Caprese Salad is simply sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and a dash of sea salt. So Simple, but complete culinary magic. I'm pretty sure I ate Caprese Salad about 100 times this summer - that's how much I love it! And with all the basil growing in my garden, how could I not use it up. Here's the simple steps to a perfect Caprese Salad.


The Deets
1 Ripe Tomato - if you can grow them yourself even better
6 Slices Fresh Mozzarella - if you have a market near by that makes it fresh - buy it - so much better!
6 Leaves of Fresh Basil - again if you grow your own it's even tastier
1 TBS aged Balsamic Vinegar
1/2 TBS Olive Oil (I always use extra virgin)
Salt & Pepper to Taste


The How To
Layer Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil
Repeat
Drizzle with Balsamic and Olive Oil
Add Salt and Pepper to Taste

Plate, Pray & Enjoy

Roasted Tomato and Mozzarella Salad with Creamy Balsamic Dressing

Summer, Summer Where did you Go? In honor of the end of Summer, here is one last Salad to Celebrate. This is a Simple Salad with Big Flavor.

The Deets
2 Cups Romaine Lettuce
1 Cup Cherry or Grape Tomatoes Roasted
3 Slices Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
1 TBS of Balsamic Vinegar
2 TBS Plain Lowfat Yogurt
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Lemon Pepper

The How To
Roughly Chop Romaine
Roast Tomatoes in a pan over medium heat until glossy and wilted
Cut Mozzarella into large pieces

For the Dressing
So Simple - Can you handle it?
Mix Balsamic into Yogurt
Add Salt and Lemon Pepper
Mix until Creamy

Add as little or as much dressing as you like

Plate, Pray & Enjoy

Dinner Salad : Redefined

During the Summer the blistering Heat Zaps my Motivation to Cook Dinner more often than I'd like to admit.  On Nights like this Salad for Dinner is a Life Saver. In order to make a Salad into a meal you need some good lean protein, like Chicken and/or Egg (which came first?), and some healthy fats from Avocado and/or Cheese. This is a Light yet Hearty Summer Meal perfect for a Hot Summer Night.

The Deets (for 2)
4 Cups Spinach
4 Baby Peppers
1 Tomato or 1 Cup Grape Tomatoes
1/2 Cup Shredded Carrots
1/2 Cucumber
1 Avocado
2 Hard Boiled Eggs 
   (I don't like yolk so I make my salad sans yoke)
1/4 Shredded Cheese (Tillamook Sharp Cheddar)
4 Oz Chicken Breast 
   (Usually I cook my own but today I used Precooked)
1 Handful of Raw Almonds Roughly Chopped
Dressing of Choice - this is a good salad for Ranch Dressing

Look at those beautiful Greens!

The How To

Chop It Up

Mix It Up

Serve It Up

Plate, Pray & Enjoy!

Citrus Sweet Pepper Salad

Every Meal Needs a Salad.  And Every Salad should have a little personality.  Today's Salad Creation is Citrus Sweet Pepper Salad. It's a little spicy, a little tangy and all around delicious!
The Deets
3 Sweet Peppers (Yellow, Orange & Red)
1 Mandarin Orange
Salad Greens (Spinach, Romaine & Watercress)
1 Handful of Raw Almonds

The Construction
Thinly Slice Peppers
Peel and Cube Mandarin Orange (reserve ends for juice)
Tear Salad greens to desired size
Chop Almonds
Mix together & squeeze Orange Juice over salad

Plate, Pray & Enjoy

Happy, Healthy New Year! Grapefruit Avocado Salad

I Love Salad. I do Not Love Salad Dressing.

I know that other than my 3 year old niece most people would disagree; they either dislike salad or drown it in dressing.  So, to appease the masses, I present my latest salad creation:

Grapefruit Avocado Salad

The Deets 

Spinach or Romaine Roughly Chopped (I do 1 cup per person)

1/2 Ruby Red Grapefruit

1/2 Avocado

1/2 Cucumber

10 Raw Almonds (roughly chopped)

1 TBS Grapefruit Juice

1/2 TBS Lemon Juice

1 TBS Soy Sauce

Salad Construction

Cut up Grapefruit, Avocado & Cucumber (I cut into quarters)

Place cut Grapefruit, Avocado & Cucumber in Bowl

Add Grapefruit Juice (I set aside the end & squeeze it in), Lemon Juice & Soy Sauce

Let sit for 10-15 minutes

Add Greens & Mix

Top with Almonds

Enjoy!

Last Meal of the Summer

For our last official meal of Summer 

I prepared Seared Ahi Tuna Salad and Quinoa

The Salad

Organic Baby Spinach

1/2 Grapefruit (I was tricked - the label said red but it was really pink)

1/4 Cucumber

1/2 Avocado 

1/2 tsp Lime Juice

1 TBS Grapefruit Juice

1 Sprinkle of Lemon Pepper

Sprinkle of Sesame Seeds

The Tuna

1 Sushi Grade Ahi Tuna Steak

Season with Lemon Pepper & Sea Salt

Roll in Sesame Seeds

Wipe pan with oil and heat to high

Sear Tuna on all sides for 3 minutes

Let Tuna rest for 5 minutes

Sprinkle with 1tsp Soy Sauce & 1/2 tsp Lime Juice

Slice into 1/4 inch slices

The Quinoa 

Prepare Quinoa according to package directions

I make mine in 1/2 water 1/2 chicken broth & added some fresh basil

Plate & Enjoy!